Over the last 3 Sundays, we have been preaching about the kingdom of God. In the New Testament, the Kingdom of God is viewed as apocalyptic (describing or prophesying the complete destruction of the world) and eschatological. Jesus is King in a spiritual sense, and His Kingdom is here. It belongs to the church (Matt 12 and Rev. 2-3). Jesus announced it Himself: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15). Yet, it is not until the Parousia (the Second Coming) that this Kingdom of God that will never end is to take over completely.
In the meantime, we are to remain watchful for the return of the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, by living our lives as salt and light in this world. We are to act as agents of reconciliation of God's redeeming grace. We are in the world for the world and in our mouths is the Word of God that people need to hear and understand while there is time.
While in New York City, Allan and I visited the Ground Zero Museum, where Twin Tower used to stand (each had 110 floors). There was nothing but remains of the ruins and a museum to house the aftermath of the 9/11/021 tragedy. At least 102 countries lost citizens in the attacks. Most of those 2,977 people killed were civilians except for 343 members of the New York City Fire Department and 71 law enforcement officers who died in the World Trade Center and on the ground in New York City; More than 6,000 others were injured. This tragedy is forever etched in the hearts of the American people, particularly in their surviving families.
Looking at these photos, I saw a parallel between the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everyone is being accounted for. Jesus is doing the same because He didn’t want anyone to perish! How loving, merciful, and gracious is our God! However, the difference with the 9/11 attack is that there were probably no warning signs or intelligence intercepted about the attack. And so, the US authorities could not prevent, warn, and protect its people from danger like this. UNLIKE THE 9/11 Tragedy, WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR this impending end that is sure to come!
Jesus talked about the end times and final judgment to emphasize to his followers the urgency of spreading the Good News of salvation to everyone. In Matthew 24, Jesus warns about the future. He answers the 3 questions about the end of the age posed by his disciples. 3 Later, Jesus was sitting at a place on the Mount of Olives. The followers came to be alone with him. They said, “Tell us when these things will happen. And what will happen to prepare us for your coming and the end of time?” Jesus described the future as a time of wars, pestilence, famines, persecutions, false Messiahs, and religious systems increasing in intensity as the age near its end, culminating in tribulations such as the world has never seen, nor ever shall see again. And then, in verse 14:
In Matthew 24: 14) And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness(testimony) to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Mark 13:10 – 11 and the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.
INSIGHT: OUR GOD IS A GOD WHO VALUES HUMAN LIVES. HE GIVES PEOPLE AN EQUAL CHANCE TO FIND LIFE IN HIM AND THROUGH HIM.
Jesus left the Temple area and was walking away. But his followers came to him to show him the Temple’s buildings. 2 He asked them, “Are you looking at these buildings? The fact is, they will be destroyed. Every stone will be thrown down to the ground. Not one stone will be left on another.”
WHAT ARE THESE BUILDINGS NOW? NOTHING BUT RUINS AND A TOURIST DESTINATION - IT IS SURE TO HAPPEN
ONE MORE FOR JESUS - Isaiah 52:7 (NKJV) — 7 How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Mark 16:15 (NKJV) — 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
1) What is the Gospel of the Kingdom? THIS GOSPEL IS THE
A. Nature – Proclamation of Good News!
B. - centres on Jesus Christ (Acts 5:42; 11:20)
Acts 5:42 (NKJV) — 42 And daily in the temple, and every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Content – What’s in it? - The world has fallen into sin and rebellion against its Creator. As a result, it has come under the power of Satan. SIN – THE GREATEST PROBLEM OF THE HUMAN RACE! THIS PROBLEM HAS NO SOLUTION BUT CHRIST!
SIN - Ephesians 2:1–4 (NKJV) — 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
THE love of God/the grace and mercy of God - 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
- The announcement of God’s salvation (Romans 1:16-17)
Romans 1:16–17 (NKJV) — 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
- The call to repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:47)
Luke 24:47 (NKJV) — 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Matthew 4:17 (NKJV) — 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
- The announcement of peace with God (Acts 10:36; Eph. 2:17-18)
Acts 10:36 (NKJV) — 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—
Ephesians 2:17–18 (NKJV) — 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
(SLIDE 7) You are a Kingdom-witnesses - “Witnessing is simply sharing Christ to others in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the result to God.” Dr. Bill Bright, Founder – Campus Crusade for Christ/CRU
The Manner of witnessing
1) With love (Mark 10:21; Philippians 1:15-17)
21 Jesus felt genuine love for this man as he looked at him. “You lack only one thing,” he told him; “go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor—and you shall have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me.”
Philippians 1:15-17 - 15 Some indeed are preaching Christ out of envy and strife, and some also from goodwill. 16 The former preach Christ out of contention, not sincerely, intending to add trouble to my circumstance. 17 But the latter preach out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
2) With urgency (Ezek. 33:7-9; 2 Cor. 5:20;)
Ezek. 33:7-9 - 7 Now as for you, son of man: I have set you a watchman to the house of Israel. Therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them from Me. 8 When I say to the wicked, “O wicked man, you shall surely die,” and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity. But his blood I will require from your hand. 9 Nevertheless, if you on your part warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity. But you have delivered your soul.
2 Cor. 5:20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us. We implore you in Christ’s stead: Be reconciled to God.
3) Fearlessly (Acts 4:29; Eph. 6:19-20) – PRAY FOR BOLDNESS; THIS IS WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES TO US! HE MAKES US BOLD!
Acts 4:29 - 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats and grant that Your servants may speak Your word with great boldness,
19 Pray for me, that the power to speak may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may speak boldly as I ought to speak.
4) Clearly and courteously (1 Pet. 3:15; Colossians 4:4-6)
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to every man who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you, with gentleness and fear.
Colossians 4:4-6 - 4 that I may reveal it clearly, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, wisely using the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you should answer everyone.
ONE MORE OUT OF HELL; out of eternal damnation -
Various Ways to Witness
1. Personal testimony - HOW? BEFORE/TURN AROUND/AFTER
(Acts 22:3-8)
BEFORE - 3 “I am a Jew,” he said, “born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, but educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel, at whose feet I learned to follow our Jewish laws and customs very carefully. I became very anxious to honor God in everything I did, just as you have tried to do today. 4 And I persecuted the Christians, hounding them to death, binding and delivering both men and women to prison. 5 The High Priest or any member of the Council can testify that this is so. For I asked them for letters to the Jewish leaders in Damascus, with instructions to let me bring any Christians I found to Jerusalem in chains to be punished.
TURNING POINT - 6 “As I was on the road, nearing Damascus, suddenly about noon a very bright light from heaven shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Paul, Paul, why are you persecuting me?’
8 “‘Who is it speaking to me, sir?’ I asked. And he replied, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting.’
Acts 26:1-3 Paul’s Defense Before Agrippa
26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.”
So Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that today I shall make my defense before you against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially because you are an expert in all customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore, I beg you to patiently listen to me.
2) Explaining the Scriptures (Acts 8:30-35) / IT'S GOOD TO SEND THEM BIBLE VERSES EVERY NOW AND THEN, BUT YOUR FRIEND WILL FIND IT HELPFUL IF YOU BOOK AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEM TO EXPLAIN WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN SENDING THEM!
30 Philip ran over and heard what he was reading and asked, “Do you understand it?” 31 “Of course not!” the man replied. “How can I when there is no one to instruct me?” And he begged Philip to come up into the chariot and sit with him.
32 The passage of Scripture he had been reading from was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before the shearers, so he opened not his mouth; 33 in his humiliation, justice was denied him; and who can express the wickedness of the people of his generation?[a] For his life is taken from the earth.”
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Was Isaiah talking about himself or someone else?”35 So Philip began with this same Scripture and then used many others to tell him about Jesus.
3)Using prophetic gifts (1 Cor. 14:24-25)
24 But if you prophesy, preaching God’s Word, even though such preaching is mostly for believers,[a] and an unsaved person or a new Christian comes in who does not understand about these things, all these sermons will convince him of the fact that he is a sinner, and his conscience will be pricked by everything he hears. 25 As he listens, his secret thoughts will be laid bare, and he will fall down on his knees and worship God, declaring that God is really there among you.
4)Apologetics/ Answering questions (John 9:8-11; 15-17; 24-25; 1 Peter 3:15)
His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, “Is this the same fellow—that beggar?” 9 Some said yes, and some said no. “It can’t be the same man,” they thought, “but he surely looks like him!”And the beggar said, “I am the same man!”10 Then they asked him how in the world he could see. What had happened?11 And he told them, “A man they call Jesus made mud and smoothed it over my eyes and told me to go to the Pool of Siloam and wash off the mud. I did, and I can see!” 15 Then the Pharisees asked him all about it. So he told them how Jesus had smoothed the mud over his eyes, and when it was washed away, he could see!
16 Some of them said, “Then this fellow Jesus is not from God because he is working on the Sabbath. Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miracles?” So there was a deep division of opinion among them.17 Then the Pharisees turned on the man who had been blind and demanded, “This man who opened your eyes—who do you say he is?"I think he must be a prophet sent from God,” the man replied. 24 So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “Give the glory to God, not to Jesus, for we know Jesus is an evil person.”
25 “I don’t know whether he is good or bad,” the man replied, “but I know this: I was blind, and now I see!”
1 Peter 3:15 - 15 Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord, and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and do it in a gentle and respectful way.
5) Through writing/correspondence - Luke 1:1-4) - THIS IS HELPFUL TO PEOPLE IN DISTANT PLACES FROM YOU
Luke 1:1-4 - 1 1-4 So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us, using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives. Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story’s beginning, I decided to write it all out for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught.
6) Through holy living (Matthew 5:16; 1 Pet. 3:1-2) WIVES/HUSBAND, YOU CAN HELP YOUR UNBELIEVING PARTNER/BETTER-HALF BY SHOWING THEM IN WORD AND DEED WHY HE/SHE WILL BELIEVE IN JESUS! “LOOK AT WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE!”
14-16 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
1 Pet. 3:1-2 - 1-2 Wives, fit in with your husbands’ plans; for then if they refuse to listen when you talk to them about the Lord, they will be won by your respectful, pure behavior. Your godly lives will speak to them better than any words.
The Kingdom of God is a Kingdom that is always on the go. We are racing with time and every second is critical. Every second is life threatening and there is no time to lose. EVERY PERSON IS IMPORTANT, PRECIOUS, AND WORTH SAVING!
However, what was evident was the community spirit among civilians, firefighters, government authorities, and the military to work together to try and save as many as they could from the rubble of the towers. Photos of firefighters with injured people on stretchers and lifesavers were hung around the museum, showing the heroic acts of these men and women. Firefighters risked their lives and did not waste time trying to save one more and more.
THIS PICTURE SHOWS PEOPLE PLUNGING THEMSELVES TO DEATH OUT OF DESPERATION – IF ONLY SOMETHING COULD BE DONE? ONE MORE OUT OF THE RUBBLE /
WHAT THEY DID? ALL HANDS-ON DECK! PULL THEIR RESOURCES/PRIORITIZE THE 9/11 AND PUT ON HOLD WHATEVER EVERYONE WAS DOING!
CONCLUSION: Matthew 24: 14) And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness(testimony) to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Luke 10:2 “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field."
OUR GOD IS A GOD WHO VALUES HUMAN LIVES. HE VALUES YOURS AND MINE!!! HE DOES NOT WANT ANYONE TO PERISH BUT FOR EVERYONE TO COME TO REPENTANCE! WOULD YOU GO ONE MORE FOR JESUS! ONE MORE TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD – THIS KINGDOM WILL NEVER END!
- ONE MORE FOR JESUS!
