What was the gospel of Jesus?

Jesus and his apostles wrote again and again about the gospel, or good news. What was the good news that Jesus came to proclaim to the world? It was the gospel of the kingdom of God. You can find this mentioned in Matthew 4:23, “And Jesus went about all Galilee teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of diseases among the people.” Luke 9:11 “And the people when they knew it followed him, and he received them, and he spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. He told his disciples to likewise go and preach the kingdom of God. Luke 10:9 “And heal the sick that are therin and say unto them, the kingdom of God is come near unto you.” The kingdom of God was preached in association with miracles and healings. Paul wrote in 1Corinthians 4:20 “The kingdom of God is not in word but in power.” Jesus came to restore mankind to the previous state of harmony and peace with God that it knew prior to the fall from grace, that came from believing Satan’s lie, in the garden of Eden.

The entire Bible is a book written from God to mankind explaining who we are, how we got here, and where we are going. Adam and Eve ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Mankind has been struggling with that knowledge ever since. Gods desire for you and I is to put away the knowledge or thoughts of evil from our minds. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have consciously made a decision more powerful then the one made by Adam and Eve. We have declared that He is our Savior and God, and we become a child of God. Our sins are eternally forgiven, we are righteous because Jesus is righteous. 1 John 4:17 “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement, because as he is so are we in this world.” In preaching and teaching the gospel of Gods kingdom, Jesus was telling the people to repent or turn from their evil thoughts, that lead to evil actions. And enter Now, into Gods kingdom. Not some distant kingdom that would perhaps come in thousands of years. John 18:36 Jesus answered, “my kingdom is not of this world.” and when the Pharisees demanded that Jesus tell them when the kingdom of God should come he answered, Luke17:20-21 “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. Neither shall they say lo here or lo there, for behold the kingdom of God is within you.” Jesus was teaching that, within us, is the Holy Spirit of God. By entering into his kingdom, we act as the children of God that he knows us to be. We are all daily still listening to lies told to us by the god of this world. Jesus had this to say of Satan, John 8:43-45 ” Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” Lies are what keep us trapped in a self made prison. The walls of that prison are our own minds. Ezekiel 13:22  “Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad;” Lies told by Satan since the garden of Eden are what is holding us back from entering Gods Kingdom now, in this world, at this moment. John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Jesus is the Word of God. John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” The Word of God is truth. John 17:16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” We are not of this world when we enter the kingdom of God. We enter that kingdom when we begin to believe the Word of God, instead of the lies of Satan. Psalm 78:40 “How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.” Israel was a type of Gods Kingdom, a land flowing with milk and honey. God wanted it to be a place of peace and prosperity for his people. Only Joshua and Caleb were allowed to enter that kingdom because they were not afraid of the obstacles they saw, but rather believed in the word and promises of God. We have the same choices to make today. The enemies that God had them destroy were not necessarily physical peoples, giants and tribes, that God command they destroy. They were instead archetypes of the battles we must fight everyday in our minds. Negative thoughts that must be destroyed and replaced with Godly thoughts. Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” We can limit what God can do by our negative thoughts and actions. We can also limit God by believing that we are less then gods ourselves, and because of this, by our in-action. John 10:33 “The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?”

Finally, what would it be like to live now, in Gods Kingdom? John 4:23 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” 1 Corinthians 3:16 “ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” We are the Spirit of God in body’s of flesh. The Bible states we are the, body of Christ. Satan through the lies told to us through false blogs, podcasts, social media, commercials, news reports and a host of other means has us believing we are helpless creatures incapable of miracles or healings. We are told we evolved from amoebas in a puddle, eventually into apes, and now we are little more then an evolutionary byproduct of random chance. I am here to preach to you, the kingdom of God. You are sons and daughters of the living creator of the vast universe and beyond. Jesus told his disciples, Matthew 10:7 “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” Refuse to give thought to Satan’s lies of sickness, disease, poverty, depression, ect. Enter now into God’s Kingdom. This is the gospel taught by Jesus and his disciple. John 14:12  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” People were healed by the mere shadow of Peter passing by them. We limit God when we limit ourselves, and what we expect of ourselves. Jeremiah 29:10 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

What is the fall of Babylon?

In the book of Daniel, we read King Nebuchadnezzar was King of Babylon, the greatest kingdom in the ancient world. The king dreams of a giant image that represents all the kingdom of the world up until the end time, when God establishes his kingdom on earth. Each kingdom is represented by progressively weaker and inferior materials. The last kingdom is divided into ten parts and is made of iron and clay. Finally a great stone made without hands, representing Jesus, destroys the image and establishes Gods kingdom. In the book of Revelations an angel cried with a mighty voice, “Babylon the great is fallen is fallen. Come out of her my people that you be not partakers of her sins and receive not of her plagues.” Over and over in the four gospels it mentions, Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom of God. He gives multiple instruction on how to enter into it. When the Pharisees demand of him when will it appear he states, “the kingdom of God is within you.”

God wants his children to enter into his kingdom now, in this life. It is the promised land that he wanted the children of Israel to dwell in. A land flowing with milk and honey. A land filled with blessings and benefits. It is a land of rest, that is entered in by faith. Joshua and Caleb entered into it because of their faith. Hebrews 3:19 states the children of Israel could not enter into Gods rest because of their unbelief. As we continue to study Gods word, we grow in faith. Faith it states, comes by the word of God. When we trust in Gods promises, even if we do not yet see them, we resemble Joshua and Caleb. We give and receive good words. We have faith, together with patients, that God will deliver all he has promised. Peace, good health, financial blessings, protection. We begin to trust more in the word of God, and less and less in the kingdom of this world, and the false promises it holds. Satan is the god of this kingdom, and it states, he is a liar and there is no truth in him. As we trust over time, the word of God, then we draw nearer to entering His kingdom, and His rest. The image of the false kingdoms of this world become weaker and more divided, just as the the image of the king of Babylon became successively weaker and more divided. Finally the image in our mind of trusting in this world is smashed, by the truth of Jesus, the Word made flesh. And the angel cries with a loud voice, Babylon is fallen is fallen. And we enter the kingdom of God.

The story of Jesus, lost by his parents. Where can we find Jesus?

In the gospel of Luke, chapter 2, beginning in verse 41, we find the story where Mary and Joseph, along with many family members and friends, travel from Nazareth to Jerusalem to observe the Passover. Upon returning on their journey back home, they discover that their 12 year old son Jesus, is not among the traveling caravan of friends and family. Verse 44 states “they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances.” They return to Jerusalem, and after searching for three days, they find Jesus in the temple, teaching and asking questions among the elders of the city. When they found him it states, they were amazed! And asked why he had caused them so much worry. Jesus responded by saying, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?”

This story reminds me of a time in my life when I felt, I had lost Jesus. I has been attending a church with my wife and young children for over eight years. This particular church denomination had a very narrow interpretation of God’s word. It was a church based more upon our strict adherence to God’s laws, ceremonies and commandments, and less upon His love, forgiveness and grace. When I became disillusioned with this church, I felt I had no spiritual direction for many years. I rejected the Bible and stopped attending that particular church. I gave God and his word little thought for many years, and found myself very unhappy. After several years I began to turn back to God. Just as Mary and Joseph had done. I sought Jesus, but was unable to find him. I searched, as it were, among family, friends and acquaintances. I tried attending a number of different church denominations. I became involved in everything from New Age teachings and interpretations, to orthodox Catholic services. Still I could not find, what seemed to me, to be a personal relationship with my Savior Jesus. Finally I turned to The Word of God. I studied the Bible from cover to cover, as best I could. I filled notebooks, and tried to contemplate and understand the Word of God. I came to realize, Jesus is the manifestation of the Bible from Genesis to Revelations. The first verse of the gospel of John states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” As Christians we are the temple of God. 2 Corinthians 6:16 ” for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” When Mary and Joseph found Jesus, he was in the Temple, and it sates they were amazed! It is amazing to find Jesus is not far off, but nearer then we could possibly imagine. Jesus said he would never leave us, nor forsake us. If we become lost, and it appears Jesus has left our lives. Or it seems as if we cannot find Him. We do not need to spend days or years looking for Him. Jesus dwells within us! We can find Him and come to know Him, through his word. The Holy Bible. The revelation of who we are in Christ, is revealed through His word. We can rest, and know we are eternally loved, eternally forgiven. We can come to know the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. And be confident Jesus is in His Temple, going about His Fathers work. John 14:20 “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.”

Do we have to forgive others to be forgiven?

Does God require us to forgive other to be forgiven? My answer would be yes.. But not in the way you might think. In the book of Matthew Jesus gave his sermon on the mount. He gave us the Lords prayer, and in it we read.

Matthew 6:10-12  “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. At the end of the prayer he states, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

This seems to say in black and white, if we do not forgive others of their sins, God will not forgive us of ours. This seems to be a rather large burden to bear. I thought by believing in Jesus, and his finished work on the cross, my sins were forgiven. Isn’t that what Jesus came into the world to do? The Psalmist looking forward in time to Jesus day, had this to say concerning our sin.

Psalm103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

In the Book of Hebrews Paul is explaining a new covenant or agreement God has with his people. He quotes from the book of Jerimiah.

Hebrews 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. He goes on to say, “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah”.

The old covenant was based upon works, but the new is based on Jesus, and his sacrifice for sin on our behalf. It concludes with, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” God does not find us guilty of sin, because Jesus paid the price for our disobedience by being obedient and righteous for us. So back to the sermon on the mount. How can we be forgiven on the one hand, and yet our forgiveness is based on how we forgive others? God has given us, as his children, a great deal of power and authority. Eternal life itself is in our power to choose. We can choose to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, or we can choose not to. Adam and Eve chose to eat the forbidden fruit. We make choices every day, and God allows us to make them all.

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Our decisions have consequences. When we accepted Jesus into our lives, we became children of God. We also became one with God!

John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

God is in us. God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And that Holy Spirit dwells in us. It is the Holy Spirit that dwells inside of us that convicts us of sin, when we do not forgive others. When we truly have a heart of forgiveness toward those that have done evil to us, or hurt us in the most painful way, we will begin to be able to forgive ourselves of sins and offences we have committed throughout our lives. I can remember with great detail things I have said and done since the time I was a child, that have been hurtful and damaging to others in my life. Often to the very people I claimed to love the most. When such thoughts or negative feelings I have toward others creep into my mind, I get rid of them. I prune the bad, evil and unprofitable fruit and cast it into the sea. I try and focus as Paul instructed us, in this way. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Jesus taught us to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This is often referred to as the Golden Rule. By using this simple but infinitely powerful commandment, we will forgive others and in turn begin to truly forgive ourselves.

What does the story of Micah’s idolatry teach us?

I recently read the story of Micah in the book of Judges, and was having trouble understanding what the story was trying to teach us. In the story, Micah apparently takes eleven hundred shekels of silver from his mother without her knowledge. He then confesses and returns the money to his mother. She is overjoyed and gives a part of the silver to the founder to turn into a graven image or idol. Meanwhile a Levite from the tribe of Judah travel to the area Micah lives in. When Micah hears he is a Levite he asks him to become his own personal priest, and offers to give him lodging, food and a sum of money each year. The Levite is happy to take the offer and becomes a priest in Mica’s, “house of gods.” Micah proclaims, “Now know I that the Lord will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.” It is mentioned that in those days there was no king in Israel, every man did what was right in his own eyes.

In the next chapter it states that the tribe of Dan was looking to fulfill there inheritance by conquering an area of land near the home of Micah. They come across the city of Laish. It is stated that the people who dwell there are a people secure, and there is no want of any good thing. They are also described as a people that were quiet and secure, they dwelt careless and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in anything. The tribe of Dan come across the home of Micah, they find the Levite living there with the false idols, and convince him it is better to be a priest to a tribe of Israel, then to one man. They take him and the graven images, destroy the city of Laish, and eventually make the Levite their high priest and set up the false idols in the land they come to possess.

I had a great deal of trouble making any sense of this story. In my mind I was trying to fit the tribe of Dan, who were instructed by God to overthrow the people dwelling in the promised land, as somehow doing the will of God, and the people of Laish as being evil. Instead I believe the story is a warning against false prophets, who we can come to trust because we believe more in the title and degrees they hold, then in the message they are delivering. Micah was not a man of particularly high morals. He stole money from his mother, and set up idols of worship in his home. He must have known the warnings against idols, because he thought it would be a blessing to have a Levite as his priest, and would have been familiar with one of the first and greatest commandments against false idols. Micah, and eventually the entire tribe of Dan, believe they will be blessed by God, for having a Levite as their priest, regardless of what he preaches or practices. Even to the extent of practicing idol worship. We can be seduced by false preachers and prophets who hold degrees from theology institutes, or have titles given to them as, Priest or Father or Pastor, Minister etcetera. It is not the title a person holds, or how many hours they have studied to become a teacher of God’s word that is important, but rather what message they are teaching. God wants us to rest and trust in him, and in the finished work of the Lord Jesus, and not in the world, and its false idols. It is interesting how the people of Laish are described. They have so many of the good qualities of a people that the Bible describes. They are a people that live quiet and secure. They have no magistrate or judge to put them to shame. God wants us to be a people who are still and know he is God. Who do not care for the things of tomorrow, but trust in him to provide for our needs. He wants us to not judge ourselves or others, but to know our sins have been forgiven, and not live a life of guilt or shame. The people who live this way are destroyed of fire by the tribe of Dan. The Hebrew meaning of the word Dan, is remarkably, judged or he who judges. If we come across a false preacher or prophet in the pulpit or on TV, who is preaching a message of judgment, guilt or condemnation or are tempted to trust in the world and its false idols, we must reject it, and trust in the secure knowledge that we are Gods children, loved and forgiven of all our sins. Continue to trust God and his mercy, be joyful and thankful for his grace, protection and love, and don’t be deceived by false prophets preaching judgment and hell fire.