Page 147 - TH130 Kingdom of God A4 Final

Global Mission and the Kingdom

Later, when He sent out the seventy-two, Jesus told them, “Heal the
sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you’”
(Luke 10:9). This was the pattern they were to follow in their ministries—
proclamation must be accompanied by demonstration (Mark 3:14–15;
16:15–20). It was the pattern that was followed by the early church
(Acts 8:5–6; 19:8–13; Romans 15:18–20; 1 Corinthians 2:4). It is the
pattern for proclaiming the Kingdom until Jesus comes again.

Further, Jesus and the apostles taught that the kingdom of God comes
in power. In fact, that is the only way the Kingdom can come. Any advance
of the kingdom of God will be resisted by the kingdom of Satan (John 10:10;
Ephesians 6:12). The powers of darkness, therefore, must be overcome
in the power of the Spirit and in the authority of Christ’s name
(Matthew 12:28–29; 16:18–19; Mark 16:17; Luke 11:20–22).

Paul taught that the Kingdom is a demonstration of God’s power in
action. He said, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of
power” (1 Corinthians 4:20). Jesus said that the Kingdom advances by
force: “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of
heaven has been forcefully advancing” (Matthew 11:12). The kingdom of
God advances through anointed preaching of the gospel, challenging and
overcoming the powers of darkness, a
demonstration of signs and wonders,
intercessory prayer, and acts of
aggressive faith. Proclamation must
be accompanied
Our source of Kingdom power is
the Holy Spirit. That power is received by demonstration.
when one is baptized in the Holy Spirit
(Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8), and is released
as one walks and ministers in faith and in the power of the Spirit. Without
this divine enabling, one should not attempt to do the work of the
Kingdom (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4).

Must Be Displayed

As we take Christ to the nations, not only must the gospel of the
Kingdom be proclaimed, and its power manifested, the superior life of
the Kingdom must be displayed. This is how Jesus bore witness to God’s
kingdom. His persuasive power came from three sources:

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