Hi, friends. I'm Annie F. Downs. Let's read the Gospels. The Gospels are the first four books of the New Testament in the Bible, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

These are the stories of Jesus Christ's life on earth, the friendships, the parables, the sacrifices, the meals, and the miracles.

As you know, you have heard three books so far in April. We are working on the fourth one. We read all four books every month.

We get a chance to rate and review the show. That would mean a lot. Helps to get in front of some new eyes that may want to join us for the rest of this month or starting with us in May.

So here's how this works. I'm going to read three chapters to you today. You can listen or read along in your own Bible or online. And I will pray, and that is it.

Today is April 22nd, day 22, and I will be reading Matthew, chapters four through six. And this month, I'm reading from the message.

Matthew 4. Next, Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the test. The devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the test by fasting 40 days and 40 nights.

That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the devil took advantage of in the first test. Since you are God's son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.

Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy. It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth.

For the second test, the devil took him to the Holy City. He sat him on top of the temple and said,

since you are God's son, jump. The devil goaded him by quoting Psalm 91. He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won't so much a stub your toe on a stone.

Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy. Don't you dare test the Lord your God. For the third test, the devil took him to the peak of a huge mountain.

He gestured, expansively, pointing out all the earth's kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said,

they're yours, lock, stock and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me and they're yours. Jesus' refusal was curred. Be it Satan.

He backed his rebute with third quotation from Deuteronomy. Worship the Lord your God and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.

The test was over. The devil left. And in his place, angels came and took care of Jesus' needs.

When Jesus got word that John had been arrested, he returned to Galilee. He moved from his hometown Nazareth to the lakeside village, Capernum, nestled at the base of the Zebulan and Naftali hills.

This move completed Isaiah's revelation. Land of Zebulan, land of Naftali, road to the sea. Over Jordan, Galilee, crossroads for the nations.

People sitting out their lives in the dark saw a huge light. Sitting in that dark, dark country of death, they watched the sun come up.

This Isaiah prophesied revelation came to life in Galilee the moment Jesus started preaching. He picked up where John left off. Change your life, God's kingdom is here.

Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers. Simon, later called Peter and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work.

Jesus said to them, come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.

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