Paul was a Kingdom centered person. It is interesting that Acts 1 begins with the Kingdom. Jesus who was now resurrected spoke to the Disciples for 40 days about the Kingdom and the importance of receiving power from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God’s advocate and power giver on the earth today. Act 1:3 says, "After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God."
Acts 28:30-31 ends with the Kingdom: "For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ."
It’s the principle of first and last things. When this principle is discovered in the Bible usually God is attempting to reveal the importance of a truth.
The Kingdom of God is important. The good news of the Gospel is all about the Kingdom of God appearing on earth in the form of Jesus Christ whose mission was to reveal the Kingdom. See Jesus... you’ll see the Kingdom of God in action.
So, Jesus spoke much about the Kingdom. Matthew's gospel is especially Kingdom centered written to Jewish people who understood the precept of the Kingdom of God. Matthew was seeking to write about something the Jewish people understood. Not only did Jesus speak about the Kingdom, He demonstrated the power of the Kingdom through signs, miracles, and wonders.
It was the same for Paul.... Note in this chapter that supernatural / trans-rational events take place. Signs of the Kingdom:
They arrived…this in itself is a miracle. See earlier chapters in the book of Acts.
Paul was bitten by a viper…this meant death. Paul shook the snake into a fire and didn’t die. In fact he appeared to be so healthy the people proclaimed he was a god.
Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.
When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live."
But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
Signs of the Kingdom followed. Paul prayed for the sick and they were healed.
Note: Usually signs of the Kingdom either follow the declaration of the Good News or precede the message of the Kingdom. Signs, miracle and wonders are always stepping stones to help people, believer and nonbeliever alike, move toward faith in Jesus Christ.
The message of the Kingdom was the central message of Jesus and Paul.
If the message of Jesus and Paul centered on the Kingdom of God, where should our message be centered?
Today, rethink Matthew's Gospel by scanning chapter one moving toward today’s section. Highlight every passage that mentions the Kingdom or highlight a place where there is a sign, wonder or miracle. You’ll be amazed.
Steve Bowen
Categories:
Devotionals
1 comments:
Even though I've read the Bible twice before, this is the first time I've had a schedule with the entire Vineyard Community; it is so awesome to be a part of this "Family Devotion" for nine weeks! I am learning so much this time, because it seems like the words are literally leaping from the pages to me. The comments given on this site, also, are such a wonderful enrichment for this series. Thank you to the pastors for putting this information together! Laura K.
By: Unknown on January 28, 2009 at 5:50 PM
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