In Matthew 24:14 Jesus says, "14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." The testimony He refers to is the "gospel of the kingdom". The western church has preached the gospel of the church, the gospel of OUR church, or THAT church and even the gospel of "salvation", but is this what Jesus commanded?
When we preach the gospel of anything besides "the kingdom" we distract. As a result we have many people in the church world who are "saved" but... Saved is good. Jesus came, died and rose again so we can be saved. He has MUCH more in mind though. When God created Adam and placed him in the garden of Eden there was more than just "surviving" planned for His creation.
Being saved is a first step into living in the Kingdom of God. Living in the Kingdom involves freedom, victory, blessing, and a WHOLE lot more. Most of all Kingdom living is about other people. God's plan is not for us to gain entry into His Kingdom and then be content. To the contrary, Kingdom living is about being discontent. Not regarding our status but regarding what we see and how it affects us.
When Jesus saw people who were "lost" He was moved. Sometimes He worked miracles, sometimes He just cried. The point is that if we are "saved" and not living out the passion of the Kingdom of God each day, we are not scratching the surface of His intended plan.
Lord, I ask you to help me, help Hope and help our city to be a people of passion who desire more than just the satisfaction of knowing our sins are forgiven. Give us the passion to live for you with passion that "moves us" as it does You.
Pastor J
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