Page 32 - TH130 Kingdom of God A4 Final

The Kingdom of God

began his ministry” (Luke 3:23). Note what Luke says about how Jesus
performed His ministry in the Spirit’s power:

• He was anointed by the Spirit: “When all the people were being
baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven
was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form
like a dove.… Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when
he began his ministry” (3:21–23).
• He was full of the Spirit and led by the Spirit: “Jesus, full of the Holy
Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the
desert” (4:1).
• He began ministering in the power of the Spirit: “Jesus returned to
Galilee in the power of the Spirit” (4:14).
• He publicly announced His Spirit-anointed ministry: “The Spirit of the
Lord is on me, because he has anointed me” (4:18).
• He taught with the Spirit’s authority: “They were amazed at his
teaching, because his message had authority” (4:32).
• He healed the sick by the Spirit: “And the power of the Lord was
present for him to heal the sick” (5:17). “And the people all tried
to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing
them all” (6:19).
• He drove out demons by the Spirit’s power: “But if I drive out demons
by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you”
(11:20). The “finger of God” is the Spirit of God (Matthew 12:28).

Peter Summarized Jesus’ Kingdom Ministry

Peter summarizes Jesus’ ministry in Acts 10:38, where he points out
that Jesus’ entire kingdom ministry was done under the Spirit’s anointing.
He noted, “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and
power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were
under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”

The Kingdom Ministry of the Early Church

Jesus performed His kingdom ministry in the Spirit’s power. He also
ensured that the ministry of the church was done in the same way.
As Jesus was about to ascend into heaven, His departing words to His
disciples were about the power of the Spirit and the kingdom of God:

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