Meditating on Matthew 16-19

Sermons of the Kingdom (Nov 21)

Matthew records many crucial
incidents from Jesus’ life in these
four chapters. Though Christ
takes time to heal an epileptic boy,
pay His temple tax and confront
the increasingly hostile Pharisees,
it is clear that His primary concern
is for His disciples: those He would
soon leave behind to continue
the work He had begun. Healings
and discourses, miracles and
parables – all focus on Jesus’
faithful followers to prepare them
for the difficult days just ahead.

In Matthew 16-19, Jesus is preparing
His disciples for challenges ahead
in taking the Gospel to the world.
God has all the resources you need
to do the task He left you on earth.
There is just one thing He lacks:
your availability and willingness
to put your total trust in Him.
Lord, we purpose to boost Your
Kingdom by sharing the gospel.
Lord, we will Be Wary of Unbelief.
Lord, we will Work on Faith in You.
Lord, we will Pray In Agreement.
In Jesus’ precious name we pray.

Lord, we will be Wary of Unbelief:
One day the Pharisees came to
test Jesus’ claims by asking him
to show them a miraculous sign.
He replied: Only faithless would ask
for a miraculous sign… Later after
they crossed to the other side of the
lake, the disciples discovered they
had forgotten to bring any food.
Watch out! Beware of yeast of the
Pharisees… Jesus said You have so
little faith! Why are u worried about
having no food. Don’t you remember
the 5000 I fed with five loaves and
the (12) baskets of food left over?
Don’t you remember the 4000
I fed with seven loaves, with
(7) baskets of food left over?
So again I say: Beware of the
yeast of the Pharisees (Mt 16: 1-11)
Lord, Thank You for giving us
faith in You that is real & personal.
We will not demand any extra
proof as an excuse for unbelief.
And we will remember God’s
provision in the past and trust
Him for future provision. Amen.

Lord, we’ll work on Faith in You:
The disciples asked: Why couldn’t
we cast out that boy’s demon?
So Jesus said to them: Because
of your unbelief; for assuredly
I say to you, if you have faith
as a mustard seed, you will say
to this mountain: Move from here
to there, and it will move; and
nothing will be impossible for you.
But this kind does not go except
by prayer & fasting (Mt 17:19-21).
Lord, the mountain of my situation
seems so large and heavy yet
You are the source of my strength.
Although my faith seems small, yet
when placed in the Creator’s hands,
it can produce a greater harvest
than I could ever imagine possible.
Lord, take my tiny seed of faith
and multiply it with Your strength.
Thank You for assuring me nothing
is impossible with You. Amen.

Lord, we will Pray In Agreement:
Assuredly I say to you, whatever
you bind on earth will be bound
in heaven, and whatever you loose
on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Again I say to you that if two of you
agree on earth concerning anything
that they ask, it will be done for
them by My Father in heaven.
For where two or three are gathering
together in My name, I am there
in the midst of them (Matt 18:18-20)
Lord, help me to find believers with
whom I can agree in prayer on a
regular basis. I pray we will be in
agreement about the truth of Your
Word and the power of Your Spirit.
You have said that one can put a
thousand to flight and two can put
ten thousand to flight. I pray for
prayer partners to put the enemy’s
forces attacking our lives to flight.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.