GOD’S ANOINTING

GOD’S ANOINTING 

THE POWER TO PROCLAIM THE 

GOSPEL OF SALVATION 

AND OF HIS KINGDOM

Introduction

I feel it is important to communicate why I have written this book. My desire is not to convince anyone of my personal opinions (though I do include them at times). It is rather to provoke those who read this book to dive deep into the heart of God. I believe that is the place of which, anyone who journeys to, will discover it is the most wonderful place that can be found. Much of the way that I have voyaged deep into His heart is by searching out His word (the Bible). In doing this it has never been an intellectual ascent by which I am seeking to become a Gnostic or prove a point. The reason why I do this is because I was discipled with a different point of view by some amazing brothers and pastors right from the day God birthed me. I will never forget when Paul Detocco handed me a Bible and said to me “This is now your life. These are the very words of God, when you read it pray…. God this is your words to me, this is the way you speak to me, so as I read it speak to me. Then while you are reading it talk to God and ask Him what it means to you personally.” This way of reading the Bible leads to progressive revelation starting first with information. Some people are opposed to the information part of God’s word, God is not. God knows relationships begin and continue through the exchange of information. The next part of the progression is what information is designed to accomplish, deepening of the relationship. From the deepening of relationship comes revelation. This book is a small portion of the results of the process I just described. I have found the deeper I go into the word of God through searching out the original Greek and Hebrew writings with their definitions, the deeper the conversation with God goes and the greater the revelation of His Heart and Mind which leads to impartation to live it in a way that continues in multiplication. This is the only reason that you will see a lot of Greek definitions in what I have written. It is not to prove that I am heady, for I am not, I am just really hungry to know Him and the Hope of His Calling. I hope that His desire for the life He has given you will be revealed with the result that you will walk with Him in the anointing and purpose for which He designed you… that you may walk in the good works which He planned for you before you were even born. One more thing to consider in diving into the deep end of the Scripters is how important it was to our risen savior Jesus. 

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He(Jesus) expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Luke 24:27

Moses wrote the Genesis 1:1 through to the end of the fifth book Deuteronomy which is known as the Pentateuch. Next Jesus said the prophets, which all scripture is given by inspiration of God and prophetic in nature (2 Timothy 3:16). One more treasure found in Luke 24 is the Greek meaning of the word expound as noted by Vines Expository Dictionary of the New Testament. 

"to interpret fully" (dia, "through," intensive, hermeneuo, "to interpret"); (Eng., "hermeneutics"), is translated, "He expounded" in Luk 24:27

The word Hermeneutics means the branch of knowledge that deals with the method of interpretation, especially of the Bible or literary texts. This means that Jesus gave an intensive interpretation of His knowledge of all the Scriptures to those He encountered on the road to Emmaus. May we all seek to value the Scriptures as much as Jesus did. Also in every time we open the Scriptures may we all hear what the risen Lord Jesus is saying to us as they did on the road. And my prayer is may we all have the results of hearts that burn with in us as He opens up the Scriptures to us.   

And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

Luke 24:32

Key

I use certain terms that I put in “quotations”. The following will help you to understand why I have done so. When I use the term “church walls” or inside the “church walls” I am referring to the building and or the organization/business/leaders of the church. Another term I put “quotations” around is “fivefold” in doing so I am referring to the five ministry positions noted in Ephesians 4:11. When I use the word Church or Saints with the capital letter I am referring to the body of Christ as individual members who are part of the collective whole. It is a reference to all those who have repented and believe in God’s plan for salvation through the Gospel. When I use (parenthesis) many times it will be in context to using Greek definitions that are mostly found in Strong’s or vines dictionaries or when I am giving information that will help you to understand the sentence before the (parenthesis). Sometimes I underline to connect words or to emphasize them. Hopefully this will help and not hinder.

Chapter 1 God’s Love in Anointing

Many people are desiring to discover the revelation of how to walk in a greater anointing and fulfill their destiny and purpose in the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. The greatest way to do this is by receiving a clear vision of the foundational revelation of God’s purpose of their journey with Him. The interesting thing is God is really clear as to what His foundational revelation is. Sometimes the most profound truths that are truly life changing are hidden in plain sight. Many people even after having someone unveil it to them still will not see just how powerful and fulfilling it is. They do not see it because they think it is to simple, or because they have heard it before in a way that did not convey the true heart of God. Also many do not understand that a life centered on Christ means that it is not about them getting what they desire out of life, because self-desire can be very dangerous to self.

James 1:14,15

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

James 4:1

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?

This is not to say that all desires are bad or destructive. The way that children of God are to filter their desire is the same way as Jesus did. A life centered on living continually with the anointing of God upon you is found by living in a posture of your heart burning with the desire of what the Father wants more than what you want. Jesus made this completely clear when He said “not My will be done, but Your will be done.” It is easy to call yourself a Christian, but being a Christian is not about what you call yourself, it’s about doing your Fathers will. The context of “Your will be done” was the saving of the world for which Jesus surrendered His will and life. This thought can be terrifying to those that have experienced pain, abuse, disappointment and a myriad of other negative emotions and situations when they have given their life to another. Fortunately, God has no plans for evil for those that put their trust in Him. In fact, God’s plans are only for good towards His Children. Being all wise He and He alone knows how to work all things together for good, to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. So don't be afraid, God’s little Child, for it gives your Father great joy to give you the Kingdom where there is no sorrow or pain or tears or death. It is in His will and only in His will, that a child of God can find the revelation of His anointing, power, purpose, pleasure and fulfilment….. “to find your life you must lose it (Matthew 10:39).” 

To truly find out what God’s will, purpose and plan is for you here on earth you must journey into His will, purpose and plan. This is made clear in many places in scripture.  

1 Timothy 2:4 

“God desires/wills all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”. 

What did God do to accomplish His desire (same word as pleasure or will in Greek)? This is found in Matthew chapter one. 

 “And she (Mary) will bring forth a Son, and you (Joseph) shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins. 

Matthew 1:21

And in John chapter one

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29  

And in John chapter six

“For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

John 6:38

Remember in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus made it clear as to what the ultimate will of the Father was for His life. To give His life as a ransom to save the world from sin. The whole of Scripter from Genesis to Revelation is the story God’s love for all of humanity in the story of redemption, for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. You may be saying by now “aright enough with the whole sin and saving thing, where is the love bro. Well it is coming so just keep reading. I believe this is the foundational revelation and the first priority for which Christ Jesus came. It pleased the Father to prove His love by sending His Child Jesus the Christ/Anointed One, on a mission into the world to save the word. Remember, God so Loved the world… God today has the same will/desire/pleasure accomplished by sending His Children into the world. He has sent all His Children to share the simple good news of how Jesus accomplished the Fathers will, so that all can be saved. This was and is His first priority. All who call themselves a child of God or a Christian or Christ-in’s are created and called to Him and then to His first priority and purpose, will, desire, pleasure.

Revelation 4:11

You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for You have created all things, and for Your pleasure they are and were created.

Without the saving of souls, Gods kingdom would not grow and Jesus would not have new generations of disciples. Some people will say “we are called to love God first and then called to love others as our selves. Love is the greatest commandment according to Jesus.” I agree! Since that is true, then we must seek to convey the greatest expression of Love.

John 15:13 

“Greater Love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. "

John 15:13 is clearly in context to Jesus going to the Cross to save the world from sin.

So how is love displayed 

If you Love Me, keep My commandments

John 14:15

So what is Jesus commandments? Well there are many but I believe the first is to believe in Him for salvation through a relationship with Him based on His goodness. Next I believe it is simply doing the things He has plainly asked us to do. This idea is known as Lordship. One of the key things He has asked all those that trust in Him for salvation through a relationship is found in what is known as the Great Commission as noted in Matthew 28. 

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Matthew 28:19

So how do we do this? I believe that is another open ended question that can’t be put into a box with a nice bow on it. It is a life time process. The most important part of the process is starting it. One thing that helped me to start was being discipled by others who had began the process and continued in it. Another was gaining the understanding of how to use the tools that are available to go deep into the word/words of God. I have used such tools as Strong’s concordance, Vines bible dictionary as well as many others to go deeper into the word of God. These tools are available to all. The question is if the tools are available to all then why do not all use them? Well that I can not tell you, but I can tell you if you do use them God will reveal Himself in deeper ways then if you do not use them. This may sound as though I am talking about head knowledge is the key to God and with out the tools you can’t be go as far as with out them. To that I would say, that is not at all what I am trying to convey. What I am saying is that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the “word” of God. In that passage I know the Greek word for the word for “word” in Romans 10:17 is rhēma which means the spoken word of God not the written word/scriptures. I have found that God speaks to me very clearly when I read His word and ask Him questions about what He has said.  I have also found that I Hear Him speak to me when I use the tools that He has made available to me. In doing so my faith is increased to take action on what He has spoken to me by what He has written. For example, I used the tools to learn the following. 

The name Jesus means God is Salvation. In knowing what Jesus name means it increased my faith to speak to others about the meaning of the name of Jesus in order that they may hear God speak to them through what God has revealed to me through the tools. Much of what is written in this book comes from this way of gaining revelation and I hope that you will hear from God and turn it into actions of disciplining others. Here is another example. The word Christ means anointed and is a reference to the High priest who is the only one that could go into the Holy of Holies once a year to atone for sin. Atonement means to cover sin and persons by legal rights, to make reconciliation. Jesus did this as High Priest for all humanity as noted in Hebrews 9 and 10. Now God has given all Christians the ministry of reconciliation by and through the Gospel (2 Corinthians 5:18). The greatest action of Love that can be displayed by a Christian is to clearly articulate the Gospel concerning the greatest action of Love that has ever been displayed for the lost. This is not to negate the essential need to do so in love or to show actions of love. When truth is conveyed it must be done out of a heart of genuine love and concern for others… Love seeks not it’s own. Love never fails and it is love that opens people’s eyes and hearts, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and be delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed into the kingdom of the Son of His Love. The greatest action of Love is the saving of a soul. It is the greatest desire of God Who is Love. God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us so that all can be saved. For a person to become a disciple they first must be saved. Without the saving of souls, Satan’s kingdom and the its workings would continue to grow unhindered. It is clear that is not God’s plan for the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Jesus ultimate form of destroying the works of the devil is by saving people and welcoming them into the family of God threw the simple yet profound loving Gospel. Many Christians I meet cannot tell you what the Gospel is. This is so absurd from my point of view…. but rather than elaborating on that point… I will judge not lest I be judged. Instead I am going on to the upward call of Christ Jesus, by declaring the Gospel of Salvation. The word of God lets us know that without the Gospel of Salvation, no one can see or enter the Gospel of the kingdom of God (John 3). I believe teaching the differences between the Gospel of salvation/Christ and the Gospel of the kingdom is essential to operating in the powerful truth that God has given us. If you struggle with what I just said concerning the “Gospel of the Kingdom” I have included my understanding of this in chapter four and five. It does not get any simpler than the following Good News which is what the word Gospel means. 

1 Corinthians 15:1…3,4

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you…

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. 

There are many Scriptures that bless the believer’s soul. When a believer hides the Scriptures in their heart there is an even greater impact and blessing as noted in Psalm 119:11. The assimilation, retention and understanding of 1 Corinthians 15:3,4 by a believer is certainly one of the most vital in accomplishing the great commission to make disciples. The reason I say this is because it is the core foundation of the proclamation of the way to Salvation along side of the relationship that is created in its full understanding. It contains Three of the four, of the final most significant actions Jesus accomplished while on the earth regarding the saving of souls in this world. The reason I say three of the four is because the forth is the ascension. The ascension was the last action Jesus accomplished while on earth until He comes again for His Church. The ascension is the action that led to the day of Pentecost. Pentecost is the day the out poring of the Spirit came to all believers, which is the empowerment to share the Gospel and make disciples. 

Luke 24:46-49

Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, "and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. "And you are witnesses of these things "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but stay in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

Acts 1:8

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Acts 2:1

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Acts 2:16,17

But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams.

Acts 2:47

And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. 

I believe that without the assimilation, retention and understanding of 1 Corinthians 15:3,4 None, no one, NADA, not you, not me or any other soul that has ever existed could be saved. You may say Eternal life is found by having a relationship with Jesus as noted in  John 17:3. I agree 100%! The question I would ask you is how does a person enter into a relationship with Jesus? By knowing and believing in what He has done for them so they can be born again of the Spirit. Jesus said you must be born again then He went on to use an old testament story to illustrate how you get born again. 

JOHN 3:14-15

as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:14,15 is a reference to Numbers chapter 21 in which there were serpents that were killing the Israelites in the wilderness because they had sinned. God told them that every Israelite that had been bit had to look at a brass serpent that was put up on a pole and if they did as He said then the thing that was killing them (the serpents) would no longer be able to kill them and they would be saved from death. We have all been bitten by sin and Jesus was put up on the pole which we call a cross. Jesus was telling us that we too must look to Him on the cross and believe He took the thing that was killing us (sin) and accept that He took our sin and it’s penalty of death by dyeing in our place on the cross. 

I believe every true Child of God understands and accepts what Christ accomplished for them in regards to 1 Corinthians 15:3,4. If all believers were to articulate on a daily basis to individuals that do not know Christ, the simple sentence below, I believe we would have the primary foundation in place for worldwide revival. “God loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins, be buried, and rise again from the dead to prove His power over sin and death, and because of what Jesus did we can enter into eternal life and a loving relationship with God now.” 

One key thing to note in 1 Corinthians 15 is the prevailing subject is not sin, rather the entire chapter is devoted to the resurrection from the dead. The forms of the word resurrection and raised are noted over 20 times and sin is only used twice. The point being is a gospel that is solely focused on sin and death or hell is not good news. The focus of the Gospel is the resurrection which is the proof of Jesus power over sin and death. This is not to say that there should not be the mention of sin in any way because that would leave out one third of the message. The key is the way sin and responsibility is presented in the Gospel. If it is presented as a problem that requires work on the part of the hearer than it becomes bad news. What I mean by this is if you say or suggests the focus of “you’re a sinner and you have to repent or you are going to hell”! That is 100% true and at the same time it focuses on them and their problem, a required action from them and then a catastrophic problem. What they hear is 1) They have a bad problem, 2) something they have to do to fix the problem, and if they don’t 3) they get a really horrible problem forever. All they hear is they have a problem and what they have to do to fix it. Most will walk away thinking something like this “I’m messed up, so God wants to send me to Hell.” The reason I say this is because, I have talked to many people that have told me this personally. The reason why they think this way is because the focus has been on them and that they have to fix their problem. It is a downward spiral leading to hell. This way of presenting the Gospel (good news) is not good news to them. Most people only want to rebel against a negative with a negative. Please hear me out I am not saying that their problem and need to do something about it is not important or relevant or vital. What I am saying is there is a different thought process and conclusion that happens when it is presented as something that 1) was a problem but 2) God has already fixed it with 3) a full lasting solution and 4) as a bonus they get loved by God who is desiring to know them deeply and has a solution of how to stay free of the problem (Galatians 5:16). Now that sounds like good news to the hearer instead of the focus of the bad news of their problem. Remember this in no way is negating the personal responsibility of the hearer to repent and believe or that there is a problem. I am also not saying that preaching the Gospel from the “their problem”focus is wrong or bad or cannot work. What I am saying is focusing on the goodness of God who has already fixed the problem for everyone through the Gospel, emphasizes Gods goodness and it is the goodness of God that leads to repentance. It is much more desirable to answer an invitation into a solution when someone else has done something for you, that you could never accomplish on your own. Also it is easy to do so when your part is simply accepting that they did it for you because they love you and want a loving relationship with you. I have found that after more than 25 years of presenting the Gospel nothing leads to repentance more than the loving solution focused way of presenting the Gospel. Let me give you an example. Simply ask any stranger this.

“Have you heard the good news?”

Most people will say “no.” (They do so with a look like… boy I could really use some good news).

“This is so amazing, Jesus came and died to take away all of humanity’s sin and death, then three days after dying He rose from the dead to show He had power over death. Now by accepting what He has done for us, we can have a loving relationship with Him.”  

I like to ask at this point “Have you ever heard this before?”  For those who say no, my next question is.. 

“Would you like to receive the removal of everything you have ever done that was wrong and gain eternal life by entering into a loving relationship with Jesus who is the Savior from sin and death? He loves you so much that He offers this to you freely so you can know Him personally. He wants to be your best friend, He knows you, now He wants you to know Him.” 

If they say yes, then I say “Great pray out loud with me… 

Dear Lord Jesus thank you for dying for my sins, 

Thank you for burring my sin and death in the grave 

Thank you that you rose from the dead 

to show your power over sin and death. 

I receive you as my Lord and my Savior and my Friend. 

Fill me with the Holy Spirit to empower me to live for you

I trust you to direct my life for your Kingdom and your purpose

on earth as it is in Heaven

in Jesus Name.” 

Notice the focus is on a loving relationship with Jesus who did the work of dyeing and is alive from the dead.  How He has already provided the solution for the problem that every person already knows they have. The problem is a guilty conscience from the wrongs they have done (wrongs done is mentioned twice in the Strong’s Greek definition of sin). The reason I say “the problem that every person already knows they have” is because in all my years of sharing the Gospel only a handful of people have ever not agreed with me when I say to them… 

“Have you ever done something that is wrong and you knew it was wrong but you did it anyway… I sure have, how about you? (Romans 3:23)

Another question I ask is

“Do you believe one day your physical body is going to die?” (Romans 6:23)

Again almost unanimously every person agrees/confesses (confess is the definition for “agree” in Greek). Many things happen when you ask people those two questions. First you have related to them in the innate truth of God’s word in a way that has not alienated them from you but puts them in the same sinking boat with you. Next when you provide the solution you are not at odds with them over the problem, so they are more open to hearing the way out of the sinking boat. The only way out is through the goodness of the Gospel of God that leads to repentance. Repentance means to change your thinking or mind. Once a person changes from thinking I am stuck in the sinking boat of sin that will end up in my death, to thinking thank you Jesus for saving me through your death, burial and resurrection. They have repented (changed their thinking). Then their Belief leads them to knowing Jesus personally. This is why Jesus said Repent and Believe the Gospel (Mark 1:15). Once a person knows Jesus it is His great joy to lead them into the loving arms of the Father Who will give them the Helper the Holy Spirit.

Having a relationship with God through the Death, Burial and Resurrection from the dead by Jesus Christ is the core message and the foundation of the entire Christian faith. Without the simple pure Gospel there is no hope of knowing God or entering His kingdom or experiencing eternal life. Sadly, not many “Christians” know what the Gospel is or how to articulate it. Of the ones that do, not many share the Gospel with people who are desperately in need of hearing it. They do not understand that the majority of the world is dying and they are the only ones that have the cure. Many people will parish because no one every shared the simple pure Gospel. This is not an attempt to put a guilt trip on anyone, it is just a really sad fact. Many Christians do not share the Gospel because they have heard it done in a condemning way. How sad that they throughout the baby Jesus with the dirty bath water rather than just sharing the simple pure loving Gospel. I cannot count how many people who have told me they have never herd the Gospel. The apostle Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the following concerning the need to keep the Gospel pure. 

Galatians 1:6 threw 9 

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different Gospel, which is not another (good news); but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

This makes it clear that there is a different Gospel that is a perversion.  Any one preaching the perversion, is not preaching good news/the Gospel, but is preaching really bad news that leads to being cursed. The Apostle here declares in the strongest manner that the Gospel he preached was the one and only way of Salvation, and that to preach another was to nullify the death, burial and resurrection of Christ resulting in people remaining under the curse of sin, which is death and is definitely not good news. 

You may think… “well this evangelism thing is really meant for the select few that are called to be evangelist.” Well then let’s look at what our Savior Jesus says… 

Matthew 28:18,20

Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and surly, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Matthew 28:16 makes it clear that Jesus was talking to His disciples (not apostles or evangelist) in 28:18,20. This leads to a question which will unveil the primary revelation and guide you on the way to the awaking of the awareness of His anointing and the purpose He has for you. Are you a pupil, student, disciple of Jesus? If yes, then you are the one Jesus is talking to in Matthew 28:18 through 20 according to what Jesus prayed in….

John 17:20    

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word.

Since this is the case, here comes the revelation which will lead you to the powerful anointing of God for the primary purpose of building the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. By the Authority of the spoken words of Jesus Christ the Savior of the world He sends you out to make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. You may be saying, but I want the signs and wonders anointing. The purpose of signs and wonders is, to be a sign that makes people wonder. Then you can show them that the sign that they are wondering about is pointing to Jesus. Then they can stop wondering and repent and believe the Gospel. If you want the signs and wonders anointing, then again let’s listen to what Jesus says… 

Mark 16

Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, he who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe…

The emphasis is on preaching the Gospel so that people will believe the Gospel and be saved. It is those that go out to preach the Gospel that have the signs and wonders following them. God’s purpose in signs and wonders is to promote the Gospel. The idea is the Gospel is about self-replication not self-glorification through signs and wonders. If you want the signs and wonders get busy preaching the Gospel and God will back you up with the signs and wonders. As far as preaching the Gospel, you may be thinking, 1) “wait a minute, I’m not a minister, I am not an evangelist or religious teacher” or a hundred other reasons why this is not God’s purpose for your life. 2) If God has unveiled this revelation to you, then you may say “OK, let’s go God!” What’s next? It must be time to spend years at a seminary or a school of ministry, so you can get a full time job (that is well paid) in “the ministry”. In either case, whether you are in for making disciples by preaching the Gospel or not, God said what He said and what He said, He said to all and it is plain and simple. Make disciples which only happens by preaching the Gospel. The issue here is in both cases most people do not understand just how simple it is to do what He said “preach the Gospel and make disciples.” If it was super hard and it was only for a select few who had to go through years of formal training so they could work in a full time job “in the ministry”, then God in all His wisdom would have made that clear in Matthew 28. I know GOD is not sitting on His throne saying “Wow Gabriel, I messed up Matthew 28… ME… I hope they can figure out that was only meant for a select few who go through years of formal training. Everything is really going to turn out bad if others go out and try to make disciples. Since that’s not the case, then it is time to accept this revelation so God can manifest the anointing you already have to preach the Gospel and make disciples as He said. You may be thinking I am not an evangelist! That’s ok because that word is only used twice in the entire bible and God has managed to create a global ministry of about 2.3 billion (which is the largest faith based organization in the world). Let’s get one more thing out of the way. Ephesians 4:11 notes five ministry positions which are in some theological circles known as the “fivefold ministry”. You may say “I’m not called to the “fivefold ministry” which is noted in Ephesians 4 in any way, let alone to be an evangelist”. That’s ok too let’s look at the “fivefold ministry” in Ephesians 4:11 and 12. In doing so we will see that God makes it clear that being called to the “fivefold ministry” is not a requirement to making disciples and preaching the Gospel as God told all His disciples to do. 

Chapter 2 God’s heart in anointing for the equipping of ministers.

Ephesians 4:11,12…

And He Himself gave some to be 1) apostles, some 2) prophets, some 3) evangelists, and some 4) pastors and 5) teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…

In going through this passage it is important to understand what is meant when the word “Saints” is used and who is a Saint. The Greek word is hä'-gē-os and it means Holy which means "separated". In Scripture in its moral and spiritual significance, separated from sin and therefore consecrated, dedicated formally to divine purpose, to be sacred. So, who is a Saint? It is those that have been made holy and separated by calling on the name Jesus as Lord according to 1 Corinthians 1:2. In addition Romans 10:9 states if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Being saved from sin makes you holy and separate from sin from Gods point of view. Here is a freebee, it is always better to live from God’s point of view then your own. Now that the understanding of who a Saint is has been established, let’s look at what Ephesians 4:11,12 has to say. I have studied Ephesians 4:11,12 for years and it is only about a year ago that I heard an itinerant speaker teach it in a way that I finally understand it’s true meaning.

Let’s go through each part of Ephesians 4:12 with the Strong’s Greek definitions in parentheses to bring further understanding of what God is saying in the passage.  

For the equipping (preparing fully)

of the saints (separated from sin and therefore consecrated to God) 

for the work (business, employment, that which any one is occupied [busy and active]) 

of ministry (service "the ministry," NOT in the sense of an ecclesiastical function [Ecclesiastical, that which is relating to ministry inside the Christian Church or its clergy]). 

So the job of the “fivefold ministry” is to fully prepare the individual members of the Church known as the Saints, in how to be occupied in being busy and active in service, NOT inside the “church walls”. If the Saints are not busy and active inside the “church walls” serving then where are they to be busy and active in serving? In everyday life. In all the places that the “fivefold ministers” will never be because their busy in preparing the Saints inside the “church walls” to go out into all the world and make disciples. This means that each one of the fivefold ministers are to be preparing the Saints in the services of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers. Note it does say “some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers”. The word “some” means “truly or certainly” this means “some” of the saints are “truly/certainly” called to do so inside the “church walls” and the rest of the saints are meant to do so outside the “church walls”. You may say “WOOOO wait a minute, that means everyone can be an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher? Don’t throw the book in the fireplace just yet and go try and wash your brain in holy water to get rid of the damnable heresy that you think you just read. What I am saying is yes in the broad sense. What I mean by this is all Saints who are not selected by God to be “fivefold ministers” to the Saints inside the “church walls” are to be going out into the world as individual’s that have been prepared for service to the world as the Greek words mean. 

1)    apostle (messenger, one sent forth as in Matthew 28 GO….), 

2)    prophet (speaking on God’s behalf), 

3)    evangelist (proclaiming the Gospel of Salvation and the Kingdom)

4)    pastor (a person that cares for a group of people) 

5)    teachers (one who teaches concerning the things of God in relationship to God and humanity). 

In the narrow sense inside the “church walls” No, not all are called to be “fivefold ministers” to the Saints. Only those that are “truly or certainly” given as gifts to the Saints to equip/prepare them. Hopefully below the condense answer will clarify what I am saying how the “fivefold ministry” does not exclude any from the activities of “fivefold ministry”. It is more about the understanding of the location then the vocation.

1)    Inside the Church walls a “fivefold minister” is a Saint selected by God as gifts to the Church to equip and prepare the Church for the works of the ministry.

2)    Outside the Church walls all the Saints are to be doing the works of the “fivefold ministry” as God has prepared them and leads them. 

You may say WOOOO you did it again! No way are all saints called to be apostles outside the walls of the Church! Well my first question to you is Biblically who is an apostle? When the Bible was written there was a strict list of requirements to be an apostle. No living person today can fulfill that strict list, because one of the requirements was you had to be with the other eleven since the baptism of John (Acts 1:1,2). If that is the case, then we no longer have any apostles today. If that is true, then we just have to join our brothers that say none of this is relevant for today. Which would make no sense at all because then we would also have to get rid of prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers as well. So what is being said here. Remember the word apostle means “a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders.” Looking at the great commission in Matthew 28 “GO…” In this, Jesus was sending them out as messengers who were sent forth with orders. Today this applies to anyone that calls themselves a disciple of Jesus, because remember Matthew 20:16 is clear that Jesus was talking to His disciples when He said “GO…” I think if we look at the heart of Ephesians 4:11,12 the point is, it is the job of each one of the five positions in the “fivefold ministry” to train/prepare all believers to do the work of the ministry. 

Let’s look at how this would apply in the role of a teacher. The “teacher who is a “fivefold minister” inside the “church walls” is to teach/prepare everyone how to teach which means (teach concerning the things of God in relationship to God and humanity). Then when a Saint leaves the “church building” (which I call the “church walls”) any place they go they can teach others outside of the “church walls”. This way of understanding the “fivefold ministry” accomplishes several things. It empowers each believer to be a minister wherever they are. It gives each believer no limitations as to what ministry they can do outside the “church walls”…. All things are possible. If God needs someone to Pastor people at a particular place of employment. God does not need to send the “fivefold pastor/minister” from inside the “church walls” to that place to pastor there. Why? Because God already has a Saint who works there who has been prepared to pastor in that place of employment. If God needs to send someone into a hardware store to minister as an evangelist, then any saint who has been equipped/prepared by the “fivefold evangelist minister” can go into the hardware store and minister as an evangelist. Another thing this does is remove the potential idolatry of “fivefold ministers” that is common in many churches today. WOOOO…Yes I did it again I confronted another sacred cow. Idolatry and Honor are two completely different things so please do not misinterpret what I said. Unfortunately, many Christians are so enamored by famous Christian leaders that they never do anything but talk about “the super stars of christianity”. How sad the they are so busy looking unto “the super stars of christianity” that they do not look unto Jesus the author and finisher of their faith. If the Saints would look to God, then His desired results would be fulfilled. His desired results is that the Saints would become world changers like Jesus and the disciples. How does God tell us that He accomplishes this? It is when the saints spend time alone with Jesus then they become transformed into His image. The result is then the Saints will be busy doing the will of the Father as Jesus did.

2 Corinthians 3:18

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 

You may say well I took a spiritual gift test and none of the fivefold ministry positions showed up, so I am not called to any of those activities. You may say I am an introvert and it is really uncomfortable for me to talk to strangers so there is no way I am called to “evangelism” or “making” disciples. You may say I can comfortably minister as one or even two of the “fivefold” but there is no way that all saints could do all of the fivefold ministry outside the Church walls. My reply would be. 

In all of the sentences above two things are mentioned over and over “I” and “comfort”. 

A) “I” will always get in the way of doing God’s ministry. It is the center of s”I”n. Its focus is on self and the ability of self, which limits the potential of God.

B) “comfort” which is just like “I”, but it takes it a step further in that it is an indication that you are not trusting in the Holy Spirit who is better known as the Comforter to empower you to do whatever He desires in any given situation. 

No one, not even Christ Himself could do any form of God’s ministry apart from the Anointing of the Holy Spirit. In processing this each Saint must take a good hard look at Jesus and ask was He able to minister in all of the “fivefold ministry”? I can answer this for you. Yes. Not only did He do so but He said…

John 14:12

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater worksthan these he will do, because I go to My Father. 

The real issue is, it is the enemy of the Gospel that gives you every reason why you can’t do what Jesus said in John 14:12 or minister in the anointing of the Holy Spirit in all five aspects of ministry that are noted in Ephesians 4:11. The same enemy is also terrified of the idea of the Saints believing what Jesus said in John 14 because he knows if they believe it, then they would be busy preaching the Gospel and making disciples which would destroy his kingdom. Praise be to God that once we know the truth we are set free from the lies of “I” and “comfort”. Once we believe what God says then we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us by and through relying solely on the Holy Spirits anointing and power (including any of the “fivefold ministry” where ever God has us in the world). Many Christians desire to lead a ministry, to prophesy, teach or preach, but they feel as though they never will get a chance to do so because all those positions are already filled inside “the church walls”. It is like they are just waiting and wanting, for a position to open so they can jump into it. They may even go to home groups hoping that they will get a chance to live out the anointing that God has put on their life. This is truly another one of the enemy’s deceptions. Not that they are not anointed to do so, but again it is about location not vocation. God has given them the anointing to do so outside the church walls but because they are misdirected, the people outside “the church walls” that desperately need them to walk in their calling do not get to be blessed by the anointing that God has put on their life.

Some may say God has not called me to go to all nations. Well let’s look at the word nations in its original Greek meaning. There are three headings for the word ethnos/nations in Vines Greek dictionary  

Gentiles "a multitude or company", "a multitude of people of the same nature or genus, a nation, people;"

Nation "a nation" or "people”

People "the people of a city”

I think it is clear to see the word that keeps popping up is “people”. Why? Because all nations consist of people. People are who God is most interested in reaching and the cool thing is there are people everywhere you go. Jesus said… 

Acts 1:8

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." 

So just listen to Jesus by starting with the people of your city. Then go to others cities in your country, then take a trip somewhere else to another country. For God sakes at least start where you are at that does not require any cost or sacrifice other than getting rid of ”I” and “comfort”. I have seen God use all of the “fivefold ministry” in direct and indirect forms to make disciples. 

1)     Apostle is “a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders.” When I go out into the world I go as a person sent or authorized to represent Christ with His orders to give the message of salvation, preach the Gospel, make disciples. This is a mindset that means you are to live in close relationship with the Lord as your primary source and purpose of Life.

2)    Prophet "one who speaks forth or openly", "a proclaimer of a divine message." This anointing manifests in many ways, but there are a few that seem to be vital in making disciples and presenting the message of good news. They are edification, exhortation and comfort. Edification, in building up people by sharing what God thinks of them. How valuable they are to Him, how He made them in His image and likeness, how He has given them His powerful attributes. Exhortation, in encouraging and urging them into the life He has for them through the Gospel. Comfort, in knowing that God is with them every moment of their life ready to welcome them into His family through the Gospel and be there in their deepest struggles. There are many other aspects of this such as when people are edified or comforted when God speaks to them through a word of knowledge or through healing. This is just mentioning a few of the ways the gift of prophecy works.

3)    Evangelists… it is interesting that this is in the center of the “fivefold ministry”. I believe because it is the center point of God’s primary service/ministry to humanity. 

Philippians  2:7

He made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Bondservant means “devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests, a servant.”

A servant is a person that serves/ministers to others not himself. The Greek word for ministry is diakonia and its primary definition is service.  Jesus said I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. In doing so He always served His Fathers will not His own. Evangelism is at the core of God’s desire for God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, He is patient with all, not wanting anyone to perish, but desiring everyone to come to repentance. Evangelism is the only reason that Churches are full of Christians today. To become a Christian, you must first get saved. If evangelism stopped for just one generation Christianity would be gone from the face of the earth. This is why God says in His word.. 

Romans 10:14

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? 

Evangelism that makes disciples has a pathway in Romans 10:14 

1)    Sent: The Greek is apostellō and comes from the same 2 root words in Greek as apostolos which is the word for apostle which Christ has sent all believers in Matthew 28 to make disciples by the message of the Gospel.

2)    Preach:  Then once a saint has been sent (which is all saints) then they must preach. Preach means:

a) An official messenger bringing news, to be a sign that (something) is about to happen 

b) The public proclamation of the Gospel and matters pertaining to it with gravity and authority.

3)    Hear: To perceive by the hearing of the ear what is announced in one's presence to learn, comprehend, to understand a teaching or a teacher. 

4)    Believe: To think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in, to trust Jesus: saving faith.

5)    To call upon: to call upon by way of adoration (deep love and respect, worship; veneration). As the result of thankfulness for Jesus Christ sacrificial death that released the soul from bondage and imprisonment threw forgiveness and pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), with the full remission of the penalty.

Chapter 3 

Gods Heart in anointing for the salvation of the lost.

You may feel as though I ben belaboring the point of evangelism and the need to preach the Gospel. That is not my desire, my desire is for God’s Saints to know the revelation of the primary purpose of why our Father has anointed every Saint with power. If you were a parent who had 5 children and just one of them got kidnaped I know your focus would be 100% on getting that child back from the one that took them from you. I believe there are many children who have been trapped by the devil and taken captive by him to do his will. I’m not talking about Saints that know Jesus and continue in the dysfunction of sin. I believe those are in that state because they do not have the full revelation of the Gospel and what it accomplished to set them completely free from the lies of the one who has tricked them out of the freedom that Jesus paid for. I implore you do not judge what I just stated. My heart goes out to them and I desire for them to come into full freedom from continuing in the dysfunction of sin. It is the true revelation that is only found in the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus that can accomplish this. Who I am talking about is those who were kidnapped at birth by the devil through his lies of living a life centered on self which only produces sin, which is the devil’s will not Gods because it leads to death not life. Those who have no hope or understanding of a life with God. Wondering aimlessly trying to fulfill the desire to be fulfilled and in doing so just go deeper into captivity. This is why Jesus said

Luke 4:18-19

The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,

Because He has anointed Me

To preach the gospel to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,[fn]

To proclaim liberty to the captives

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

What was the Spirit of God on Jesus for? Why did God anoint Jesus? The same primary reason that He anoints all believers.

TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR

Why were they poor? Because they were without the good news of freedom from sin and death. Because the devil trapped them and was holding them captive and oppressing them. 

Why else was Jesus sent with anointing? 

To heal the broken hearted

Why were they broken hearted? Because they were taken captive by the devil to do his will which is sin and that only leads to death. I am sure if you were taken captive and oppressed you would be broken hearted. You see we think of broken hearted as things did not work out the way we hoped. The deepest form of broken heartedness comes from having no hope of being set free from captivity and oppression. They only way people can be set free is through the Gospel… And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Truth is not a thing it is a Person and His name is Jesus…. I am the way the Truth and the life… Truth is not only the Person of Jesus it is the Person of the Holy Spirit.. Jesus said “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. What does the Spirit of Truth testify of concerning Jesus? “And when He “the Holy Spirit” has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Why so they can repent and believe in the Gospel with the results of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. Freedom from captivity and oppression. Now that is good news in fact that is really good news that everyone should hear. But how will they hear if no one preaches? When you hear the word preach or preaching or preacher what comes to mind? You may have some pre conceived notion that preacher is someone who you can watch a video of or go to a church building to see or that is in a stadium that you can listen to. I find it interesting that Jesus and His followers never did any of those things. They did preach in the temple at times but the majority of preaching is done where ever they were. John the Baptist preached at the Jordan river. Mark 16:20 states, “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” So go to the river and preach, go everywhere and preach. Remember to preach means to be a messenger of news. It is no different than saying “hey did you hear what was on the news today…” or better yet “hey did you hear the Good News Jesus died and took away sin and death for all who have a relationship with Him….”

Why else did Jesus have the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon Him

To proclaim liberty to the captives

Proclaim here is the same word as Preach  in the Greek kā-rü's-sō  

The understanding of the word liberty is very powerful. It means to release from bondage or imprisonment through the forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty. This is only accomplished through repentance and belief in the Gospel which must first be preached to them.

Why else did Jesus have the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon Him

And recovery of sight to the blind

In the Greek this can mean in a physical sense or mentally blind. Either way when a person confesses Jesus is Lord and believes in their heart that God raised Him from the dead then a person is saved. The word for saved in the Greek is Sozo and it means to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction to save a suffering one (from perishing), That is one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health. This is in every capacity, spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally and any other …ally that exist. 

Finally, why else did Jesus have the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon Him

To set at liberty those who are oppressed.

The word “to set” means to to send away to allow one to depart, that he may be in a state of liberty. And who did Jesus do this for by and through the Gospel

Those that had been hit with a heavy blow through out, shattered, bruised and broken by calamity. All that have been impacted by sin and death, which is all of humanity. These are the ones who desperately need to hear the Gospel.  

1 John 4:17

As He is, so are we in this world

This is what God says about His Saints. The question to the Saints is are we like Him in regards to Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me…” His plan is for His Saints to do has He did, by preaching the Gospel everywhere they go and in doing so make disciples. I believe there are many reasons why the Saints do not do so. None of the following is said with a heart of condemnation but rather through the spirit of revelation. The first is because the enemy of the Gospel has lied to the Saints and created fear in the place where love is to be active. Another is because the Saints have also been lied to about the primary purpose of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They have made about inside not outside “the church walls.” Luke 4:18 makes this clear. Jesus Who is call the Christ which means the Anointed One came to set captives free by His death burial and resurrection. The powerful anointing, He displayed was never to prove His identity or substantiate His close relationship with the Father or to create a following after Himself or validate how loved He was. Jesus was not here to win friends and influence people so He could build a self-supporting global ministry that is famous. Every bit of anointed power that went out of Him was for the benefit of others to show the world what the Father is like. The ultimate display of power was culminated in His death burial and resurrection. It was Jesus primary mission to take away the sins of the world. Unfortunately, many Saints today (famous and unknown) do not have the same primary objective and mission as Jesus. If they did the focus would be on the lost coming home first and foremost. Many do not preach the Gospel because they are so focused on their life or their ministry or the cares of this world that they come up with all kinds of reasons why it is not relevant to them personally. Many because they have never heard the things that have been mentioned here. There are so many reasons that I could go on at infinitum. It’s not my calling, God has not told me to, I have no anointing for it…. None of which negates the trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.. therefore Go and make disciples. One can be because they are not really passionate in their relationship with God. I think one that is certainly prevalent is because many have not preached the Gospel, so they have never experienced the joy of leading others to Salvation. Some because they think well, I did that in the past but now I’m at a different stage of relationship and maturity now. Some will say well I am part of a discipleship program and I disciple people. Great did you “make” them or take them from someone else. Some will say because I serve God in other ways…. I’m a part of the worship community, I serve in the children’s ministry, I’m an intercessor, my anointing is in inner healing, so I’m exempt. All those things are awesome and needed in the church, but it is not the first purpose of anointing. Jesus did not come to create worship communities or children’s ministries or intercessors or healing ministries primarily. Please do not misunderstand this. This does not diminish or invalidate the value of those ministries. It also does in no way mean that you should stop ministering in those capacities. What it means is God wants to do immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine. It means that when you are not inside the “church walls” or ministering to the Saints in some place, then share the Gospel with those who are lost in this world. If you are offended by this please take it to God. Just ask Him straight up, have you anointed me to make disciples.. do you want me to tell the lost about why you came?” I can be certain He will not tell you “No do not make disciples” or “No do not tell the lost about what I have done for them!” He came to save the world through His death burial and resurrection. Now it is through the preaching of the death burial and resurrection, by His disciples that He continues to make disciples today. That is why He has told all His Saints GO….  You are the only You He has of You, So everywhere You Go You are His messenger where you are. If this is overwhelming and uncomfortable than welcome the Holy Spirit into that place and see what happens. He will comfort you and empower you to do what He anointed you to do….” the spirit of the Lord is upon me to preach the Gospel to the poor.” Know this, you can preach(share the good news) to the richest person in the world and know they are truly in complete poverty if they do not know Jesus personally. It is only in knowing Jesus that a person truly becomes rich. This is why Jesus said GO into all the nations.   

As I said I could go on for infinitum but this was point 3 of 5 concerning the “fivefold ministry” and how it relates to some who are selected by God to be inside the “church walls” to equip/prepare the Saints for the work of the ministry outside the “church walls.” The next point is 

4)    Pastor, this carries the idea of caring for a group of people. As noted earlier this can be at work or in many other ways. I believe one that is overlooked is in your family life. It can also be in home groups, sports groups, schools or any place where people gather. In doing this it opens up the opportunity to share the Gospel. One reason this is valid is because a pastor show care for others. Caring for others is the foundational heart behind the sharing of the Gospel that makes disciples. People won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.  When people are hurting they will come to you if you have been pastoring/caring for them. When people come in pain it is one of the most opportune times to lead them to the Savior Jesus. If the pain is physical then pastor them by praying for them and watch them get healed, then lead them to Jesus through the preaching/message of the Gospel. As I said before this is only a limited understanding of the possibilities. 

5)    Teacher, this has many notations to it but it is interesting that in Matthew 28:19 

“Go therefore and make disciples”, the original wording in the Greek can be “Go therefore and teach”. The reason why is, the word disciple means a 

“pupil”. What does a pupil do? They learn. How do pupils learn? The most common way is through a teacher. So what is Jesus telling His learners to do? Teach so others will learn and they will teach others so they will learn…. I think we get the point, multiplication. Thus we can see why the original states teach. Also remember the word repent means to “think differently” this is commonly done by and through teaching. Much of the time I have spent on the streets talking to people about Jesus has been teaching them truth where they have believed lies about God. I have experienced the joy of watching people get saved after dismantling a pile of lies about the Bible, God and who Jesus is and why He came. Jesus was called Rabbi which means Teacher and we are created in His likeness and image. One aspect of the word “believe” in the phrase “repent and believe in the Gospel” means “to think to be true, to be persuaded of. Teaching requires pupils to think, which is a key component to repentance. Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people (Matthew 4:23). This is another interesting point Jesus taught by example in the synagogues (Demonic deliverance Mark 1, healing Mark 3, healing Luke 13… etc.), as well as in intellectual knowledge and understanding (Matthew 13:54). This teaches us that as disciples/pupils we should also teach through both methods. 1 Corinthians 2:4,5 states: And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Jesus model of teaching and preaching came with the manifestation of power as also noted in Matthew 4:23. The power to Heal the sick, cleanse people of incurable disease, raise the dead and cast out demons as noted in Matthew 10:8. These manifestations of power are to be a normal part of everyday Christianity along with the preaching of the Gospel. They have been going on in parts of the world for thousands of years… and are coming to a city near you in America as you believe this. As noted before, all the power is to point to the ultimate power of God, of which all the Saints are not to be ashamed of, that is the Gospel which is the power of God unto Salvation. This is the revelation of God’s primary anointing and purpose for each of His Saints, in order that He can grow His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. 

In conclusion I believe if the Saints would just receive this revelation and apply the following points then God’s anointing would flow in this generation and His will would be done to a greater extent than we have ever seen. 

Every Child of God is called, anointed and commissioned as a Minister of the Gospel.

Every Child of God is called, anointed and commissioned as an official messenger that brings the Good News of Jesus love by and through His Death Burial and Resurrection and that He has paid the price of death to set every person free from sin and death through a relationship with Him. 

Every Child of God is called, anointed and commissioned to Make Disciples 

Every Child of God will find the greatest anointing and fulfillment by living out a lifestyle of doing the things above. 

My hope is that the Lord has given you the revelation of just how important you are to His plan to save the world. Since He has anointed you to do so and He has done the hard part it will not be heavy or difficult because His burden is light and it is Good News. His call to make disciples begins with you. You are His anointed messenger who brings the simple pure good news of the Gospel. Just open your mouth and He will fill it. May the Grace and Peace of our Lord be with you all as you walk in the revelation of His Anointing. Amen!

UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM IS AND IS NOT

Chapter 4

THE GOSPEL IS NOT THE KINGDOM 

Chapter 5

THE KINGDOM IS NOT THE GOSPEL 

The point of this teaching is not to teach what the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of heaven is. Nor is an attempt to discount or diminish its validity or importance in any way. It is to teach what the Gospel is and how it relates to the phrase “the Gospel of the Kingdom”. I find it really sad and completely absurd that most people that call themselves “Christians” (even the ones you meet in a church service or on the streets) cannot tell you what the Gospel is. Knowing that Jesus died from my sins, is only part of the Gospel. A lot of people do not even know that is a part of the Gospel. It is a vital part but it is not the complete Gospel. Part of my hope in this teaching is to clearly articulate what the Gospel is in order that each person that flies the banner of “I’m a Christian/believer/follower, etc….” Will not only know what the Gospel is, but will also be able to clearly teach others what it means and have the ability to lead others into a personal relationship with God through the simple complete Gospel. By the way, I will be repeating the simple Gospel since repetition is the mother of all learning, so please don’t think why do you keep saying the same thing over and over and…… I promise if you stick with it you will get it and many will be eternally grateful. 

Chapter 4

THE GOSPEL IS NOT THE KINGDOM

We must first look at what the Gospel is so we can understand how to enter the kingdom and operate in its authority. 

1 Corinthians 15:1-5

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.

THE SIMPLE PURE GOSPEL

JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS WAS BURIED AND ROSE AGAIN ON THE THIRD DAY

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.

ISA 61:1

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, 

Because the LORD has anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

Before explaining what “good tidings/Gospel” is I think it is important to understand what the word “liberty” meant, when Jesus said it.

The Greek word for liberty here is “Aphesis” and it means, “release from bondage or imprisonment forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty.”

Next let’s look at the word for “Good tidings” which is “Basar” in the Hebrew and its definition is as follows; “to bear news, bear tidings, publish, preach, show forth, to gladden with good news to announce (salvation) as good news, preach”

All the parts of the definition are actions of sharing information accept for show forth. Below we can see that information is part of the furtherance of the gospel. We can also see that there should also be the demonstration or “the showing forth” of power along with the words.

1 Thessalonians 1:5-7

For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.

In this case what is the context of the demonstration or the showing forth of power? Joy and assurance in the midst of much affliction. Which is one of the major themes of the book of first Thessalonians. Next Paul goes on to say “as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.” This points to his character of love for them “for your sake.” Next the results of the characteristics of love are noted, they became followers of them and the Lord, which is the ultimate results of the expression of love. Finally, joy in the midst of much affliction which is a really powerful thing. First on an individual basis but also as a witness to others so that others will become followers of the Lord also. 

THIS IS NOT TO DENY THE MANY OTHER TYPES OF POWER 

THAT COMES IN THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Let’s look at one place where Jesus tied the word power together with the word Kingdom.

Matthew 6:13

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

In the above passage the kingdom, the power and the glory all is related to deliverance from the evil one. I believe that there are two ways that God’s power applies to this. First in the Gospel of Salvation Second in the Gospel of the Kingdom. God uses the Second to lead to the First. The First is the Gospel of Salvation. Salvation means deliverance. The First is the individual initiation of Salvation from sin and death positionally starting from the revelation and acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior through His death burial and resurrection. This is what is known as a present tense, which means it starts at a specific time and then it is ongoing into and throughout all eternity. Second in freedom from the power of sin experientially now by those who have First entered into relationship with God through the Gospel. In addition to that experience the Second comes with entrance into the Kingdom of God. Once an individual enters the Kingdom of God they gain the power over the enemy to remain free and lead others into the First, the initiation of Salvation. The First was the ultimate purpose of Jesus power in coming to earth, the initiation of Salvation. The Second is the ultimate power and purpose of Christ on earth through His Church now, which leads back to the First in leading others into the First, the initiation of Salvation. This is how God grows His Kingdom on earth now. It is essential to understand that the primary purpose of the display of power in signs and wonders now on earth is used to promote the furtherance of the Gospel of Salvation, which is the initiation of Salvation that leads to the entrance of the Gospel of the Kingdom. It is true that Jesus did displayed the power of the Kingdom on earth to validate the Gospel. The display of the Gospel of the Kingdom is what God used to lead people into the Gospel of Salvation. In Matthew 9 Jesus makes it clear by putting the First thing First then by using the Second thing to point to the First thing. Remember the First thing is Salvation the Second thing is the power to stay free from sin and death and to lead others to the First thing Salvation.

Matthew 9:6-7

“But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house, and he arose and departed to his house. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

I do not think they got the point, I think they were looking at the power that they saw in Jesus as a man who healed the paralytic man the Second thing. What they missed was the word He spoke to the man… The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins the First thing. The fullness of the good news/ the Gospel, is Jesus had an even greater power than healing on earth. He had the ability to remove sin from mankind so that each person could enter into a relationship with God who is the Father to all who receive the forgiveness of sins through repentance and belief in the death Burial and resurrection of Jesus. One of the reasons Jesus said it is so imperative for each individual to repent and believe in the Gospel is because He said He was the only way to get to the Father. Most people would say that all people are children of God. Which sounds awesome to me, but God’s word makes it clear that is not true. This is not to say that everyone does not have the freedom to choose to repent and believe in the Gospel. God has dealt each one the measure of faith needed to accept the glorious good news of Jesus death burial and resurrection which makes way to the entrance into a relationship with God as their heavenly Father. Here is God’s words on the subject of who is a child of God and who is a child of the devil. 

John 1:12

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 8:44

For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

1 John 3:10 (after the redemption that came through the Gospel of Salvation)

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.*

Jesus displayed power over the effects of sin and the enemy, to lead all who would repent and believe in His death burial and resurrection into a relationship with Father God. He died for all mankind so that all can experience relationship with Father God. How sad that so many Christians do not understand that the powerful truth of Salvation through the good news of the death burial and resurrection is the only way in which others can enter into the love of the Father and eternal life with Him. Many people misunderstand the point of the display of God’s power in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Many make it about “their anointing.” This is why things are said like “wow you have such a powerful anointing for healing, prayer, prophecy….etc. ” or “he or she is so anointed.” Anointing is given to individuals by God. God makes it clear that they have received anointing from Him and are called to steward it. All that we have comes from Him, even our breath. When we shed our fleshly bodies all the gifts we have will no longer be our focus, rather our focus will be as it should be now… on the Gift Giver.

1 Corinthians 13:8-10

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will fail; where there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 

Some use the Holy Spirit power to prove to themselves and others “their” value by operating in authority and power. This makes them feel important and valuable to God. It is their misunderstanding, of the value God put on them through the Gospel, that drives them to try to prove that they are valuable to Him. How sad that they would believe that the power God has given them would validate them instead of God’s action of love in dying for them and rising from the dead. The Holy Spirit’s primary purpose in anointing believers with His power is to lead those who do not have Salvation to Jesus the author of Salvation. 

John 16:8 

“And when He/Holy Spirit has come (in the permanent indwelling of believers), He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”

Some people, even Christians, do not like the idea of the Holy Spirit convicting of sin, righteousness and judgment or that not everyone is a child of God. All I can say about the ones who do not like what God does or His judgments, is they are not God. They are not all wise all powerful...etc. If they were then we would all have to listen to them and their judgments. It is not my place to judge individual’s motives in their relationship with Holy Spirit and I am not saying that all who operate in the power of the Holy Spirit are doing so out of incorrect motives. I am not saying that God does not display His power towards those who have salvation as well. In fact, I know that God does so in many ways to build our trust in Him and display His love toward us. I believe the forgiveness of sin which leads to Salvation, leads to a loving relationship with the Father.  A loving relationship with the Father leads to entrance into the Kingdom. It all starts with Gods heart to bring all of humanity back to the original state they were created for. That all of humanity would live without sin and in be in fellowship with Him as it was in the Garden of Eden. Ever since the original sin God’s chief goal has been the reconciliation of all things as His first priority. 

John 5:17

"My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."

Galatians 4:4

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons

Ephesians 1:9,10

having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, in the dispensation of the fullness of the time He would gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:19

That God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 

I say this because God as a loving Father desires all to be saved.

1 Timothy 2:4

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 

He wants all to truly know Him and all to be known by Him personally as Jesus said 

Matthew 7:22-23

"Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!

John 17:3

"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

The word knew “ginōskō” is the same word as know in John 17:3. Ginōskō indicates a relationship between the person "knowing" and the person known; in this respect, who is "known" is of value or importance to the one who knows, and hence the establishment of a relationship. The power of God is not proof of salvation as noted in Matthew 7:22-23. It is the love that we show to others that comes from knowing Him that is the proof of salvation as noted in 1 john 3:10. Even though a miraculous healing took place in Matthew 9:6-7 the focus from Jesus point of view was “your sins are forgiven”. Jesus did the miraculous healing to prove that He had the power to forgive sins. That is the first point of the Gospel, Christ died for our sins as noted in 1 Corinthians 15:3. This is the message that was announced to Joseph by the angel of the Lord which defined Jesus mission on earth before He was even born. 

 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:21

In the name Jesus in Strong’s Greek dictionary is defined as “Jehovah is salvation.” Today most commonly the translation of the English name Jesus is Joshua and its meaning is Jehoshua = "Jehovah is salvation." The Hebrew word Jehovah means "the existing One" and is commonly known as “the proper name of the one true God”. All that was stated to explain what Jesus name means which is “God Who is Salvation” The first use of the word salvation is in… 

 “I have waited for your salvation, O LORD!

Genesis 49:18 

The word for salvation in the Hebrew is yĕshuw`ah and its meaning is salvation or deliverance. A Jewish person that believes that Jesus is the Messiah is called a messianic Jew. They believe that Jesus is the anointed one that came from God and has given them Salvation. This is why they call Jesus by the name Yeshuwah. 

John 4:42

Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.

Savior means deliverer. How did Jesus save us from our sins?

John 1:29

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

How did Jesus take away the sins of the world? 

Ephesians 1:7

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

Apolutrosis is the Greek word for redemption it is also translated "deliverance;" usually the release is effected by the payment of a ransom, or the required price for forgiveness and justification, "redemption" as the result of expiation (the act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing; atonement), deliverance from the guilt of sins. Reparation means the making of amends for a wrong one has done, by paying money to or otherwise helping those who have been wronged. “Wrongs one has done” is mentioned twice in the Strong’s Greek definition of sin. 

The forgiveness of sin is an essential for redemption to occur. Forgiveness of sin is the requirement for deliverance and salvation to take place. This topic is replete throughout the word of God. There is so much more that could be stated concerning it. The only reason that I have covered this is because there are people today who share the Gospel and do so in a way that leaves out any mention of sin or forgiveness of sin. I understand some of the reasons why they do so. I believe one reason is because there are other people that share the gospel with the main focus of getting people to admit that they are guilty of sin. Unfortunately, in doing so they never get around to the goodness of God that leads people to repentance. Another reason is because there are those that take it even a step further by preaching hell fire only. These people are only preaching the bad news part of the good news. The focus on sin, death and torment for those that do not receive the good news only results in leading people deeper into condemnation and further away from desiring to have a relationship with God. Remember knowing God and having a relationship with Him is the proof of Salvation. Not saying a prayer, not going to church, not operating in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said He did not come to condemn the world, but He came to save the world (John 3:17). Preaching a gospel without any mention of the mission of Jesus to take away sin is not a complete gospel, therefore it is not truly good news. Without the understanding of Jesus taking away an individual’s sin it leaves a person without the understanding that Jesus freed them from sin and its power, death. So what do you do? You can’t just throw out the baby Jesus with the dirty bath water of preaching an incomplete gospel or one that leads only to condemnation and hell. How can we preach the true Gospel in a way that is complete and not focused on sin as the primary part of the message? Well let’s look at the word gospel. 

GREEK Gospel Etymology

From (euángelos, “bringing good news”), from (eu-, “good”) +‎ (ángelos, “messenger”) news; information. GOOD MESSAGE, good news, Glad Tidings  

We can see from the definition the key to the Gospel is Good News or a Good message. Since this is the case and it is the goodness of God that leads people to repentance which means to think differently or change your mind. We are to share a message that is good news to the hearer in order that they would think differently or change their minds concerning the way they think about God. There are many ways to introduce the Gospel. The most important thing is starting out with the heart of the Gospel which is love. Remember God so loved the world… God is Love. 

Faith works through love. 

Faith comes by hearing and true hearing comes through the means of reasoning or deeply considering the Words that God speaks. 

(d) "the receiving of a message, than the mere sense of "hearing"

After starting out with your heart in a posture of love you have to open your mouth and start using your words by talking. You can talk about any topic to start. It is best to ask God, what He would like to communicate to the person who you are approaching. If you do not hear God say anything specific, one thing that works for sure is, you just say something nice to them or say “hey can I ask you a question? I have many different questions I like to ask people. I like to ask them about something they are wearing like a tee shirt that states something or how their day is going. Sometimes I like to ask God what is the anointed question. It all starts with love towards them and a focus on them. 

1)    Do you have any idea of how truly amazing and loved you are? 

2)    After new year’s I like to ask Why is it 20.. what happened 20.. what makes it 20..

3)    At Christmas; why do we celebrate Christmas, what is meaning of Christmas to you?

4)    At Easter; do you celebrate Easter or so what do you think Easter is all about?

5)    Who do you think is the most powerful person that has ever lived and why

6)    Where do you think you will spend all eternity? 

7)    Do you have eternal life?

8)    Is there anything I can pray for you about or do you have any pain in your body? 

9)    Has anyone told you today how much Jesus loves you?

10) Have you heard the Good News?

If you are going to bring the message of the good news of the Gospel to someone, you should start with good news which takes away fear, rather than starting with bad news that creates fear. 

Luke 2:10

Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Good Tidings means to proclaim a good message, to instruct (men) concerning the things that pertain to Christian salvation. So how do you take away fear rather than create it? Start by talking about the good news which is that Jesus loves them so much He died to remove sin and death from them. When you bring the message of the good news of the Gospel to someone explain the resurrection to them. This is really, way more simple then you may think. The explanation of the resurrection will be fully explained in chapter two. It is the Gospel of Christ and the Gospel of Salvation by which individuals are brought into the Gospel of the Kingdom. Again this does not negate that God uses the works and the message of the Kingdom to lead individuals into the Gospel of Christ and the Gospel of Salvation. Remembering God’s perspective concerning the Gospel of Christ and Salvation will give you confidence in sharing it. Confidence is powerful! It is the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something.  Confidence is one of the foundations of faith. When you have a deep relationship with God you are confident in Who He is and who He has made you to be. If a thought, comes into your mind that opposes confidence in God or yourself it is not from God. Do not accept it as your own, throw it out just like you would any other trash that is not useful. Keep yourself in the Love of God which has no fear or shame. Agree with what He says and you will be confident in sharing His message of freedom. You will also not be ashamed to share the Gospel of Salvation and Christ. 

Rom 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes

Eph 1:13

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise

Romans 15:18,19

I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ. 

Mighty signs and wonders by the power of the Spirit of God is the display of the Kingdom of God. This leads us to chapter two the Gospel of the Kingdom and the power of the resurrection which is the “check mate” of the Gospel of Salvation. 

Chapter 5

JESUS PREACHED THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION 

Before I start this chapter I want to let you know that I will be repeating the phrase Gospel of Salvation and Gospel of the Kingdom many times. There are many reasons for repetition. One is repetition helps to learn and unlearn. At some point hearing the same thing over and over may seem pointless, but I promise if you will go through the process the results will enrich you in ways that cannot be accomplished apart from staying engaged on the journey. I will also be stating the components of salvation 1) Death 2) burial 3) Resurrection. The reason for doing this is because those three components are and have always been the core foundation of all Christianity and salvation. I really hope that every time it is mentioned you rejoice in the Joy of your Salvation. If not, I would like to invite you to take a moment and ask the Father, the Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit individually as to what each one of their hearts is concerning: the Gospel of Salvation, the three components of death burial and resurrection and finally the saving of souls. Jesus preached the Gospel of Salvation as well as the Gospel of the Kingdom. I have been reading the bible for years and I never saw what was hidden in plain sight until I started writing this book. After I discovered the first place where Jesus taught the Gospel of Salvation while He was alive on earth, I very quickly recognized that I have been missing the clear preaching of Jesus about the Gospel of Salvation in many other places in the Bible. According to 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 we are saved by believing in the Gospel of Salvation by Jesus death for sins, burial, and resurrection. Please note I did not write the following passage God did through the apostle Paul who was used to write a large part of the New testament and more epistles (letters) in the New testament than any other of all of the writers. 

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.  But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 

Galatians 1:6-9

Galatians 1:8 uses the word “accursed” twice. The Strong’s Greek definition for accursed has many components including: a person or thing doomed to destruction, cursed and a man devoted to the direst of woes. This is very strong language here to all concerning the preaching of the Gospel. Paul states there are some that want to pervert the gospel by preaching a different gospel with is not good news. Paul wants everyone to know that there is no other Gospel/good news other than the one that was preached to them before. So, what was the Gospel that Paul preached before? The Gospel that Paul preached before is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 which is: Jesus died for our sin, and was buried and rose from the dead (resurrection) by which we are saved. In addition, Romans 1:16 makes clear that the Gospel is the power of God to Salvation for everyone who believes. Let us look at Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words states about the word Gospel. 

In the NT it denotes the "good tidings/news" of the Kingdom of God and of salvation through Christ, to be received by faith, on the basis of His expiatory death, His burial, resurrection, and ascension. 

Some will say there it is the good news of Kingdom of God is what should be preached! Ok, but as always please do not leave out the rest of the sentence “and salvation through Christ to be received by faith, on the basis of His expiatory death, His burial, resurrection, and ascension. If Vine’s Expository Dictionary and Jesus and the new testament does not leave out the preaching of salvation through the death burial and resurrection, then why should we as representatives of Christ and His Kingdom? In the definition by Vine’s for the word Gospel what is the “basis” of preaching the good tidings/news of the Kingdom? It is Salvation by Christ expiatory death, His burial, resurrection. From this understanding all preaching should have the “basis’ of Salvation as a means to preach the Kingdom of God. To help understand the definition of Gospel a look at the word “expiatory” in Vine’s will again point us to Salvation instead of Kingdom as the base of preaching. Expiatory means the following: Having power to atone for, offered by way of the act of the making amends for a wrong one has done, for guilt or wrongdoing; atonement or propitiation. In the definition there are some powerful words used. One is atonement which Vine’s states the following: The corresponding NT words are hilasmos, "propitiation," 1John 2:2; 4:10, and hilasterion, Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:5, "mercy-seat," the covering of the ark of the covenant. These describe the means (in and through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, in His death on the Cross by the shedding of His blood in His vicarious sacrifice for sin) by which God shows mercy to sinners. The aspects of the definition all point to Salvation not to Kingdom living. Kingdom preaching and manifestation is done in order to let people know what is available to them once they receive salvation. Let me make myself clear I am all for preaching and displaying the Gospel of the Kingdom as long as it is joined to the Gospel of Salvation as noted by Jesus, Vine’s and the entirety of Christian history. If there is no preaching of Salvation, then the good news of the Kingdom can not be seen (perceived, fully known, understood) or entered into as is noted by Jesus in John chapter three. 

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:3 

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

John 3:5 

“Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.

John 3:7  

Being born again of the Spirit according to all of the new testament teachings happens by and through the Gospel of Salvation as Jesus will explain using an example from the Old Testament. In John chapter three we understand no one can see or enter the Gospel of the Kingdom apart from being born again which happens through the Gospel of Salvation. I find it fascinating that the old testament scriptures in many places were used to preach the Gospel of Salvation (being born again of the Spirit). One of the first places Jesus used the old testament to do this is noted in John Chapter three. This means the context of the importance of being born again of the Spirit in order to see and enter the Kingdom of God is preached through an old testament scripture.

John 3:14-15

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

The serpent lifted up is referring to the crucifixion of Jesus (died for sins). In addition, when you add in the context of John 3:3-8 it refers to believing in what Jesus accomplished on the cross. What was accomplished on the cross was the payment of the penalty of death for sin. When a person believes that the payment for their death was paid on the cross then people can be born again spiritually (raised to new life/resurrection power Romans 6:1-4). At that point they gain eternal life which comes by knowing Jesus and the power of His resurrection (John 17:3, Philippians 3:10). This provides entrance into spiritual life in the realm of the Kingdom of God.

Another place that Jesus preached the Gospel of Salvation by referring to the Old testament is in Matthew twelve. There Jesus is connecting the Gospel of Salvation from the book of Jonah 1:17 to Himself. 

 “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

 Matthew 12:40 

One thought to consider here is every Jew knew the story of Jonah. The first thing they knew was that Jonah ended up in the great fish because of his sin. The Gospel of Salvation starts with Jesus died for our sin just like Jonah died for his sin. Most Jews believed that a person was officially dead after three days. Christ was in the tomb for three days and nights just like Jonah. They also knew that Jonah was consumed by the great fish. Jews considered the grave as something that consumed a person after they died. In the center of the Gospel of Salvation Christ was consumed in the tomb just like Jonah. Finally, they also knew that though Jonah should have remained dead for his sin he came back from the dead to life (resurrection life) by God’s grace. Why did God bring Jonah back to life? Because God had a plan for Jonah to preach repentance towards God so that people would not be destroyed.  Welcome to the Gospel of Salvation being preached by Jesus through the old testament in the new testament while He was on earth. 

God loves to repeat Himself because repetition is a core foundation for learning. In looking over the new testament with an eye for the topic of the Gospel of salvation it is clear that Jesus spoke of it in repetition as was noted above and as noted in other places such as Matthew Sixteen.

From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 

Matthew 16:21

In Matthew 16:21 the verse starts with the phrase “from that time”. This begs the question from what time? It is really easy to figure out “from what time” just by looking at what happened right before that time. What happened just before was Jesus asked His disciples this question. 

He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?

Here is a little bonus material the word salvation in Hebrew is the word yesh·ü'·ä יְשׁוּעָה which is the Hebrew word that means deliverance but it also is commonly used as one of the Names of Jesus as He is the Christ/deliverer. In the new testament most will say the Jesus name means God is Salvation or the God of Salvation based upon Matthew 1:21 you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” In ancient Hebrew each letter has many characteristics including a symbol which has a variety of meanings and a numeric value.  The Hebrew letters that are used in the word salvation are:

Yod = Arm or Hand, power, work deed.

Shin = Teeth, consume to destroy or provide, resurrection, to become one with. 

Vav = Nail or Peg to add.

Ayin = Eye, to see and experience.

Hay = Behold, to look at or observe intently.

In understanding Hebrew words there is a printable called the central axis. The idea is when you look at a word you are to look at the letters in the middle of the word first then go to the letters that are around them to begin understanding the meaning of the word. When you apply the central axis to the letters of the word you can formulate a sentence that will help you to come to a deeper understanding of the word. Here is what I came up with as I used these principles that I was taught by a friend of mine that spent ten years of study to receive a doctorate degree in Hebrew letters.

(Ayin) Open your Eyes and See and Experience the one who did the (Yod) powerful work by his Hand being (Vav) Nailed and pegged to the cross where He (Shin) consumed and destroyed death! That is where we became one with Him as He provided resurrection life for us so we (Hay) Behold and look at and observe intently at the one who is our = salvation. Hopefully that blessed you has much as it did me, now back to Jesus preaching the Gospel of Salvation in the new testament using the words Gates and Hades. 

As;ldkfjas;ldkfja;sldkfja;sldkfja;sldkfja;sldkfja;sldNEED TO PUT SCRIPTURE IN HERE 

Gates were also the place where the elders would meet and deliberate matters of the city. These matters would be determined by the elders observing the law of the Lord in Jewish cities. In some cases, death was required for those that were guilty of a capital offence. In addition, “Gates” where used to keep enemies out of a city. In ancient times enemies that would get past the gates of a city would take the city captive or kill the inhabitance in order to take over the city. Here is another little bonus the Hebrew letter Ayin has the ancient symbol of an eye and it has to do with the idea of the eye is a gate that allows things to come inside. The letter Ayin is the central axis (or core meaning) for the word gates in the old testament word sha`ar. As usual when it comes to Hebrew ways of thinking there are many different ways of looking at a word. With the idea of progressive or manifold meanings (one thought leads to another) in this case the word gates has to do with the entry to death which leads us to the next word. Jesus said the gates of “Hades” shall not prevail against Jesus church. Here Jesus used the word hades but It corresponds to the Hebrew word sheol in which Jews believed to be the residence where dead souls lived. This is all to say that Jesus was talking about the gate or pathway to death in His statement. 

In addition at the time that Jesus lived on earth according to Frank K. Flinn, Ph.D., professor of religious studies at Washington University “Only Roman authorities could authorize crucifixions and they often did so on a gruesome, massive scale.” Jesus said “and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it”. I believe that Peter was thinking the rule of the cruel Romans that would put Jews to death was going to end when Peter heard Jesus say “and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it”. 

The interesting thing is Jesus did not say that at all. What He did say is “on this rock I will build my church”. I believe Jesus was thinking there is a big difference between knocking Rome down and building up His church. Peter had a very different understanding of the mission of the “Christ” in comparison to that of the entire God head (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). 

So what did Jesus mean when He said “on this rock I will build my church”. What Jesus was saying is the thing that is a rock solid foundation is that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God. Jews believed that the Christ would be the Son of God as is noted in Matthew twenty-six. 

And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”

Mat 26:63

On the understanding that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God He will build His church. This all leads up to the question if Jesus did not come as the deliver His people from the Romans then what did He come to deliver people from? Now we get back to the Gospel of Salvation. 

Jesus came do exactly what His name means as is noted in Matthew 1

…you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.

Matthew 1:21

This is why His cousin John the Baptist made the following statement.

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 

John 1:29

Jesus goes on to say that He is going to give out the keys of the kingdom of heaven. At this point we must refer back to John 3:3,5 where Jesus said that you can not see or enter the kingdom unless you are born again of the Spirit. Why? Because Jesus as the Christ came to conquer spiritual death first as His primary mission. The reason for conquering spiritual death first is so people can enter His kingdom of and spiritual life.  Jesus is saying the pathway to death will not overpower His Church because He is creating a new pathway to life through His death burial and resurrection. The next part of King Jesus plan is to expand His kingdom by and through the preaching of the Gospel of Salvation and Kingdom of God. There is power in the preaching and display of the benefits of admission into His Kingdom. This may offend some saints but the Kingdom of God/Heaven is just like Disney land better know as the “Magic Kingdom” in one way, to get in someone has to pay admission. Praise be to our God and Savior King Jesus Who paid the price for all to enter the kingdom of God. The sad fact is some have never heard that He paid for there admission. Some people are busy showing people and telling people all about the kingdom but never tell them about the one who paid for their admission. They never let them know that just by knowing Him they can gain access into His kingdom. This is why we are to be prepared at all time to share how much the King Jesus cares for them and to what extent He went to prove His love for them. 

The way Jesus has chosen to add members into His Kingdom is through the preaching of the Gospel of Salvation by those that have over come spiritual death through Him. Jesus commissioned those that experienced His death burial and resurrection to spread the message of salvation and His Kingdom by the preaching of the Gospel of Salvation and Gospel of the Kingdom. Both the preaching the Gospel of Salvation and displaying the activities of the Gospel of the Kingdom are valid means by which God has chosen to use to bring people into an understanding of His love for them. His first goal is that they will enter into a relationship with Him this is why Jesus preached the Gospel of salvation and Kingdom as we see in Mark 11.

“The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Matthew 11:5

John the Baptist was asking Jesus if He was the Christ. Jesus pointed to the activities of the kingdom to validate His role as the Christ. So Jesus pointed to the activities of the Kingdom to validate Himself as the Christ. At the same time, we must finish reading the sentence as Jesus states the importance of what He said as He displayed the activities of the kingdom…. “and the poor have the Gospel preached to them”. While Jesus was displaying the activities of the kingdom the Gospel He said the He was preaching the Gospel.  

I am all for the display of the activities of the kingdom of God/Heaven in signs and wonders on earth as the Gospel of Salvation is being preached. I pray daily “Your kingdom Today must come now (in the Greek verb tense) on earth as it is in Heaven. With this prayer I also must be mindful of the counsel of God in the words of Christ concerning signs and wonders.  

“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 

Matthew 24:24

Jesus said “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.

Matthew 16:4

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Matthew 7:21-23

This is why I do not put my faith in signs and wonders. I put my faith in The Simple Gospel of Salvation. Because I do put my faith in the Simple Gospel of Salvation I seek to do what the King of the Gospel of the Kingdom has told me to do. He has told me to do the works of the Kingdom in order that people will come to know His love and want to enter into a relationship with Him through the Gospel of Salvation. I believe the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus preached was that a person can enter into the Kingdom of God through His Death Burial and Resurrection. This is what He taught to Nicodemus and His disciples who would be responsible for carrying on the means by which He would grow His Kingdom through individuals being born again through the Gospel of Salvation. Here is another example of Jesus articulating the Gospel that He preached concerning point two of the Gospel of Salvation which is “burial”. 

 “For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

Matthew 26:12-13, Mark 14:9 

Note in His statement “I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world…” He did not mention the Gospel of the Kingdom or Salvation but He did reference His burial. His burial is in context to the Gospel that was going to be preached as noted in 1 Corinthians 15, Galatians 1, Romans 1.  This ties the Gospel of Salvation to the Gospel of Jesus who would save His people from there sins (Matthew 1:21). Next the phrase “the Gospel of Jesus Christ” is used in the first chapter of Mark. 

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 

In Mark 1:1

Mark chapter one also does not say the Gospel of the kingdom. It does say the Gospel of Jesus and as I have noted in first Corinthians 15 the Gospel is tided to salvation through Jesus who is the Christ. Next Jesus goes on to say the following in Mark chapter one.

 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” 

Mark 1:15

Jesus is saying we have arrived at the full time with reference to things that are imminent (about to happen) which is God is going to bring people near and to join/unify/unite humanity to Himself. The way He is going to do this is by inviting people to change the way they think about who God is and His love for them. One of the key things that people are invited to change their thinking about God is in understanding of what extent He went to prove His love for them through the death burial and resurrection of His Son. Once people change the way they think about God then they will trust in His power to deliver them from sin and death by and through the Gospel of Salvation. The good news is His death was to destroy our death and sickness (Isiah 53… By His stripes you are healed). His burial in which He buried death once for all (Romans 6… For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all). His resurrection in which He has proven His power over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15… raised incorruptible, Death is swallowed up in victory, Romans 6:4 that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life, Romans 6:9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him). Praise be to God according to the book of Ephesians over fifty times it tells us we are in Him! So all of this applies to us who were crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20) buried with Christ (Romans 6:4) and raised with Christ (Colossians 3:1).

All three aspects of the Gospel of Salvation have specific purposes in the life of His children. His death was to kill sin in your life now as well as for all eternity (Romans 6:10,11,14,18,20 pass tense, 22). His burial was to leave your death and sin in the grave (Romans 3:23, 6:1-4a, Colossians 2:12). His resurrection power to raise you to spiritual and eternal life now (romans 6:4b, John 17:3) as well as through out all eternity. Remember earthly death is only a change of address so we have eternal life the moment we come to know Jesus as our Lord and savior. 

Next Mark goes on to talk about the importance and priority of order concerning preaching by using the phrase “Gospel must first be preached’. 

 “And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations’.

In Mark 13:10

This is another place we see the importance of speaking/preaching the Gospel. Here preach means to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel). The term “a public crier” is a person employed to make public announcements in the streets or marketplace of a town. Jesus is relentless in the message of the Gospel of Salvation being preached as we see again in Mark 16.

Jesus said to the disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 

Mark 16:15

I know the next verses in Mark 16 goes on to talk about the works of the Kingdom. Again, I fully agree that the works of the Gospel of the Kingdom are one of the two tracks that the Gospel train runs on. At the same time please note here Jesus talked first about the preaching of the Gospel (in this case I 100% believe is the preaching of the Gospel of Salvation) then He talked about the works of the Kingdom. This is to say please keep in order of importance what is on Gods heart. 

The Number one order of importance of God is for people to come to know Him as their Lord and savior through the preaching of the Gospel of Salvation.

Next the works of the Kingdom are to be the natural results that lead into a supernatural lifestyle for those that have believed and received the Gospel of Salvation. The supernatural activities of the Gospel of the Kingdom are designed to lead people into an encounter with God which leads them to a relationship with the King of the Kingdom. Though the manifestations of supernatural activities can proceed the preaching of the Gospel of Salvation they are not a requirement to preaching of the Gospel. Lets not limit God by putting Him in a box that you have to perform a sign or wonder for God to save a soul. The following statement is powerful and effective in and of its self even if there is not Kingdom manifestation when it is presented.   

The Gospel is the power of God to salvation 

Romans 1:16

I can not tell you how many times I have walked up to someone (or a group of people) and simply shared the Gospel of salvation and with out any signs of the Gospel of the Kingdom. I have personally experienced people who have believed and received Jesus has their Lord and savior. As a result of their salvation they experience and enter into the Gospel of the Kingdom. The effects of the Gospel of Salvation instantly and with out fail are the experience of the Gospel of the Kingdom. They always experience peace, love and joy on the spot as a fruit of salvation and entrance into the Kingdom. At the same time, I have never once had anyone receive Jesus as Lord and savior and not instantly be impacted by the effects of the Gospel of the Kingdom. 

Next we see in Matthew 26 more preaching and teaching by Jesus about the importance of the last third of the Gospel of Salvation, the resurrection. 

Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 

‘​I will strike the Shepherd, 

And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

​But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” 

Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.

Matthew 26:32-35

At this point it is clear that Peter and the other disciples did not have a clue as to what Jesus was talking about concerning the phrase “I will strike the Shepherd”. The old testament reference was alluding to His death out of Zechariah 13:7. The next part of the passage states “And the sheep of the flock will be scattered”. Which is exactly prophetically what happened. All the disciples/sheep of the good Shepard where scattered when they struck Jesus with the scourging. The wonderful thing is Jesus understood their weakness and still loved them to the end. Why? Because Jesus knew resurrection Sunday was coming soon. 

You have to love Peter’s heart in that he was first to proclaim his devotion to Jesus in that he was determined not to stumble. Most are quick to pick on Peter here for speaking up in his proclamation of devotion. As always we need to keep reading to get the whole truth before isolating Peter as the only one that was quick in his proclamation of devotion to Jesus. As we do we see that Peter was not the only one who made such a bold statement as we read the last part of the verse “And so said all the disciples”. 

Jesus knew that each of them would stumble when He stated “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night”. How did Jesus know this? Because Jesus the Word of God in flesh knew the Word of God in print. In this we can see the importance of knowing the scriptures. I believe one of the key foundations to accurate prophetic is knowing Jesus the Word of God in print (the Bible) as well as knowing Him relationally. It is so comforting to know that He knew each of the disciples would stumble. Jesus at the same time knew the power of the resurrection. Jesus knew that once He died for their sins and was buried and rose from the dead that all those that stumbled would become powerful witnesses of His resurrection.   

In Luke 9 we read Jesus speaking of the Gospel of Salvation

saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

Luke 9:26

Again in less than 20 verses Jesus repeats Himself and puts more emphasis on the fact of His betrayal which will lead to His death burial and resurrection. 

“Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”

Luke 9:44

Luke makes it clear that even though Jesus did all He could to get the disciples to understand what He was getting ready to accomplish in His death, burial and resurrection they did not get it.

But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.

Luke 9:45

Here we see the lack of understanding brings fear, keeps things hidden from us and stops our ability to become aware of what God is going to do.  I have seen in my own life this same truth. Often God is telling me something He wants to do or telling me what He is getting ready to do, but because I have my agenda in mind I can not hear His. This is so true in regards to the truth that Jesus was trying to convey to the disciples concerning the Gospel of Salvation. The number one reason that I am not always sharing the Gospel of Salvation is because I am thinking about my agenda. What I think God should be doing or what I have to do to accomplish my will. The really sad thing is that only leads to endless empty adventures of unfulfilled desires. This is not to say that I never accomplish the desires I set forth to accomplish. The reason why they end up being empty is because when I set forth to accomplish any desire that is not based in the faith of “Your will be done Father, instead of mine” then it can never be fulfilling. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for God the Fathers sake will find it. The points of greatest Joy in life are when I experience Gods will being done on earth. Seeing the sick get healed, the broken hearted feel love, giving a meal to a homeless person and sitting with them listening to their story, the lost being saved and encountering the love of God, spending time with God in the secret place fellowshipping with Him in His word and worshiping Him. 

Jesus made the following statements: 

“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

John 5:30

Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.

John 8:28

And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

Mark 14:36 

In John 8:28 and Mark 14:36 both verses are in regards to the Gospel of Salvation. The phrase “lift up the Son of Man” points to when Jesus was lifted up on to the cross during His crucifixion. The phrase “take this cup” refers to many passages in the old testament. The following passages in Isaiah 51 speak to what the cup is and how God will take it away from His people and put it back into the hand of the one that afflict His people. 

Awake, awake! Stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk at the hand of the LORD

​​“The cup of His fury”; You have drunk the dregs of “the cup of trembling”, and drained it out. There is no one to guide her Among all the sons she has brought forth; Nor is there any who takes her by the hand Among all the sons she has brought up. ​These two things have come to you; Who will be sorry for you? — Desolation and destruction, famine and sword— By whom will I comfort you? ​​Your sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, like an antelope in a net; They are full of the fury of the LORD, The rebuke of your God.

​

​​Therefore please hear this, you afflicted, And drunk but not with wine. Thus says your Lord, The LORD and your God, who pleads the cause of His people: “See, I have taken out of your hand “The cup of trembling”, the dregs of “the cup of My fury”; You shall no longer drink it. But I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you, who have said to you, 

​‘​Lie down, that we may walk over you.’ And you have laid your body like the ground,

​And as the street, for those who walk over.”

Isaiah 51:17-23  

Wow there is so much to understand about “the cup” Jesus was asked the Father to take from Him. We know it was not the cup of the new covenant because He had just drunk that cup with His disciples at the last supper before going to the garden of Gethsemane. The cup that Jesus was refereeing to is what is know as the cup of suffering. There are many different names of this cup. Some of the names are: The cup of His fury, the cup of trembling, the cup of wrath and the cup of indignation. They all have to do with the idea of the punishment of and for the actions of not living in accordance with God’s plan for humanity (which is better know as sin). In Isaiah 51 the beginning of the chapter starts with God comforting His people and in the following verses He makes it clear as to what His ultimate comfort is.

Verse five 

“My righteousness is near My Salvation has gone forth” 

Verse six 

“The earth will grow old like a garment, and those who dwell in it will die in like manner; But My Salvation will be forever, and My righteousness will not be abolished.”  

Verse eight 

“But My righteousness will be forever, and My Salvation from generation to generation” 

Verse ten 

“That made the depths of the sea a road for the Redeemed to cross over”

Gods plan is and has always been for all of humanity to live in complete unhindered fellowship with Him at all times. Once there was the introduction of separation God introduced His plan to remove all that got in the way of His original plan of continuous fellowship with His Children. The plan was to destroy the one that came to rob kill and destroy His children and the fellowship He had with them. He also set forth the plan that was established from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8) in and through His prophetic word.

And I will put enmity

Between you and the woman,

And between your seed and her Seed;

He shall bruise your head,

And you shall bruise His heel."

Genesis 3:15

The following verse is packed with so much that an entire book could be written on it so I will try to give the readers digest version here. The enmity is between Gods enemy and Eve who is the woman that God is talking to. Now let us consider the implication of what that means in context to the following verse. 

And Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.

Genesis 3:20

This means that when God said that there would be enmity (hostility/ hatred) between serpent and Eve it means that she in essence propitiate the entire human race as the mother of all living and therefore the hostility and hatred would be between the serpent and every living human being. BUT GOD… also said that 

He shall bruise your head,

And you shall bruise His heel

Genesis 3:15b 

He shall bruise you head is a powerful statement in that in the Hebrew the word bruise is the word is Shuwph and it is to crush and its letters are שׁוּף which are Shin, Resh and Peh. The meaning of the letters are as follows shin to consume and destroy, Resh The Head pre-emanate on, Peh the mouth or words spoken.  If we apply the principle of the central axis the meaning will be the Pre-emanate one will crush consume and destroy by the words of His mouth. I believe this is the meaning of the following verse 

For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, in order that He would destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3:8b

But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.”

Mat 20:22 

The cup is the cup of Gods judgment which Jesus drank on behalf of all Humanity. It is symbolic of His death for the sins of the world, so it to points to the Gospel of Salvation for Jesus death lead to His burial which lead to His resurrection. 

Ezekiel 23:33 You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, 

The cup of horror and desolation.

Habakkuk 2:16 

The cup of the LORD’S right hand will be turned against you

And utter shame will be on your glory. 

The utter shame of drinking the cup of horror and desolation in Ezekiel 23 leads to God putting the shame we deserved upon His Son Jesus who came from glory and laid down His glory and His life in order that we can enter into His glory.  Christ in us the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).    

Next Jesus preaching the Gospel of Salvation after His death, burial and resurrection.

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Luke 24:25-27

Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.

Luke 24:44-48

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Likewise, He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.  

Luke 22:20 

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The giving of His life as a ransom is the foundation of redemption and Salvation. 

“just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Mat 20:28 

Right to the end Jesus is teaching Peter about the path of the Gospel of Salvation. 

So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

John 18:11

The two tract of the Gospel continue through out the book of acts 

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

Acts 2:22-24

One track being the display and testimony of the Kingdom of God lived out on earth buy the King Himself in verse 22 and it is right next to the preaching of the Gospel of Salvation in verses 23 and 24. In fact the Gospel of Salvation is preached throughout the rest of this chapter as well as in chapter three. 

Nest we see the witness of the resurrection which is the checkmate of the Gospel of Salvation. 

“beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.

Act 1:22 

In the book of acts here we see they preached Jesus and the resurrection. 

Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.

Act 17:18 

The theme continues with the full Gospel of Salvation. 

“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. “Him God has exalted Him to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 5:30-31

Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. This is the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom. Next is the preaching of the Gospel of salvation… whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly

The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all….“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. “And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

Act 10:36,38-43

More clear preaching of the Gospel of Salvation

And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead. He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus… Therefore, let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Acts 13:28-33,38-39 

Next we read of both tracks being spoken about.  

to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Act 1:3 

He presented Himself alive is point three of the Gospel of Salvation the resurrection. After His suffering points to point one of the Gospel of Salvation His death. Then is noted the speaking of the things pertaining to the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Over and over again we see both of the aspects of the Gospel train running on the two tracks of Salvation and Kingdom. 

Next Philip who is the only person noted in the entire word of God as “the evangelist” (Acts 21:8). Here he is preaching both tracks and baptizing.

But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

Act 8:12 

They believed as he preached two things the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus. In a Jewish mindset the Name has the idea of all that a person is. Jesus is the Christ who saves from sin and death by His death burial and resurrection. Phillip was preaching in the authority of what Jesus has accomplished on behalf of those that need salvation. 

Here as Paul reasoned and persuaded concerning the things of the Kingdom of God there was not much fruit but for years God used Paul to spread the seed of the word of the Lord. 

And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.  But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Acts 19:8-10

Paul testified to the Gospel of the Grace of God. Paul also wrote concerning the Grace of God:

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)

Ephesians 2:4-5

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more

Acts 20:24-25

Next we see Paul as he is imprisoned he faithfully keeps explaining and testifying of the kingdom of God even though he sees no repentance. Then in the last verse of chapter 28 we read.

Act 28:23 - So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.

Then in the last verse of chapter 28 we read 

preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

Act 28:31

Jesus kept preaching the Gospel of Salvation even while He was on the Cross. In Psalm 22 the death of the Christ is described. Jesus in the New Testament even quoted the first verse of Psalm 22 pointing to the way in which He would save humanity and become one with all who by faith believe in His atoning death.   

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

Psalm 22:1, Mathew 27:46, Mark 15:34

And the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders quoted Psalm 22 not knowing the work of Salvation He was accomplishing on their behalf. 

“He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him;

Let Him deliver Him

Psalm 22:8

 “He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’

Mat 27:43 

The soldiers fulfilled prophecy that Isaiah wrote of in Psalm 22

Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:

“They divided My garments among them,

And for My clothing they cast lots.”

Mat 27:35 - Psalm 22:18 

All through out the Psalm 22 there are prophetic quotes concerning the Death of the Jesus as the Christ. Here is another from verse 16. 

They pierced My hands and My feet

Psalm  22:16

Another thought to consider is at the beginning of the psalm this statement is made which I believe is made from the humanity part of Jesus as the God Man.  

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

Why are You so far from helping Me,

Later in verse 24 another statement is made from God the Fathers point of view 

“For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from Him;

But when He cried to Him, He heard.

I believe these two statements give us revelation into two perspectives. The first is Jesus in His humanity was crying out along with all of humanity the perspective of mankind because of the effects of sin that makes us all feel forsaken in our afflictions. The second is that of The Father Who Never despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted nor has He hidden His face from Jesus. In addition, The Father Heard His cry just as The Father Hears the cry of all those that call upon the name of the Lord Jesus to save and deliver them as seen in verse 20-21. 

Psalm 22 is focused on the death of the afflicted and from verse 22 on it declares the saving heart of God ending with this in verse 31 

They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born,

That He has done this.

Psalm 22:31 

I believe the people that will be born in verse 31 are all those that put their faith in Jesus death for their death. This lines up with the new testament understanding of the redeemed being in Christ. The point in which we enter into Christ is when we believe in His death for our death. We enter into Christ at the point of His death at the Cross. We remain alive in Him because by faith we have entered into His resurrection life. 

In Isaiah chapter fifty-two and fifty-three there is a vibrant description of Jesus suffering and the death of Christ. The sufferings of Christ points to the Gospel of salvation. This is not to say that the Gospel of the Kingdom is not included in Isaiah. When Isaiah wrote hundreds of years before Jesus laid down His life for our salvation he included the following phrase “by His stripes we are healed’. In that phrase we have the availability to step into an old testament understanding of the Gospel of the Kingdom while it is surrounded by the Gospel of Salvation. Jesus broken body made a way for our bodies to be made whole. Jesus death made the way for us to receive life. He became poor that through His poverty we have been made rich. Both tracks of the Gospel train run right through the book of Isaiah chapters 52-53 as well as in many other places in the book of Isaiah. All pointing to the Gospel of Salvation and entrance into the Gospel of the Kingdom. 

In all of this if we come to a mature understanding about what I have called the two tract in actuality were never meant to be a two tract train it is and always was a monorail. The word Gospel is based the good news of deliverance from sin and death and its effects. Deliverance all happens by and through Jesus death, burial and resurrection. Deliverance is not just from demons that possess and oppress people. Deliverance in its eternal state is being set free from sin and death and its effects. That is the Gospel of deliverance both eternal and temporal. Jesus said 

When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

Jesus corrected those He sent out when they got focused on the works of the Kingdom over Salvation. This is not to say that Jesus was apposed to the works of the Kingdom after all He was the one that sent them out with the authority to do the works of the Kingdom. At the same time Jesus is the living example of the radical middle. He lived in the eternal reality throughout His temporal time on earth. Only doing in time what He say His Eternal Father doing.  All God all man all eternal and all mortal. When He said the following statement He wanted to make sure all would stay the mono rail of the Gospel by keeping the train focused on the destination which is the eternal relationship that is available to all those who come to the Father through His death burial and resurrection.  

 “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Luke 10:19-20

The soul that knows the one who set them free is the soul that goes about life with a view of eternity. Doing the works of the Kingdom which do tell of the one who gave His life to save those of faith from the debts of Hell. 

Chapter 6

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM IS NOT THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION

The phrase “the Gospel of the kingdom” is used 4 times in the entire Bible. The mention of the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom is used two times and both include Teaching and one time with repent and believe. The other two times with healing but in both cases with the precursor of teaching and preaching including afterward the phrase “and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.”

Matthew 4:23 (also found in Matthew 9:35)

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

Matthew 24:14 (the topic is the Gospel as a precursor to eschatology which means the study of end time events) 

And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

In the last case Jesus adds to His preaching repent and believe in the gospel 

Mark 1:14-15

Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, 

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Mark 1:14-15 Context is not miracles or healing but preaching, a call to repentance and believing in the Gospel. The term kingdom of God is used 90 times and kingdom of heaven is used 40 times. Which leads us into the meaning of the word “kingdom” in context to the gospel, but not an exhaustive look at the individual meanings of the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven.

Basileia is the Greek word for Kingdom and it means 

Royal power, kingship, dominion, rule, and is not to be confused with an actual kingdom/real estate, but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom. Plainly a kingdom, is the territory that is subject to the rule of a king.

This lead us to the next question, how do you see and get into the kingdom of God?

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."  "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

John 3

To get into the kingdom of God you must be born again! How do you get born again? We are born again by adoption because we are not divinity, but as a result of our adoption we are given the rights of the kingdom as co heirs with Christ. Adoption takes place once we repent and believe in the Gospel. 

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

Mark 1:14-15

So what does it mean to repent? The word repent is used about twenty-three times in the new testament. As noted before the Greek word for repent is metanoeō and it means to change one's mind. It is a compound of two words

Meta which means after.

Noeō to perceive with the mind, to understand, to have understanding 

it comes from the root word which is mind or think, judge.

What does it mean to believe?

The Greek word for Believe is Pisteuō

To think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in. 

So what is the preaching and teaching of the good news of the kingdom to inspire? A change of mind in which you think and are persuaded to confidence in Jesus death burial and resurrection. Note I did not say just death for your sins. I added Jesus burial and His resurrection. Why? Because the apostle Paul is very clear as to what the Gospel is.

1 Corinthians 15:1-5

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.

1 Corinthians 15:1-5

The apostle Paul tells us just how important it is not to preach any other gospel, then what he preached in 1 Cor 15:1-5. 

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

Galatians 1:8-9

So any variation of the Gospel which would say “the Gospel” is the kingdom is very dangerous and that is not good news. I am not negating that Jesus Himself used the term Gospel of the Kingdom. The good news of the kingdom is only accessible by and through the preaching and teaching repentance and belief in the good news of Jesus death for sins, His burial and His resurrection from the dead. Jesus taught many things about the kingdom of God and the Kingdom of heaven. He also taught the very specific way to enter the Kingdom of God by believing in Him which leads to being born into the Kingdom. He used an illustration out of the old testament to point people to the good news of being saved from death by faith in what God says to do to be saved.   

John 3:14-15

as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

There were serpents that were killing the Israelites in the wilderness because they had sinned. God told them that every Israelite that had been bit had to look at a brass serpent that was put up on a pole and if they did as He said then the thing that was killing them (the serpents) would no longer be able to kill them and they would be saved from death. We have all been bitten by sin and Jesus was put up on the pole which we call a cross. Jesus was telling us that we too must look to Him on the cross and believe He took the thing that was killing us (sin) and accept that also we die to sin with Him (Romans 6). Thank God that death is not the end of the story, because it is called the good news. Thank God that burial is not the end of the story because it is called good news. Thank God the good news is Jesus rose from the dead. This leads to the question how is it that Jesus resurrected from the dead after three days. 

The Resurrection 

2 Corinthians 5:21

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 

John 10:17,18

“I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." 

John 19:30

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Mark 15:37

And Jesus having uttered a loud cry, yielded the spirit. (Yong’s literal translation)

And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. (New King James Version)

Some of the definitions of spirit are “a life giving spirit” and “breath of nostrils or mouth” 

So to give up your breath is to give up your life for without breath you no longer can live. Because He was sinless all the beating and the cross could not kill him. There was nothing that man could do to kill Jesus. They could have kept beating Him…. No Sin No Death. They could have kept Him on the Cross for a year… No Sin No Death. But JESUS…gave His life it was not taken from Him. Jesus did not die from sin. He willingly gave up His life for sinners. Because He never sinned He alone could be the only person that has ever lived who could die in the place of all who have sinned.

The reason that Jesus resurrected from the dead. 

1)    Ezekiel 18:20 The soul who sins shall die.

2)    Leviticus18:5 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall liveby them: I am the LORD.

3)    2 Corinthians 5:21a For God made Christ, who never sinned

Jesus always kept His Fathers statutes and judgments, which means He never sinned so death had no power or right to keep Him dead. He had to rise from the dead back to life. Most evangelicals are really good at preaching that Christ died for sins, but leave out the burial and resurrection until the sinner’s prayer. No resurrection not good news. 

The New testament has about 40 references to the resurrection. Jesus spoke about the resurrection about 15 times, the book of Acts about 10 times, the epistles 13 times, the book of Revelation 2 times. 

The major theme of John chapter 11 is the resurrection, here is just one excerpt

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

The validity and importance of the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. In Acts there is a reference to the old testament in which David prophesied of the resurrection. In Acts four times the apostles taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead and with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

Romans 1:4 states 

Jesus declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:14

And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.

And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 

Hebrews 6:1,2 

The resurrection from the dead is noted as one of the fundamental principles of Christ

1 Peter 1:3

We are born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  

1 Peter 3:21

We have the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 20:6 

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

The 1000 years may mess up your eschatology BUT IT IS THERE. So this is all to say, that the resurrection is Mucho Grande Im-por-ton-te from Jesus to Revelation and is a vital part of the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus and Salvation by which entrance is made into the Kingdom of God

Romans 10:9 STATES 

if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Nowhere does the word of God say that if you believe in the Kingdom of God you will be saved. Remember Jesus used the illustrations and demonstrations of the kingdoms as signs and wonders to point people to the good news that they could see and enter into the kingdom through repentance and belief in the good news of His death burial and resurrection with the results of being born again and gaining the authority of the kingdom on earth. I believe that when Jesus said “seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness there is much to learned as to what is meant. 

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

The word seek means to seek [in order to find out] by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to enquire into. 

In seeking, God will take you to the removal of sins by reasoning with Him as to what happened at the cross, grave and empty tomb. Why? So that you can become born again through the Gospel and enter into the King who is the one that created the principles by which the Kingdom rule and authority is established. 

Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the LORD,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.

Once salvation occurs through the changing of the mind in accordance to the Gospel your Heavenly Father will then provide the Kingdom and all you need according to His riches and glory.

1 Cor 4:8

You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings….

Rom 8:30

…and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 

I do want to mention that when I said the Gospel is not the Kingdom this is not to say that having the authority of the Kingdom is not good news. Also, when I said the Kingdom is not the Gospel this is not to say that having the authority of the Kingdom and being in the Kingdom is not good news. This is not to say that preaching and demonstrating what it looks like to live in the kingdom of God is not a means by which a person can come to an understanding that would lead them into the Gospel of salvation. The point of preaching and teaching the Gospel of the Kingdom is to lead people to Christ the King. Then once they have come into the mind set of what Jesus Christ has done for them, then they too after receiving the Jesus as Lord can walk in the authority that comes from being born again into the mindset, of the King of the Kingdom, Who is their living hope. 

1 Cor 2:16

For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?”

BUT WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST.

In conclusion my hope is that in reading this book you will have grown deeper in love with each member of the God head and have received revelation that will empower you to live life in Christ with the full authority and power that will display the gospel of His kingdom on earth in order that others will receive the Gospel of salvation. 

*Bonus material for those that do not get easily offended.

Before reading this bonus material remember God is Love 1 john 4:7-8. Everything He does, is done in and out of love. We in our natural mind may not view what God does or chooses not to do (from our point of view) as being loving now…. But there is coming a day that every knee will bow and say “righteous and true are all Your way’s O’ Lord of heaven and earth”.   

The Fear of the fire of Hell must not be completely excluded in the preaching (sharing the message) of the Gospel. Jesus Himself, as well as many other references in the new and old testament, make it clear that the good news that is preached is in contrast to the reality of the really bad news that awaits those who choose not to accept and receive the good news. God and God alone knows how He desires for a person to hear the truth about the results of rejecting the good news. This is why it is essential to continually listen to His heart and mind as to when and if He desires to share any form of the bad news. Jesus was the anointed Christ and below are His words when He desired to warn the outcome of resisting repentance. 

Matthew 23:33

"Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?

The above passage in the Greek the verb is in the “Subjunctive mood” which means it may or may not happen, so when sharing any form of the bad news we want to make sure that we do not share as an absolute proclamation of a person’s destination. By and through repentance “changing their minds, which will result in the change of there actions they may escape the condemnation of hell. Remember it is God’s desire for all to be saved and He is committed to that until a person takes their last breath. Jesus did not come to condemn but that all would be saved. 

Jude 1:22-23

And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

Here is are a few subjects that you can argue with God over if you do not like what God just said… 

On that topic which I did not mention or even endorse as a way of preaching. Johnathan Edwards the author of “sinners in the hands of an angry God” was known to be the founder of the Great Awakening which is the first revival in America. Over a course of 4 years he published Discourses on Various Important Subjects, the five sermons which had proved most effective in the revival, and of these, none was so immediately effective as that on the Justice of God in the damnation of sinners. This is noted in Wikipedia 

IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE WORD SIN…

It may be because you have seen or experienced people that have beat others up with the word sin. Once again please do not throw out the baby Jesus with the dirty bath water because of those that so focus on sin and condemnation. I can only hope that you will not become repulsed by the word sin because of others miss use of it. Jesus our Lord and Savior used the word sin and hell. Also consider, if you have a problem ever using the word sin or talking about the the bad news of sin and death then I would ask you to talk to God about it since He talked about it Himself. Two wrongs do not make a right. Not being willing to openly speak about what Jesus openly spoke about would imply that you have a problem with Jesus and what He said as well as the word of God, which is Jesus according to John 1:1-14.

In the New testament alone the word sin is used 120 times. Jesus used the word 22 times. The word sins are used 89 times, iniquities 2 times, lawless 9 times, lawlessness 11 times, transgression 5 times, transgressions 2 times, and unrighteousness 14 times which all unrighteousness is sin according to 1 john 5:17 and anything that is not of faith is sin Rom 14:23. I am not sure if this list exhaustive but when you add it all up in The New Testament alone there are at least 250 usages in different forms. Please read Jesus’s words below.

PLEASE READ WITH AN OPEN HEART AND EAR TO HEAR WHAT GOD SAYS…

Matthew 5:29

“If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Matthew 5:30

“And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Matthew 12:31

“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.

John 1:29

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 

John 5:14

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

John 8:11

She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

John 8:21

Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.”

John 8:34

Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

John 9:41

Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.' Therefore your sin remains.

John 19:11

Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

Rom 5:21

so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom 6:11

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord

Rom 7:25

I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Rom 8:2

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Gal 3:22

But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin

1 John 2:1

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous

Please note the list above is not exhaustive, but are just a few of the over 250 places where sin and the other forms of the word are found in God’s word. It is of the utmost importance when sin and hell are mentioned to convey neither are Gods plan for everyone for now and for all eternity. Love is used 214 times loved is used 43 times (total 257) and both of the forms of the word are not always used as a good thing for example. John 3:19… And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. By the way the word loved there is agapaō and is the same Greek word that is used in John 3:16… for God so loved “agapaō” the world that He sent His only begotten Son…Here we see that “agapaō”  is not a pure, diven and holy love as some has said it means. According to Strong’s G25 “agapaō” is 1. Of persons to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly 2. Of things to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing. The next topic that my be really uncomfortable is that of….. 

HEAVEN AND HELL…

I once heard a brother say openly while attempting to preach the Gospel that “Jesus talked more about Hell then He did about Heaven”. God gave me the wisdom to ask the brother a simple question. “Have you personally done the word study of Heaven and Hell? He said he had not. Next I encouraged him to study to show himself approved that he will rightly divide the word of God so that he would not be ashamed. Below is a list that I put together of the Old testament as well as New testament usages’. I also noted how many times Jesus used the forms of the words. It is my attempt to find out how often the word of God mentions the words Heaven and Hell as well as the words that are related to their subjects.  One thing that I became aware of is both words are used, but Heaven and the Kingdom of God are used more often then Hell and its related words. To me this means we are not to be silent on both subjects for the Word of God is not silent on both subjects. Also we are to be consistent with the word of God as to which subject we speak about more. I personally have found that the more I speak about the topics of hell and sin in words that represent the core meanings of the words rather than the words hell and sin, the less resistance I encounter. I believe this is because most people consider sin and hell to be “religious terms” and they want nothing to do with religion. For example, as I noted before the word “sin” in Strong’s states in 1.Db. “to do or go wrong”. I can talk about doing wrong with someone and they have no problem agreeing with the fact that they have done so, but if I use the word sin then they start a religious argument. So you get to choose do you want an argument or an agreement. As for hell it is the state of unbelief in the one who gives everlasting life which results in death, which is separation from God and His saving grace. The wage (what you get for not believing and accepting Jesus payment for sin is death). The result of death’s separation is wrath and hell. Living in unbelief of God’s saving grace and life is living in His wrath according to John 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Greek verb tense is Present Active Indicative meaning continually in every present moment the person that is not actively believing the Son as a matter of fact has the wrath of God remaining on them. All this should motivate us to share the goodness of God that leads people to repentance. The goodness of God is the Gospel of Salvation that leads souls into living in the Gospel of the Kingdom where God’s authority overcomes and destroys every work of God’s adversary and the effects of His adversary. Below is a chart to help keep our focus and priorities aligned with God’s focus and priorities in sharing the Gospel of Salvation and the Kingdome.  

Heaven 

531

Jesus 131

Kingdom of God 90

Jesus 54

TOTALS

621

Jesus 185

HELL 32 

Jesus 11

Sheol 18 all Old Testament

Jesus 0

Lake of fire

4 all IN REVELATION

Jesus 0

Weeping and gnashing /Outer Darkness

5 Gospels 

Jesus 5

Everlasting Punishment 

1 Matthew 

Jesus 1

Eternal Judgment

1 Hebrews

Jesus 0

Condemnation 

16 Gospels/ NT

Jesus 8 

TOTALS

77

Jesus 25