Manifesting the Kingdom of God pt. 9

Welcome to NECF Sermons. Each message here is

designed to uplift and strengthen you in your

walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until

the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive

right in. Turn to your left and right and welcome

your brothers and sisters. We take your seats.

Smile. Your brother in the Lord is not responsible

for how hectic your day is. So, when you come

in the house of God, be full of joy. Hallelujah.

Be full of joy. It's an opportunity for us to

enjoy the word of God. Amen. And I trust that

God will keep speaking to us in Jesus' name.

Matthew 16. Matthew chapter 16. I'm reading from

Matthew 16 · chapter mention

verse 17. Matthew 16, from verse 17. 17 down

to 19. And Jesus answered and said unto him,

Bless thou, Simon Bar -Jonah, for flesh and blood

hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father

which is in heaven. And I say also unto you,

unto thee, that thou art Peter. And upon this

rock I will build my church, and the gates of

hell shall not prevail against it. And I will

give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall

be bound in heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt...

bound shall lose on earth shall be loose in heaven.

Give me verse 17 again. Look at verse 17. In

verse 17 he said that for flesh and blood hath

not revealed it unto you but my Father which

in heaven. My Father who is where? Who is in

heaven. And what he is saying in essence is that

God lives in heaven. Or rather, God dwells in

heaven. Hallelujah. So God, who is spirit, John

John 4:24

chapter 4, verse 24. God, who is spirit, John

John 4:24

chapter 4, verse 24. It says, God is a spirit,

and they that worship him must worship him in

spirit, which is what? Which is truth. So God

is spirit, meaning that the physical eyes cannot

see him. We can't see God with the physical eye.

John 1, verse 18. John 1, 18 talks about, you

John 1:18

know, no one had seen God. No one had seen God.

He says, no man had seen God at any time. The

only begotten son, which is in the... Okay, no

one has seen God at any time. The only begotten

son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared

him unto us. So, the vehicle by which we have

an understanding of who God is, is through the

son. And the son obviously is talking about Jesus

Christ. So how we come to know the father is

through the son. And this God who is spiritual

or who is spirit rather, this God who is spirit

exists or lives in the heaven. Hallelujah. And

then we said heaven means the invisible, right?

We said heaven means what the unseen, which means

he dwells in the unseen. He dwells in the immaterial.

God dwells in the immaterial. It means the realm

of the spirit. You know, it means for us to have

access to God, we must have a relationship with

the immaterial world to have access to God. So,

there are different beings or there are different

characters, we can call characters, beings or

realities in the unseen or in heaven. We've talked

this in the seven meetings about, you know, the

realities of heaven. What is the composition

of heaven? We said heaven is unseen, right? The

unseen realm, meaning that it cannot be accessed

with the physical eyes, but then it is real,

it is true, it exists. And then there are different

components, there are different realities in

this unseen realm. And one of the things that

we saw in the course of our studies is that the

rulers of darkness dwells in heaven. Hallelujah.

We saw that the rulers of darkness, rulers of

darkness, one of the realities we saw in heaven

is that the ruler of darkness lives in heaven.

This is what we call the kingdom of darkness.

Okay, Ephesians chapter 6, verse 12. Ephesians

Ephesians 6:12 Ephesians 6:12

chapter 6, verse 12. The rulers of darkness lives

in the heavenly, in the unseen. Ephesians chapter

Ephesians 6:12

6, verse 12. It says, for we do not wrestle against

flesh and blood, but against who? Principalities

against powers, against the rulers of darkness.

Those who rule darkness of this age against spiritual

hosts of wickedness. Where? Where are they? They

are in the heavenly. That place is not in the

original. They are in the heavenly. Hallelujah.

So it means that the workers of darkness also

live in heaven. Amen? They live where? They live

in heaven. Ephesians 3 verse 10, the same Ephesians

Ephesians 3:10 Ephesians 3:10

3 verse 10, we'll see also, and other scriptures

we can see, giving us a hint of some of the characters

we have in heaven. To the intent that now the

manifold wisdom of God may be made known by the

church. To who? To the principalities and powers

where? In the heavenly. So these principalities

and powers, same as we saw in chapter 6 verse

12, they dwell where? They dwell in the heaven,

heavenly, in heaven. So if you ask you, what

are the realities of heaven? What are the characters

or what are the composition of heaven? The rulers

of darkness, right? Wickedness, wicked spirit,

they live where? They live in the unseen because

we can't see them with our physical eyes. Amen?

So the realm at which they operate is where?

It's in the heavenly realm. Hallelujah. And also,

The kingdom of God, that is the household of

God, or the family of God, made up of Christ.

Of course, Christ is the head of this family.

And believers, you and I, who are born again,

and even those who are asleep, we also make up

heaven. Are we together? So we have those evil

spirit, wickedness in the heavenly realm. We

also have the kingdom of God also where in this

same heaven. In the unseen. 1 Peter 3, verse

1 Peter 3:21

21. 1 Peter 3, 21 and 22. 1 Peter, yes. It says

there is also, yes, there is also an antitype

which now saves us. Baptism. Not the rumour of

the field of the flesh, but the answers of good

conscience towards God through the resurrection

of Jesus Christ. Verse 22. Who has gone into

heaven? Jesus Christ has gone where? Into heaven

at the right hand of God. Angels and authorities

and powers haven't been made subject to him.

Jesus has gone into where? Into heaven. Hallelujah.

Jesus has gone into heaven. Colossians 3 verse

Colossians 3:1–2

1 to 2. Colossians 3 verse 1 to 2. If then you

Colossians 3:1–2

were raised with Christ. Talking about who? Talking

about the believer. The believer has been raised

with Christ. Seek those things which were what?

Which were above. Where Christ is. Christ is

where? Christ is in heaven. Alright? Sitting

at the right hand of God. Right hand does not

mean that there is a left hand. We've always

taught this. It means a place of authority. A

place of authority in God. Alright? Verse 2.

Set your mind on things above, not on things

on earth. Set your mind on things above. Are

not things on earth. Ephesians 1 verse 20. Ephesians

Ephesians 1:20 Ephesians 1:20

1 verse 20. So we are seeing that Christ is in

heaven. Alright. 1 verse 20. Verse 19. Give me

verse 19 then verse 20. It says, And what is

the exceeding greatness of his power towards

us who believe according to the working of his

mighty power, which he worked in Christ when

he raised him from the dead and seated him at

the right hand in the heavenly. So Jesus is where?

is in the heavenly. Alright? Ephesians 2, verse

Ephesians 2:5–6

5 to 6. Ephesians 2, verse 5 to 6. Ephesians

Ephesians 2:5–6

2, 5 to 6. Everywhere we were dead in trespasses

made us alive together with Christ. So Christ,

where is Christ? Christ is in heaven, isn't it?

And we are what? Have been made, even when we

were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together

with Christ. So we are alive together with Christ.

By grace you've been, yes, verse 6 says, and

he raised us up together and made us sit together

in the heavenly. So the believer is where? The

believer is in Christ, but where? In the heavenly.

Hallelujah. Ephesians 3, verse 14 and 16. Ephesians

Ephesians 3:14

3, 14 and 16. For this reason, I bow my knees

to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The father

of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole

family, which family are we talking about? The

kingdom of God, the family of God. Everyone that

believes in Jesus Christ, from whom the whole

family in where? Whole family in where? In heaven

and earth is named. Who are those that are made

of the family of God? Believers. Hallelujah.

Who have gone to sleep? Oh, say they have died.

All right. And we that are still alive, where

are we? We are. In Christ. And he will grant

you the according to riches of glory to be strengthened.

Yes. And then we see, yes, verse 15. Hebrews

Hebrews 12:23

12, verse 23. Hebrews 12, verse 23. Hebrews 12,

Hebrews 12:23 Hebrews 12:23

verse 23. To the dear assembly. Okay. What is

the dear assembly? It is a church of God. The

firstborn who are registered in heaven to God,

a judge registered way in heaven. That is the

residence of the church. That is the residence

of a family of God. You are born. Where are you

born? You are born into heaven. Hallelujah. Your

place of birth is heaven. Amen. You are not trying

to go to heaven, but you are born in heaven.

That is what happened at salvation. You became

born from heaven. When you believe the salvation

message, you are born in heaven. Hallelujah.

Amen. So, rulers of darkness and heaven, there

are other things that we've looked at that are

the realities of heaven. So, we've seen that

the heavenly realm is the unseen realm. Okay?

But then, there is what we call the kingdom of

God. The kingdom of God. Alright? The kingdom

of God in heaven. So, we are not in the same

family with demons and satans and all the wicked

spirits. Are we together? What distings us is

that we are where? We are in the family of God.

So there's a distinction between the kingdom

of darkness, which is in the unseen, and the

kingdom of God, which is still in heavenly. Are

we together? So we define that kingdom, that

we define kingdom as meaning dominion. Okay?

So we are under the word, the dominion of God.

in the heavenly realm. We are under the royal

power of God. We are under the rule, the rulership

of God in the heavenly. Therefore, the kingdom

of God in heaven refers to the sphere of God's

dominion. Are we together? The sphere where God

has dominion, where God has power and exercises

rule and his dominion over. God's dominion, God's

royalty, God's power, God's authority indicating

that in this sphere of of heaven, God is king,

is supreme. And all of us that are part of this

family are part of God's word, God's rule, God's

kingdom, God's family, God's household, which

is spiritual. But we have been delivered from

where? Where have we been delivered from? Colossians

Colossians 1:13

1 verse 13 says that we've been delivered from

the kingdom of darkness. Where were we before?

We're in the kingdom of darkness, alright? And

we've been delivered from the power of darkness

and conveyed us into where? into the kingdom

of the son in his love, which means that salvation

happens where? Where does it happen? It happens

in the unseen. Hallelujah. That is why today,

if you are born again, very short, like me, if

you are born again, you will not change your

height because salvation did not happen in the

physical. It happens where? It happens in the

spiritual. How are we together? So, it's a translation.

From the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom

of light, we become part and parcel of God's

kingdom, of God's family. How did we have access

to the kingdom of heaven? Meaning the kingdom

of God. How did we have access to the kingdom

of God, which is in heaven? How did we have access

to the kingdom of God? Or what we call, yes,

the household of God, the family of God. Matthew

16, 19. Matthew 16, 19 says, and I will give

you the keys of the kingdom. Matthew 16, 19 talks

about what? It talks about keys. And I will give

you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatever

you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. And

whatever you lose on the earth will be lost where?

In heaven. And we saw that Jesus has these keys.

These keys is what we call, we call it the access,

isn't it? Jesus is the one that has this access

to this kingdom. It is through Jesus that we

have access to the kingdom of God, to the family

of God. And to us is given this access. And we

establish that this key or this access is given

when? At the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Amen?

When he died and he rose again, he gave us access

through Jesus. the kingdom. He gave us access

to the kingdom, the kingdom of God. And we say

that this access is what? It's the spirit of

God in us. Hallelujah. So categorically, we concluded

that these keys, this access to the kingdom or

access, you know, to the unseen rather, is the

spirit indwelling man. Every man has the spirit

of God in him when he's born again. That gives

him the ability to have access. to the kingdom

of God, to become part of God's family. John

John 3:1–9

chapter 3, verse 1 to 9, we see Jesus explaining

this concept to Nicodemus. John chapter 3, from

John 3 · chapter mention

verse 1 to 9. There was a man of the Pharisees

named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man

came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi,

we know that you are a teacher, come from God,

for no one can do these signs that you do. unless

God is with him. Which means that the teacher

have seen Jesus did signs, okay? Signs that is

pointing to something that is eternal. Something

that is spiritual. And he concluded that God

is with him. For no one can do this thing except

God is with him. Now look at the response of

Jesus. You said to him, most assuredly I say

to you, unless one is what? Unless one is born

again, he cannot have access. The kingdom of

God. Unless one is born again, he cannot have

access to the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said

to him, how can a man be born when he is old?

His focus was on something physical. His attention

was on something natural. Can he enter a second

time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus

answered, most assuredly I say to you. Now he

explained to him what that born again means.

All right? Which is the activity of the spirit

of God. when the Spirit of the world comes into

man. This is the explanation of it. It says,

unless one is born of water, we've explained

that this water refers to what? It's an explanation

of the Spirit because in the Old Testament Scriptures,

the activity of the Spirit is explained with

a symbol of water. And it's expected that a man,

as Nicodemus should understand by the book, that

when we speak of water, we are talking of the

Spirit. Okay? So Jesus answered and said to him,

Most surely I say to you, unless one is born

of water, this and means what? Which is the spirit.

Which is what the spirit does. He cannot have

access to the kingdom of God. Which means to

be in God's kingdom, there must be what? The

activity of the spirit of God in a man. When

the spirit of God comes into a man, that is when

he has access to what? To the kingdom of God.

Verse 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh.

And that which is born of the Spirit, Spirit.

Do not marvel that I say to you, unless that

you must be born again. The wind blows where

it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but

cannot tell where it comes from and where it

goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.

Verse 9. Nicodemus answered and said to him,

How can these things be? And when we read further,

we'll see Jesus continuing the explanation, explaining

to him how a man... can be part of God's family

by the activity of the Spirit, what we call the

new birth. Amen? And in chapter 3, verse 16,

you see, he presents to him the message, okay?

For God so loved the world, right? And he gave

his only begotten Son, that whosoever believed

in him would not perish, but have everlasting

life. Which means that when you put your trust

in what Christ has done, The spirit, the spiritual

birth occurs in a man. So Jesus explains that

the only way to have access to the kingdom is

by what? Help me, by what? By the spirit. Hallelujah.

So the believer is born. Where is the believer

born when he believes the gospel? He is born

in the kingdom of God. He becomes alive in the

kingdom of God. He is. In the kingdom of heaven,

in Christ. The kingdom of heaven where? In Christ.

Hallelujah. He becomes born in the kingdom of

heaven, in Christ. The believer, through the

one spirit, has access to the Father who is in

heaven by what Christ has done. Okay? The believer,

through one spirit, Okay, not another spirit.

All of us through one spirit. Ephesians 2 verse

Ephesians 2:18

18 talks about that one spirit. The spirit by

which you access God is essentially by which

I access God. Ephesians chapter 2 verse 18. For

Ephesians 2:18

through him, who is that? The spirit. Through

him, we both have access. Through him, we both

have access. This him is talking about Christ

by the spirit. Okay, through him. We both have

access to one Spirit. To where? To the Father.

So where is the Father? We began by saying the

Father is in heaven. Okay? How do we access the

Father? By the Spirit. By the Spirit. Through

what Christ has done. Then the Spirit comes into

us and we have access to the family of God. We

have access to God. So how did we have access

to the kingdom of heaven? By the Spirit of God.

through believing in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

How can we bring others into the kingdom of God?

By preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to them.

The same way with which you receive the spirit

of God and become part of God's family. Equally,

it is the same way. Okay? You didn't become a

believer by hearing fairy tales. Alright? You

didn't become a believer by hearing the story

of my life. You didn't become born again by hearing

the story of your pastor's life. But you become

a believer, a member of God's family, by putting

your trust in the gospel preached to you. So

also for us to bring others equally into God's

family, we must also preach the gospel of Jesus

Christ. So Jesus says in Matthew 16, verse 19,

Matthew 16:19

And whatever you bind on earth, well, Lord, will

be bound in heaven and whatever you lose on earth

will be loosed in heaven. Having the keys will

enable the believer to bind and what? And loose.

Okay? Having the keys, what is the keys? The

spirit will enable the believer to act on behalf

of God. This access grants the believer the authority.

Alright? Having the spirit of God in you grants

you the authority. It gives you The ability,

authority, that key is authority. Amen? That

key in you, the spirit in you is authority. It

gives you the authority to represent the kingdom

of God. Where? Where are you representing the

kingdom of God? On earth. Hallelujah. So by the

spirit in you, you become a representative of

God on the earth. So you have the ability now

to do what? to preach the gospel and bring others

into the kingdom. Acts chapter 1 verse 4 to 8,

Acts 1:4–8

you see, Jesus Christ will tell them to wait.

Acts chapter 4 verse 8, Acts 1 verse 4 to 8.

Acts 4:8 Acts 1:4–8

Acts chapter 4, chapter 1 rather, Acts 1 verse

Acts 4 · chapter mention Acts 1:4

4, yes. And being assembled together with them,

he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem.

But wait for what? Wait for the promise. Without

the promise, they cannot represent him. Amen?

Without a promise. What is a promise? And I'll

give you the keys. Right? Of the kingdom. And

I'll give you the keys of the kingdom. So without

this promise, and this is what has been promised

from the ancient times. Without this key, without

this promise, we cannot represent God. So he

told them, he says, but wait for the promise

of the father, which said, you have had from

me. Verse five. For John truly baptized with

water, but you shall be baptized. ties with the

Holy Spirit not many days from now. Therefore,

when they had come together, they asked him,

saying, Lord, will you at this time restore the

kingdom of Israel? Because their mind is focused

on what? On an earthly kingdom. Okay? Their mind

is focused on an earthly kingdom, but Jesus is

talking about a spiritual kingdom. They're thinking

maybe God will take away the Romans and then

give them the kingdom on earth. Because they

were under Roman occupation. They were under

Roman colonial rule. They asked Jesus, will you

at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? Look

at what Jesus told them. He said to them, it

is not for you to know times or seasons which

the father has put in his own authority. Which

means that, forget about this issue of earthly

kingdom. But you shall receive, what will you

receive? You will receive power. So it's a key

power. Is the Spirit power? Yes. Is it authority?

Yes. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit

has what? Has come upon you and you shall be

what? Shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and

in all Judea. You know, Samaria, is it a Jewish

place? Hmm? I think it's for the Gentiles, right?

The Samaritan. The good Samaritan is a Gentile.

meaning that it includes other nations that are

not Israel. So the apostles will be what? Will

be witnesses where? From Jerusalem, okay? Judea,

which is a Jewish nation. Then Samaria, which

is the Gentile nation, including everyone. And

where? And to the ends of the earth. Hallelujah.

So the gospel, please pay attention, don't be

distracted. Pay attention. So the gospel we preach

in Jerusalem, in Judea, And we're in Samaria

and to the ends of the earth when the spirit

come to them. Hallelujah. So the binding and

loosing is related to what we said is related

to the forgiveness and reconciliation of men.

Isn't it? We saw it last on Sunday that is related

to the forgiveness of sins. In verse 21 or in

John, let's go to John 20 verse 19. John 20 verse.

John 20:19

19 to 23. Then the same day at evening, being

the first day of the week, when the doors were

shut, where the disciples were assembled for

faith of the Jews. This was after the resurrection.

Jesus came and stood in their midst and said

to them, Peace be with you. Verse 20. When he

had said this, he showed them his hands and his

side. when the disciples were, then the disciples

were glad. This glad day is they rejoiced. Hallelujah.

When they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them,

peace to you as the Father has sent me, as the

Father has what? Has sent me. As the Father has

what? Has sent me. So also I do what? I sent

you. The Father has sent him. Then he do what?

And he sent you and I. In our own context. All

right. Then how did he do it? Verse 22. And when

he had said this, he breathed on them and said

to them, receive the Holy Spirit. Now we've done

a teaching here. And then we said that this spirit

will receive a Pentecost. Are we together? So

if you haven't received the spirit, when the

spirit has come and they have received the spirit,

if you forgive the sins of any, what will happen?

They are forgiving them. All right? But how can

they do this? Because they have received what?

The Spirit in them. It's a function of the indwelling

of the Spirit that you can forgive the sins of

others and they are forgiven. If you retain the

sins of any, they are what? They are retained.

And how do we explain giving of forgiveness and

retaining of forgiveness? We say that it's what?

It's in preaching. Are we together? Don't say

that if I offend you and you refuse to forgive

me, God will not forgive me. God has forgiven

me. Okay? So forgiving me is for your own good.

We will fellowship together. This is talking

about the preaching of the gospel. Are we together?

The preaching of the gospel. Because we have

a spirit in us, we can preach and people will

receive forgiveness. In verse 21, he gave authority

to men to act as representative of the kingdom

of God. Of the kingdom of God. The agency by

which we have access to the kingdom of God. is

the Holy Spirit within us. That is the access

we have. That is the authority we have. That

is what makes us able to represent God on earth.

That is what qualifies you to represent God on

your campus. That is what qualifies you to preach

the gospel. Listen, what qualifies you to preach

the gospel is not because your conduct has been

good. Okay? It's not because your life has been

good all along. No. It's because God has saved

you. And he has put his spirit in you. So that

automatically qualifies you to talk about what

Christ has done. So you are with no excuse. When

you say, I cannot talk. My words are, I don't

know how to. No. Because there is an ability

in you. You can speak. You can talk about the

gospel. You can speak about what Jesus has done.

Hallelujah. You can speak about what Jesus has

done to others. Amen. So we see God sharing with

us the access by which men. will come into his

house, into the family. God has given us, he

has shared with us the access by which we can

bring others into the family. Verse 23 means

that the believer says, if you forgive the sins

of any, they are forgiven. It means that the

believer is the determinant by which men are

saved or not. Okay? It means that you are the

determinant. by which men are saved or not. If

you close your mouth from preaching, what you

are saying is, men will not be forgiven. What

you are saying is, the gospel will not reach

men. Okay? You can pray, we prayed here, that

let the word of God prevail in this land of Cyprus.

But the gospel will not prevail if men don't

go out to preach. So as you are praying that

the gospel should prevail, what you are saying

is, Lord, I am going to preach, and as I preach,

the gospel is prevailing. Because if you don't

preach, that prayer will not work. God is not

going to send angels from heaven to come and

preach. You are the angel that God has sent to

preach. Angel means what? A messenger. Are we

together? You are the messenger that God has

sent to preach the gospel. So the answer to the

prayer we prayed earlier on, when they led us,

all of them, they were praying the same thing.

You are the answer to that prayer. Are we together?

God has counted you worthy. of being part of

this plan, of being part of this assignment.

You're not too young for it. You're not too old

for it. Are we together? All of us are partakers

in this assignment because we have the ability

in us. The Spirit of God lives in us. Therefore,

we can represent God on our campuses, in our

homes, in our families, wherever we are. We must

preach the gospel because that is our identity.

In fact, I call it a family trade. That is a

family business. That is a family business. We

preach the gospel. We tell people about the family

of God. And we tell people how they can be part

of this family by showing to them what Christ

has done, that Christ has forgiven sins. Are

we together? So let's go to Mark, Mark chapter

Mark 16 · chapter mention

16. Let's see something very important with the

time we have. Mark chapter 16, verse 15. Mark

Mark 16:15

16, 15 and 16. And he said to them, go into all

the world and preach what? Preach what? The gospel,

right? To who? To every creature. This every

creature means men. Okay? You don't preach the

gospel to your cat. You don't preach the gospel

to your dog. Because your dog. cannot receive

salvation. Every creature here means men, male

and female, of all nations, of all nationalities.

Alright? He who believes and is baptized, this

baptized simply means that he who believes is,

what is the word baptized here? Eh? To be immersed

in this truth, right? He who believes, this belief

is what we call baptized. will be saved. Okay?

But he who does not believe will be what? Will

be condemned. So when you don't preach, later

on we see in Romans, it says that if men are

not sent, how will they hear? Alright? But we

have a calling upon our lives and our calling

is to do what? Is to preach the gospel. Is to

preach the gospel. So what is the gospel? What

is the gospel? What is the gospel? Someone should

call us for it. What is the gospel? Huh? We don't

know the gospel? Okay. It's a dead and burial

of Jesus Christ and his resurrection, right?

Do we call it good news? Is it something sweet

to hear? Right? Oftentimes, you know, the word

gospel is referred to as good news, typically

associated with something sweet and pleasant.

Okay? However, however, we're going to study

this right now. However, in its original context,

the word gospel is associated with warfare. Okay?

It's associated with what? With warfare. A king,

war and claiming territories. The word gospel

in its original context, that word gospel is

associated with warfare. A king waging a war

and then claiming a territory. And when he claims

a territory, that territory becomes his territory.

Hallelujah. So that is a context, original context

of that word. The word gospel is translated from

a Greek word. The Greek word, let me spell it

for us. E -U -A -N -G -E -L -I -O -N. Let me

spell it again. E -U -A -N -G -E -L -I -O -N.

Euangelion. Or Galeon. Yes, it's Galeon. Which

means good tidings. It means good tidings in

the Greek. Alright? Now, the first time this

word is used in the Bible is actually in the

book of Samuel. 2 Samuel. It's used in the book

of 2 Samuel 1 verse 20. 2 Samuel 1 verse 20.

2 Samuel 1:20 2 Samuel 1:20

2 Samuel 1 verse 20. We are seeing the origin

2 Samuel 1:20

of that word, okay? 2 Samuel 1, verse 20. He

2 Samuel 1:20

said, tell it not in Gath. Proclaim it not in

the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of

the Philistine rejoice, lest the daughters of

the uncircumcised triumph. Now, the word proclaim

here is the word gospel or good tidings. It's

a Hebrew word, basah. Okay? B -A -S -A -R. The

Hebrew word basar as seen in 2 Samuel, which

means to bear news, to carry news. All right?

Move to 2 Samuel 4, verse 10. Let's see another

2 Samuel 4:10

place where it's used. 2 Samuel 4, verse 10.

2 Samuel 4:10

2 Samuel 4, verse 10. When someone told me, say,

2 Samuel 4:10

look, Saul is dead. Who is Saul? Huh? Saul was

a king, right? Saul is dead. Thinking to have

brought good news. Thinking to have brought what?

A bazaar. Okay? Who is talking here? David is

the one talking here. David is also what? He's

also a king. Alright? I arrested him and executed

him and executed Ezekiel. The one who thought

I will give him a reward for his news. Because

he was thinking that the death of Saul was a

good news to David. Right? Good news. Good tidings.

2 Samuel 18, verse 19. 2 Samuel 18, verse 19

2 Samuel 18:19 2 Samuel 18:19–20

to 20. Yes. Then Ahimaz, the son of Zadok, said,

let me run now and take the word. This news is

what is the gospel. This news is the word Basar.

To the king, you see, any way you see the word

basar, you will see a king is involved in the

conversation. A kingdom is involved in the conversation.

Are we together? Oftentimes you see this word

basar, you see that a kingdom is involved. A

king is involved in the conversation. Let me

run now and take the news to the king, how the

Lord has avenged him of his enemies. Verse 20.

And Joab said to him, You shall not take the

news this day, for you shall take the news another

day. The news day is the word basar, which is

referring to what? The good news, what we call

the good tidings. But today you shall take no

news because the king's son is dead. It was an

announcement of the death of Absalom. Absalom

was a man that rose in opposition to King David.

All right? So, The word good news here is associated

to the kingship of David. Turn to verse 31. You

see verse 31? Verse 31. Verse 31. Yes. Just then

the Cushite came and the Cushite said, There

is good news, my lord the king, for the Lord

has avenged you this day of all those who rose

against you. Similarly, he's talking about David.

Alright? David and his rulership of his case

ship. So the word is always used in the context

of war reports. We've said this before. The word

is associated to what? With war. Case ship. Rulership.

The throne. And oftentimes with death of someone.

So it is always used in the context of war reports

or royal news. You know what the royal news is?

News that has to do with a kingship. Okay? Sometimes

the news could be good, which means victory.

Sometimes bad. For example, now we saw the death

of Saul was a good news. Why is it a good news?

It's supposed to be a good news to David because

Saul is dead. And when Saul is dead, who becomes

a king? David is legitimized as king, right?

So it is supposed to be a good news. And the

person bringing the news, was seeing himself

bringing a good tithing to David. Saul is dead.

But in the end, David translated it as a bad

news because he was celebrating. We'll look at

the story where we discover that he killed the

what? God's servant. Hallelujah. So he was executed

for that. Amen. So sometimes it's bad news. Death

of Saul, for example, and Absalom as we see.

But a verb itself means to announce news, okay?

It means tidings, to announce news or good tidings.

So how does the word relate to the kingdom and

kingship? How does this word really relate to

kingdom and kingship? Let's go further. Now,

in the ancient Near East world, in this region,

we're talking about this region, okay? When we

talk about the ancient Eastern region, We're

talking about where we are to the Middle East,

right? News. The verb is bizarre. B -I -S -S

-E -R. The verb is bizarre. Was often tied to

the faith of the king and the kingdom. Okay?

It was often tied to the faith of the king and

the kingdom. A kingdom affairs. So when Saul

died in 2 Samuel 1 verse 20, which we read, David

2 Samuel 1:20

said, tell it not in gath, publish it not. This

word publish, the word proclaim or publish is

what it means to proclaim this news. Why? Because

the death of a king was news, all right, that

affects the honor and the security of the kingdom.

Are we together? So when David received this

news about Saul, The messenger thought the king

would reward him for this news. Unfortunately,

he was executed. So in that culture, in the near

eastern world, in that culture, reporting news

about a king's reign or victory or death was

the highest form of titans. And where it come

from? You know, they used to say a word, which

now I begin to relate to me. They said that it's

not in the mouth of a slave that you will hear

the announcement of the passing away of a king.

I just translated, I don't know whether it's,

Pastor Victor, did I just say that word? It's

a saying that is not in the mouth of a slave,

all right, okay, that you hear the announcement

of the death of a king, which means that it is

an important news that not everybody, can dispel

that news. Okay? When Queen Elizabeth died in

the UK, you didn't see it on a block. Was it

like a leaked news in the block that the queen

died? No. Okay? It was announced by what? By

the palace. What did you call it? The palace

has to announce the passing away of the queen

because this is a news that can only come from

what? from an official channel communicating

the affairs of the kingdom. The queen has passed

away. Are we together? So, Bisa or Basa, as we

call it, is not just general news. It's not gossip

on gossip news or on Sahara news or I don't know,

whatever blogs you have. It's not just any kind

of news, but specifically royal. political news

about the king's life. Okay? It's about the king's

life, about his enemies. And the stability of

the kingdom is around the king and their affairs

of the kingdom, about his life, and about whatever

revolves around the royal house. In 2 Samuel

18 -19, we saw Ahima wanted to run and bring

good tidings. that the Lord has avenged the king.

That is, his enemy has died. Here, the title

confirms what this Ahima was to bring, right?

Brought, rather. Confirms, what does it confirm?

It confirms that David's kingship is divinely

backed by God. Okay? That God has given him victory

over Absalom's rebellion because Absalom was

rebelling against King David. Alright? So, in

this sense, the gospel in Samuel is what? Is

a news of the king's triumph. Is the news of

the king's triumph. The king has triumphed. Showing

that his rule is secure and legitimate. Are we

together? So it shows the legitimacy of the king's

rulership. He has no longer anyone fighting for

the throne with him. His rulership is legitimized

and then he stands as the king, the only king.

There are no other kings. Okay? So this is the

context of the use of the word basa in the altar

setting. Then later on we will see the prophets.

They employ the usage of this word with the context

we have concerning rulership, concerning royalty,

concerning political news that revolves around

the kingship. Later on, we see prophets use the

word as proclaiming good news of God's reign.

Alright? Prophets later on will utilize this

word as proclaiming good news of God's reign.

Isaiah 40, verse 9. Let's look at how they utilize

Isaiah 40:9

it. Isaiah 40, verse 9. Isaiah 40, verse 9. Isaiah

Isaiah 40:9 Isaiah 40:9 Isaiah 40:9

40, verse 9. Okay. O Zion, who bring good, what?

Good tidings. You see the use of the word? Who

bring good tidings? Get up into the high mountain,

O Jerusalem. You who bring good tidings, lift

up your voice with strength. Lift up. Be not

afraid. Say to the cities of Judah, behold, what?

Your God. Hallelujah. So the prophet here is

using that word to describe what? Proclaiming

the goodness of God's reign. Remember, this is

a prophecy, right? 57. chapter 57 verse 7. Another

way where the prophet uses, very popular, Isaiah

Isaiah 57:7

57 verse 7. Am I correct here? Is it 57? 52.

52 verse 7. 52 verse 7. How beautiful upon the

mountains are the feet of him who brought good

news. What is the good news? Who proclaims peace?

Who brings glad tidings of good things? You see?

Good, good, good, good news. The news is good.

It's glad tidings. Who proclaims what? You see?

It's now salvation. Okay? Who says to Zion, your

God what? Your God reigns. Hallelujah. Your God

reigns. Nahum 115. Nahum 115. Now, home 115.

Behold, on the mountains. He's always on the

mountain. Hallelujah. He's always on the mountains.

I think mountain is a motif. You know what motif

is, right? It speaks of something. Okay? Behold,

on the mountains, the feet of him who brings

what? Good tidings. Who proclaims peace. Oh,

Judah, keep your appointed feast. Perform your

vows, for the wicked one shall no more pass through

you. He is utterly cut off. Okay? And when we

read further, we discover that he's speaking

about what God has established. His reign. Hallelujah.

So in Samuel, the verb is tied to earthly kings.

Okay? We see that the word basah is used to describe

the activity with earthly kings, human kings.

Is that what we saw? Right? Then in Isaiah and

other prophets, we see in Isaiah and other prophets,

we see that the same word or the same verb is

lifted to a higher level, announcing the reign

of Yahweh as king. Okay? Announcing the reign

of God, our God, Yahweh, as king. Alright? This

lays the groundwork for the New Testament gospel,

because the gospel was written with the context

of the Old Testament. So the gospel, as we see

in Matthew, in Mark 16, 15 and 16, that we are

to preach, okay, is the announcement that Jesus,

the son of David, is a true king. All right?

His enthronement. And his reign is established

by victory. Hallelujah. His reign is established

by what? By victory. That means the gospel in

the New Testament, as we see in the gospels,

the gospel as written in the, what we call the

New Testament scriptures, is not simply an encouragement.

Okay? It's not simply an encouragement or a moral

teaching. It is the royal proclamation. It is

a royal proclamation of what? Of God's victory,

of a king's victory and reign. So the word gospel

in a New Testament context is what? Is a proclamation.

is a royal proclamation of a king's victory and

his reign. The gospel is the public announcement.

What is the public announcement? That Jesus is

what? Is Lord. Son of David, the risen king.

That Jesus is Lord. So when we go to preach,

what you are going to do is that you are declaring,

okay? You are declaring the enthronement of Jesus

as king. You're not just telling people something

sweet to get them excited. Of course, it should

get people excited that their sins are forgiven.

But beyond that, what you're saying is that you

are declaring that God in Christ has become king

and he reigns. Are we together? You are declaring

a royal news concerning the enthronement of God,

God's kingdom among men. Okay? So in Samuel,

the good tidings were often about victory in

battle. Victory in battle. We're trying to compare

and contrast and see the context in the gospel.

It's about victory in battle. For example, in

the case of Absalom, defeated in 2 Samuel 18.

In the New Testament, the gospel proclaims that

Christ has conquered sin. Are we together? The

gospel proclaims that Christ has what? He has

conquered sin. He has conquered death. And he

has conquered Satan. So when you go to preach,

what you are declaring to people is that Christ

has conquered sin. Okay? Sin is no longer in

reign. In power. You are declaring that death

has lost its power. You are declaring that Satan

has lost its power. That is what you do at preaching

the gospel. And you are announcing the rulership

of God. The rulership of the kingdom of God.

In whose God is the king. Are we together? That

is what we do by preaching the gospel. You are

announcing that he has disarmed the rulers and

the authorities. You remember what we read? Let's

go back to that Colossians 2 verse 15. Colossians

Colossians 2:15 Colossians 2:15

2 verse 15. You are announcing that Christ has

disarmed principalities. That is conquering.

That is conquest. Having disarmed what? Principalities.

Where are these principalities located? We read

it earlier. Where are they? They are in the heavenly,

right? So when you preach the gospel, what you

are declaring is that Christ has what? Has disarmed

principalities and what? And powers. And he has

made them a public spectacle of them. How? Triumphing

over them in his death and his burial and his

resurrection. So when you go to preach, when

you see someone possessed with demons, what do

you do? You demonstrate. Are we together? What

are you demonstrating? You are demonstrating

the triumph of God in Christ. Okay? You're not

just preaching for people to feel that people

are forgiven of their sins. Of course, this is

true, isn't it? Fundamentally. But what you are

declaring is that God has the victory. All right?

All you're declaring is that God has conquered

Satan. He has conquered the principalities and

rulers of the kingdom of darkness. Are we together?

So, this is the implication of preaching the

gospel. This is what we are preaching. This is

what we are declaring. We are declaring his works.

that he has disarmed the rulers and the authorities,

triumphed over them by the cross. Just as David's

messengers shouted, the king has prevailed. We

who are apostles today, what do we shout? Christ

is risen, death is defeated. That is our message.

We are declaring the triumphant of Satan by Christ,

by what he has done. So the gospel is a war report.

Are we together? It's a war report. That is why

I said earlier on that the gospel, preaching

of the gospel is warfare. The gospel is war report

of God's final victory. When you go to preach,

have this understanding that you are going to

do it to declare the victory of God, the conquest

of God in Christ Jesus. It's a victory report

you are declaring. That God in Christ has become

victorious over sin, over Satan, over the rulers

of darkness, over all the authority of Satan.

Hallelujah. So in Isaiah 52 verse 7, Bazaar,

Isaiah 52:7

it raised Bazaar higher. It says, your God reigns.

This is the essence of the prophetic good news.

Jesus will let us say in Mark 1, verse 14 to

Mark 1:14–15

15, the time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God

is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.

So, the good news we preach is not just. It is

that God in Christ has forgiven sin. Are we together?

But it's not just that God forgives. but that

God has taken the throne as king through Jesus

Christ. All right? So if you have received the

gospel, what it means is that you are not just

forgiving your sins. What it means is that God

has become king in your life. It means that he

has conquered sin in you. He has conquered every

activity of Satan in you. And God has become

what? God has become king in you. So in this,

environment we are, in this sphere, in the family

of God, is where God reigns. Amen? Therefore,

you are no longer a slave to what? To sin. Are

we together? Therefore, we are no longer a slave

to principalities and rulers of darkness because

we are under the rulership of a superior power.

Hallelujah. Even though we are in heaven, okay,

but those spiritual forces are under our feet.

In Christ Jesus. Are we together? Because God

in Christ has triumphed over Satan. So the gospel

is the enthronement announcement of God's rule

over all creation. When you go to preach, you

are announcing the enthronement of God. Alright?

You are announcing the defeat of a ruler. and

the victory of another ruler. Hallelujah. Now,

in the New Testament, the gospel is not optional

information. It's not an optional information.

It is a king's proclamation demanding a response.

It is a king's proclamation demanding what? A

response. And what is a response? Believe it.

And when you believe it, what happens? You enter

the kingdom. And when you reject it, what do

you do? You remain in rebellion. Are you together?

You remain in rebellion. So to receive the gospel

is to bow to the king's reign. That is what it

means. To receive the gospel simply means that

you are bowing to the reign of who? Of the kings

of kings and the ruler of all. You're under the

authority of a king. And in this kingdom, we're

going to look at it subsequently. There's a culture.

There's a governance rule. There's a principle

that operates this kingdom. All right? We're

under a king that governs with rules. And I mean

rules. I mean principles that guide our living

in the kingdom. Fundamentally, it's love. Hallelujah.

Amen? Fundamentally, it's love. So when pastor

begins to teach us about the things of the Spirit,

he's telling us our culture in the kingdom. That

is what we do. Hallelujah. When they begin to

say, you lay hand, that is what we do in this

kingdom. It is our culture. That is why Paul

would say, do not be ignorant of the spirituals.

Because that is where you are. That is where

you operate from. Hallelujah. So what is the

preaching of the gospel? What is the preaching

of the gospel? The preaching of this gospel is

like sending messengers to announce a king's

victory to those who are still under the enemy

occupation. Do you understand? It's like you

are sent to go out and announce. For example,

now, in this territory, okay, in Lefkosha, okay,

For example, now, the Britain have conquered

the presidents, but then there are some officers

here holding us captive. Okay? So, an announcer

will come from left culture to this hole and

say, don't you know, have you not heard that

there's a victory that has been announced? All

these people standing no longer have legitimacy

over you because there's a change of government.

Amen? So when we believe that news that came,

which is the gospel, what does the news do to

you? It liberates you, right? If you choose not

to believe and you continue to serve those tax

masters, what will happen? You remain captive,

even though there's news of deliverance, of a

conquest that has happened. So what we do is

that we go to occupied territories under the

enemy's occupation. Ephesians 6 verse 12 talks

Ephesians 6:12

about the occupation. We go to these territories.

And when you go to these territories, it's warfare.

Are we together? That is why the preaching of

the gospel cannot be done carnally. Because the

preaching of the gospel is a spiritual activity.

Ephesians chapter 6 verse 12 talks about the

Ephesians 6:12

preaching of the gospel. What is it? Ephesians

Ephesians 6:12

chapter 6 verse 12. For we do not wrestle against

flesh and blood, but against what? What do we

wrestle against? Against spiritual what? Against

principalities, against powers, against the rulers

of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts

of wickedness in the heavenly places. Give me

verse 11. So put on the whole armor of God that

you may be able to stand against the wiles of

the devil. All right? Because when the preaching

of the gospel is equally for you to announce

and go to this occupied territory, okay, it's

a war. It's warfare. Are we together? But it's

a warfare that has been won by Christ. Hallelujah.

It's a warfare that has been won by Christ. So

the preaching, of the gospel is therefore not

neutral. It is active warfare against spiritual

darkness. It is active warfare against what?

Spiritual darkness. So what we are telling you,

preach the gospel, preach the gospel, preach

the gospel. We are telling you that engage in

war, engage in war. And you don't go into it

casually. Hallelujah. You don't go into it casually.

You don't go into this casually. It is spiritual

warfare. Active warfare against spiritual darkness.

Breaking strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10 verse

2 Corinthians 10:3–5

3 to 5. For though we walk In the flesh. Now

this flesh is talking about in our human body.

Right? We do know against what? Against physical

people. Alright? Verse 4. For the weapons of

our warfare are not physical. but mighty in what?

In God. Okay? For pulling down what? Strongholds.

Where is this stronghold? Hmm? In people's what?

In people's mind. Casting down what? Arguments.

Have you ever gone to preach the gospel and somebody

begins to bring one latest argument for you that

you've never had before? Alright? That is what

you go against as a messenger of the goodness

of the victory that God has done in Christ. Casting

down arguments and every high thing that does

what? That exalts itself against the knowledge

of God and bringing every thought that does not

align with the truth of the gospel. Bringing

every thought into captivity to what? To the

obedience of Christ. Because God is in rule.

He's in charge. He has conquered sin. He has

conquered Satan. And he has conquered whatever

the enemy is. Hallelujah. So I want to encourage

you, right, to be intentional about this activity.

Please, as a believer, heaven, or let me use

the word, the kingdom of God, is counting on

you. To do what? To declare what Christ has done.

You must be intentional. That is your primary

purpose in life. This semester, make it a duty

with this understanding that this week I'm going

to wage the spiritual warfare. Are we together?

I'm going to bind and loose. Now, I'm not binding

and loosing somebody in your village. When they

say pray for ancestral cause, you see the tone

of the prayer will change. You pray for souls,

all right? And when you pray for souls, you're

depending on what? On the help of heaven to execute

that tax. As a believer, take time to pray as

you go into the week because you're looking forward

to an opportunity where you find an occupied

life. Okay? And what do you do? You declare the

victory of God, thereby expelling what? That

reign of Satan and declaring the enthronement

of God in that life. Hallelujah. Because this

territory we are talking about is men, is people.

Are we together? And we convert these people

into what? Into the dwelling place of God. We

make them into the house of God, where God inhabits

and where God dwells. And that is your assignment

and that is my assignment. So we must be intentional.

That is how we manifest this kingdom. Are we

together? The Bible will say that it's not in

meat. It's not in eating and drinking. It's joy

in the activities of the Holy Ghost. So what

is the implication of this? The implication is

this, as I round up. Every gospel sermon, teaching,

or proclamation is what? It's a spiritual warfare.

Because we confront sin and darkness. Colossians

Colossians 1:13

1 verse 13. That is what we confront, sin and

darkness. Colossians 1 verse 13. We confront

Colossians 1:13

sin and darkness. He has delivered us from the

power of darkness, right? Darkness has power,

okay? That's what we confront. Darkness has power.

And then we convey men into what? Into the kingdom

of the son of his love. We establish God's rule

in human heart. We enthrone God in people's heart.

By the preaching of the gospel. What it means

is that preachers are like the modern day messengers

that goes to announce the news concerning the

activity of a king. And in this context, who

is a king? God is our king. Alright? It's an

honorable news. It's a privileged news that you

have to go and announce. And if you don't do

that responsibility, it means that you are failing.

It means that we are failing. It means that I

am failing. You don't do that by accident. You

do that with every level of intentionality. Set

a day in the course of the week. On Thursdays,

I don't have classes, but I'll pray for Thursday

on Sunday. God, as I prepare for Thursday, help

me, lead me. On Tuesday, you are praying for

Thursday. Send me to someone. On Wednesday, you

are praying for Thursday? Then on Thursday, you

do what? You go into the day with intention.

I'm going out today. You're not just going to

just throw. You know, I want to see my lecturer.

I want to see my course advisor. Then I will

just see if I see somebody in case I see somebody.

No, no, no, no, no. That's not how you watch

this warfare. You go with intentionality. Today,

as I woke up from morning, this is what I'm going

to do today. Looking for opportunity. That I

will share this news with someone. And then doing

the course that God has put before you. So you

are announcing victory to territories yet unconquered.

That is what you are doing. Because the heart

of a man that is not in Christ is an unconquered

territory. And what you do is that you declare

the rulership of God. The conquest that he did

on the cross of Calvary. The response of the

herald decides whether the territory joins God's

kingdom or remains under enemy control. These

are familiar words. Enemy control and God's control.

Hallelujah. So the response of a man to the gospel

is depending whether he will be part of God's

family or he will be under enemy control. Conclusively,

Mark 16. From verse 14 to 20 that we read earlier

on, portrays his preaching the gospel as continuing

role of a biblical messenger. And that is who

we are. Continuously. That is our responsibility.

That is what we do. Announcing the king's victory.

And later on we will see. Give me that text as

we close. Mark 16. And he said to them, go into

all the world and preach the gospel to every

creature. Okay? He who believes and is baptized

will be saved, but he who does not believe will

be condemned. Okay? And these signs will follow

those who believe. In my name they will do what?

They will cast out devils. Alright? They will

speak with new tongues. So what are you doing?

You are announcing the king's victory. You are

confronting spiritual enemies. Not physical enemies.

And what are those spiritual enemies? Devils.

Alright? And establishing God's reign on the

earth. Do you know that unbelief is demonic?

Oh, you don't know? You think it's just intellectual?

It's a grip of the enemy. You think it's just,

people are just, are just okay. Life is, no.

It's a grip of the enemy. They are slaves. Unbelief

is a demonic activity. And the only way a man

can be free from that is by the preaching of

the gospel. So what we're doing is that we're

establishing God's reign on earth. Every sermon

we preach, every act of the gospel proclamation

is a spiritual battle report. What do we do?

We declare that Jesus is Lord and is victorious.

It's a victorious scheme. Hallelujah. I just

want you to close your eyes and pray for yourself

and say, Lord, with this understanding, about

this kingdom business. I do it with all seriousness.

Please pray for yourself. Pray for yourself that

you do this work with all of your heart. or follow

us on social media. If you are encouraged, share

this message with someone you care about. Until

next time, stay blessed.