SUNDAY
The Kingdom of Heaven Is Near
Who was preaching that “the kingdom of heaven is near” in the Four Gospels?
Matt. 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, Matt. 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matt. 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Matt. 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth…Matt. 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
ANSWER: John the Baptist, Jesus, The Twelve Disciples of Jesus.
OBSERVATION: “The kingdom of heaven” = “the kingdom of God”
When will the kingdom of God come?
Luke 22:18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
Luke 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; Luke 21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. Luke 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
ANSWER: At the second coming of Christ.
If the kingdom of God comes at the second coming of Christ, why did Jesus and His disciples preach that the “kingdom of God is at hand”? Did the kingdom of God come during the time of Jesus and His disciples?
a. OBSERVE following verse:
Rev. 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
1Pet. 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 1Pet. 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
How should we understand the connection between the kingdom of God coming at the cross, and the second coming of Christ?
ANSWER: Salvation came when Jesus died on the cross and at the same time the Kingdom of God came. This was the reason why Jesus preached, “the kingdom of God is at hand”. Therefore when Jesus died on the cross that was the beginning of the kingdom of God and when Jesus comes back then that will be the completion of the kingdom of God.
What happens between the cross and the second coming of Christ that builds up the kingdom of God?
After the resurrection, Jesus was anointed as our High Priest in heaven Heb. 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? (Compare with Acts 13:33) Heb. 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. Heb. 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. Heb. 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Heb. 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
As our High Priest, He sits on the throne of grace to give mercy Heb. 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Compare with Jer. 17:12)
The ultimate result of His mercy is to blot out our sins Heb. 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Is. 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
When sins are blotted out then Jesus can come back to take all His saints Heb. 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; Heb. 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Heb. 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. (If there is no more offering for sin, then the only thing Jesus needs to do is come back) Heb. 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Here is a text that summarizes the work of Jesus between His resurrection and the second coming Luke 19:11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. Luke 19:12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. NOTE: Jesus’ ultimate goal for going back to heaven is to “receive for Himself a kingdom.” Jesus receives His kingdom during the investigative judgment (see Daniel 7:9-14). After that, He is coming back as the King of kings (see Rev. 19:16).
CONCLUSION: The Kingdom of God is complete when His subjects are ready. His subjects are ready when their sins are blotted out. Their sins are blotted out only through the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus was shed on the cross. Therefore, the kingdom of God began at the cross. Hence, John the Baptist, Jesus, and the disciples preached, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand”.
MONDAY
Missionary Instructions
What does Jesus mean by telling the disciples to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves?
Matt. 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
NOTE: Before we can answer this question, we need to consider following questions and observations.
Who are the wolves? Read the following verses.
Matt. 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; Matt. 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
ANSWER: “Beware of men.” Who are these men? Religious leaders “in their synagogues” and political leaders such as “governors and kings”.
PROPHETIC APPLICATION: We shall be brought before religious leaders and political leaders when church and state unites. Therefore we need to be “wise as serpents” especially for the last days.
How are we counseled to be wise as serpents before the religious and political leaders? Read the next text.
- Matt. 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
ANSWER: The wisdom, by the Spirit, in how and what to say before men
Take no thought how or what you shall speak
Let the Holy Spirit tell you how or what you shall speak
CONCLUSION: “Wise as serpents” means to beware of how and what we speak. The only wise as serpent example in the Bible is in Genesis chapter 3. The Bible says, talking about the serpent, that he was “more subtil,” meaning, more wise. In what way was the serpent was so wise? The way the serpent persuaded the woman was by the way he spoke to the woman.
APPLICATION QUESTION:
Rephrase: Discuss the importance of what and how we speak, and how our words are connected to our mission work.
Do you know the difference between what we should say and how we should say it?
TUESDAY
Gentiles and Jews
How are we to understand these words in light of His later commission to witness to all the world?
Matt. 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
Matt. 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
ANSWER: It is God’s plan that through Israel God would proclaim the message of salvation to the all the world. Therefore the message of salvation needed to be preached to the Jews first.
OBSERVE the following verses.
Rom. 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Why did God give the message of Salvation to the Jews first?
Deut. 7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
ANSWER: God made a promise to the Jews. God had chosen the Jews to be a special people unto Him. Through one nation He wanted to bless all.
OBSERVATION: God likes to work on “one”. Then from “one”, He works with all.
One Adam to all human race
One man, Noah to all who are willing to come into the ark
One promised child, Isaac to all nations
One Messiah for all
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
Based upon the way God work, how should we work?
Which is better: work in one location then spread out or just work anywhere anytime?
What is the following texts teaching regarding mission work?
Matt. 10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Matt. 10:10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
NOTE: Scrip means a wallet or leather pouch for food.
ANSWER: They should not take extra things for their own provisions because they are going to be supported by the people whom they work for.
OBSERVE the following verses on the same topic:
1Cor. 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
1Tim. 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
DISCUSSION QUESTION: Why did God choose this method of supporting His workers?
ANSWER: This method of supporting causes the giver to practice self-sacrifice and the receiver to live by faith.
WEDNESDAY
A Holistic Ministry
What other work is connected to preaching?
Matt. 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matt. 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
ANSWER:
Heal the sick
Cleanse the lepers
Raise the dead
Cast out devils
Freely give
How can we, without the power to “cleanse, raise, and cast out”, still minister and witness to the world?
ANSWER: We can help to heal the sick through medical missionary work. Basically, we can give people our love and care freely that they may know Jesus.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Why don’t we see more miracles today?
Is performing miracle really necessary to preach the gospel?
Are there any spiritual lessons in heal, cleanse, raise, and cast out without the miracle power?
THURSDAY
Do Not Be Afraid of Them
Read the following text first:
Matt. 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Answer following questions based upon the contextual reading of Matthew 10.
- Matt. 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
- Matt. 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
ANSWER: 12 Disciples, preaching that the kingdom of heaven is at hand
- Matt. 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
- Matt. 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
- Matt. 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
- Matt. 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
ANSWER: Wolves, religious councils, governors, kings, family members.
CONCLUSION: I am sure all sincere Christians are going to be persecuted however especially those who are preaching the gospel of the kingdom will be hated and persecuted by the religious and political people plus possibly your own family members.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What message is the “kingdom of heaven is hand” in the last days?
Why would people be persecuted for preaching this message?
OBSERVE following verses on “my name’s sake”
Is. 66:5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
Matt. 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Matt. 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Mark 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Luke 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.Luke 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Luke 21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. John 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
Acts 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
Rev. 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
CONCLUSION: Many places in the Bible, “For my name’s sake” theme is connected to an opportunity to testify Christ in the midst of persecution and suffering.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What method is a good way to preach the gospel in the time of Persecution?
What method is a good way to preach the gospel in the time of persecution?
What is the connection between the Three Angels’ message and the medical missionary work in the last days?
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