“So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.” Luke 9:6 HCSB

What did the disciples proclaim while going from village to village? 

“After this, the Lord appointed 70 others, and He sent them ahead of Him in pairs to every town and place where He Himself was about to go.”
Luke 10:1 HCSB

Would their message be similar to John’s?

“A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight! John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”
Mark 1:3-4 HCSB

“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near! ””
Matthew 3:1-2 HCSB

Jesus was that kingdom of God that would be coming. The message of the 12 and of the 70 would be very similar to that of John’s. 

Should our message be much different? Not by much. Our message would be repent because the Kindom of God is near to your hearts. And repent for the kingdom of God is about to judge the world’s deeds. The kingdom is here with us now and not just nearby. 

“The Lord’s slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap, having been captured by him to do his will.”
2 Timothy 2:24-26 HCSB

“After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of God: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news! ”
Mark 1:14-15 HCSB

If the kingdom of God is here or near the key point is to repent. Acknowledge what you have done was a sin. Whether it was yesterday or years ago. Then commit to not do it again. Repentance is pivotal in the Christian life. Repentance repositions Jesus' control of our lives. 

Listen to what God said and did with Adam and Eve after they have sinned.

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you? ” And he said, “I heard You in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” Then He asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from? ””
Genesis 3:8-11 HCSB

“The Lord God made clothing out of skins for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them.”
Genesis 3:21 HCSB

1.  God is looking for a relationship with us (verse 8-9).
2.  God is looking for us to repent (verse 11).
3.  God gives punishment for our actions (verse 12-20).
4.  God provides for our needs (verse 21).


God has longed to have an unbroken relationship with people since that day. Jesus restores those who come to Him wanting Him to be their Savior and Lord and not themselves. 

Comments

Post a Comment