The Kingdom of God(pt.3)....The Gospel for who?

The Kingdom(pt.3)The Gospel for who?

If the gospel is necessary, that implies that whatever was it's substitute was not suffice to accomplish the purposes for which it was intended.  The gospel is good news.  The Gospel is good news from God to HIS people.  This begs the question, what was the bad news?  What were God's people believing that wasn't true?  What was wrong?

What was God's intent towards HIS people?

Genesis 1 - 3

When God created mankind HE gave them dominion over the earth and access to a personal relationship with HIM.  Adam and Eve knew what God looked like, what HE sounded like and had access to eternity.  But when they disobeyed God's command HE banished them from access to HIS presence.  God had so many good plans for man's dominion of HIS Kingdom on earth.  HE wanted man to replicate HIS order and power in the earth all along.  But in order for this to be sustained man would have to remain in constant communication with heaven; to get directives and resources for continued success. 

What happened?

After Adam disobeyed God and was banished from God's presence, sin grew to dominate the earth, so much so that God decided to destroy the entire earth. Genesis 7 God told Noah to build an ark for himself, his family and the animals because all the other people displeased HIM.  HE reiterates HIS plan and purpose for mankind on earth to Noah. Something about the human nature why we keep reverting to sin; because even after the flood, Noah's offspring decided to build the tower of Babel.  Men did what they thought without asking God's opinion, nor paying attention to HIS decrees. Constantly men are drawn to pagan worship instead of acknowledging God as the only supreme God worth worshiping.  God is merciful.  Inspite of our shortfall, HE remains faithful to HIS word. HE promised Noah HE would never destroy the earth again completely.  Genesis 8: 20-22 So from time to time HE pulls the obedient people away from the disobedient ones to start over again. 
Constantly HE reiterates HIS plan and purpose for mankind on earth.

Genesis 9: 1-6

9 God said to Noah and his sons:

I am giving you my blessing. Have a lot of children and grandchildren, so people will live everywhere on this earth. 2 All animals, birds, reptiles, and fish will be afraid of you. I have placed them under your control, 3 and I have given them to you for food. From now on, you may eat them, as well as the green plants that you have always eaten. 4 But life is in the blood, and you must not eat any meat that still has blood in it. 5-6 I created humans to be like me, and I will punish any animal or person that takes a human life. If an animal kills someone, that animal must die. And if a person takes the life of another, that person must be put to death.

Not long after Noah, HE pulls Abraham.

Genesis 12: 1-3

12 The Lord said to Abram:Leave your country, your family, and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation. You will become famous and be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless anyone who blesses you, but I will put a curse on anyone who puts a curse on you. Everyone on earth will be blessed because of you.

Genesis 17 God's one condition to Abraham was that he should remain obedient to God.  Nevertheless, God promises to be their God no matter what.  Over and over throughout the different generations God keeps pulling away HIS righteous people to start over on a new slate.  So it was with Moses and the Israelites. Finally, God promised to send someone, a part of himself to fix the problem.

Isaiah 9: 6-8

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

Jesus changed the  Jewish paradigm

Jesus brought the government of heaven to earth to  help us to finally get it right.  Now we can do things the right way with all the right resources in abundance.  The great news is that 'of the increase of HIS government there will be no end, meaning: once HE brought it, we have all we need and this government will never be overthrown. God fulfilled HIS promise to the Jews by sending HIS son Jesus Christ as the solution of reconciling mankind back to a right relationship with HIM as well as to a rightful position as rulers in the Kingdom of heaven on earth. 2 Corinthians 5: 11-21

Initially, the Jews did not accept Jesus as the Messiah.  They didn't believe HE was from God nor even God himself.  As a result, Jesus invited other 'non-jews', i.e. gentiles, to benefit from HIS actions. St. John 1  Jesus brought truth and grace for all peoples.  Reconciliation to the Father and HIS Kingdom is for anyone who will accept by faith what God promised.  This is the parable of the King who had a great feast with specially invited guests.  But when he sent his servants to get the invitees they were pre-occupied and refused to attend.  So he told the servants to go back out and invite the 'forbidden'.  The Jews and the Gentiles did not mix. Gentiles were considered forbidden and unclean. Luke 14 The gospel is for anyone who will believe Jesus and obey HIS commands of reconciliation to God.  There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit.  God gave Peter this confirmation in a dream about no longer calling different animals unclean.  Acts 10 This is the good news for the gentiles.  The centurion though gentile was now entitled to partake of God's promises according to his faith. Today, our only pre-condition to God is faith in Jesus.

TESTIMONY: Son of Imam starts preaching the Gospel on the streets of GAZA!! - Pod for Israel - Arabic Ministry

WORSHIP: JJ Hairston & Mercy Chinwo : EXCESS LOVE REMIX (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

No one is excluded!

Matthew 4: 3- 9 Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted….

STORY

Matthew 4: 3- 9

"Matthew 4: 3- 9"

Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted….

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

At the end of power there is praise.  Power summons applause, acknowledgement and authority.  The Almighty God is a jealous God. HE demands the glory. Everything thing we do should point back to HIM.  It’s a boomerang of a world that we live in. God made all things to praise HIM, even the demons.  They were kicked out of heaven because they tried to usurp HIS supremacy. The devil tried to deflect, to revert some of God’s glory to himself.  That’s it right there, EGO. The moment we begin to make it about us we begin to loose. Jesus often always reverted back to the Father, HIS father.  We need to discipline ourselves to do the same. We need to review our motives continuously. Who are we trying to impress? Who are we trying to please? Whose agenda are we on?  We should be careful not to loose sight of the mission. What does God require of me? Am I pleasing HIM? Am I in sync with the leading of HIS Holy Spirit?

It was not an accident...

 Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  It was an important part of the agenda.  The wilderness established HIS allegiance.  It prepared HIM for the road ahead. It was HIS starting line to identify the temptations that the devil would throw at HIM; and the mission HE was on.  Jesus declared from the get- go that HE was not about to give the devil any glory for any ‘fame/ fortune/ or misfortune’ that could lie in front and/ ahead of HIM. 

• Bread – referred to strength – physical sustenance i.e. emotional appeal.The devil appealed to Jesus’ nature – the biggest physical threat at the time; the thing which would have been on HIS mind – food. Jesus had just completed 40 days of no food.  HE was famished. The 1st obstacle/ thing in HIS human experience to overcome would have been his physical desire – hunger. Hunger makes us weak. It’s a natural response of the body. When we are weak it interferes with our focus. For Jesus, it was food.  But what is my biggest physical desire? What do I crave? What am I hungry for? It will interfere with my focus. It will make me weak if I don’t address it dead on.

• Performance – referred to psychology – i.e. mental appeal.  We act according to our beliefs. The quality of our performance is based on the standard of our perception.  What does the best look like and whose standards are those? An excellent performance warrants praise. Who are we trying to please or impress.  If I’m trying to please you then am I doing what is on your agenda? If I’m trying to be popular then I’m swayed by the crowd. Our performance is always in comparison to something/  Performance – referred to psychology – i.e. mental appeal.  We act according to our beliefs. The quality of our performance is based on the standard of our perception.  What does our best look like and whose standards are those? An excellent performance warrants praise. Who are we trying to please or impress.  If I’m trying to please you then am I doing what is on your agenda? If I’m trying to be popular then I’m swayed by the crowd. Our performance is always in comparison to something/ someone else – a challenge.  The devil was calling Jesus to a challenge.  He did the same thing with Eve in the garden of Eden.  God calls us to obedience not comparison. Our roles are specific based on HIS ordinance.  God created man. Performance should be derived from purpose.  I am a car hence I drive.  I am a boat hence I sail. I am a man hence I’m obedient. I worship.  I need to be careful not to be influenced by my own opinion nor any other person's opinion but God's.
  

• Praise – referred to power i.e. spiritual appeal.  Life and death is in the power of the tongue. The devil wanted Jesus to praise him.  He was willing to trade power for praise. The power is in the praise.  What we say has an adverse effect on our environs.  There is a spiritual world/ realm that exists simultaneous to the physical world.  The spiritual world is of more significance than the physical world i.e. more powerful. Both worlds have a ruling powers who dominate each territory. Both territories are at war with each other. The fight happens in the spiritual realm and then manifests itself in the physical realm.  Genesis 1 Originally God gave man power to dominate the physical territories.  But then man was deceived by the devil and gave/transferred that power to the devil.  So the devil continues to controls the physical realm if and when man allows him to.  This is because After Jesus Christ came to earth HE gave man the power to take back his authority from the devil.  At the end of the day, it's man's decision.
  

Galatians 5: 16 - 18

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

There is a conflict of interest....

The thing about the fight is that humans are the conduits/ vessels – used. Romans 6 We allow/ choose which god we will allow to use us. We choose which god to serve. That choice dictates our agendas. Each god has his own agenda. Both gods are enemies.  The god of the physical world is satan, and the God of the spiritual world is the Almighty God. The spiritual world/ realm also requires strength to focus and fulfill an agenda; primarily God’s agenda. 

 

Bread is the physical food that gives physical strength; and the Word Of God is the spiritual (bread) food that gives spiritual strength.

Matthew 4:4

But HE answered and said, it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Authority is reflected in speech. The more we speak the word of God in our circumstances, the more spiritually fit we become. And like Jesus, when the devil comes to tempt us we impress and please God with our response. We fight spirit with spirit.  Pay attention: Like Jesus, it is important that you be led by the Holy Spirit.  Do not attempt the wilderness in your own strength.  Do not attempt life in your own strength.  Also, it is imperative that you know The Word.

Psalms 119:11 

Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against THEE. 

All of God’s word from Adam and Eve to Revelation has one aim which is to give glory to The Almighty God. Everything that has breadth was made to praise the Lord! Everything that God made, HE made it to worship HIM.  You cannot worship God and mammon, either you will love one and hate the other.  I pray that like Joshua you will be able to say: Choose this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house we will serve The Lord. Joshua 24

TESTIMONY:  Miracles After Fasting | Storytime | The Power of God Through Fasting | Healing Testimony

WORSHIP: Come Holy Spirit // House of Heroes Worship // GMF Netherlands & Myanmar Choir

When you are tempted use God's word as your weapon, not your emotions!