Our Lord Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, started, or actually fulfilled the preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom. (Mt. 3:17). He handed it over to us through His first disciples. He told them, “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt. 10:7)
Jesus continued to enjoin the church through the apostles of old to Preach the same gospel of the Kingdom. The preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom comprises of : “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts nor bags for your journey… for a worker is worthy of his food…” (Mt. 10:7-42)
Preaching and teaching formed the backbone of the ministry of our Master and Lord Jesus. Yes, this is exactly what He handed over to the Church. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations …teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Mt. 28:19-20).
The preaching of the gospel should be given uttermost attention by Christians. It was number one priority to Jesus Christ. Nothing should replace our compassion for the lost souls.
Many people in the world have lost sight of the purpose of God for their lives; they have misplaced their priority in life, and even about God’s call; they are busy with their own selfish plans.
If the concept of the gospel of the Kingdom is restored in their lives, they will have hope of eternal joy which come by ‘seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.’
In the display of such seriousness about the great issues of life, He called His disciples when they were busy with their various money making profession (Mt. 4:18-20; 9: 9). When He heard about the imprisonment of John the Baptist, “He departed to Galilee…” And it was at this point He started to “… preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Mt. 4:12-17).
He told someone to follow him, but the person sought permission to go and organize or to prepare for his father’s funeral but Jesus told him, “…Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the Kingdom of God.”
He delayed His visit to the sick one with two days, knowing that the sickness was “… not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” All these portray the Lord’s emphasis on the gospel of the Kingdom; God is glorified when we are committed to Him and His work.
We must always remember that the gospel of the Kingdom can never be a reality in our situation and this dispensation whichout the constant consciousness of the presence of the Lord by His Spirit in our lives. And when we bear that in mind and keep it deep in our spirit beings, we will never loose sight of the Master’s teaching about the Kingdom of heaven on earth.
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