This Gospel Shall Be Preached, The Message, Part One

The gospel of the Kingdom of God is not a weak, watered-down version of God's awesome power and majesty. It is a full gospel that includes healing, teaching, preaching and deliverance. The elements of this gospel are still valid today just as they were in the days of the apostles. Jesus said the gospel, or good news, would preached to all nations before He returned. It's message will include both Jew and Gentile alike and produce righteousness, love, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost. The message of the Gospel is the Message of the Cross

By Chris McDonald

TEXT: Rom 1:16-17 - I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Luke 16:16 - "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

Matt 24:14 - And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

1 Cor 1:17 - For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel-- not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

        The word "gospel" is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word which meant "the story concerning God." In the New Testament the Greek word evaggelion, means "good news." The gospel from the beginning has proclaimed tidings of deliverance. It is a story of a lost love affair between God and man who once fellowshipped without hindrance until man sinned and fell causing God to banish him from His presence. Sin has always separated us from God. The message of the gospel is the good news that JESUS CHRIST, the very SON OF GOD, came and restored fellowship between God and man through His death, burial and resurrection. His blood has set us free.

        I remember reading of a vision a well-known author and evangelist had about 6 years ago. In this vision he was taken to heaven and allowed to experience standing before the Judgment Seat of Christ. In this vision, he was allowed to walk throughout all of heaven and visit with different people who had gone on before him and were experiencing what all of us as Christians will experience once we die and leave this body. As he was communing with the different ones there he came upon a man he knew to be the apostle Paul. He humble knelt before the apostle and told him how much of an impact Paul had had on the church with his writings in the New Testament. The apostle put his hand on the author's shoulder and told him to rise. As he looked into the author's eyes, Paul said "you don't understand - we're in greater admiration of you and the others on earth NOW who are seeing the fulfillment of what we wrote about at the beginning." The author was stunned to know that Paul and the other writers of the Bible were witnessing what was going on NOW on earth with greater anticipation than they were in their day. Paul went on to say that everything they had written in the New Testament was but a foundation upon which the church of each age had built upon. But THIS GENERATION held a greater place in all of history because it was the "harvest generation." "You are not more special than any other generation, you will just see a greater outpouring because you have a greater responsiblity."

        The author started to weep. As he turned to Paul he asked him that if there was something he would be able to say to the church of this generation what would it be. What do we need to do to see the fulfillment of the harvest before Jesus returns? Paul looked at the author without blinking and laid his hands once again on both shoulders. Staring into his eyes he said, "YOU MUST RECOVER THE MESSAGE AND THE MINISTRY THAT HAS BEEN LOST."

        "The message and the ministry?" the author thought.

         "The foundation we laid in the gospel was a foundation that saw great results," Paul said. "What has been built upon that foundation has been lost through the centuries through man's unwillingness to depend on God's knowledge and lean to his own of the scriptures. Much of what is being preached today is NOT THE GOSPEL!" the apostle said with great emotion. "The church must recover the basis of the message we first preached in the days of the church's infant beginnings. The message we preached had POWER and it demanded men to REPENT or turn from sin. The message the church preaches today has no power nor does it demand men to REPENT."

       Paul also went into detail about the ministry. "The ministry must also be recovered. Ministry in our day was not based upon what the gospel could BRING TO US, but what we could bring to the people. We gave up everything for the sake of the Kingdom. We didn't hold onto to homes, lands or buildings. We sought to build a kingdom in the hearts of men, not in the greatness of a building. The church has also lost the vision of true gospel ministry. We could minister to one just as we could minister to thousands. Unless there are great numbers today, many of the Lord's ministers are not willing to minister. THE KING is concerned about the one out of the ninety and nine. A true shepherd will care about ONE more than he will care about the multitudes. That's what you must recover to see the fulfillment of what we foresaw in the gospels and epistles."

        In this journal we want to begin to take a look at the MESSAGE of the gospel Paul spoke about. We're writing this from the heart so don't expect a deep theological discussion on what the gospel is and means. But I do believe we have the mind of the Lord on this and we hope it will cause you, whether you are a preacher, a laymen in a church or just an ordinary member, to examine the MESSAGE of the gospel. THIS GOSPEL SHALL BE PREACHED to all the nations before Jesus comes. For that reason, it's vital we take the advice of the apostle in the vision given to this well-known author - we must recover the MESSAGE and the MINISTRY.

The Gospel Message Is A Proclamation The Kingdom of God Has Come

Matthew 4:23  - And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 

Luke 8:1  - And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, 

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, (NIV)

        The gospel is a message of full salvation and deliverance from sin. It is the message of the Kingdom of God. Part of the Lord's prayer Jesus taught the disciples to pray included the statement, "thy KINGDOM COME, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

        The Kingdom of God is the presence of God's power on earth through the Holy Spirit. Jesus was our example of ministry in spreading the news of His Kingdom. His Kingdom is a kingdom of light, deliverance and freedom. It is based on the fact man is sinful and wicked without God but when man enters the Kingdom of God through the New Birth (John 3:8) he becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus.

John 3:5-9  - Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. [8] The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. [9] Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 

         This concept was strange to the most religious in Israel including Nicodemus a teacher of the law. IT IS STRANGE TO THE MOST RELIGIOUS TODAY AS WELL! The new man in Christ is a temple of the Holy Spirit through which life goes to others. He in turn not only shares the news of salvation with others but he also has the POWER to heal the sick and cast out demons by the authority given to him as a believer. Being a born-again Christian is more than just being "saved" it means you and I are now conduits of God's power to a lost and dying world bound by the power of the Devil!

         This is illustrated in the life of Jesus. With the commencement of His ministry as recorded in Mt 4:23, the writer described the event in these words, "And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness among the people." Notice three things hear - PREACHING, HEALING and TEACHING. That's what true gospel ministry is all about. Jesus preached the GOSPEL of the KINGDOM which was a gospel of power. When Jesus spoke demons trembled! When Jesus spoke the dead came back to life. When Jesus spoke the blind saw again. Glory to God. And the church in this last hour must find a way to get back to this same type power and anointing! The Kingdom of God is not just talk. THE KINGDOM IS POWER!  And we must all take an accounting of our lives and see what true power is flowing through us to others in this last hour. The power of the Holy Ghost is available to us all - not just Pentecostals and Charismatics! The promise of the last day's outpouring of this hour was for ALL who believed!

Acts 2:36-38  - Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.  [37] Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? [38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. [39] For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. [40] And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation

        Notice that the beginning of the church was based upon the message of the gospel which was confirmed with many "wonder and signs" done by the apostles. The promise was not just to the apostles, Peter said, but TO YOU, and YOUR CHILDREN and TO ALL THAT ARE AFAR OFF! Those who are AFAR off I believe is those of us in THIS GENERATION which has seen the greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit in nearly 500 years. From 360AD-1900 very little of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was seen because of the rejection of God's power by the "church" in those ages. But praise God in Los Angeles California with the great Azusa Street outpouring and other revivals around the world, the mighty outpouring of the Holy Ghost as foretold by Peter and Joel has happened. We are in that time now and it's the power behind the message of the gospel today. You can't distance the gospel from the power of the Holy Spirit like so many denominations want to do. The gospel is the  POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION. The same Holy Spirit that saves you, sets you free. The same Holy Spirit that saves you wants to FILL YOU and give you the evidence of speaking with other tongues. The same Holy Spirit that saves you wants to LIVE INSIDE YOU and give you the power to overcome sin! He wants to come and make JESUS REAL to you for the SON OF GOD came and died on Calvary that we might not only be free from sin and FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT but walk in healing of our bodies. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink but RIGHTEOUSNESS, peace and JOY in the HOLY GHOST! Glory to God.

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Acts 2:41-43  - [41] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. [42] And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. [43] And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 

         Luke confirmed this type ministry in his account of Jesus' life. Luke 8:1 described it in the following terms, "And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good tidings of the kingdom of God, and with him the twelve." When the Twelve are sent forth by themselves, the purpose of their mission is, in <Luke 9:2>, given in these words, "And he sent them forth to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick." So it was not just a 3 point sermon they were to give to their listeners. They were to preach the KINGDOM and HEAL the sick. The gospel and the power of God are interchangeable. You cannot have one without the other. Denominations which major in witnessing for the Lord do well. However, many of these same denominations deny the very power they are supposed to be representing. 

        Friend, when Jesus arrives on the scene of a life - that life is changed. As I said before, the believers are the conduits or source of power through which God wants to establish His kingdom on earth to others. Granted, He could have chosen a lot better candidates than we humans, but God has chosen the WEAK things of this world to confound the wise. We are the vessels He is using and the power He wants to pour through these vessels is the POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST.

1 Cor. 1:19-31  - For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. [20] Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? [21] For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. [22] For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: [23] But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; [24] But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. [25] Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. [26] For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: [27] But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; [28] And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: [29] That no flesh should glory in his presence. [30] But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: [31] That, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord. 

1 Cor. 6:16-20  - [19] What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 

        When Paul said he was not ashamed of the gospel he immediately said right after that - IT IS THE POWER OF GOD... That is a simple statement but one that is overlooked in many evangelical circles. We preach and teach and sing about a Jesus whose true power we really do not know or understand. Even many in full-gospel circles which believe in the gifts of the Spirit have not come close to understanding the TRUE power of Christ. Folks, as much as I hunger and thirst to see this type power - I DONT UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF WHAT CHRIST CAN DO EITHER! No one has the keys to ALL UNDERSTANDING and KNOWLEDGE of the Kingdom. Paul declared we "see through a glass darkly." And the things that are being revealed to the Body are but "pieces" of a greater puzzle. Jesus taught a great deal on the Kingdom while on earth and said Himself they were "mysteries." The Kingdom of God is not rooted in man's wisdom or his education - it is rooted in the POWER OF GOD! Our part in all of this is believing in that Kingdom and in the power of God, not our own education and wisdom! 

1 Cor 2:4-5 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. (NIV)

1 Cor 4:20 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. (NIV)

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, (NIV)

        Paul spells it out clearly. His message and preaching were not with wise words - but he demonstrated the power of the Kingdom by the Spirit's power. The Spirit's power comes in many forms. The Spirit of God may chose to do nothing more in a service sometimes than pour out a deep spirit of conviction. People may be so convicted of their sins they literally RUN to the altar for repentance. Many people get truly born-again at these times. Church members who have been lost for years yet have been faithfully attending services may discover they are lost and repent. 

       Other times the Spirit may decide to bring healing to people and people with brain tumors and cancers may be miraculously healed. The gifts of healing may flow and usually when these flow, the gifts of word of knowledge and word of wisdom usually accompany the manifestations. Other times the Spirit of God may come upon individuals to speak to the corporate body and give a "message" to the body for edification, exhortation or encouragement. Other times the Spirit may cause a deep silence to come over a congregation and a spirit of reverence and awe will settle in. (Now for you out there who believe God is nervous and loves a dead church service - I'm not talking about that type of reverence). All of these manifestations and events are part of the Spirit's work in bringing the KINGDOM OF GOD to us. That's the message of the gospel.

        I remember hearing Bud Williams, an Episcopalian priest in Lakeland, Florida, tell of his life-changing encounter with the Holy Spirit in 1993. On a Friday night he had been "slain in the Spirit," and literally lay on the floor of a Lakeland church for 8 hours just basking in the anointing of the Holy Spirit. When he got up he never dreamed what the  Lord had in mind for him on Sunday. He remembers the early service starting on time having the same old routine. He said he sit there thinking, "Lord I wished I was back at the church I was at Friday night," (AND HE WAS THE LEADER!). As he gets up to start speaking for the first time the Spirit of God struck him DUMB. He just stood there and couldn't speak. He began to shake and weep before His congregation but he couldn't speak a word. He felt his arms shaking so badly he grabbed hold of the pulpit to keep from being knocked backward. The pulpit didn't help. He fell on his back and couldn't move or speak for several minutes. During this time his congregation just looked stunned for about 3 minutes. But all of a sudden others in the congregation started weeping uncontrollably. Some started coming down the aisle to the altar. As they walked forward, many of them froze in their path not being able to move for the glory of the Lord. Many that morning were healed of diseases they had had for years. Others were baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking with other tongues - and guess what? NO ONE TOUCHED THEM! They were just watching what was going on and started to praise God and began speaking in other tongues! Bud just continued to lay on his back in front of his people praising God in tongues and watching his diocese literally get struck by the lightning of the Holy Spirit. You may ask, "well, didn't some people get offended at all this? Did all of the people there understand it?" Of course people got offended. Some got up in disgust and left. Others just sit in their seats and watched. BUT A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THAT SERVICE THAT MORNING WERE FOREVER CHANGED BY THE POWER OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD!

        What is scary folks is that many Christians who name the name of Jesus have never truly tasted the power of the Kingdom! You say how is that possible? Because many have fallen into a form of godliness but it's a form that denies the power of the gospel. The gospel and the power of God can not be disenfranchised from each other. You can't have one without the other! Paul said it clearly and plainly - IT IS THE POWER OF GOD!

2 Tim. 3:5  - Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 

Romans 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. 


        Many evangelicals major on the gospel being a message to the lost. It is a message to the lost. But it also remains a message to the saved that JESUS REDEEMS us from ALL the powers of darkness. The same gospel that saved you will heal you. The same gospel that saved you will fill you with the Holy Ghost. The same gospel that saved you will prosper you in Jesus. The same gospel that saved you will deliver you from sin. The same gospel that saved you will set you free from that bad temper. The same gospel that saved you will lift you up above the shadows and plant your feet on higher ground and give you a song in the night. The same gospel that saved you will cause you to believe God for the miraculous and the supernatural. The same gospel that saved you will anoint you to preach and to sing and to heal the sick around you and give you a holy boldness unlike you have ever had before! Glory to God. The gospel is the POWER of GOD. It's the MESSAGE of the KINGDOM. Jesus preached the message of the KINGDOM which was He had come to HEAL, He had come to SAVE, He had come to BAPTIZE IN THE HOLY GHOST and He was coming again SOOOOOON! Glory to God.

        I'm sure some theologian could preach circles around me in trying to explain this to you more deeply. But to receive the Kingdom - you have receive the Kingdom as a CHILD! You don't need a "deep" understanding of Christ to embrace His power. You need child-like FAITH! You need child-like acceptance of the fact that Jesus died not only for our salvation but for our TOTAL DELIVERANCE from the powers of darkness. We have been TRANSLATED out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light!

Col. 1: 12, 13-  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: [13] Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

The Kingdom Does Not Come With Observation, It Is Within

Luke 17:20 Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21 nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."

        Jesus said the Kingdom of God does not come with our careful observation. That's why the church misses much of what the Kingdom of God is all about. We are always "looking" for something outward before we believe. We judge the validity of the Kingdom's work in the amount of "building" and "increase" we see with our eyes, not realizing that the work of God is more than just building nice buildings and having a nice stock pile of money on hand in the bank. The work of the Kingdom is WITHIN the hearts of people. The Kingdom of God is being built upon PEOPLE, not organizations.

        The kingdom of GOD IS WITHIN YOU. It is a changed heart and life. It is a drug addict who once was strung out on heroin who hears the gospel, repents and gets born-again and set free from drugs. He then goes out and starts laying hands on other heroin addicts and sets them free from their addiction. THAT'S THE MESSAGE and the GOSPEL of the Kingdom of God. It's redemption. It's a message that a alcoholic hears and believes and is delivered from his drinking and bad temper. He in turn uses his talents and gifts to help other alcoholics out and be a PROFIT to the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit dwells WITHIN US. He does not dwell in a building made by hands. His presence will be felt in our buildings - but it's only because the presence of God is within US! 

1 Cor. 3:16  - Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 

        The principal words for "power" in the New Testament are dunamis, and exousia. It's the same words used to express what happened to the disciples in Acts 2:4 and what Jesus promised would happen to them in Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8  - But ye shall receive power (DUNAMIS), after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 

Acts 2:4  - And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

        The message of the Kingdom is when you are saved you are now a vessel of the Holy Spirit and you will RECEIVE the DUNAMIS of the Kingdom - the POWER of the Kingdom to go out and do the works of Jesus. You say, then why are there so many people who don't believe in this infilling or baptism in the Holy Spirit? UNBELIEF, plain and simple and the devil deceiving them into thinking they can carry on the work of the Kingdom without the POWER of the Kingdom! Friend, the gospel message without power becomes dead words that sound like a tinkling brass and sounding cymbal. There must be a move of the Spirit of God to make the gospel real and alive to others!

The Gospel Message In Acts Always Embraced The Holy Spirit, The Kingdom's Power

Acts 8:12-17;40 - But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. [13] Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. [14] Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: [15] Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: [16] (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) [17] Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. Acts 8:40 - Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

        Notice here the Philip preached to the Samaritans the "things concerning the kingdom of God." Many were baptized in water and believed in the name of Jesus. Even a sorcerer named Simon beheld the many "miracles and signs" which were done after Philip's preaching. How were the miracles and signs done? Through the power of the Holy Spirit. Philip's message of the kingdom was confirmed with SIGNS and WONDERS. Then Peter and John came later and laid hands on those who had believed and they received the gift of the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues.

       Some may say, "well it don't say they spoke in tongues." No, but something happened because Simon the Sorcerer started offering money for the gift the apostles were imparting to the Samaritans. So it was something tangible that he could SEE and HEAR.

18] And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, [19] Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. [20] But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. [21] Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 

        In another passage in  Acts, Peter was explaining to the Church in Jerusalem the events which took place in Rome at the home of Cornelius. In doing so he said the Gentiles had "heard from his lips the MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL."  They believed the message of the Kingdom from their heart. The interesting thing is what happened next - GOD FILLED THEM WITH THE HOLY GHOST just as He had filled Peter and the other disciples gathered at the Temple on the Day of Pentecost.

Acts 15:7-8 - After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.

        Paul concluded that the Lord was sending him to Asia to "preach the gospel" to those in Macedonia. His message to all the churches in Asia was laced with POWER AND DEMONSTRATION.

Acts 16:10-11 - After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis.

2 Cor. 12:12 - Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

        Paul's ministry to the churches was not a ministry of words. He says here and in other passages that the SIGNS of an apostle had been done in Corinth as well as other churches. Paul went PREACHING the Gospel of the Kingdom. His message was one laced with POWER and DEMONSTRATION, not just eloquent speaking and educated wisdom.

The Foundational Message Of The Kingdom Is Repent And Believe The Gospel

Mark 1:15 - "The time has come," he (Jesus) said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

        All of our faith in Christ is based upon repentance. Pretty blunt. But I want you to think about it a minute. This is the part of the gospel message that has been lost in the modern church. If the 21rst Century church plans to make a TRUE difference in the society around us we must recover this message. Repentance is the bedrock of the gospel message. One cannot be born-again unless they REPENT. This was the message of John, Jesus, the apostles and the gospel preachers following them. It was not be for Jews or the early church days only. It is a message for eternity! 

        Repentance means to "TURN AROUND"  Repentance is one of two things one must do to be saved. Believe and obey the gospel is one and REPENT is the other. Our message today has been so watered down we have people believing they can say a prayer and go on living like they used to. The truth is one must REPENT, turn around, change, make a 180-degree turn, from the path they were walking. If one was a drug addict, to be saved, one must stop doing drugs. If one was an alcoholic, one must stop drinking. If one was a thief, one must stop stealing. If one was a liar, one must stop lying. Some of these sins are serious bondages in people's lives and its foolish to believe that once a person is saved they will never fail again. But the key is the HEART. Once we're saved, we no longer live a life that is WANTING to do those things. We are now in a position where we WANT to be holy before God and we hurt if we fail the Lord Jesus. A true Christian will not seek opportunity to sin but to do righteousness. If through temptation the Christian falls, he or she has an advocate in heaven. But the lifestyle of that person will be one that is seeking to overcome through faith in Christ. Christ alone can set us free but we must present our bodies a living sacrifice before him.

Romans 10:9-10  - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

1 John 1:9  - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Luke 13:1-5  - There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. [2] And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? [3] I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. [4] Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? [5] I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 

Romans 12:1  - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 


        When a person believes under righteousness, their nature is changed and their attitude toward sin changes. They are no longer seeking a license, they are walking in the LIBERTY of Christ! And believe me, that liberty will not bind them in legalism but it will set them free to LOVE JESUS with all our heart, soul and mind! Glory to the Lamb.

        Repentance was the message of John The Baptist

         John the Baptist was the one ordained to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. He was sent to proclaim the good news that Israel's salvation was coming and she needed to turn her heart to God. His message was simple and cut to the core of Israel's heart - REPENT. 

Matthew 3:2  - And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

        Repentance is more than just repenting of what we DO, it's repenting of who we ARE! We renounce ALL of our own life and claim the life of Christ to live through us. The Church is very good at labeling "sins" and categorizing them in degrees. But the truth is there a self-will in all of us that we must renounce. John the Baptist keyed in on this when he told the Pharisees to lay the axe at the ROOT of the tree. In other words he was saying, "before you can produce the fruit acceptable to Messiah, you must completely destroy the root of the tree and be planted in HIM." Wow, what a statement. That's true repentance. It's when we even renounce our good as filthy rags in His sight and accept the fact that without Jesus all of our efforts to do right are useless and futile. That's the message we've lost in this hour. We are no longer telling people they need to repent. The church through psychology and other counseling ministries addresses the "leaves" on the tree which are only symptoms. We need to address the ROOT - the lack of repentance!

Matthew 3:10-11 -  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [11] I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 

        Repentance was a hallmark of the message that heralded Jesus' first coming and it will be hallmark of the message we must preach to herald His SECOND COMING as well.  John did not mince words. He said true faith in Messiah would bring about such a change that one would bring forth fruit that would bear marks of true repentance.

Matthew 3:8  - Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 

Matthew 3:11  - I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 

        Repentance Was The Message Of Jesus While He Was Here On Earth:

Matthew 4:17  - From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

Matthew 9:13  - But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 

Mark 2:17  - When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 

Luke 5:32  - I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 

Luke 13:3,5  - I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 5, I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 

Luke 15:7  - I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 

        The message of Jesus while on earth was also repentance. He spoke many times of a person's need to turn away from sin in order to be able to follow Him into eternal life. Jesus never preached a gospel that didn't require a change in one's actions. The woman at the well is a great example. Jesus dealt with her SIN first, then He addressed the remedy. Jesus doesn't save us IN OUR SIN, He saves us FROM OUR SINS! Glory to God.

John 1:29  - The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 

        Before Jesus went away to the Father, it was the last message He commanded the disciples to preach upon spreading the gospel to the world:

Luke 24:47  - And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 
    

Mark 6:12  - And they went out, and preached that men should repent

        Repentance Was The Theme Of Peter's Message At Pentecost

Acts 2:38  - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

Acts 3:19  - Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 

        Peter's powerful message at Pentecost was NOT about the gifts of the Spirit, but a need for Israel to repent! Think about it. The very day the Holy Spirit descended and brought about the revolution of the church was highlighted by a call to repentance. Should that tell us something today? Should that tell the Pentecostal and Charismatic world that we need to look at the level of REPENTANCE in ourselves instead of the amount of spiritual gifts we think we possess? That's why our converts are so shallow and never stick. We preach a gospel to them that doesn't require anything at all. We say "come to Jesus" and your life will be great. We tell them "come to Jesus" without telling them they must REPENT OF THEIR SINS and believe. Believing is a VITAL part of the salvation process but REPENTANCE is just as vital. You can't have true faith in Christ and remain in your sins! John says a person who believes that is deceived!

1 John 1:6-10  - If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: [7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. [8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 

        Repentance Was The Message Of Paul's Writings Both in Acts And The New Covenant

Acts 17:30  - And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 

Acts 19:4  - Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 

Acts 20:21  - Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Acts 26:20  - But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. 

Romans 2:4  - Or do you despise the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 

        Paul's message and writings were also laced with the same theme.  He said even the GOODNESS and FORBEARANCE of God was for one purpose - to lead MAN TO REPENTANCE! One of his most stinging rebukes came to the church in Corinth that by all viewpoints had more "gifts" operating within than any other church Paul addressed in his entire ministry. Their problem? REPENTANCE! They had people professing and moving in the gifts of the spirit who were living in gross immorality and sin and yet never saw the need to REPENT OF THOSE SINS! He warned them that without repentance they were bringing judgment on themselves and putting their eternal souls in jeopardy!

1 Cor. 5:1-7  - It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. [2] And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. [3] For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, [4] In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, [5] To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. [6] Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? [7] Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: 

        He was not applauding their gifts. He was rebuking them for their lack of sorrow over sin. We need to return to this same type sorrow over sin in these last days. He said they were glorying instead of repenting and it was not GOOD! Sin will separate us from God. Sin will destroy our homes. Sin will destroy our souls. Sin will take us down roads we'd never dream we'd go. Sin will consume us and destroy everything and everyone around us. Sin is selfish - it takes - and never gives. Sin has a power to it that only the blood of Jesus can cure and destroy. The key to the destruction of sin however is not just confession -  it's REPENTANCE! A person who confesses without every forsaking the sin winds up in bondage and unless he gets delivered and overcomes - he will miss eternity with GOD!

        In Paul's second letter to the Corinthians he addressed the same issue but this time he appealed to their need to forgive the brother in sin. But he made it clear his first letter was written without regret. They needed to have Godly sorrow which works repentance to salvation!

2 Cor. 7:8-10  - For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. [9] Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. [10] For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 

        The "sorrow of the world" usually takes place when we are caught or our sin has produced death. It may last for a season but unless we come to a point where we TRULY HATE inquity - we will probably wind back up in the same sin eventually. Jesus sets us FREE! For that freedom to become a reality in our lives - we must repent! The Word of God instructs us through Paul to move on from the foundation of repentance. Repentance is the place we start or enter the Kingdom. Many people stay at the door forever because they have never come to a place where they have truly let go of the sins which are controlling their lives.

Hebrews 6:1  - Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 

        A Solemn Warning From Paul In Hebrews

        There are two scriptures which have made many people debate for ages over whether someone who is truly born again can "lose" their salvation. One of those scriptures is found here in Hebrews (the other in John 10 concerning us never being able to be "plucked" out His hand) Paul says that if a person "falls away" from the faith it is "impossible" to renew them again to repentance. This is an interesting choice of words. He doesn't say that it is impossible for them to believe again - he says it becomes impossible to renew them to REPENTANCE. What is he saying? He's saying that many backsliders who come back to God usually come back believing but few come back with TRUE REPENTANCE. AND ONLY TRUE REPENTANCE BRINGS ETERNAL LIFE!

Hebrews 6:4-6  - For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, [5] And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 

        A great example of someone who sought eternal life but never repented of his sins was Esau. Esau forfeited his birthright and the blessing to Jacob and was rejected. Something happened to Esau (the Bible called him a fornicator) to the point he was never able to "find" a true place of repentance though he sought it carefully with tears: 

Hebrews 12:17  - For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. 

        When we continue to sin and spurn the grace of God we run the risk of our hearts becoming so hardened and calloused we will never find a place of repentance again just like Esau. We cannot keep sinning with impunity. God is not mocked - we will reap the consequences of our sin. Some will reap here on earth and eternity while others may go through life with little reaping but mark it down and take it to the bank - we ALL will  face the consequences of our sin in eternity - IF WE DON'T REPENT!  REPENTANCE is part of the gospel message. It's part of the Kingdom of God. It's the DOORWAY into the Kingdom. Jesus said, "blessed are the PURE IN HEART, for THEY SHALL SEE GOD." The pure in heart are those who have repented of their sins and have been washed in the precious blood of the Lamb.

        Repentance Was The Last Message Of Jesus To The Church

        In the book of Revelation, Jesus delivered His last "words" to the church. To five of the seven churches he addressed the message was always connected to one thing - REPENTANCE!

To Ephesus - Rev. 2:5,16  - Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 

To Pergamos - 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 

To Thyatira - Rev. 2:21-22  - And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. [22] Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 

To Sardis - Rev. 3:3  - Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 

To Laodicea - Rev. 3:19  - As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 

        If His last words to the church as recorded in Scripture were "repent" - what do you think OUR MESSAGE today should be? Has it changed? Have we reached a place in history where men should no longer come to repentance to inherit eternal life? NO! We will never reach a place where that will happen. The last message of Jesus was REPENT! And it's the message of the gospel today. It's a vital part of the gospel. It's the entrance into the Kingdom of God. You must be repent! Sin has separated us from God and that sin must be dealt with by the blood of Jesus. 

In Closing

Acts 17:30  - And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 

2 Peter 3:9  - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

        God has winked at man's ignorance in the past. Under the law and the prophets man didn't have the GRACE he does today through Jesus Christ. Don't ever think we live in a easier time today because of Grace. In one way I guess we do but I also think we will face a greater judgment in the end because we have been given so much. Man was required to repent under LAW and man is still required to REPENT under GRACE. The difference is today we have access to the Holy Spirit who is the agent on earth the Lord has sent to keep us on the path of life.

        We must recover the MINISTRY and the MESSAGE of the first church. The ministry was one of self-denial and sacrifice not wanting anything in return for the gospel. The MESSAGE of the first church was the power of God and REPENTANCE! Those two things must be recovered before we see true revival all over the world.

       Some who are reading this may not know Jesus as their personal Saviour and Lord. Some may be a Christian and be living in unconfessed and UNREPENTED sin right now. FRIEND, you need to REPENT! It's getting late neighbor. It's getting late. You and I both are but a breath away from eternity without God or eternity with God. We need to take a close look at our lives and see what needs to be dealt with. Believe me, if we are sincere, the Holy Spirit will reveal to us the areas of our life that need adjustments and work! He will reveal the sins you and I don't want to acknowledge. Some of us are living in sins we do acknowledge but we have never truly repented of them. TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION!  Don't play around with eternity - your soul is priceless! Jesus loves us and wants to cleanse us and set us free from the sin and sins that have us bound for hell without God. Repent today and believe the gospel. Pray for the church of the Lord Jesus to recover the message and the ministry.

Jesus, we love you today. Forgive us of our sins we continue to hold on to. We repent today from those making a true, honest effort to forsake them and not continue living in them from this day on. We know eternal life is for those who have BELIEVED and REPENTED. Lord we REPENT today and ask you come into our heart and life and make us a praise unto Your Name! In Jesus Name, Amen!