Process is Important!

There is nothing magical about red ink on white paper. In fact sometimes red ink can cause big trouble for kids when the teacher writes all over their homework in red ink.

The New Testament, however, reserves red ink for only Jesus’ words. Most of His words are found in the Gospels and Revelation. Again, the red ink isn’t special, but the words those red letters form have breathed life into the world for 2,000 years and continues to this day. How can the words of Jesus cause the world to change forever? How can those words still bring people to their knees in repentance and to their feet in worship? Because Jesus Himself is the Living Word.

Big Idea: Jesus' words and actions open wide the door for us to experience an ever-deepening relationship with Him

Exposition:

We need to understand that, before Jesus’ arrived, the people of Israel had gone 4 centuries without the voice of a prophet. Now, at last, God speaks again — to announce the Messiah’s arrival.

God used several voices to bring everything into focus for those that had ears to hear and eyes to see.

The first voice: an angel

Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus

Luke 1:26–31 NIV

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.

Jesus, meaning “The Lord is Salvation”

The Son of the Lord Most High

The Message of Luke a. What the Angel Said

In him, and nowhere else, is salvation to be found. Can we have enough of him, or say enough of him?

The second voice - Simeon

only summarize most of it...

The second voice a prophet (priest) - Simeon

Luke 2:29–32 NIV

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

Luke 2:25–35 NIV

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

After this, a very old prophetess, Anna, also acknowledge the identity of the baby Jesus (36-38) and told everyone she saw

After this, a very old prophetess, by the name of Anna, also acknowledge the identity of the baby Jesus (36-38)

The third voice — The boy Jesus

Another voice — John the Baptist

Transitional: Jesus' words and actions open wide the door for us to experience an ever-deepening relationship with Him. We can rest assured that Jesus passionately pursued the Father

Transitional: Jesus Himself made it clear, in His own words, that He was here to do His Father’s business.

So now let’s look at How Jesus' words and actions open wide the door for us to experience an ever-deepening relationship with Him

Passionate Pursuit Keeps You in Relationship With Jesus

Exposition:

In , Mary and Joseph had gone to Jerusalem for the annual Passover feast — this journey was a yearly custom for devout families. This was probably the first year they had taken Jesus with them, because He was now 12, approaching what was considered manhood in their culture.

Jesus became separated from His parents and found His way to the Temple, where the old priests and rabbis where gathered. He began to converse with them…asking many questions and listening closely to them. They were amazed to see His knowledge and great understanding of all things.

Don’t ask me how…but Mary and Joseph left Jerusalem and began the long journey back to Nazareth and didn’t notice Jesus was missing until 3 days later! So they looked all over for Him and then rushed back to Jerusalem and finally found Him in the Temple.

Luke 2:48–50 NIV

When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Luke 2:41–48 NIV

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

…as we witness Jesus pursuing the things of the Father, we learn that...

A. Pursuit Precedes Everything Else

We don’t know what Jesus was up to the first 12 years of His life

Joseph was a carpenter and Jesus learned the trade - we know this

Mary and Joseph both were well aware that Jesus was blessed by God for great things

But what did they do in the meantime? They didn’t give Him to the priests to raise. They didn’t make a big fuss over Him, it seems. What did they do? They loved and cared for Him the way parents should care for their children

Before Jesus said or did anything publically He knew who He was…and I am confident that He was pursuing the Father — talking to Him and listening to Him

I’m pretty sure Joseph and Mary also pursued the Father and prayed a lot — wouldn’t you?

Pursuit precedes everything else — How can you find something if you are not looking for it? As a rule…when you seek, you will find (Jesus said this), when you knock the door will be open, when you ask it shall be given. Jesus knew this and lived it…and tells us to do the same.

B. Pursuit Proves Passion

Luke 2:48–49 NIV

Jesus was completely engrossed in listening to the teachers and asking questions — this was part of His preparation for the public ministry He would begin in 18 years

“What else would I be doing? This is my Father’s house”

Jesus pursued His Heavenly Father --- He pursued the path that prepared Him to fulfill His calling.

He pursued the Father in every way He could as He grew up…the relationship is what anchored Him and kept Him on track.

What you pursue reveals what you are most passionate about

Illustration: What you pursue reveals what you are most passionate about

What you pursue reveals what you are most passionate about

Illustration: The old classic song from the 1970’s, “The Cat and the Cradle” (by Harry Chapin) comes to mind.

"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when" But we'll get together then You know we'll have a good time then

You can say “My kids are my top priority” all you want, but your actions show whether or not that is true. Truth shatters everything else, no matter how hard you try to hide it. “God is number one in my life!” “I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord.” Words are just words…what you actually do reveals your passion.

Application:

If you truly want a deeper and closer relationship with the Lord...your actions and priorities will reveal that

If you truly want a deeper and closer relationship with Him…your actions and priorities will reveal that

Seek Him daily…no matter if you feel anything or not — pursue Him because He loves you and has a plan for you — and because you love Him and want to know Him better

Going to church, in itself, does not prove anything

Going to church because you desire to follow the Lord’s plan is a good thing — we know that part of His plan is that His children gather every week....often…

What are you truly pursuing today?

I challenge you to answer that question in your own heart…

Transition: The next words we hear from Jesus occur 18 years later, when He is 30 — it was time for His public ministry to begin…but first: baptism and temptation in the wilderness

Passionate Pursuit keeps you in

Prevailing Over Temptation Leads You to a Deeper Relationship With Jesus

Exposition:

Mary treasured all these things in her heart — He grew in stature and wisdom (Luke 2)

18 years later Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John

John tried to refuse “I need to be baptized by you!”

Matthew 3:15 NIV

Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

…why was it important for Jesus to be baptized?

Matthew 3:13–17 NIV

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

…why was it important for Jesus to be baptized?

Even though Jesus was perfectly sinless, He knew it was important to be baptized, “…to fulfill all righteousness”

A. Prevailing Requires Power and Determination

Illustration: A few weeks ago we were blessed to have Ryan McCullough, our missionary to Wales, with us for a service. Some of you might know that he had some problems getting here. He called me when it was about time for Sunday School and said he was stuck and that he was close by. I asked where he was and he tried to explain it to me but I didn’t understand where he was talking about so I went out to look for hin…and saw walking on the little farm access road by the canal. Long story short — He had exited the freeway and followed his GPS onto this road that is not even a road and ended up high-centered on some ice and snow. Jerry tried to pull him out with his SUV — not enough power. He had to get something more powerful to prevail over that sheet of ice and snow.

* What happened when Jesus came up out of the water?

What happened when Jesus came up out of the water?

Matthew 3:16–17 NIV

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

What happened when Jesus came up out of the water?

In that moment we see all three members of the Godhead interacting — cool!

Jesus didn’t need the cleansing of baptism, but He knew He needed to set an example of holiness and, perhaps more important…He needed the Holy Spirit to empower Him

Before Jesus began His public ministry…He faced a 40 day trial — the only way to prevail was through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit

B. Prevailing Requires the Right Response

Forty days of testing in the wilderness

No food or water

Satan trying to get Him to give up

How did Jesus respond, every single time Satan tempted Him? Three little words; “It is written”

Mt 4:

Matthew 4:4 NIV

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Application

Matthew 4:7 NIV

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

“I will give all the kingdoms of the world to you…just worship me”

Matthew 4:10 NIV

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

Application

“It is written!”

Application

True pursuit of a deeper relationship with God means you are willing to commit your entire life to Him

We can gather several things from Jesus’ baptism and temptation:

True pursuit of a deeper relationship with God means that you are willing to commit your entire life to Him

Consecration — baptism symbolizes this

We must be empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome temptations and trials

We must be students of God’s Word so that we know the truth when the enemy tries to feed us lies

Conclusion

We will gain a deeper and richer relationship with the Lord as we passionately pursue Him and live this life empowered by the Holy Spirit and the Word of Truth

Challenge

Look at your priorities and intentionally begin to change things so that your number one passion and pursuit is to know Jesus more intimately than you did last week

This means looking at your time/priorities and asking the Lord to help you learn to let go of some things in order to grasp onto Him more deeply

When you face temptations, trials, or challenges — determine ahead of time that you will respond to them in these ways

Search your heart and re-affirm your commitment to Jesus

Ask the Lord to fill you with His Holy Spirit and power

Become a passionate consumer of the Word of God

what goes in is what comes out

Garbage in garbage out

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