Preaching the Kingdom of God
“The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.” Luke 16:16, KJV.
Sometimes I think we forget that the message that Jesus preached (and his disciples, and the Apostle Paul) was the Kingdom of God. Jesus said “the Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world. . . and then the end shall come.” (Mt. 24:14)
The Gospel of the Kingdom is a message of power and dominion of the living God over all the forces of darkness and over all the universe. Remember, Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8) God is taking over. He is redeeming mankind back to Himself, and delivering us from the kingdom of darkness and bringing us into the kingdom of His Son. This is an encouraging thought in these troubled times.
To come into the Kingdom, you must be born again. (John 3:3) You do this by making Jesus your personal King, surrendering to His Lordship and believing in what He did in the cross and the resurrection. Then you become, like the centurian said, “a man [or woman] under authority having authority.”
“The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” Matthew 8:8-10, KJV.
Jesus marvels at this man’s faith, but it was because he understood authority. He understood that because he was under authority of the Roman military, therefore he also had authority, and could command the soldiers under him. Likewise, when we come into the Kingdom, we are given authority in the realm of the spirt. We are co-ruling with Jesus. We are seated together with him in heavenly places. (Eph. 2:6)
This Gospel of the Kingdom must be preached. We must understand the call of God to surrender their lives completely to HIm. Then we must understand the authority he has given us. This revelation of authority is and absolute necessity if we are going to take this world for Jesus Christ.
Ever since John, Jesus said, the Kingdom of God is preached, and men press into it. Isn’t it high time that we press into what God has for us today. As we do, we will see multitudes follow us, pressing into the Kingdom of God. It will usher in a great move of the spirit in these last days.
One of the things that must fall by the wayside is the building of our personal kingdoms. You see, it is not about our particular local church, or denomination, or ministry, or missions organization, it’s about the Kingdom of God
There are three aspects of the Kingdom:
1. The Kingdom of God within us when we receive Jesus as Lord. (Luke 17:21)
2. The Kingdom of God in manifestation when devils are cast out. (Luke 11:20)
3. The Kindom of God which will come to all the earth after Jesus returns. (Rev. 11:15)
The most important thing for each of us today is that we surrender to Jesus Christ as the King and ruler of our life. Pray this simple prayer from your heart.
Dear Father, I want to live in your Kingdom. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord. I believe in my heart that you raised Him from the death. I believe Jesus died for me and through Him I am able to become your child. Thank you for receiving me into your family and into your Kingdom, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.