30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 16 14-17 The cross and the kingdom of God 11 The experience of His kingdom
📖 Luke 16:14-17
14Apr2020 - *The experience of His kingdom* - _Luke 16:14-17_ - Bible reading: _Matthew 11:4-6_
_Luke 16:16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it._
Jesus explained the kingdom of God through the Nazarene manifesto. _Luke 4:18-21 "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."_ The Kingdom of God was being inaugurated since the King had arrived.
He made it clear throughout His ministry that His purpose was to set up His kingdom but the entrance into His kingdom would be through the cross. Man wants the blessing of His kingdom but does not want to enter in, into God’s kingdom, through the cross. _Luke 4:43-44 but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent." (44) And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee. Matthew 9:35 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._
The kingdom of God is comprehensive. All of man’s development, fulfilment, purpose, joy and accomplishment, find its full expression in the kingdom of God. In His kingdom, we remain surrendered to the King. God does not stifle us in His kingdom but in Him, we grow into all that He has intended for us.
The life and the outworking of His kingdom, even while we live here on earth, is explained for us in the sermon on the mount, in the three chapters of _Matthew 5-7. Matthew 5:2-3 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: (3) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven._ We, therefore, have clarity as to how the kingdom of Jesus operates. The constitution of His kingdom has been placed in our hands.
John the Baptist was not sure and so he sent two of his disciples to Jesus to enquire from Him if He was the King. This was the Lord’s response to the disciples of John. _Matthew 11:4-6 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: (5) The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. (6) And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."_
The solution to man’s predicament has been provided. Man’s healing and well-being is all considered in His kingdom. God is inviting man to come into the citizenship of His kingdom, through the cross.
It is for the church to be the demonstrative model of life in His kingdom. If the church does not live out His kingdom, then the world has no way to understand the life in God’s kingdom.
*Thought to ponder*
```The kingdom of Jesus begins here, on earth and continues on for it is an everlasting kingdom.```