Matthew Chapter 4

 I used this picture because I want you to use the word FAST to remember the 4th chapter of Matthew. This picture does not reflect the right usage of the word FAST but still I think it's effective. 
There are 4 letters in the word fast. That is why we will use it to remember this chapter. (Chapter 4)
In verse 2, we read that Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and then became hungry. From my limited study of starvation from the internet, I learned that people who are starving are hungry in the beginning, then the sensation of hunger, and thirst, goes away until the person is actually about to starve to death . A human adult can starve to death in between 8 to 12 weeks. If Jesus had become hungry again , He was on the verge of starving to death. This is when the devil came to tempt Him . He came to tempt Him  at His weakest point of physical, and mental need. The reading I did suggested that people who are starving to death are irritable, weak,and lethargic. There is also re-feeding syndrome, a condition that occurs in people who go without food starting in as little as 5 days. This condition keeps people from eating food normally when starvation is progressing. They have to be carefully reintroduced to eating solid food or there intestines will simply reject the food  and they will die from the trauma of eating. They use milk to start the process of re-feeding people. That is why powered milk , which is largely rejected as a food source in our country, is such an important staple when we are trying to help other countries with large scale famines. They can safely give powered milk even to the most underfed of children.

Ok, so the point I'm trying to make here is that Jesus was at the point of starving. His physical body was just like ours. The devil tempted Him with more than just breaking His fast. The devil was tempting Jesus to eat when he knew that eating food or "bread" could kill Jesus's physical body. He goes on to tempt Jesus to throw Himself down which would also have killed His physical body. If there is any doubt where suicidal thoughts come from you only have to look to this chapter for the answer. These suggestions come wrapped in deception but the end result would be the same.

One of the most important things to remember about this chapter is (and I've heard a number of pastors say this) that Jesus used only the word of God and His faith in His almighty Father to defeat Satan and his temptations. It is an examplefor us. We have all that we need today to live victorious lives.

Verse  4:11, then the angels came and began to minister to Him. (probably brought Him some milk) .
 Sorry, that's a cupcake. Oh well.
In Matthew 4:12, Jesus left town. He left John sitting in prison when He heard of John's troubles, but by doing so He fulfilled a prophecy in Isaiah and began walking by the sea of Galilee.

We learn in verse 18 that he saw Peter and Andrew fishing. They had been disciples of John but probably went back to work when John became a prisoner. We read in John 1:35-42 that Peter and Andrew had met Jesus before but were not following Him full time. Now in verse 4:19 of Matthew, He calls them to become" fishers of men" He also call James and John in verses 4:21-22. This is another fact I use to remember this chapter. Jesus calls 4 disciples in this chapter. James and John, and Andrew and Peter. 2 sets of brothers.
So, we are using the word FAST that has 4 letters to remember chapter 4, and the fact that Jesus appointed 4 disciples in this chapter. And if 40 days and 40 nights will help you, you can remember that too.

To Recap all of the memory helpers we are using:

CHAPTER 1, first 17 verses are genealogy, at verse 18 if you turn the 18 on it's side it kind of looks like a SWADDLED BABY, the rest of the chapter is the story of the 1 (only) begotten son, the Christmas Story

CHAPTER 2, JESUS TURNS 2, THE WISE MEN COME AND HEROD KILLS THE 2 YEAR OLDS

CHAPTER 3, H2O (WATER) John the baptist baptizes Jesus, and we see the TRINITY  as Jesus leaves the water.
CHAPTER 4, The word FAST has 4 letters, Jesus fasts for 40 days and 40 nights, and Jesus appoints 4 DISCIPLES , Andrew, Peter, and James,John.

So, on to chapter 5, read it as many times as you can, but even once is awesome. Then practice your memory helpers and cues as you go to bed at night or if you can't sleep. Make your self  a cheat sheet if you have to til your brain gets ready to remember. 
 God Bless
Love
Nancy