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Intention

We need to manifest the Kingdom through our lives!

Scripture

Matthew 4:23: And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

Reflection

In Greek, gospel (‘euaggelion’) simply means ‘good news’. It did not refer to some specific piece of news. A first-century citizen would have heard the word and inquired as to what that good news was.

In this passage, we have Matthew’s first account of Jesus’ gospel-preaching ministry. Here, we learn that the good news He preached was the ‘gospel of the kingdom’.

In the ancient world, Roman conquerors would often take over a new kingdom or region. An apostle — an emissary or ambassador of the new occupying ruler — would travel throughout the region proclaiming ‘Gospel! Gospel’ and telling the ‘good news’ of the new ruler. This apostle would also bring with them the new ruler’s culture and principles. They would put the old rulers in cages and humiliate them by parading them through the streets. This is precisely the spiritual force Paul says that Jesus exercised: ‘And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.’ (Colossians 2:15)

But imagine how you would feel if this news came to you but the culture and the kingdom you expected to follow never came? How would this affect the authenticity of the ‘gospel’ that was preached? For many of us, Jesus’ Kingdom Gospel can be difficult to preach because we are still so unfamiliar with the Kingdom itself. What does it mean? What way of life does it entail? How can we manifest it in our lives?

When Jesus preached the ‘Gospel of the Kingdom’, He wasn’t just telling people about it. Jesus manifested the Kingdom. Healing, signs, wonders: even the unclean spirits left at the mention of His name! Love, compassion, a gaze focused on those that society ignored — all manifestations of the Kingdom.

Friends, when we tell people the good news, what we are really saying is… ‘Good news! There is a new ruler in town! Turn away from the old, damning way of life and begin a new one! He has dethroned those who have held you captive and has given you the opportunity for liberty! He has plundered those things that have tortured you and offers you a totally new dimension of freedom! Come! partake in the spoils of the war that was fought and won on your behalf: the Kingdom is now yours!’

When we manifest the kingdom through our lives, the world tastes the entrée of a heavenly feast — their future inheritance if they would accept the invitation. May we both preach and bring forth the Kingdom we preach. This world desperately needs it.

You can read an expanded version of this devotion here.

Video

Prayer

Father,

I am overwhelmed by the lengths You went to just to display Your love for the world and deliver me from darkness. Your Kingdom and governance will know no end, and today afresh I embrace the reality of Your eternal Kingdom.

Holy Spirit, help me to have the discernment and boldness to manifest Your Kingdom to the world around me in whatever way You want, according to Your perfect wisdom.

I submit my day to You today, and everything in it. I submit myself to You and everything I touch, and I ask that You quicken my spirit to preach and manifest the Kingdom of Heaven to those You bring my way.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Author Bio

Isaac Parkinson is the Jesus Campaign Director with Youth for Christ, Australia. He lives in Bendigo, Victoria, with his wife, Emily, and two young kids Heidi and Angus. They are passionate about seeing young people set on fire by the gospel and equipped to tell their peers about Jesus. When Isaac isn’t doing mission work, he can be found running his Earthmoving business, playing & producing music, and tinkering in his shed.

Prayer Points for GO20 Good News Sharing Month

1. Pray for five people during May and share the Good News of Jesus with them. Acts 1:8
2. Pray for a Revival and Transformation for our nation, and the proclamation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in Australia. John 3:16
3. Pray that the Lord of the harvest will thrust out labourers into the Gospel harvest. Pray that God would use His people to reach one billion people around the world this May during GO2020. Mark 16:15

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