1. Last time we looked at the temptations of Christ

A. First, we saw that the Holy Spirit was the one that led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted and tested.

Deuteronomy 8:2 (NKJV) — 2 And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

B. We said it is a great gift for God to show us what is in our hearts.

King David said: Psalm 139:23–24 (NKJV) — 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

C. Christ was fully God and fully flesh.

- He was born without sin, without the Adamic nature so He didn’t have the propensity to desire to sin.

- Yet because He was fully flesh, He felt the burn of the temptation.

- The Bible says that Jesus was tempted in all points common to man yet without sin. Jesus can identify with you.

D. We saw that the devil will use doubt or pride to bring deception into your lives to cause you to give into temptation.

E. We saw that Jesus always rightly used the Word of God to combat the devil’s temptations.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) — 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

F. The way of escape from temptations is the Word of God!

- This is one of the paramount reasons to be a student of the Word of God. You can’t use what you don’t have within you.


2.After the temptations Jesus launches His ministry that will last about 3 to 3 ½ years.

Text 12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: 16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.”

- WOW, that’s the good news that in the midst of man’s utter spiritual darkness light has come!

John 8:12 (NKJV) — 12 … Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”


A. So, what was the foundation of Jesus’ message as He launched it?

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mark 1:14–15 (NKJV) — 14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

B. There seems to be some unnecessary confusion about Jesus’ teachings.

- There are those that say, “Jesus never preached, taught or spoke about sin or certain sins so therefore the church shouldn’t talk about them either.”

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began [the beginning of something continuous] to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mark 1:15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

C. Some would say, “But show me where Jesus said such and such was a sin”.

- One of the foundational principles of proper exegesis of Scriptures, exegesis meaning allowing the text to say what it is saying, is who is the audience being addressed.

- Who was Jesus’ audience, the Jews.

- What did all the Jews have, the Law, God’s moral compass.

- Just ONE Case and point, the conversation that Jesus had with the Rich Young Ruler.

Luke 18:18–20 (NKJV) — 18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”

- Listen to what Jesus said, “You know the commandments, the Law of Moses”.

D. The Apostle Paul’s ministry was to the Gentiles. The Gentiles had no moral compass. Paul had to instill in them through his teachings the moral compass of the Law.

Romans 7:7 (NKJV) — 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”

E. Paul, In his writings, had to remind the Gentiles and bring them back to that moral compass when he wrote to them.

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 (NKJV) — 9 Do you not know (how would they know except through the Law) that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

F. Jesus’ audience was the Jews that had the Law of Moses as their true moral compass.

- When Jesus said, “Repent” the Holy Spirit immediately put His finger on their sins that the Law of God, the Light of God shown on.

- Jesus called people to repentance.


3. Jesus told His disciples to call people to repentance

Luke 24:46–47 (NKJV) — 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

A. The Apostles first message was to call people to repentance.

Acts 2:37–38 (NKJV) — 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 3:19 (NKJV) — 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Acts 17:30 (NKJV) — 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commandsall men everywhere to repent,

B. Again, there is unnecessary confusion today about what it means to Repent.

- New Testament was written in Greek.

- Most of the Greek words in the New Testament were used as it was in common society at the time.

C. However, there are a few Greek words that are used or defined differently in the New Testament from its common usage in that day and time.

- Ekklesia – Called out ones – used for public meetings, town hall meetings, any group called out for a purpose.

D. The Greek word for repent is Metanoeo (Mehtow-noel) – to change one’s mind

- I order a strawberry salad and change my mind and order a chicken Cesar salad. That is the classical use of the Greek mehtow-noel.

E. Yet in the New Testament the word, repent or repentance is always connected to the change and emotion of the heart.


Luke 18:10–14 (NKJV) — 10 Jesus said…“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, Jesus said, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 7:36–50 (NKJV) — 36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So, he said, “Teacher, say it.” 41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii two years worth of wages, and the other fifty, 50 days worth of wages. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” 48Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

2 Corinthians 7:9–10 (NKJV) — 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, ... 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

F.The greater the repentance, the deeper the release the greater the cleansing and the greater the freedom

- Again, my dream – My life with all my sins written on this huge page. I fell to my hands and knees weeping over my sins. As I was weeping, I saw this wave of red wash over the page of my life. I knew it was the blood of Jesus! As it washed over the page the place where my sins were written became brilliant white! The Blood of Jesus didn’t cover my sins it washed them away!!!!! I then wept not for sorrow but gratitude that a Holy God would forgive, pardon and wash my sins away!

G. One of the greatest gifts the Holy Spirit FRIST brings to you is the gift of conviction of your sins.

- It causes great internal and emotional distress but that’s a good thing. It lets you know you have faith available to reach out to God for forgiveness.

H. There are those that don’t like conviction so they down play it but unless there is conviction there can be no forgiveness.

- Conviction lets you know you have a problem that you cannot solve.

- Conviction is God’s love. Conviction is God’s invitation to come to Him and have your sins forgiven.

I. Once you feel that conviction what do you do to accept God’s invitation to have your sins forgiven?

- Admit/Acknowledge you are a sinner and cannot save yourself.
- Believe that Jesus died for your sins and arose from the grave.
- Confess your sins to God and ask God to forgive you of your sins for Jesus sake.
- Dedicate your life through repentance to receive Jesus Christ into your life as your personal savior and Lord.



Now I want to show you something about Jesus’ ministry that every believer should have in their life.


4. HOW Jesus started His ministry is important for you and I today as believers and followers of Jesus.

Luke 4:14–19 (NKJV) — 14 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. 15 And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”


A. Jesus became flesh to show us our dependency on the Holy Spirit.

- At Jesus’ baptism, which was not a baptism of repentance but consecration, dedication and induction of ministry, the Holy Spirit descend upon Him bodily in the form of a dove.

B. The Holy Spirit would be the power of His ministry as it is the power of our lives and ministry.

- Yes, you have a ministry and you are to rely upon the Holy Spirit’s power for your ministry.

Acts 10:38 (NKJV) — 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

C. God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit AND with power and God will anoint you with the same Holy Spirit and the same power!

1 Corinthians 2:4–5 (NKJV) — 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

D. The power of God is to be displayed in and through the Church of Jesus Christ!

- There is to be the demonstration of the Holy Spirit and of power!

- It was the hallmark of Jesus’ ministry and it was the hallmark of the Book of Acts believers and it is to be the same today!

E. Jesus wants His Church, you, to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

John 7:38–39 (NKJV) — He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

F. Jesus’ command was to go and make disciples but the imperative was to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Luke 24:49 (NKJV) — 49 “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Acts 1:4–5 (NKJV) — 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Acts 1:8 (NKJV) — 8 And you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 2:1–4 (NKJV) — 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

- We are to be Spirit filled believers!

G.Water baptism is an event, an important event.

- There’s a place and time and once baptized you are dry in 15 minutes.

H.There’s the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, which also includes a place and a time.

- For some who have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit it’s just an event in their lives.

- They were immersed in the River of God, the Holy Spirit and now they are dry.

- Jesus said we are to have rivers of living water, the Holy Spirit, flowing out of us!

- You cannot have the river of God flowing out of you and be dry!

I.Many who have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit get Spirit inspired when at worship service but are dry the rest of the week.

J. The Book of Acts Church turned their cities upside down because they were spirit filled, for they had the rivers of living water were flowing out of them.

- We are not to just be in the river but we are to have the river of God flowing out of us everywhere we go.

- Jesus wants His Church empowered with the Holy Spirit.

- Jesus wants His Church to pray in the Spirit. The Holy Roar of Heaven

- Jesus wants His Church to let the River of God, the Holy Spirit flow into a lost and dying world.

- LET THE RIVER FLOW!