INTRODUCTION
There are a lot of good stories, you have heard or seen on TV or in movies. But the greatest stories of all are those found in the Word of God – the Bible! Perhaps seeing history unfold as revealed in Scripture is troubling, inspiring, encouraging, and informational to all of us.
When we read the Scripture, we discover that we are not alone in the world. This world system was planned by great intelligence, operates in an orderly way, and fits into the plans of an all-knowing person we call God – Yahweh!
The Bible reveals man’s history, whether good or bad, and God’s plan for man which will ultimately be fulfilled. If we allow our lives to fit into His plan and purposes this life will be more fulfilling, blessed, productive, and peaceful. If we choose not to obey God, both the future and present will be more chaotic, and troubled, and end in a way that will not be in our best interest!
The purpose of this book is to give a panoramic view from eternity past to eternity future of the basic things that have to do with our redemption. I am convinced if we understand these things, we will have the tools needed to stand victoriously in the best and worst of times.
We will discover some things that we may have never thought of as being part of our redemption.
CHAPTER ONE: CREATION & THE PLAN OF GOD
“In the beginning[1] God[2] created[3] the heavens[4] and the earth[5]” Genesis 1:1. If we believe this verse then many theories of evolution will be disbelieved!
How did He do it? “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made” John 1:1-3. The Word spoken of here is Jesus (1 John 5:7). Hebrews 1:1-2 says, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds[6].”
Ten times in Genesis 1 God spoke and immediately what He spoke sprang into existence.[7] God’s plan for His planetary creation and mankind was conceived in His mind in eternity past.
The ultimate part of creation was when he created mankind in His image. We find that in Genesis 1:28 which says, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over everything that moves upon the earth.” Notice that God gave Adam and Eve a five-fold mandate:
1) Be Fruitful.
2) Multiply.
3) Replenish the earth.
4) Subdue it.
5) Have dominion over it.
He says that it is His plan for man to be fruitful. He wants man to be successful – prosperous, and gain satisfaction from what he is doing. He wants man to multiply – have children -procreate. Replenish or fill the earth. Obviously, this is so man can carry out the rest of the will of God. Subdue the earth. In this statement is found the idea that God knew that Satan had already fallen from his exalted state and would be a threat to man. So, man should be on his guard to subdue Satan under his feet. Having dominion continues this thought that man is to work with God in having dominion over His creation. No doubt, this includes the earth and the rest of God’s creation throughout eternity.
These five things are contained in a nutshell God’s eternal plan and purpose for man! This mandate is set in concrete, it is now in the process of being carried out and will continue to be so.
THE GARDEN
After this God took Adam and put him in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 2:15 says, “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” He was to “till” it and “guard it.” Let us look at Adam a little more closely. He was in perfect health – no flaws or imperfections in body, mind, or spirit. He was morally innocent having experienced no evil. He had a magnificent mind – he named all the animals as God brought them to him. He had full, complete control over the earth as given to him by God. Yet God said he was incomplete, “I will make him a helpmeet.” The helpmeet means one who aids, a helper, or strengths. So, God put him to sleep and took a rib and built “Eve” which means mother of all living. From their union was born Cain, Abel, Seth, and perhaps others that are not mentioned in Scripture.
ORIGIN OF EVIL
Lucifer apparently was an angel of God at one time.[8] Because of his transgressions, he was kicked out of heaven. Revelation 12:9 says, “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world, he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” We do not know for sure when this happened, just that it did! And since that time, he has been walking about seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).
When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, they were in a state of innocence. This is revealed by the passage in Genesis 2:25 which says, “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” How long this condition continued is not known. But at some point, the serpent came to Eve to question what God had said. The serpent was the devil incarnate. He began his temptation by questioning what God had said, then he denied that what God had said was true. His temptation was given in such a way as to cause Eve to think she was missing out on something (vs.5). Genesis 3:6 says, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.” Eve did what 1 John 2:15-17 reveals as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
Notice also that Adam was not off taking care of the Garden. He was right there with her and he did eat. Implying that he would rather disappoint God than Eve. Also, know that Eve was deceived, Adam was not deceived; he intentionally disobeyed God (1 Timothy 2:14).
When God revealed Himself to them in the cool of the day, they hid themselves for they realized they were naked (Genesis 3:7-8). When God confronted Adam, he said it was the woman’s fault. She, in turn, said it was the serpent’s fault. God then began with the serpent and pronounced a curse that affected each of them and their descendants. Notice that as a result of sin, they lost their position with God, they experienced guilt, sickness, disease, and death. God took animal skins and made coats for Adam and Eve, thereby revealing redemption by blood for the first time. This message is revealed throughout Scripture.[9]
As people began to multiply[10] on the earth so did sin. “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intent (imagination) of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5
As a result of this God determined judgment would come on the earth, and He would have a ‘do-over.’ God looked for a man who was upright and found Noah. “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Genesis 6:8
Lessons we learn from the flood include:
- God has a standard of right & wrong.
- God uses people for His glory.
- If God chastises it is redemptive.
- There is always a way out of every difficulty.
- Jesus is portrayed as our deliverer.
God did say however, that He would never again curse the ground or destroy the earth by water (Genesis 8:21). God’s eternal promise includes this, “while the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter and day and night shall not cease” Genesis 8:22. God establishes His covenant with Noah and confirms it with a rainbow (Genesis 9:9-16). This covenant is still in effect. Every time we see a rainbow, we know that God is keeping His Word. God’s promise to Noah and His descendants promises a bright future.
REDEMPTION IN EVERY BOOK OF THE BIBLE
Under the Mosaic Covenant all the feasts, holy days, rituals, sacrifices, etc. were to teach the people about redemption by the sacrificial shedding of blood. The Gospel of Jesus’ work on the Cross was typed and shadowed in all of it. It is ALL about JESUS!
Jesus in Every book in the Bible…
In GENESIS Jesus is the Ram at Abraham’s altar.
In EXODUS He is the Passover Lamb.
In LEVITICUS He is the High Priest.
In NUMBERS He is the Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night.
In DEUTERONOMY He is the City of our refuge.
In JOSHUA He is the Scarlet Thread at Rahab’s window.
In JUDGES He is our Judge.
In RUTH He is our Kinsman Redeemer.
In 1st and 2nd SAMUEL He is our Trusted Prophet.
And in KINGS and CHRONICLES He is our Reigning King.
In EZRA He is our Faithful Scribe.
In NEHEMIAH He is the Rebuilder of everything that is broken.
In JOB He is our Redeemer whoever lives.
In PSALMS He is my Shepherd, and I shall not want.
In PROVERBS and ECCLESIASTES He is our Wisdom.
And in the SONG OF SOLOMON He is the Beautiful Bridegroom.
In ISAIAH He is the Suffering Servant.
In JEREMIAH and LAMENTATIONS it is Jesus who is the Weeping Prophet.
In EZEKIEL He makes the valley of dry bones live again!
And in DANIEL He is the Fourth Man during a fiery furnace.
In HOSEA He is my Love that is forever faithful.
In JOEL He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit.
In AMOS He is our Burden Bearer.
In OBADIAH He is our Savior.
And in JONAH He is the Great Missionary who is concerned about our city!
In MICAH He is the Messenger with beautiful feet.
In NAHUM He is the Avenger.
In HABAKKUK He is the Watchman that is ever praying for revival.
In ZEPHANIAH He is the Lord mighty to save.
In HAGGAI He is the Restorer of our lost heritage.
In ZECHARIAH He is our Foundation.
And in MALACHI He is the Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings.
In MATTHEW “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God”
In MARK He is the Miracle Worker.
In LUKE He is the Son of Man.
And in JOHN He is the Door by which every one of us must enter.
In ACTS He is the Shining Light at appears to Saul on the road to Damascus.
In ROMANS He is our Justifier.
In 1st CORINTHIANS our Resurrection.
In 2nd CORINTHIANS our Sin Bearer.
In GALATIANS He is Amazing Grace.
In EPHESIANS He is the Unsearchable Riches of God.
In PHILIPPIANS He is a slave, obedient unto death.
And in COLOSSIANS He is the Fullness of the Godhead in a Body.
In 1st and 2nd THESSALONIANS He is our Soon & Coming King.
In 1st and 2nd TIMOTHY He is the only Mediator between God and man.
In TITUS He is our Blessed Hope.
In PHILEMON He is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother.
In HEBREWS He is the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant.
In JAMES it is the Lord who heals the sick.
In 1st and 2nd PETER He is the Chief Shepherd.
In 1st, 2nd, and 3rd JOHN it is Jesus who has the tenderness of love.
In JUDE He is the Lord coming with 10,000 saints.
And in REVELATION, Lift up your eyes for your redemption draws nigh…He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords![11]
It is all about Jesus!!!!
The Prophet Isaiah in chapter 53:1-12 gives a good overview of redemption.
“Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him. He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely, He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgression, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes, we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked, but with the rich at His death because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When you
make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul and be satisfied. By His knowledge, My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
Some 700 years before Christ was born in Bethlehem, the prophet Isaiah gave this word. It fully expresses the redemption that the Messiah would procure on the Cross. Notice:
- He would come from an unlikely origin.
- There would be no outstanding beauty or natural magnetism.
- He would be despised and rejected.
- He would be a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
- He would bear our griefs and sorrows.
- He would take our sins.
- He would provide healing for us.
- All our iniquity would be on Him.
- He would be judged falsely by earthly tribunals.
- He was made an offering for sin.
- He would provide justification as a sinless sacrifice.
- He would make intercession for transgressors.
CHAPTER TWO: THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
WHAT IS A COVENANT?
- Definition of a covenant – an agreement between two or more parties that transcends the idea of a contract that requires an action from all the parties involved. Example: marriage
- Cutting a covenant – Gen.15
- Salt of the covenant – Lev.2:13
- The first mention of covenant – Gen.6:18
- The mandate of Gen.1:26-28 is not called a covenant in Scripture but has most of the earmarks of one.
- Some covenants are for all people for all time such as Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, and New Covenant; while others are limited – such as the Mosaic primarily limited to one nation and those who joined themselves to it.
- Covenants usually consisted of the parties involved having a token or sign that indicated its operation: Noah – rainbow, Mosaic – circumcision, Abrahamic – faith, marriage – ring
ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
God chose a person through whom He could establish a physical nation with types and shadows of Messiah Jesus that would affect all peoples of the world.
God made the covenant in Gen. 15 and amplified it in Gen.17
When Abram was 99 years old God appeared to him and confirmed His covenant to and through him to nations of people. The Lord told him that nations would come from him, kings, and other important people. He said I will make you a father of many nations. This is proven as three major world religions claim him as their father: Christianity, Judaism, Muslim.
God also promised him land that would be theirs forever. That promise is yet to be completely fulfilled. Abraham was to keep God’s covenant promises and commands to see its fulfillment.
Out of the Abrahamic covenant comes the Mosaic & Davidic covenants, which were more limited than the Abrahamic one, and the New Covenant.
Galatians 3:6-25 “Just as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness,[12] therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, In you all the nations shall be blessed. So then, those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse, for it is written, Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for the just shall live by faith. Yet the law is not of faith, but the man who does them shall live by them. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us for it is written, cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
“Brethren, I speak in the manner of men, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made, He does not say, “And to seeds, as of many, but as to one. And to your Seed, who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise, but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made, and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore, the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, so that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”
Several things stand out to me from this passage. The Apostle Paul is making comparisons between the Mosaic Covenant and the Abrahamic and New Covenant.
- The Abrahamic covenant was a faith covenant, meaning it was based on faith in the promises of God instead of works.
- It was available to all those who believed in the promise of God.
- The law could not justify anyone but brought a curse if those under the law did not obey it completely.
- The Abrahamic covenant was made with him and his Seed, meaning Jesus Christ. Therefore, we understand it to be a forerunner and foundation for the New Covenant.
- The fulfillment of the promises made in the Abrahamic covenant is available to all those who believe the One who made the promises.
CHAPTER THREE: THE NEW COVENANT
The other covenants God made in the Old Testament all point to and have their fulfillment in the New Covenant. As we have pointed out in chapter one, all the books of the Bible in some way point to Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah.
So, why did Jesus come?
JESUS CAME TO GIVE US HIS LIFE
The most familiar verse in the Bible has this to say in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” As a result of sin, mankind is now lost, spiritually blind, and dead on the inside. He has no life in his spirit. He is separated from God with no means or ability to reach God. So, because God has such great love for His creation, He sends His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die for us and as us. When we make Him our Lord and Savior, He imparts His life in our previously dead spirits.
There are two words for life in the New Testament, one is bios which means biological or physical life, and the other is zoe which means the God type of life. In this passage and many others, the Zoe type of life is what He gives to us. His life is eternal, without end. His life in us assures us of life with Him in His home – Heaven.
Jesus’ death on the Cross takes care of the sin problem that we all have. 1 John 3:5 says, “And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.”
Colossians 2:14 says, “Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us, and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the Cross.”
Micah 7:19 says, “He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”
Hebrews 9:26 says, “He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”
Adopted
Galatians 4:4-5 says, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Not only has the sin problem been dealt with but now we have been adopted into His family as sons and daughters of the Most High God!
Ephesians 1:5 says, “Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”
We have our sins forgiven, we have His life in us, and we have been adopted into His family with the freedom of fellowship with Him! Praise God!
Abundant Life
John 10:10 says, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.” Let us look at this a little more closely to find out what He is saying.
A thief is one who tries to enter the domain of another without permission. His reason to do so is to take what is not his and perhaps kill the occupants. But Jesus, as the good Shepherd, reveals that He does not do that but gives life instead of death and destruction. And the life He gives is seen in all areas of life.
The word “abundantly” comes from the Greek word perissos which has multiple meanings; some of which are: all around, exceeding expectation, more abundant, excessive, over and above, more than is necessary, and exceedingly abundantly.
What Jesus is saying is that the life He gives includes all the areas of our lives, it is “all around” us. His life exceeds what we know to expect! His life given to us is more than is needed or necessary! It is over and above and exceeds our expectations! That is why Ephesians 3:20 can say, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”
This type of life was given to us when we were born again. It now resides in our spirit. It is available in every area of our life. Too often, we do not know that it is available, or we ignore it and do our own thing. To do either is to live on a lower plain than what is possible for us to live.
Jesus wants us to live in His life! He provided it for that purpose. It is the only way possible for us to be and accomplish what He desires for us at this time!
JESUS CAME TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL
1 John 3:8 says, “For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” To destroy means, to corrupt, to spoil, to bring down from a high to a lower level, to defile or kill. The work of Jesus on the Cross, in conjunction with His ministry on earth and now at the right hand of the Father, has defeated and removed Satan from his position and reveals him to be a being that saints in eternity will see as a defeated, weak being (Isa.14:16). Satan’s defeat is an accomplished fact. It is not something that we are waiting for but something that has been completed! There are some aspects of his defeat that we have not fully entered into (1 Cor.15:26) but they have already been defeated.
Hebrews 2:14-15 says, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Notice that Satan is defeated. He used to have the power of death but does not have it now! Jesus has the power of death now (Rev.1:18).
Colossians 2:14-15 says, “Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us, He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the Cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” The places and times when we failed to be or live up to all that the law required have been nailed to Jesus’ Cross. Satan’s right to us has been nailed to the Cross. All of Satan’s co-workers: demons, principalities & powers – have been disarmed, they are mere defeated beings under the feet of the Risen Lord; and under the believer’s feet as well (Eph.2:5-6).
There is no legitimate reason to be fearful of Satan or any of his demonic co-workers. They were all defeated by the work of Jesus on the Cross. The smallest, youngest Christian has authority over them! Satan is defeated! Satan is defeated now! Satan is defeated for all eternity! In Jesus, you are victorious now, regardless of what you may be facing. He has given you, His victory. The sins of the past are forgiven, and the bondages that Satan has put on you are broken. You have been redeemed and released! You are a child of the Most High God! You are a citizen of Heaven! Start declaring the promises and provisions spoken about in Scripture. They are for you. That is who you are.
JESUS CAME TO SET THE CAPTIVES FREE
The Prophet Isaiah, approximately 700 years before Jesus came to earth, prophesied about Him in Isaiah 61:1-3, which says, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Why did Jesus come? He came to:
- Proclaim good news to the poor
- Heal the brokenhearted
- Proclaim liberty to the captives
- Opening of the prison to those bound
- Proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord
- Day of vengeance of our God
- To comfort all who mourn
- To give those who mourn beauty for ashes
- To give them the oil of joy
- To give them a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness
- To call them trees of righteousness – the planting of the Lord
- So, the Lord will be glorified!
Jesus came to give you some good news! If you are poor – in spirit, in health, in finances, in relationships, in any way – He has something good for you. If you are brokenhearted – broken in spirit, in the depths of your being – He has come to heal that brokenness. If you are held captive in any area of your life, He has come to set you free! If you are imprisoned anywhere in any area of life, He has come to set you free! If you are mourning for any reason, He has come to heal the cause of the mourning! He has come to give you beauty for ashes – wherever they may be in your life! He has come to give you joy instead of mourning and to give the garment of praise for that spirit of heaviness!
Jesus came to His hometown, Nazareth, and as it was His custom to do so, on the Sabbath He went into the temple. He was given the book of Isaiah and He read this passage from Isaiah. Afterward, He closed the book and sat down. All the people were looking at Him and He said the following, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:16-21). Jesus is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy.
None of the things promised and prophesied here can be found anywhere but in Jesus’ sacrifice and blessing. It is a waste of time and effort to look for these things where they cannot be found! The world is devoid of joy, beauty, etc. Religions may promise but they cannot give things that can only be found in Jesus Christ. Money and possessions cannot provide what can only come from Him. The garment of praise that replaces the spirit of heaviness cannot be purchased at the local mall! If Jesus provides it, He is the only place it can be found! That is why Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6)
OUR GREAT SALVATION
Suppose you have a friend who lives a long distance from you, it is the Christmas season, but they are not able to come home for it. Instead, they purchase their gifts, wrap them separately place them in a big box and mail it to you. On Christmas morning, you open the box and begin to unwrap each gift. The box, and its contents, are your gift from them but to know what each gift is you must open it individually.
I want to take a glimpse at our great salvation that is ours through Christ. I would like for us to see how comprehensive it is. It is more than one experience; it is more than having a home in Heaven when we die! These things are included but His great salvation includes spiritual maturity, victory in this life, healing for our body, power for service, answered prayer, etc.
Not knowing these things, many of us live far below where we should be living! We live with a mentality of a slave, a beggar forsaken of God, alone in this world. That is not the picture that Scripture paints for us of one loved by God.
WHAT IS SALVATION
Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
Too often we refer to our “salvation” as the experience of being “born again.” It does mean that, but it means much more than just one experience. If we pray the sinner’s prayer with someone, we say that they were saved. And they were if they truly repented and believed in and made Jesus Christ their Lord.
The word salvation is used to describe all that God has purchased for us. It is the big box but within are smaller boxes that contain specific things that we are to experience to be all that He wants for us.
The word salvation is found 445 times in the Bible. It means deliverance, aid, victory, prosperity, health, rescue, safety, forgiveness, and liberty. It encompasses all the redemptive processes and benefits. Everything that God did for us through Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross is part of our salvation. If we relegate it to just the new birth experience, then we will miss out on much of what He did for us and never become all that He wants us to be.
Many people have been born again but feel no need to expect more from God. They are forgiven, have been declared righteous before God, and feel that they have all that God wants for them. Legally they do possess all that God has promised just as the Israelites had the Promised Land given to them before they left Egypt. But to experience it they had to leave Egypt, cross over the Red Sea and the Jordan River, and go in and possess the land. So, it is with believers today. We have many things given to us in redemption, but they will not automatically work without obedience on our part.
Let us look at a few Scriptures to see some of the benefits of God’s salvation.
- Salvation is in a person – the Lord. (Psalm 27:1).
- He daily loads us with benefits (Psalm 68:19)
- We are told to cultivate our salvation (Philippians 2:12-13)
- God appointed us to receive His salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:9)
- The end of your faith brings salvation (1 Peter 1:9).
God’s salvation in all its glory, is working in, through, and for us past, present, and future.
SALVATION IS PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
2 Corinthians 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, notice that we “were” delivered from the penalty of our sin which is death. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Notice also that He “does deliver us.” This refers to being delivered from the power of sin today. We sometimes refer to this as sanctification or discipleship, more about this later. And He says in this verse that we trust that He will “still deliver us.” This refers to being delivered from the presence of sin at death or the return of the Lord.
We truly have a Great Salvation!
Some of the benefits of this salvation are having our sins forgiven, being translated out of Satan’s kingdom into God’s kingdom, having a home in Heaven, receiving the life and nature of Jesus in us, having a relationship with God and His continuing work in us to conform us to Jesus’ image.
However, one’s position in Christ does not guarantee fulfillment of its requirements. For example: I am a son, husband, father, and Pastor. But just being those things does not mean that I always carry out my responsibilities perfectly. While we possess many benefits and blessings in being a child of God, we need to discover what they are and how we might mature in Christ and allow His plan for our life to be manifested through us.
HUMAN COMPOSITION
1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. NIV Notice that we are a spirit that has a soul and lives in a body. The salvation that God provides for us covers each of these three realms.
With our spirit we are God-conscious, with our soul we are self-conscious, and with our body, we are conscious of the world around us.
THE NEW BIRTH IS THE DOORWAY INTO ALL THAT GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR US.
When we make Jesus our Lord at the new birth, it is our spirit that is born again. The spirit is that part of us that was spiritually dead, blind, and rebellious to God and is now regenerated and the life of God has come to live within our spirit (Romans 8:32).
Notice the following Scriptures that tell us some of what happens to us at the new birth.
OWNERSHIP – Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:5 Jesus answered, most assuredly, I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
CITIZENSHIP – Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
SIN DEALT WITH – Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
The new birth experience is instantaneous. Many things lead up to it, but it happens instantly. At that moment, the person becomes a child of God, a new creation, old things are passed away and all things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). He is said to be justified before God. God no longer looks at his sin but looks at the sacrifice that Jesus provided on the Cross and forgives him for all that he has done.
JUSTIFICATION – OUR LEGAL STANDING BEFORE GOD.
Notice the following passages to see what He uses to justify us.
Romans 3:24 …justified freely by his grace…
Romans 3:28 … justified by faith apart from observing the law.
Romans 5:9 …justified by his blood…
The moral law of God was given to show us our sins and to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). It was never intended to provide forgiveness or regeneration for us.
STANDING & STATE (position & practical)
As a result of being born again, we have a new standing or position before God. We are now His children. We are citizens of His Kingdom. We are adopted into His family; we are Heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17).
Our present state is where we are in our spiritual growth in Christ. Some of us have an excellent standing or position in Christ but are lacking in spiritual growth. Therefore, our position (all those wonderful things that are ours in Him) becomes ineffective if there is no practical expression of it in daily life. The reason we have our position in Christ is to experience them. God wants us to grow up into Christ in all things (Ephesians 4:14-15).
A practical expression of our position in Christ can only be experienced to the degree of our commitment to Him.
MATURITY
We often think of supernatural ministry, such as healings & miracles, but seldom think of growth as a Christian as being supernatural, but it is. There is no growth or victory over sin or understanding of the Word of God apart from the work of the Spirit of God.
Growth
The Apostle Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” We are expected to grow and mature in the things of God. What is required to grow and how to do it will be seen in the following Scriptures?
1 Peter 2:2 says, “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby.” As a baby needs milk so a baby Christian, as do all Christians, needs the Word of God to grow. The Scriptures are infused with the Spirit of God and contain within it what it takes for growth.
Ephesians 4:15 says, “But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head…” The “truth” referred to here is the Word of God (John 17:17). Notice it says that one must speak it in “love”. As we do so, we grow up in all things in Him.
Ephesians 4:22-23 says, “That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” Since your old man or nature was crucified with Christ (Gal.2:20) we are expected to live from the new nature (2 Cor.5:17). For growth to occur it is now necessary to be “renewed in the spirit of your mind.” That agrees with what Paul said in Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” How do we do that? We read, study, meditate in, memorize, and personalize the Word of God. Consistently. The Word is of a spiritual quality and it ministers life and strength to your inner man, renewing the mind and growth is the result. John 6:63 says, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
Victory over Sin
Romans 6:6 says, “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” Notice, that the old man was crucified. We should not identify as being a sinner, we are now children of God. We may sin and if we do, we are told in 1 John 1:9 what to do. We should “confess our sin” and He will forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In many areas today, it is a big deal as to what one identifies as, it is even more important that a Christian identify himself as no longer being a sinner but a child of God.
Romans 6:10-11 says, “For the death that He died, He died to sin once and for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise, you also, reckon (consider) yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” As you renew your mind with the Word of God, you begin to see yourself in a new light. You have a paradigm shift in your thinking. The realization begins to come that you are not the same person as before. All the old ways of living no longer look attractive, because your spirit has come alive toward God.
Romans 8:2 says, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” The law of life in Jesus is greater than the law of sin and death! That means that Jesus is greater than sin and death. That means that what He put in you at the new birth has the potential to set you free from the power of all sins, habits, and patterns of thinking that try to keep you out of God’s best for your life. Satan is no longer your lord. You are not his property any longer. Jesus is Lord! He has the keys of death now (Heb.2:14, Rev.1:18). Start declaring and thinking victory instead of defeat. See yourself as clean from all sin, full of the life of God, victorious over the devil and all the demonic hosts!
Indwelling Spirit
Romans 8:9 says, “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you, now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” Because you are in Christ you are not considered to be in the flesh. The word “flesh” here is not referring to the physical body but that part of our life that is not fully submitted to the Lordship of Jesus. The Spirit of Christ comes in and regenerates the human spirit at the new birth. He takes up residence there. He lives in the spirit 24/7 365 days a year. Paul is saying if one does not have the Spirit of God living in him, then he does not belong to God – he is not born again. But because the Spirit constantly lives within the believer, He is the source of power and victory that we need. Within Him is everything we need for life and godliness (2 Pet.1:3-4).
Romans 8:11 says, “But if the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Because Jesus lives in you, in the person of the Holy Spirit, He gives life to the body. He can release healing within the body, mind, will, and emotions, etc. We need to become a lot more God-inside-minded! Too many Christians live as though God is on a planet far away and not paying any attention to what they deal with. No. He is living IN you. Now! He is your source of power, answered prayer, guidance, understanding the Word of God, etc.
Romans 8:16-17 says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” How do we know that we have been born again? Because the Spirit of God assures us from within, He lets us know that because we have done what the Bible says is necessary (make Jesus your Lord and Savior) then we have eternal life. The Spirit within can also witness to us lots of things in everyday life. This is one of the ways He gives us guidance. He speaks with a voice from within the human spirit. It should be a common thing to hear the voice of God. It is supernatural but should be happening regularly in our daily lives.
Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Because He lives within, He is always ready and willing to help us in any situation. If we do not know what to do, He can give us guidance. If we do not know what to say in prayer, He can give us the way and words to say it. Or He can make intercession for us with groanings or expressions that we cannot fathom.
Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Notice what the Apostle Paul is saying:
- I have been crucified with Christ – the old man is dead.
- I am not controlling my life any longer.
- Christ in me is Lord.
- My life in this body is lived by faith in Jesus.
As we grow up and mature spiritually, we begin to:
- become more Godly
- see ourselves differently
- see God differently
- see the world around us differently
- have a purpose for our life here on earth.
While we live on this earth, in this time period, we will have attacks from the enemy – the devil. We will have challenges of various types. But we will also have greater and greater victories because we know the one who is the Lord in our lives. We have greater confidence in Him than before. Maturity indicates that we know Him better and can trust Him even in times when we do not know all that is happening (Phil.3:8-10).
MINISTRY
Ministry that changes lives involves more than a program. It requires the involvement of the work of the Holy Spirit. This is why Jesus instructed His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were endowed with the power of the Spirit (Luke 24:49).
Baptized in the Holy Spirit
John the Baptist, being a prophet, foretold of the Spirit’s coming into power. Matthew 3:11-12 says, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Every Christian needs the power of God to do the work of God! No program can do what God’s Word instructs without His Spirit empowering, gifting, and guiding the doing of it. Just as the first-century believers needed the Spirit’s power, so do we!
Spiritual things are often fearful because we are not in control. They require us to trust someone outside ourselves that we cannot see. As the Holy Spirit moves within and upon us, He often leads us into areas that we have not been in before which can be frightening. Therefore, in Scripture, when an angel of God would visit someone, one of the first things he would say is, ‘Fear not.’
Jesus told His disciples before He ascended back to Heaven in Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me, in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The power of the Holy Spirit enables us to do what He asks us to do. Without His power, we cannot do what He instructs us to do, but with His Spirit, we can. His Spirit enables and motivates us into action.
Right before Jesus’ ascension, He told His disciples in Mark 16:17-18, “And these signs will follow those who believe, in my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them, they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Jesus’ disciples were expected, as they had been commissioned, to carry on His ministry. Believers today have the same commission that He gave them. We need the same power to do it as the first-century disciples needed. Nothing less will do.
Notice what happened when His disciples acted on what He said. Mark 16:20 says, “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.” Jesus worked with them. Imagine that, He kept His Word! He will do the same for us if we are bold enough to step out and obey.
Laying on of Hands
Another area where we can see the Spirit realm affecting the natural is through the ministry of laying on hands.
I find four ways that the laying on of hands occurred in the Bible.
- Identification. Moses laying his hands on Joshua. Deut.34:9
- Impartation of a blessing. Jacob laying hands on his sons. Gen.49
- Transference of sin. Priest laying hands on the scapegoat before its release into the wilderness. Lev.16:21
- Transmission of power. For healing, baptism of the Holy Spirit, etc. Mark 16:17-28
In both Testaments, there are many examples of hands being laid on for one or more of these purposes.
A leper said to Jesus, “If you are willing you can heal me.: Jesus’ response is seen in Matthew 8:3 which says, “Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed. Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” Even Jesus needed the power of the Spirit to do what the Father sent Him to do. This encounter with the leper happened after Jesus had faced Satan’s temptation in the wilderness and returned in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14). Jesus released supernatural power when He touched the leper, and immediately healing came.
There are times when it seems that nothing is happening. But while reading the Gospel of Mark, I found 31 times where the word ‘immediately’ was used. Lots of times when it seemed God was doing nothing, suddenly things started happening. I am sure things were happening in the unseen realm all the time when it seemed nothing was going on. But at the right moment, they became visible in the seen realm.
The Church is told how to minister to the sick in James 5:14-15, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” This is still the right approach to take before seeking human aid.
Prayer
All religions have an activity they call prayer. For many, it is little more than a religious ritual without any expectation of a supernatural response. Sadly, this is often the case with many Christians.
Because it pleased the Jews, Herod imprisoned Simon Peter. But the church offered constant prayer for him. God sent an angel who delivered Peter from the prison. Peter came to Mary’s house, the mother of John Mark, where the church was praying. He knocked on the door and when Rhoda came to open it, she saw Peter standing there. She ran back into the house and told them that Peter was at the door and they declared, ‘You are beside yourself.’ She assured them that it was indeed Peter and they declared ‘It is his angel.’ Peter kept knocking and they finally let him in (Acts 12:1-19)
How often do we pray and yet do not expect God to answer our prayers? When that happens, it is not believing prayer but mere ritualism. Sometimes, we pray this way because we do not really believe that He can or is willing to answer, therefore having no faith or expectation that He will.
Jesus taught His disciples a Model to follow while they were learning to pray. Matthew 6:7-13 says, “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore, do not be like them, for your Father knows the things that you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom comes, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”
It seems to me that He was expecting them to pray and expect a positive response from Father God. This shows that they, as we, could pray for things that were necessary for daily life.
Jesus further expounded on prayer in Matthew 7:7-11, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father who is in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
Later, Jesus gave more instructions about His willingness to answer prayer. John 14:13-14 says, “And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.”
Jesus gives some basic conditions for asking for things in prayer in John 15:7, when He says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” He knew that if we abide (dwell) in Him and allow His words to abide (dwell) in us then this will change our selfish desires to what He already desires, which then allows Him to do what we asked!
Spiritual Gifts
All Bible-believing Christians believe in divine enablement of some type or other. Here is a list of some of them:
Fruit
Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such there is no law.” The fruit of the Spirit is the result of God working with us to produce certain of His characteristics. These fruit are supernaturally grown and manifested from within.
Motivational Gifts
Romans 12:6-8 says, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches in teaching; he who exhorts in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” Even a surface reading of these gifts lets us know that God is expecting one or more of these in every person’s life.
Ministry Gifts
Ephesians 4:11-13 says, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” These callings or job descriptions are still in effect today. We know this because the church is not:
- In total unity
- Is not perfect in character & ministry
- Has not attained the stature of Christ
Some would have us believe that these are not needed today because we have the Bible completed. Nowhere in the Bible is this said or implied. These callings are given supernaturally and operate because of the anointing of His Spirit.
Charismatic Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 says, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all; for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
Several things stand out to me from this passage:
- These manifestations are given to EACH one
- They all are works of the Spirit of God
- It is the same Spirit who inspires each of them
- They are given individually as He wills
No place in Scripture says these gifts have ceased. They will when we stand before the Lord and see Him face to face, but not yet (1 Cor.13:8-12).
These manifestations are needed greatly in the Body of Christ so that we can do the work assigned to us. I am convinced that the Father is still giving these abundantly, but many of us are not being willing to accept and step out to use them.
CHAPTER FOUR: DISCIPLESHIP
Too often, many of us who have received the very life of God within do little with it. The Great Commission says, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations (people groups), baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe (obey) all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end (consummation) of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). Let us dig into this a little deeper.
Go – or as you are going. This tells us that it includes not only special events but in daily life, we should be carrying out these instructions.
Make Disciples – many have taken this to mean to do evangelism. And it does include this. In fact, there can be no disciple-making without it. Others think it means to disciple the lost to salvation and then on to spiritual maturity. I concur with the latter, meaning I think it involves both – evangelism and discipleship. To make disciples means to make them followers of Jesus Christ. We do not disciple them to ourselves but to Him. They are His disciples. Jesus died for them; He rose from the dead and ascended back to the Father for them. He makes intercession for them. They are His disciples.
All Nations – all ethnos or people groups. The gospel of the kingdom needs to be proclaimed to everyone in a language or way they can understand. It is the job of the church – the called-out ones – to take the message to everyone. Even those in our own household, neighborhood, and on the job.
Baptizing them – this indicates that they are willing to follow the Lord. This is symbolic of dying to sin, self, and Satan, and being raised to walk in the newness of life. When He tells us to do this in His name, it means to do so under His authority. As the convert submits to baptism, they are taking the first step toward discipleship after confessing Jesus’ Lordship.
Teaching them – this is more than head knowledge. It is more than transferring information from the teacher’s head to the disciple’s head. It is verbal instruction, spending time with the disciple, and instruction given as the disciple observes the disciple maker’s life. It is following the instructions the disciple-maker gives about how to do ministry. It is seen as the disciple grows into his own ministry or calling and anointing from His personal relationship with the Lord. Teaching is instruction, it is an example, it is doing assignments given by God, go here or go there; do this or that, etc.
Observe – OBEY. Teach the disciples to obey the instructions that Jesus gave us. The modern church often falls woefully short in this realm. We often have church members who know something of the basic teaching of the church they are a member of, but who do not obey the teaching of Jesus when it comes to how they should live, what they should be doing with their life, or their reason for being on the earth. Their life too often is just living day by day hoping for the day when they can retire from their job or die and go to heaven.
In August 2017 I, along with some others, attended a World Missions and Evangelism conference where my nephew, David Parish, taught about how Christians live out their faith. He alluded to three levels of faith:
First, was Consumer thinking. In this thinking, Christians are stuck in infancy. They are still focused on themselves, on getting more from the church and from God Himself. It is all about their needs, their desires, their healing, etc.
Second, is the Purpose Driven Christian – which is a little better. The purpose-driven Christian is focused on how to make the world a better place, but it still has the person in the center of their world. My purpose, my gifting, my calling, etc.
Third is the Kingdom level which is completely focused on God. This is the one who consistently prays, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
He made this statement that rings in my mind. I will live for my purpose, but I will die for my mission.
In our world we often think that one in authority is like a triangle with the head person on the point of the triangle pointing up. But in the kingdom of God, the point of the triangle needs to be pointed down with the head person there serving and lifting everyone else up to God! The kingdom of God is not about ruling but about serving!
- It has been said that the language of the kingdom is love. 1 Corinthians 13 should characterize all our actions.
- The currency of the kingdom is faith – it activates God’s grace and supernatural power.
- The posture of the kingdom is service.
So, what is a disciple? Someone who follows another to learn how to live a better life. In this context, we are to learn to follow Christ, which is the ultimate life!
Disciples of Jesus are taught to obey the instructions that Jesus gave us. His ministry consisted of four major things: preaching, teaching, healing, and delivering the demonized. Our ministry should be doing the same!
In addition to the kingdom teaching in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, there are more teachings about the kingdom in Matthew 13 and other passages.
I am with you – This is Jesus’ promise to us as we go about doing the work of the kingdom. He promised to be with us until the consummation of the ages! That means forever!
PREACH THE KINGDOM WITH POWER
Wherever the word is preached there should be power present to confirm it. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” Every word from God has the power contained in it to perform what it promises.
The Apostle Paul further says in 1 Corinthians 4:20, “For the kingdom is not in word but in power.” It is not just talk with empty words but a release of supernatural power. There is a divine connection between preaching the kingdom and the release of supernatural power.
When Jesus sent out the twelve, He told them in Matthew 10:7-8, “And as you go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons, freely you have received, freely give.” The supernatural is always connected to the kingdom message.
When Jesus sent out the seventy-two, He told them in Luke 10:8-9, “Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, the kingdom of God has come near to you.” He likewise told them what to do when they were rejected. Luke 10:10-11 says, “But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, the very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless, know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.”
Mark records for us what Jesus said to His disciples right before He ascended back to the Father. Mark 16:17-18 says, “And these signs will follow those who believe; in my name, they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” What happened next? Verse 20 says, “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.”
The supernatural is a much-needed part of the preached word. Many might ask, ‘Why don’t we see more of it?’ Perhaps a few things might be considered as part of the answer to that.
- Are we proclaiming the pure word of God?
- Are our motives right before God?
- Is our relationship with Him in a good place?
- Is there any unforgiveness or bitterness toward anyone?
- Are we anointed by the Holy Spirit?
- Are we operating out of human desire or has God truly sent us?
- What about the level of faith in the Word and Spirit of God?
Someone might object that these things were for only the first century. Consider this:
- Jesus is still the same.
- We are still living under the same covenant as the first-century disciples.
- The Word is still the same.
- The kingdom of God is still the same.
- The will of God is still the same.
- The promises of God are still the same.
- And human need is still the same.
And we should be preaching the same kingdom message as the first-century disciples with the same power and results!
One of my concerns is that we have neglected our own personal Pentecost. Many Christians accept Pentecost as a historical event but not one necessary in their personal life.
Another concern I have is that our level of faith in God, and a belief that He will do for us what He promised to do in the first century, is woefully lacking.
Still, another concern is that many of us believe that since the Bible was compiled, we do not need the supernatural to confirm it. If it was ever needed it is certainly needed today. Our world has marginalized God, the Bible, the Church, and the supernatural. It will not be moved by a weak little sermon!
We need the supernatural gifts and ministries that come from God! We need them working in the full power and glory of God. Nothing else will get the job done!
Part of the Model Prayer in Matthew 6:10 says, “Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” This is not only a prayer to be prayed, but a declaration to be made! The kingdom or rulership of the Lord is a present reality. It has not been fully manifested yet but will be soon.
CHAPTER FIVE: THE FUTURE KINGDOM
As we see our world becoming more ungodly, we wonder what is to come and how it will fit into God’s plan for mankind and His creation. By reading the Old Testament prophets and many end-time statements in the New Testament, along with the book of Revelation, we get a few glimpses of what it will be like.
Positive signs of the day in which we live include: the present-day work of the Holy Spirit as prophesied by Joel chapter 2:23-32; and the proclamation of the Gospel to the world (Matthew 24:14).
Some of the negative signs include deception (Matthew 24:4,11; false christs (Matthew 24:5), wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6-7), famines, pestilences, and earthquakes (Matthew 24:10), and the love of believers growing cold (Matthew 24:12).
There is a great deal of controversy about the Lord’s return in the end-time. Some believe He could come at any time and we should be on guard and ready for it all the time. Others believe that He will become right before, in the middle, or at the end of the seven-year period known as the tribulation and wrath of God. Regardless, of when it is (and no one knows for sure, all of it is opinion or conjecture). We know He is coming!
Many believe that when He returns there will be a thousand years of peace and prosperity in preparation for the new heavens and new earth that He will establish for all eternity! When that happens, we will see the fulfillment of God’s plan and purpose that He had when He first created the earth and put Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
His kingdom (rulership and authority) will be fully manifest as Satan, fallen angels, and the wicked will be destroyed in the Lake of Fire! Righteousness will reign forever and ever!
[1] Man’s beginning. God is eternal and had no beginning.
[2] Elohim. The plural name for God refers to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
[3] To cause to be out of nothing, with no pre-existing materials.
[4] Plural. Paul indicates in 2 Corinthians 12:2 that he was caught up to the third heaven.
[5] Singular. This probably indicates that the earth is the only place for mankind in an unglorified state.
[6] Ages.
[7] Genesis 1:3, 1:6, 1:9, 1:11, 1:14, 1:20, 1:24, 1:26, 1;28, 1:29.
[8] Isaiah 14:12-16, Ezekiel 28:12-19, Revelation 12:7-9 Luke 10:18
[9] Exodus 12, Romans 5:12-21, Romans 8:1-2, Galatians 1:4, Galatians 2:16-21, Galatians 3:10-14
[10] Ten generations are mentioned in Genesis. Heavens & Earth Genesis 2:4, – 4:26; Adam -Genesis 5:1-6:8; Noah – 6:9-9:28; Shem – 11:10-26; Terah – 11:27-25:11; Ismael – 25:12:18; Isaac – 25:19- 35:29; Esau – 36:1-43; Jacob – 37:2-50:26
[11] Author unknown.
[12] Genesis 15:6