Devotional: Gospel of Matthew: Shalom 2 U, #15

By Shalom Jim

The Book of Matthew tells us how Jesus came from the seed of Abraham.  It took Abraham about a hundred years before he fully" walk in the Spirit" and not in the flesh.  Jesus was born by the Holy Spirit and conceived in the flesh.  Although Jesus walked about as a man in this world; He did not walk after the flesh but "walked in the Spirit".  You will see Jesus do this time and time again. He is our main example to follow and so we will learn to follow Him.  This book is a daily devotional where we meditate on the word.  Thank Jesus for who He is and all that He has done for us.  We will pray for those that haven't received Him. Shalom 2 U

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shalom2U Ministries
• Release date: Aug 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223188841

Book preview

Day 1: Matthew The work of the Holy Spirit

Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way. While his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

When Mary received and declared the Word of God given to her, this allowed the Holy Spirit to give life to the Word. This is the primary function of the Holy Spirit. She ( Holy Spirit )gives life to the seed, the Word of God when spoken in Faith. This is what females do; give life to man's seed. In a spiritual sense, this is what the Holy Spirit does in the Spirit but it comes to pass in the flesh. In the beginning of creation, God the Father didn't want darkness but light. The Father spoke the Word . Jesus is the Word and the Word is a seed ( Parable of the sower). When the Word was declared Light Be, the Holy Spirit gave life to the Word, and the darkness became light.

Dear Jesus! Thank You for the Holy Spirit, our helper. We declare Light Be to the darkness in the world. Glory be to God in Jesus's name Amen. Shalom 2U

Day 2 Jesus Saves

Mat 1:21 She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins."

Jesus Saves: this is the Good News The Gospel. The too-good-to-be-true Good News. Man finds it hard to believe and unfortunately, too many churches are preaching the law instead of the Gospel, Good News. Too many Christians are trying to save themselves. They want to keep the law. They want to obey the law; but without Jesus doing it, it can't be done. It will only produce self-righteousness . When we receive Jesus into our hearts, He comes in to save us. By faith, not works, we believe and declare who we are in Christ Jesus . We declare by faith that we are righteous in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit, our helper, produces the gift of righteousness in our lives. This is how Jesus saves. When He does the work, we have peace-Shalom and the fullness of joy.

Dear Jesus. Thank you for doing what I could not do. I am righteous in you because you came into my life and saved me. I thank you for the peace that passes understanding and unspeakable joy. Amen.  Shalom 2U

Day 3. Jesus, the Bread of Life

Mat 2:5  In Bethlehem of Judea, they said, "for it is written this way by the prophet:

Note: They were Truly Wise Men for they knew and believed the word of God.

Mat 2:6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are in no way least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’"

Note:  Mic 5:2 "As for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah, even though you remain least among the clans of Judah, nevertheless, the one who rules in Israel for me will emerge from you. His existence has been from antiquity, even from eternity.

Mat 2:8  He sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well.

Note: Bethlehem- House of Bread.  Jesus is the Bread of Life.

Mat 2:15  He stayed there until Herod died. In this way what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet was fulfilled: I called my Son out of Egypt.

Note: Prophecy - Hos 11:1 ISV "When Israel was a young child I loved him, and from Egypt, I called my son.

Dear Jesus!  Thank You for feeding us Your life-given Words.  To God be the glory Amen!  Shalom 2U

Day 4. Repent

Mat 3:1-3  In those days John the Baptist came into the wilderness of Judea proclaiming, 2 Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. 3 For he is the one about whom Isaiah the prophet had spoken:  The voice of one shouting in the wilderness,  ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.’

We hear a lot about repenting.  At least I did most of my life.  Today there are some churches that tell people that they don't have to repent.  God loves them.  God loves everyone but everyone has to repent.  Romans 3:10  As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;

Now repenting is as difficult as one might think.  One doesn't have to confess every sin in their life.  There are many that we have forgotten and many that we are not conscious of committing.  Repenting is acknowledging to God that we have sinned and need Jesus ( Jehovah Saves) to come into our hearts and save us.  Now Jesus comes into your heart to save you.  You are now Born Again .  You are a New Creation made in the image and likeness of God.  So your new spirit man is righteous but your soul has to be renewed in order to control the flesh from sinning.  Most people put themselves under the Law.  The Law doesn't save you, only Grace.  Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  We renew our souls, (our minds, will, and emotions) by declaring Who we are in Christ Jesus .  The Holy Spirit will then Give Life to our flesh to live righteously.  Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Dear Jesus!  Thank You for coming not to condemn us but to save us.  In You, we are righteous.  We declare our righteousness in You and thanks to the Holy Spirit to help us live righteously.  It's all by Grace not works. Glory be to God Amen.  Shalom 2U

Day 5. Judging & Producing

Mat 3:7- But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance,

Here we see John the Baptist judging.  Many Christians believe that we should not judge but here and in many other places of the New Testament,  we are called to judge.  I believe that the main thing is not to condemn.  Bring them to Jesus and He will save them.  John also states that we should see them filled with the fruits of the Holy Spirit. We judge that we all need Jesus in our lives.

Dear Jesus!  When we abide in You, we produce the fruits of the Holy Spirit.  When we try living on our own,  our lives are lacking Your peace, love, patience, self-control,  joy, faith, and all the things that give us life.  In You is the fullness of life.  We pray for those that need to come to You and receive everlasting life.  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all in Jesus's name Amen. II Corinthians 13:14 Shalom 2U

Day 6 Receive the Holy Spirit

Mat 3:16- After Jesus was baptized, just as he was coming up out of the water, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, This is my one dear Son; in him, I take great delight.

Jesus was already filled with the Holy Spirit.  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  Now the Holy Spirit is upon Him.  Just like in the Old Testament,  the Holy Spirit came upon the Prophets to anoint them to do certain tasks.  This is the first time,  out of 3 times that God the Father, declares that Jesus is His beloved Son.

Dear Jesus!  We thank You for making us a child of God.  We might not hear it with our physical ears, but we believe it in our hearts and hear it with our spiritual ears.  You have given us the Holy Spirit to help us do Your will and follow You.  Holy Spirit fall afresh on us.  Give