Gospel of the Kingdom
Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser, Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town

Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of heaven.
All his parables explained how that kingdom works.
All his disciples expounded upon that kingdom through their lives, miracles, sacrifices and letters to the early church.
When Jesus ascended, He spoke about things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Act 1:3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
“The first four New Testament books are called the Gospels. “Gospel” is the, Anglo-Saxon equivalent of the Greek evangelion, “good tidings” it means “good spell” (story), or perhaps “God’s spell”. There is, of course, only one Gospel. This Gospel is called the Gospel of God, of Christ, of the kingdom, of the grace of God, of His Son, of the glory of Christ, of our salvation, of peace, of the glory of the blessed God.” From MBTC Life of Christ Manual.

Here are some forces that help us to go and preach the Gospel of the Kingdom to our generation.
1. We have a commission to go and command to love from our King Jesus:
We are commission to go and commanded to love.
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Mat 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

2. The kingdom is empowered by the principles of the king as seen in His sermon on the Mount: the beatitudes give us the attitudes to be like Jesus:
“The King’s enunciation of the laws of His Kingdom. It is the means whereby the King has a kingdom, and rules it.” From “the Life of Christ” by Dr Roy M. Gray.
The first beatitude reflects the heart of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ:
“Mat 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“A perfect statement of His own life. Humble birth, humble dedication in Temple, obedient to parents in Nazareth, meek submission to John’s baptism, choice of lowly men as disciples, utter dependence on the word of God in the wilderness temptation, and refusal to adopt the grandiose schemes of the devil to further His earthly mission, conversation with woman at the well contrary to proud attitude of Jews, submits to ill-treatment at Nazareth, compassion for multitudes, contact with a leper, eating with the downtrodden, denial of any power of His own, and on and on.” From “the Life of Christ” by Dr Roy M. Gray, available as a full course from MBTC.

3. The force of righteousness helps people to access the kingdom of Heaven.
Gal 3:6 just as Abraham “BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
Just as Jesus spoke authoritatively so were they to speak in His name. This new kingdom is first of all “righteousness … in the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 14.17). Those men are to chart the course of this new kingdom, in the power of the Holy Spirit. The kingdom of heaven is to interpret to the world the moral standards of life, teach men the will of God in the lives of the citizens of the kingdom (cf. Mt. 5.16,20, Col. 4.5 where those in the kingdom are to “walk” so as to be an example of godliness to “them that are without”

4. The force of peace overarches all understanding and agendas.
Php 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

5. The strength of boldness and joy in the Holy Spirit and in believing Jesus’ Good News is what gives us superpower to go continually.
Act 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.”

Mat_13:44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Neh. 8:10, “The joy of the LORD is your strength.”

6. The force of repentance and remission of sins through His blood reconciles us with God.
Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Act 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

7. The force of sacrificial giving and offering our lives as a living sacrifice propels the Gospel forward and helps to establish the kingdom of God in hearts and minds wherever we are sent.
Luk 8:1 Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him,
Luk 8:2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons,
Luk 8:3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.

8. Apostolic people understand that they are sent ones:
Apostles. Consult your dictionary. The Greek “apostolos” (G652) refers to a “delegate; specifically, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ, with miraculous powers. An apostle is a messenger, one that is sent. (Strong’s Concordance)

Joh 13:20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”