The Kingdom of God is at Hand!

by Greg Trainor, HSMA Exec. Director

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A few months ago, I found myself wondering: what was the message that Jesus preached? What was the specific content of his preaching as recorded in the Gospels? What was the recurrent theme? I had a sense that God was going to teach me something. Often, such inquiries into His Word bring a new clarity and depth to my understanding of His Word.

The message that Jesus proclaimed.

I began to see a very clear theme in the preaching of Jesus: He proclaimed the "gospel of the kingdom" and that the "kingdom of God is at hand." We can see this from the very outset of the public ministry of Jesus:

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" Mark 1:14-15

From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Matthew 4:17

This proclamation of the nearness of the kingdom of God, was not just a matter of theory. Jesus demonstrated the kingdom of God with great authority: Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. (Mat 4:23-24)

People saw the authority with which Jesus commanded demons and they obeyed Him:

(Mark 1:26-27) The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him."

Jesus could have commanded the demon to leave in silence. He permitted the shaking and shrieking so that those present could see physical evidence of the deliverance that was taking place. The onlookers were amazed. They had never seen someone who spoke with such authority. The kingdom of God was being demonstrated before them.

Jesus demonstrated the kingdom of God.

Jesus demonstrated the kingdom of God and it's victory over sickness and disease: Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing (Mat 15:30-31). And they praised the God of Israel. Through many healings and miracles Jesus demonstrated that the kingdom of God was "not a matter of talk, but of power" (1 Corinthians 4:20).

Jesus demonstrated authority over the physical elements with the multiplication of food and the changing of the water into wine. He took authority over nature in the calming of the storm. He showed that the kingdom of God had authority even over death. These miracles showed more than an exercise of power; they were a demonstra tion of the compassion and mercy of God. This is seen when Jesus comes upon the funeral of a widow who is burying her only son. The Gospel of Luke records that "when the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her and he said, ‘Does cry.'" The crowd was filled with awe when Jesus raised the man to life and gave him back to his mother. They said, "A great prophet has appeared among us . . . God has come to help his people" (Luke 7:12-16).

The disciples were sent to proclaim and demonstrate the kingdom of God.

When Jesus sent forth the first twelve, "He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to preach the king dom of God and to heal the sick (Luke 9:1-2). He later "appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go" (Luke 10:1). He instructed them: "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The king dom of God is near you' (vv. 8-9).

These disciples experienced tremendous results when they proclaimed the kingdom of God: The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons sub mit to us in your name" (Luke 10:17). I think that many of these disciples were still amazed when Jesus demon strated the authority of the kingdom of God. Now they were seeing the same results when they proclaimed the kingdom and prayed for the needs of others in Jesus' name.

The disciples continue to proclaim the kingdom after Jesus ascended into heaven: "Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it" Mark 16:20. The book of Acts is filled with examples of proclaiming Jesus as Messiah, preaching that the kingdom of God is near, and demonstrating the kingdom of God by praying for the needs of people.

Here we see a biblical principle: proclamation and demonstration. As Christians, we are called to go into all the world and proclaim the good news to all of creation. We are to proclaim that the kingdom of God is at hand. We are to proclaim the Gospel, showing people that it is through faith in Jesus Christ that we gain access to the kingdom of God: "Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'" (John 14:6).

We must proclaim and demonstrate the kingdom of God.

Proclaiming the kingdom of God can be done in rather simple ways. I often do it without ever using the phrase "the kingdom of God is at hand." I tell people that God is near to them and that He loves them with the love that a parent has for a child. They need to see that God is approachable and that we can come to Him with our needs. I encourage them to accept Jesus as their Savior and offer to pray for their needs.

Whenever we have the opportunity to proclaim the kingdom of God, we should look for the opening to dem onstrate it through prayer. Look for the needs of the person that you are talking with. Do you sense that God wants to heal them or set them free. Ask them, "Is there anything that you would like to pray for today?"

The key thing is that we proclaim the Gospel, let people know that God is personally concerned for them and wants to change their life. I know that God will fulfill His promise to make them a new creation if they come to Him (2 Corinthians 5:17). It doesn't matter if the circumstances of their life look changeable in a human perspective. I have a confidence that God will prove Himself strong when I proclaim Jesus as Savior, that the kingdom of God is at hand.

Conclusion.

My confidence lies in God and His absolute power over sickness, disease, death, demon power, and the physical elements of nature. I can proclaim Him in every situation without regard to how unpleasant the circum stances that I currently find myself in. I can proclaim that the kingdom of God is at hand in a urine soaked sidewalk filled with the cardboard houses of homeless people. I can proclaim to a church full of people in Cuba, "seek first the kingdom of God and His ways of righteousness and all these things (material needs) will be added unto you besides. I can stand before someone that comes forward in a healing service that God is stronger than the cancer the doctors say will soon claim their life. For truly, the kingdom of God is at hand!

Topical Bible Study:  In His Word

The Holy Spirit's Action
in the Preaching of the Gospel.

One of the ways to study Scripture that I find very productive is to study all of the scriptures that relate to a particular topic (topical Bible study). I began doing this when I first came into a deeper walk with the Lord. I would read the Gospels and note every time that the particular topic was addressed. I soon found books that listed Scripture references by topics. The computer has now made this process considerably easier. In His Word will address different topics, bringing you a good sam pling (not an exhaustive list) of Scriptures on different topics.

This month, we are looking at the action of the Holy Spirit in the preaching of the Gospel. God calls each of us to be used in the spreading of the Gospel. Examining these New Testament Scriptures will help us to see the powerful way that the Holy Spirit will move in our lives when we share the good news of the Gospel with others. The disciples preached the Gospel, not in their own power, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will also empower you when you give God permission to use you in the spreading of the Gospel:

(Mark 13:11) Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

(Luke 12:12) for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."

(John 14:26) But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

(Acts 1:8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

(Acts 2:38) Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

(Acts 4:8-10) Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! {9} If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, {10} then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

(Acts 4:31) After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

(Acts 10:44-45) While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the mes sage. {45} The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.

(Acts 11:13-16) He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. {14} He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.' {15} "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. {16} Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'

(Acts 13:9-11) Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, {10} "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? {11} Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun." Immedi ately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

(Hebrews 2:3-4) how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first an nounced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. {4} God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distrib uted according to his will.

(1 Peter 1:12) It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.