Kingdom Principles

Kingdom Principles

subjects we have magnified and many have preached as “the gospel” or good news to the world. For instance, Jesus never preached as a priority public message subjects like faith, prosperity, giving, deliv erance, or even His death on the Cross or resurrection as “the gospel.” But He repeatedly promoted and declared “the Kingdom of God and Heaven” as His principal message. I am well aware that what I just said may be cause for much reac tion, mental conflict, and religious resistance; but I would encourage you to search and research the four Gospels for yourself and discov er this surprising reality. Jesus also indicated that this message of the “Kingdom” would be His disciples’ message to their world. Jesus’ message of the Kingdom was foreshadowed in the Old Testament centuries before He was born in Bethlehem. Here are two examples. The first one indicates God’s motivation for delivering the slave clans of Israel from Egyptian oppression: “Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole earth is Mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites (Exodus 19:5-6). In the second example, we see the Old Testament Messianic promise declared by the prophet Isaiah, strongly indicating the gov ernmental aspects of the Kingdom mandate:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the gov ernment will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:6-7).

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