30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 17 20-37 Be occupied with the work of His kingdom, till He returns 06 We are His workmanship created for good works
📖 Luke 17:20-37
13Aug2020 - *We are His workmanship created for good works* - _Luke 17:20-37_ - OCCUPY WITH THE WORK OF HIS KINGDOM, TILL HE RETURNS 6 – Bible reading: _Matthew 9:35-38_
_Luke 17:20-21 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; (21) nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."_
We have been exploring as to what it means to be occupied with the work of His kingdom till He returns. We have been understanding that the kingdom of God is within us.
The Lord connected the Old Testament prophesy of the kingdom of God to Himself. This He did, so that the Jews will have no doubt as to how, He being the Messiah, was establishing His kingdom. _Luke 4:16-21 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. (17) And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: (18) "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR; HE HAS SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET AT LIBERTY THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED; (19) TO PROCLAIM THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." (20) Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. (21) And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."_
This prophecy in Isaiah was one of the well-known and familiar passages of scripture for the Jews, concerning the kingdom of God. After reading this passage in the hearing of all the people, Jesus made just one statement, _"Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."_ He did not have to say more. He lived and demonstrated to the people, the kingdom of God, which He preached and longed for people to enter into.
_Matthew 9:35-38 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. (36) But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. (37) Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. (38) Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest."_
He related to people and brought healing into their lives. This is what is expected of us, as we occupy ourselves with the work of His kingdom till He returns. We are here to relate with people and bring healing into their lives. This task of us being occupied with the work of His kingdom must be both as individuals as well as, as the body of Christ. The church has to be the healing balm of the kingdom of God to our people, in these end times, as we await the return of our Lord.
Not only was Jesus demonstrating the work of the kingdom, but He also sent out the twelve disciples to do the same work. _Luke 9:1-2 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. (2) He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick._
In the next chapter, we read that it was not only the twelve, who were sent out but Jesus sent out seventy disciples to do the work of the kingdom of God. _Luke 10:1-2 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. (2) Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest. Luke 10:9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'_
What is the message for us? Isn’t it clear? We are here to be occupied with the work of His kingdom till He returns. None of us can say, I’m not sure what the work of the kingdom of God is all about. The kingdom of God is within us and it is evidenced in our relationships with people around us bringing God’s healing into their lives.
_Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast. (10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them._
Many of us are content with the fact that we have been saved by grace through faith. When we received Jesus into our hearts by faith, we have received the King and His kingdom. Our personal salvation is included in the benefits and responsibilities of His kingdom, which is now within us. The kingdom of God within us has to be evidenced in the outworking of the kingdom from us, as His church, into the lives of the people around us.
If we there is no evidence of the outworking of the kingdom from us, then the question that begs to be answered is, “Did we, at all, receive Him into our lives as Saviour and King?”
*Thought to ponder*
```Over the centuries, the church has been the healing balm of God into the lives of people but the harvest is still great and the labourers few.```