Beloved, I am glad to share with you today an important word of the Lord Jesus Christ to warn the whole world that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. It is important to remember that during his first visit; he clearly demonstrated that the kingdom of heaven was descended among humans. Let’s prepare without respite his second coming which is near. But on his first coming, let’s read in Matthew 4:17 “From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
What does it mean to repent? This is the first question we ask ourselves. John preached that it was near and that the inhabitants of Judea had to turn to the Lord by abandoning their wicked ways: Matthew 3.5-6 ” People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.’’
Moreover, Jesus himself preached about the closeness of the kingdom in Mark 1:15 : “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” And he preached the gospel of the Kingdom, as written in Matthew 4.23:”Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.”
The miracles he performed proved the presence of the kingdom of heaven among men : Luke 7. 15-22 ‘’ The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country. 18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ ” 21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.’’
The kingdom of God is already there with Jesus because his miracles, his healings, his death and his resurrection are proofs by which the kingdom of heaven is there in Judea : The kingdom of heaven and its unfolding are clearly detailed in 1 Corinthians 15:20 -25 ” But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.”
He is therefore the Redeemer expected to save humanity and gather all things, as written in Ephesians 1.7-10 “7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.”
And he is the only mediator between God and mankind : 1 Timothy 2.5-6 “5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.”
Let’s continue our study in depth and examine successively the different foundations of repentance and the coming of the kingdom of heaven :
a) First of all, repentance is a duty : indeed, at least the seven biblical passages give us the obligation:
Proverbs 1.23 “Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.”
Ezekiel 18.31 ” Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? “
Hosea 14.3 ” Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount warhorses. We will never again say ‘Our gods’ to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion.”
Joel 2.12 “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
Luke 13.3 “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Acts 8.22 “Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.”
Acts 17.30 ” In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”
b) Then, it is ordered to preach repentance :
We read it in Matthew 10.7, 27 “7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. “
Mark 16:15 ‘’He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’’
Mark 9.43-47″ If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,”
Acts 5.20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
2 Timothy 4.12 “I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.”
c) All over the world, the kingdom of heaven is the theme of preaching:
Acts 4.2, 8-12 ” They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.. 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
1 Corinthians 1.22-24 ” Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
2 Corinthians 4.5 “For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. “
d) The kingdom of heaven is near:
Matthew 3.2 “and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Matthew 4.17 “From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Matthew 10.7 ” As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’’’
Luke 21.31 ” Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.”
e) The Kingdom of God: The seven most important similarities:
Matthew 13.24 ” Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” 47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.”
Matthew 20.1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.”
Matthew 22.2 ” “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.’’
Matthew 25.1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.”
f) The conditions to enter:
1- humility: Matthew 5.3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
2- compassion: Matthew 25: 34-35 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.’’
3- perseverance : Luke 9.62 ” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
4- new birth:
John 3.3 ” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
5- endurance:
Acts 14.22 ” strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.”
2 Thessalonians 1.5 ” All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.”
6- faith and love:
James 2.5 ” Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?”
g) The kingdom comes with power
Daniel 2:44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.”
Acts 2.2-4 “2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.’’
1 Corinthians 4.20 ” For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”
Revelation 11.17 ” saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.”
(Revelation 12.10 ” Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. “
Revelation 19.6 ” Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.”)
h) What attitude to have with regard to the kingdom of heaven?
1- pray for his coming : Matthew 6.10 ” your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
2- to make it our primary concern : Matthew 6.33 ” But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
3- To preach it : Acts 8.22 ” Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.”
4- work for it:
Col. 4.11 ” Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.”
5- we may have to suffer for it:
Acts 14.22 ” strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.”
2 Timothy 4.16-18 “16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
We can, in the end, say that the Lord loves us so much that he wants to save for his kingdom an ever greater number of people, whether pagan or Christian. Our salvation for the kingdom of heaven, as we have read, passes through humility, repentance, obedience, perseverance, faith and love of our neighbor. Let us be ready to enter, knowing that sometimes we may suffer for it, in addition to the thanksgiving we can carry out in our lives, as detailed in the passages above.
Our prayers in this matter are beeing raised to the Almighty Lord.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows :
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all adoration, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to revert on your queries and comments as necessary, before sharing with you next week on the need to bring your neighbor to get saved, because the Lord Jesus wants to make us fishers of men.
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you in abundance.
David Feze, Servant of the Lord of armies.