THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM
When we are seeking first the kingdom, every prayer finds its fulfillment.
Jesus intimately cares about what you are going through.
He is the God who clothes the grass of the field which today is alive and tomorrow is gone. He is the one who causes the lilies to grow although they never toil or spin. He is committed to moving and working in our daily lives. He hears every whisper, desperate cry, and stressful family situation. Jesus is alive today in every moment of our lives.
However, our lives with God are more than a means to fix our problems. Jesus calls us to seek something more than temporary solutions:
Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.1
There is so much brilliance woven in between each letter of that verse. All of our problems find their end in the kingdom of God. Every problem is solved in light of the coming kingdom. The more heaven meets earth; the more every ache, pain, and broken heart is mended. The kingdom of God has come, is coming, and will come.
We know this is true by Jesus’ ministry. He proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom and healed every disease and every affliction among the people.2 The kingdom of God is the end of all disease and affliction. Jesus didn’t do miracles only to vindicate He was the Son of God. He was also beginning the restoration process of humanity and the earth.
Jesus reversed the curse that happened in the Garden of Eden. He came from the seed of Eve, the prophesied One who would crush the head of the serpent.3 Satan bruised Jesus’ heel on the cross, but Jesus crushed the head of Satan and death for all of eternity. His resurrection secured that the kingdom of God would prevail.
Jesus will return and stand on the same Israeli dirt in Jerusalem today. He will take His throne and restore the earth to the fullness of “Garden of Eden” like conditions that God always intended. This process will take place over a thousand years. We will join Him in this restoration.4 The same God who took 6 days to create the earth will spend 1,000 years restoring it. He enjoys laboring with us that much.
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.5
During Peter’s sermon at Solomon’s porch, he included in his Gospel message this exhortation:
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.6
Repentance of sin today is essential for restoration because as long as we are bound by sin, we are subject to death. We can’t join in the kingdom of God if we are still chained by darkness. We must be liberated by the blood of Jesus—believing He is the Son of God, took our death on the cross, and rose from the dead. We can only come to God and be in His kingdom by faith in the finished work of the cross.
When we repent and come out of agreement with our sins, we get to enter the kingdom of God and share in the glory of eternal life. We are in a window of mercy and must respond to the gospel while we still can. When the fullness of the Gentiles comes in and provokes Israel to jealousy,7 the window closes.
Your kingdom come, your will be done.8
When we are seeking first the kingdom, every prayer finds its fulfillment. This does not diminish the severity of our trials, but is our comfort that all pain will end. Our shattered hearts will heal. Our broken bodies will be restored.
There is a time only God knows for the restoration of all things. This is the day the prophets point to and even caught a glimpse of. It is the day the trumpets sound,9 Jesus splits the sky, resurrects the saints, slays his enemies,10 delivers all the Jewish people,11 and begins a glorious procession to take His throne on Zion.12
On earth as it is in heaven.13
Come Lord Jesus.
Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” — Zechariah 8:23
Matthew 6:33
Matthew 4:23
Genesis 3:15
Revelation 20:4, 2 Timothy 2:12
Matthew 4:17
Acts 3:19-21
Romans 11:25-31
Matthew 6:10
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
Revelation 19:17-21
Romans 11:26, Acts 1:6, Jeremiah 31
Psalm 2:6, Psalm 68
Matthew 6:10