The Good News
By Barry Adams
Luke 4:43
But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also,
because that is why I was sent.” NIV
But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also,
because that is why I was sent.” NIV
Jesus spoke more about the Kingdom of God than He did of any other topic in the gospels. The good news of the Kingdom of God is meant to be the very centerpiece of the Christian life. We know it is a Kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28-29), it is not of this world (John 18:36) and it indwells us (Luke 17:20-21).
Wherever Jesus went, He proclaimed the good news of this Kingdom (Matthew 24:14). He also encouraged us to make our pursuit of the Kingdom of God our top priority (Matthew 6:33) and to ask our Father for His Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)
If we advertised we were having a Kingdom conference, it would be well attended. After all, there is something inside every believer that knows that this is what we were created for. So what do you think living in the Kingdom actually means? Is it a greater awakening to God’s plan and purpose for humanity? Absolutely! Is it a greater empowering of the church on planet earth to be manifestation of signs, wonders and miracles? Without question!
Every attribute of the Kingdom is spectacular. Every gift, every ministry office, every good work that we do under the direction of the Holy Spirit… all God ordained and blessed. But are these expressions of the Kingdom the actual substance of the Kingdom?
I think this is where we can get distracted if we aren’t careful. I like to call these expressions of the Kingdom, ‘shiny objects’. They are beautiful, valuable and necessary but they were never ever meant to be the object of our pursuit.
If we don’t perceive the Kingdom from The Trinity’s perspective, we will be surely derailed in our pursuit of it. If we assume the broken values of this orphan world are the same values of the Kingdom, we will be sadly mistaken. In Matthew 18:1-5, Jesus told His disciples that the greatest in God’s Kingdom is a little child. In Matthew 11:25-26, Jesus declares that His Father hides the Kingdom from the wise and reveals it to little babies. And in Luke 18:15-17, Jesus says that the Kingdom belongs to little children.
And Paul made it clear that God’s Kingdom isn’t revealed through the strong, the wise and the rich but to the weak, the foolish and the poor. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31) If we think that the Kingdom is for 'the top of the food chain', think again, for it is actually counter intuitive to everything that we esteem as the best of the fallen world we live in.
Often when Jesus announced the good news of the Kingdom, it was also accompanied by the invitation to repent. There is a challenge to this call to repentance because when we think of this word, it often is associated with feelings of guilt and shame. But the good news of the good news is that the word 'repent' actually doesn't exist as many of the translators have suggested it does. The actual Greek word that Jesus used is the word... metanoia which means 'a change of mind'.
Of course that change of mind also implies a complete turning around so I'm guessing that is why the translators felt that repentance was an appropriate transformation. But the word repent comes from the idea that we are to have to do penance which means 'self punishment'. There is nothing further from the truth.
I believe that true metanoia (change of mind) is beautifully described in Romans 12:1-2... Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. NIV
Simply put, the Bible says that believers have 'the mind of Christ' (1 Corinthians 2:16) so the transformation that comes when we receive the good news of the Kingdom is that we begin to think God thoughts that are aligned with His plan and purpose for our lives!.
Would you be willing to ask God to redefine your understanding of His Kingdom and embrace it as it is and not how the broken systems of this world define it to be? The adult 'you' may struggle with this a bit, but the little child in you is ready, willing and able to embrace the good news of God's Kingdom in all it's glory!
Luke 12:32
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. NIV
Wherever Jesus went, He proclaimed the good news of this Kingdom (Matthew 24:14). He also encouraged us to make our pursuit of the Kingdom of God our top priority (Matthew 6:33) and to ask our Father for His Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)
If we advertised we were having a Kingdom conference, it would be well attended. After all, there is something inside every believer that knows that this is what we were created for. So what do you think living in the Kingdom actually means? Is it a greater awakening to God’s plan and purpose for humanity? Absolutely! Is it a greater empowering of the church on planet earth to be manifestation of signs, wonders and miracles? Without question!
Every attribute of the Kingdom is spectacular. Every gift, every ministry office, every good work that we do under the direction of the Holy Spirit… all God ordained and blessed. But are these expressions of the Kingdom the actual substance of the Kingdom?
I think this is where we can get distracted if we aren’t careful. I like to call these expressions of the Kingdom, ‘shiny objects’. They are beautiful, valuable and necessary but they were never ever meant to be the object of our pursuit.
If we don’t perceive the Kingdom from The Trinity’s perspective, we will be surely derailed in our pursuit of it. If we assume the broken values of this orphan world are the same values of the Kingdom, we will be sadly mistaken. In Matthew 18:1-5, Jesus told His disciples that the greatest in God’s Kingdom is a little child. In Matthew 11:25-26, Jesus declares that His Father hides the Kingdom from the wise and reveals it to little babies. And in Luke 18:15-17, Jesus says that the Kingdom belongs to little children.
And Paul made it clear that God’s Kingdom isn’t revealed through the strong, the wise and the rich but to the weak, the foolish and the poor. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31) If we think that the Kingdom is for 'the top of the food chain', think again, for it is actually counter intuitive to everything that we esteem as the best of the fallen world we live in.
Often when Jesus announced the good news of the Kingdom, it was also accompanied by the invitation to repent. There is a challenge to this call to repentance because when we think of this word, it often is associated with feelings of guilt and shame. But the good news of the good news is that the word 'repent' actually doesn't exist as many of the translators have suggested it does. The actual Greek word that Jesus used is the word... metanoia which means 'a change of mind'.
Of course that change of mind also implies a complete turning around so I'm guessing that is why the translators felt that repentance was an appropriate transformation. But the word repent comes from the idea that we are to have to do penance which means 'self punishment'. There is nothing further from the truth.
I believe that true metanoia (change of mind) is beautifully described in Romans 12:1-2... Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. NIV
Simply put, the Bible says that believers have 'the mind of Christ' (1 Corinthians 2:16) so the transformation that comes when we receive the good news of the Kingdom is that we begin to think God thoughts that are aligned with His plan and purpose for our lives!.
Would you be willing to ask God to redefine your understanding of His Kingdom and embrace it as it is and not how the broken systems of this world define it to be? The adult 'you' may struggle with this a bit, but the little child in you is ready, willing and able to embrace the good news of God's Kingdom in all it's glory!
Luke 12:32
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. NIV