Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Matthew 13:44 (KJV)
The True Gospel
What is The Kingdom of God ?
The Priority of
The Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God and His Prophets
All of God’s True Prophets Proclaimed
The Gospel of The Kingdom
of God
Almost everyone believes that the gospel is about the Person of Jesus Christ. Certainly, Christ plays an extremely important and central role to The Good News, but He is not the gospel. Consider this, Christ preached a Gospel before his death, burial and resurrection.
The Bible shows that Jesus is preached in conjunction with the gospel. Again, His role is enormous. But He is not the gospel.
Some proclaim a “gospel of salvation,” others a “gospel of grace.” Still others believe a “gospel of miracles” or a “social gospel.” Yet others think of the “gospel of foods” or of “healing” or of “faith.” And there are some who merely think of “gospel music” when they hear this word. These manmade ideas all ignore the truth of the Bible!
Notice Mark’s account again: “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.” (Mark 1:14) This is the gospel that Jesus preached. It was in this same context that He said, “Repent you, and believe the gospel.” Which gospel?…of the “kingdom of God.
What is the kingdom of God?
The kingdom of God (i.e., the reign of Christ) reaches beyond those in the church (cf. Psa 110), but it
benefits those in the church (cf. Ep 1:22-23). Its benefits are such that we often read of...
Again, the word kingdom simply means “government.” Of course, you cannot have a government without a nation to govern. Therefore, a kingdom is at least one nation with a government.
There are FOUR necessary components of any kingdom: (1) Land, property or territory—however large or small. In other words, one must have a specific and definite set of boundaries establishing the size of the kingdom, (2) a ruler, king, monarch or governor leading the government, (3) people or subjects living within the territory governed, and (4) a system of laws and rules and a basic structure of government.
No kingdom is complete without all these basic elements.
But how does this apply to God’s kingdom? Is this to be a literal, physical place on Earth, with people and laws, presided over by a ruler?
Most do not understand even these most basic elements of the kingdom of God. Some believe that this kingdom is in the hearts of men. Others believe that it is wherever you find a particular church. Still others believe that it is Jesus Christ Himself. Some believe that it is on Earth now, with others believing that it is yet to come, but not understanding how or when this will occur.
Such confusion!
So many believers suffer needlessly in their walk with Christ, seemly because they lack the true meaning of the message of the "Good News" of The Kingdom of God and just what the governing laws, principles and priorities that are associated with The Kingdom of God.
In The Kingdom of God there are priorities that are nothing like religion. Many seeking to "establish" themselves, whether in their personal lives or in a ministry, they have planned it all out...BUT why then are so many believers sick, broke and failing to discern critical matters of the heart and matters pertaining to everyday life decisions?
Areas that the Father is truly concerned with as it pertains to them as a whole. The answer is found in The Kingdom of God. Hidden in Him since the foundations of the world. Seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of God and ALL these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
How do the true prophets of God connect with the Kingdom of God? ( not religion) Every true prophet of God has and will proclaim The Gospel of The Kingdom of God:
Isaiah and Jeremiah
Isaiah wrote, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and thegovernment shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 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 FOREVER” (9:6-7).
The prophet Jeremiah directly preached the gospel!
Ezekiel and Daniel
Ezekiel (36:24).
The next ten verses describe a period of rebuilding and national prosperity that can only happen after Christ’s Return.
And Daniel wrote, “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Dan. 2:44).
All the Minor Prophets
With the possible exception of Jonah (who must have preached it outside of his book), all of the Minor Prophets recorded the gospel of the kingdom of God in one way or another.
Hosea 2:16, 19; 3:5; Joel 2:21-27; Amos 9:11-15; Obadiah 21; Micah 4:1-3; Habakkuk 2:14;Zephaniah 3:14-20; Zechariah 14:1-3, 8-9; Malachi 3:1-3.
Peter was right. “God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began…the restitution of all things”—that can only occur with the coming of God’s government.
It is important to make one final point from this verse. It says, “God has spoken by the mouth of…” The gospel of the kingdom of God is a message from God. It should be clear that God speaks through whatever His servant He is prophet!
His servants always spoke the same message!