More thoughts on The Gospel of the Kingdom
I sat down with my coffee and oatmeal this morning and was prompted by the Lord to turn to the first chapter of Mark and start reading. I don’t know if I’m missing something or there’s some key point I’ve yet to see and apply, because this isn’t the first time He’s led me here. Well, not exactly. He’s led me to similar passages. A lot of them. In fact, I’ve written about it before – Ryan Wyatt preached on this topic at the Lakeland revival.
In Mark 1, John the Baptist comes on the scene preaching repentance, preparing the way. Then Jesus is baptized, and the Father confirms His identity (can you imagine what that must have been like?? WOW).
Immediately after, the Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness where he fasts 40 days and is tempted by satan, then the angels ministered to Him. After that, He headed back to town:
Mark 1:14 – “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel.”
That’s one of my favorite verses in the whole Bible because it’s so full of promise!
What Jesus means by this statement is shown in His next actions (this is just chapter 1 of Mark)-
- calling disciples
- teaching with authority
- delivering a man from a demon
- healing a sick woman
- more healing and deliverance (the whole city was gathered together at the door!)
- praying
- planning for the next towns; He said “that I may preach there also…”
And what did He do there?
- preached
- cast out demons
- cleansed a leper
What Jesus taught with authority in Mark 1:21 is likely the same that He taught in Luke 4 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor, He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed, To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
The gospel is much more than we moderns make it. Jesus’ actions (mirrored years later by the Apostles) show us that there’s far more to it than, “If you die tonight, are you sure that you’re going to heaven?”
So why isn’t the church living it? Why am I not living it more? That, perhaps, is why God keeps bringing me back here.
3 Responses
I praise God that he has shown you the truth about His Power in the lives of those of us who still believe that He still woprks in the world today.
How are u? It has been a long time.
If you quiet your mind and pray for the HS to lead you, He will always show you what you need for EVERY circumstance. Every scripture, including the OT, is relevant today and there are many jewels, not just the obvoius ones, in every single one of then.
One word of caution. What I have found by reading the Word is that what is most important is our personal relationship with Christ. Without that, no amount of believing or confessions will accomplish what we wish for. While I still believe that God wishes to heal everyone of His children, I find that many (esp. In WOF) are like spoiled children. They want what they want and expect to get what they want, they forgo or forget or try and bypass their responsibilities. Instead of allowing themsemves to be lead by the HS and instead of spending time with the Word or even spending time praying and listening to GOD getting to know Him, there are those who think that they will get what they want by repeating certain verses over and over and over again.
Remember, Jesus said that only those who obey and are led of God are truly His mother, brothers, or sisters.
I am here for you at any time. I have spent the last few years listening to the HS and with God trying to sort out the fact from the fiction that I was taughrt as a child. I will at NO time give any advice that I wasn’t taught by the leading of the HS.
I love you in Christ and I still think about you ans wonder how you are doing.
Don’t be a stranger, feel free to e-mail me, even if it is just a simple HI. I too am a new creation, not perfect, but I sure am trying to be and I am still growing strong. Paul said to forget about the past and to go on towards the high mark. That is what I am tryong to do here. I want to apologize for all I have done. I believe that my intentions on many thing were misconstrude to mean other things than they were meant to. Let me clear the air and say this, then may it never be meantioned again. I was NEVER a part of ANY conspiracy to bring down EW. I simply spoke what I believed to be true and there wasn’t ONE thing that I said on EW’s PM’s that I did not say outright to those involved. I was NOT ever a mouth piece or manipulated by anyone to say or do anything, nor did I ever encourage any such thing. I can however see where such things could have been misconstrude as such and I apologise for that. Paul says that we must avoid all appearances of evil and I guess I didn’t that very well.
It’s a new day and my purpose is to teach the WORD, nothing else matters
As far as I know, EW still lives! 🙂
Praise God for that. Spreading the Word that Jesus loves everyone and that He is just waiting with open arms for any and everyone to accept His love is our mission in life. Any ministry that does such is to be respected, reguardless of our differences.
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