Our highly materialistic and individualized culture tends to view the Gospel simply as a personal plan of salvation. “Fixing the sin problem” has become entirely personal.
The Gospel is far more than your personal plan of salvation. King Jesus now reigns and through our surrendered and available lives God is now breaking into our world.
Matt 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." NIV
Jesus Himself describes the Gospel in relation to the Kingdom.
Matt 24:14 “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world” NIV
Matt 10:7 Jesus told His disciples to “preach saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. NIV
People are either caught up in the larger story of God or they are caught up in their own little story.
Rom 8:19 For all creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
NIV /KJV= “manifestation of the sons”
Recently I listening to a Hebrew scholar describe the idea of Adam working the Garden. He explained how the first commission to man was to “work” before he was told to pray or worship.
The Hebrew word “work” literally means to manifest yourself. Your work is born from your gifted purpose. When God’s people begin to function in their gifted purpose the reign of God will break into our world. Jesus kept saying he came to finish the work his father sent him to do. I fulfilled the work you sent me to do…
Jesus didn’t come to perform a rescue operation trying to get people out of here. He came to serve notice on injustice and to make things right in the world that are wrong = THIS IS OUR ASSIGNMENT!
2 Cor 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. NIV
This does not align with some personal plan of salvation where Jesus has come to supplement and enhance. Jesus is not like a vitamin that supplements our lives. Jesus is like oxygen that sustains us.
When we discover our work and begin manifesting our gifted purpose the world will begin to change!
Dr. S Michael Craven has done extensive research and writing on how “Prosperous Nations in our world sprang forth from pages of scripture…Biblical civilization has given us most of the inventions that exist today. Biblical civilization gave us building codes to protect life.
Deut 22:8 When you build a new house, you must build a railing around the edge of its flat roof. NLT
God’s plan is life protecting, life sustaining, life producing. Jesus came that we might have life!
Life is not about my personal plan being in order. Life is about God’s Kingdom breaking in and destroying the damaging plans of the enemy.
Nobody can tell you why you exist not even you. You didn’t make yourself so you can’t tell yourself why you were made.
May our God-given gifts be awakened as we read and reflect on Jesus daily! Turn the page
MANIFEST YOURSELF BY AWAKENING YOUR SPIRIT IN GOD’S WORD! Next week Jesus in Genesis.
GP4RL: Get an old-fashioned Bible and start writing the date as you read. Every day turn the page.