After a one-blog break to focus on a Thanksgiving message last week, it’s back to the How To Minister Like Jesus series. This post will focus on The Good News of Jesus Christ. “Extra, Extra, Read All About It!”
The Kingdom of God is at Hand!
When John the Baptist appeared and began his ministry in Israel, Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled (Isaiah and Malachi). John the Baptist’s ministry prepared Israel for the coming Messiah, Jesus. Good News is coming!
Matthew 3:2 KJV
And (John the Baptist) saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jesus confirmed the words of John the Baptist, as He stated in…
Luke 4:18 NIV
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
This is the scripture where Jesus actually read from the scroll from Isaiah 61:1-2. There has never been any better Good News than this!
Here’s how this series on How To Minister Like Jesus is unfolding. Two parts:
- The Kingdom of God is the main or central theme of the Bible
- Adam and Eve had it, and then they lost it
- Jesus restored it
- Through the cross
- So we are reconciled with God through forgiveness, thus restoring God’s image in us
- Through the resurrection
- Thus Satan’s rule was broken and God’s rule was re-established in those who are born again
- Through the cross
- The Kingdom (meaning rule or domain) of God’s original (Edenic) intent has been restored
Mark 1:15 KJV
And (Jesus) saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel (the good news).”
Restoration (next week’s blog topic)
Jesus has restored the Kingdom of God in us through what He has done. So that is indeed Good News! In other words, we can say that the Kingdom of God has healed (made whole) us through what Jesus has done.
So Jesus brought salvation for the whole of mankind. Not just saved spiritually. But also the saving of our damaged emotions, restoration of our broken bodies, saving from worldly/demonized influences, and saving from dying (before the appointed time) and death.
What is it that Jesus has restored? Reflect back to two weeks ago regarding the blog about what has come Undone to know what it is that Jesus has restored.
Challenge of the Week
How have you been programmed? Have you developed filters with what you hear and in what you say, to protect that programming? Is there anything in you that needs reprogrammed? What blocks need to be removed from your filters? Are you believing (or not believing) something you were told that has no Biblical foundation? “Extra, Extra, Read All About It!” So be it.
