1/22/12 THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF, Sunday, January 22, 2012
Luke 8:1-3              Key Verse: 8:1

“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him”

Dear Jesus. I thank you for your love and your grace. Help us to live in your love and grace and your truth, not begrudgingly, but with glad and joyful hearts. Protect our hearts from the world. Protect our hearts from worshipping the idols of this land. Help us, Lord to love you and make Jesus the focus of all we do. Help us to turn to Jesus for life and sustenance. I pray that you may guide all my kids to include Jesus and the mission to shepherd the flock of God in their future. My they find great joy and blessing in the Lord. I pray that you may help us to affect the culture here at NIU and in DeKalb. Allow us to make a difference. I pray that James, Greg, Cornel, Jason, may be disciples among us. I pray that this Easter we may join up with NW and DuPage UBF and have a beautiful Easter conference. Please grant me one word of God hold onto. I thank you and I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Part 1: Proclaim The Good News (1).

Verses 1 reads, “ 1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him,”
Jesus was encouraged by the work of God. He traveled extensively with one focus – to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God. People are trapped in the kingdom of darkness and lost in despair over sickness, sorrow, oppression, and condemnation. Jesus’ words are good news and show the way to God’s forgiveness and love, healing, new life, and eternal hope.

I need to keep the focus of all that I do. Feeding the hungry and serving the poor with no focus on Jesus and the Kingdom is not the way. It does not bring lasting change in our hearts and lives. It solves a problem in the short term. We need to know that people need the hope in the Kingdom of God. Some people are sad in the winter because they become homebound and feel that they do not know what to do with themselves. They need the kingdom of God. Some people get old and can no longer travel. Their lives revolve around their health problems. They need the kingdom of God. Kid’s hearts are tugged by the idols of this world, so much so that Christian kids even resent having to do acts of righteousness like worshipping God on Sunday and praying and Bible study. They need the kingdom of God. Our lives become very self-centered. Our lives become me centered and selfish. We become unhappy because our wants go unfulfilled. Such people need the kingdom of God. I need the Kingdom of God. I see other peoples’ joyless obedience and unwilling spirit. I take my eyes off of Jesus and focus on people and I loose the joy of dwelling with Christ. I need the kingdom of God. May God’s kingdom come to this world and to my world.

Part 2. Supporting the good news (2-3).

Verses 2-3 read, “and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”

The Twelve travelled with Jesus, as well as many women. It was unusual. It shows how much grace these women experienced through Jesus and how much they wanted to be with him and support his work. Mary Magdalene was one woman who was freed from the grip of Satan’s power. Joanna took her stand despite the probable pressure from Herod’s evil influence. Once forgiven and covered with Jesus’ grace, these women gave their hearts and lives so that grace could come to many.

I can see that when we are touched by the grace of God, then we want to serve and participate in Jesus’ gospel ministry. It is a natural response to grace. I don’t understand when people who have received the grace of Jesus and don’t want to serve or get involved Jesus’ gospel ministry. It is unbiblical. We must give and serve, not just building up our own lives and futures. We must live for the glory of God and expand the territory of the kingdom of God. We must live to lift the name of Jesus, high and exalted. We must love serving others in Jesus’ name. I pray that all of our members may relish the idea of being included in the family of God and serving Jesus within the church.

As Christians we are in the family of God. Being in family is more than just receiving love and benefits and privileges. It also means responsibilities. In our family there is cleaning to do. There is laundry. There are dishes. There is taking care of the animals. There are a lot of responsibilities. We need to embrace these responsibilities, joyfully and willingly if we are to be part of Jesus’ team.

These women served. What does that mean? It means that they provided money to support the gospel ministry. They must have provided needed supplies, like food and doing even laundry. They might have even set up some of Jesus’ speaking engagements. To support gospel workers out of our own means, means sacrifice and service. It is not always glorious. Many times it is hard to do. But it is meaningful and joyful work when we do it for the Lord, while living in Christ. I pray that I may give my life to serve Jesus’ Gospel ministry out of my own means.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your good news that changed my life. By your grace, help me support the proclaiming of the good news of Jesus so others may experience your grace and new life as well.

One Word: Your kingdom come