FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP
RENEWING
THE MIND – VI
THE
GOSPEL - 4
…..
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this
world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of IAUE.
John could not get to his office fast
enough. He worked on the 4th
floor of a medical research facility as a part of a vast team of researchers in
offices that spread across the USA and 20 other countries. Reaching his floor in the secured building,
he exited the elevator and ran to his office.
He burst through the doors, and without regard to who was there, and
what they were all doing, at the top of his lungs he said, “HAVE YOU HEARD THE
GOOD NEWS?!!!” Everyone stopped what
they were doing to look at the one they were now thinking to be something of a lunatic,
waiting for John to answer his own question.
“WE HAVE FOUND A CURE FOR ALL FORMS OF CANCER!!! AND IT IS SIMPLE; AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY FREE!!
The floor erupted with rejoicing; and there
was an immediate sense of urgency to spread the word to every one of their
offices around the world. But that wasn’t
enough. They all knew people who
suffered from cancer, or knew people who knew people who had cancer. This was the greatest news they had ever
heard and they all knew they needed to tell everyone as quickly as possible.
Welcome to “the gospel
of Yahushua Messiah.” The gospel is the
announcement that the Messiah has come, nothing more. It is plain and simple. “Messiah has come.” It is news that demands to be heralded. Even
as word of a simple cure for cancer would spread across the globe like
wildfire; that Messiah has come would bear an even greater consequence to the world,
and would be proclaimed with far greater importance and sense of urgency than would
news of a cure for cancer.
This is a message
that, at first, would have primary relevance to the Hebrew/Jew. Why?
Because the Gentiles had no
promise of Messiah. The prophecies
of Messiah were to the Hebrews. He was
going to be of the lineage of David (This is why Matthew 1 records the lineage of Joseph, from Abraham,
through David, to Yahushua; and why Luke 3 records the lineage of Mary from
Yahushua all the way back through David to Adam. Even if he was not the son of IAUE, Yahushua
was still the rightful heir of the throne of David.) He would take the throne of David and rule
over the entire world. They even understood that somehow he would be the son of
IAUE. The Hebrews were finally going to be free of all oppression, opposition,
toil and strife, as Messiah would elevate their lives to be as kings reigning
with him. Messiah was going to be the
ultimate “jubilee” (The year of release
from all debts, bondage and work); and he was going to reign permanently.
The promise of Messiah
was the central glue of the kingdom of Judah.
Rejection of the promise of Messiah was what encouraged ten of the
twelve tribes to leave Jerusalem and set up the northern kingdom of Israel, a
kingdom that persistently had evil kings, and which worshipped pagan deities up
until the time they were destroyed by the kingdom of Assyria (1 Kings 12:16).
The Jews had been
waiting for the Messiah to appear ever since King David passed away. When the armies of Babylon came in 486 BC and
destroyed the temple and took Judah captive back to Babylon, they killed the sons
of the last king of the house of David and then put out the king’s eyes. Hope for the coming Messiah was all but lost;
but when, by the hand of IAUE, the Jews were restored to their land and
Jerusalem and the temple were rebuilt, the promise of Messiah was restored and
hope was reignited among the people.
Luke 2:9 And, lo, the angel of IAUE came
upon them, and the glory of IAUE shone round about them: and they were sore
afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to
all people.
11 For unto you is born this
day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Messiah the Master.
When Yahushua was
born more than 500 years later, the angels announced that Messiah had
come. Theirs was the first declaration
of the Messiah, the first herald of the gospel.
Matthew 2:1 Now when Yahushua was born in
Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men
from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we
have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
The wise men had
received revelation that the Messiah, the King of the Jews had been born; and
they came to align themselves with him whom they knew would also be their own
king.
Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man
in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting
for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it was revealed unto
him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen IAUE’s
Messiah.
27 And he came by the Spirit into
the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Yahushua, to do for him
after the custom of the law,
28 Then took he him up in his
arms, and blessed Elohim, and said,
29 IAUE, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,
according to thy word:
30 For mine eyes have seen thy
salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all
people;
32 A light to lighten the
Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Luke 2:36 And there was one Anna, a
prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great
age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
37 And she was a widow of about
fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served Elohim
with fastings and prayers night and day.
38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise
unto IAUE, and spake of him (Yahushua) to all them that looked for
redemption in Jerusalem.
At his circumcision,
Simeon announced that the child was the Messiah, and Anna the prophetess
confirmed that the child was the one sent to bring redemption to Jerusalem…the
Messiah.
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Yahushua
coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of Elohim, which taketh away
the sin of the world.
30 This is he of whom I said,
After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he
should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying,
I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he
that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt
see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth
with the Holy Spirit.
34 And I saw, and bare record
that this is the Son of Elohim.
35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his
disciples;
36 And looking upon Yahushua as he
walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of Elohim!
John explained (John 1:31) that the reason he came to baptize was to create an
environment in which he would be able to announce to all Israel that the
Messiah has come…to herald the good news to all of Israel.
Luke 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to
pass, that Yahushua also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
22 And the Holy Spirit descended
in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which
said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
At his baptism, John
declared that Yahushua was the son of Elohim and the lamb of Elohim. Then, the heavens opened and the voice of IAUE
himself declared that Yahushua was His son.
Is there any wonder at this point that Andrew would race to find his
brother, Simon with the “good news?”
Luke 1:40 One of the two which heard
John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
41 He first findeth his own
brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah…”
The good news that
Messiah had come spread like wildfire.
It took no time at all for thousands upon thousands of Jews to begin following
Yahushua and listening to his every word?
What could possibly have been “better news” than the proclamation that
the King of the Jews was in their midst?
Yahushua
travelled from city to city, teaching in the synagogues that they were to
repent for the kingdom of heaven was at hand.
That was a message that the Messiah was at hand. If “the kingdom of heaven” was near, that
meant that its king also was near.
Matthew
10:5 These
twelve Yahushua sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the
Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go
rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out
devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
When
he sent his apostles out to proclaim the good news, Yahushua restricted them
from preaching to the Gentiles and also from preaching to the Samaritans (the
half Jew, half Gentile). Prior to his
impaling, the proclamation of the Messiah was a message to the Hebrew
only. After the death and resurrection
of Messiah, and the new covenant was initiated, the message was for everyone,
both Jew and Gentile.
Examine
yourself to see if your relationship to Yahushua is to the Messiah, or simply
to one who has forgiven you of your sins.
Does the term “Messiah” hold any meaning to you other than a religious one? If you comprehend what it is for Yahushua to
be IAUE’s Messiah, you will readily understand why the good news of his coming
was accompanied by the command to “repent and believe the good news.” If the king is coming, if the kingdom is at
hand, then we must, like the wise men at his birth, align our hearts to be
obedient to him as our Master and King…and we should do so, quickly.
Next
week we will explain why the gospel was to the Jew first, and then to the
Gentile. We will also examine the
difference between the gospel and “the children’s bread.” Remember, we are studying this because it is
the entry point of renewing our minds that we might know and do the will of
IAUE.
Kingdom
heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the
performance of the will of IAUE.
No comments:
Post a Comment