The Gospel of the Kingdom

Greetings once again from the auditorium of beacon Baptist Church Kirkpatrick Rd., Burlington, NC. Since we can't meet in person. What a joy it is to meet by way of computer by way of the Internet.

Thank you for joining us tonight. It is a joy to be able to communicate this way joy for me to be able to to share prayer letters and prayer requests.

And of course to open the word of God and to look into what God has spoken to us. I had a delightful and unexpected telephone call this afternoon from David Cassels, Chelmsford, England dear brother in Christ, whom we have known for many many years who has preached a number of times here in the beacon pulpit is a wonderful and powerful preacher of God's word.

He pastored in Glasgow, Scotland, for a number of years and then the Lord moved him down to Chelmsford England which is not too far north of of London and that's where he is is talking about.

Maybe it's time to retire but he hasn't yet. However, they are also undergoing covert restrictions really more severe than the ones that we have here in this country and it is not possible for his congregation to meet in person and so they are doing all of their services by zoom and he says it's working out very well and he has some people who have joined them on the zoom services that have never been to their church. One of them is a neighbor of his. So it's a real delight to see how the Lord takes difficult circumstances and turns them into blessings and advantages for the interests of Christ's kingdom. So it was good to talk to him.

He wanted me to remember him and his wife Isabel to the church and to thank you.

The congregation for the financial support we send a little bit of support to them to encourage them.

The church is very small and so there there on partially on a missionary basis and partly on a small salary from the church were glad to be able to be partners with them in that work of the gospel in the land of England. We also want to extend congratulations tonight to Alan and Priscilla Starnes on the birth of their newest grandson, Logan Timothy Starnes born on Monday weighing 6 pounds. 14 ounces and 20 inches long. Congratulations to Alan and Priscilla, our schedule is going along in the same fashion that we have been for some time. For the first couple of months of covert, of course, we did meet with all and then about three months ago. I guess now we started having Sunday morning only people present services with careful, careful, a restrictions we have every other pew blocked off to the people at a distance in that direction and we asked people not to crowd too close together on the pews to observe what is called social distancing, and to wear masks and we don't shake hands or hug. Although it's hard to remember that at times we do fist bump her elbow bump but we are having a wonderful services and we are seeing actually the numbers growing incrementally and we had a very good attendance is last Sunday we saw some people back that haven't been to church for many many many weeks affect relations covert started. So if you're able to come.

Please do, no pressure.

We don't want anyone to come deals you are in a vulnerable position and it would not be safe for you to come but we are being careful and so far as far as we know nobody's got sick a church and we been having some wonderful services so please plan to join us Sunday morning at 930. If you are able to do so even had a few visitors along the way.

That's always a delight Sunday night. It's at 6 o'clock is a is a sermon from the word of God. A message via live stream in an empty auditorium and again the same thing on Wednesday night as were doing tonight, however, we are going to go ahead with our previously scheduled fall Bible conference in October. October 4-7 Sunday through Wednesday night.

We have traditionally held a Bible conference in the spring and in the fall and the dates of moved around a bit but over the last several years they've been pretty standardized and so the April conference has been the first Sunday getting the first Sunday in April. Sunday through Wednesday in the fall Bible conference has been the first Sunday in October.

Sunday through Wednesday. We had to cancel the April meeting reluctantly but nobody was meeting at that time and we have weighed over a good period of time whether or not to try to conduct the October meeting that were going to do so. Lord willing.

Jim Orrick from Louisville, Kentucky is our scheduled speaker.

I have talked to him recently.

He's very happy to come really eager to come and so we are making plans for that. So I would appreciate your marking that on your calendar and making plans to be with us maintain the same cautions. The same precautions that were maintaining now, but we will meet together for those meetings as little by little, very incrementally, but little by little we begin to return in the direction of normalcy are ladies coffee encourage Bible studies are going to be resuming in the fall on Tuesday morning meeting in the fellowship hall of the fireplace room, large room where again they will be able to distance themselves in a proper fashion and so forth. So as we feel that it's safe.

We are adding things but were also being very careful. Some people are chomping at the bit when we can start Sunday school again. Well were not sure. Not yet.

What are we going to have ESL some of our ESL students want to get that started again would love to do it, but we are little concerned about the closeness that's involved in the classroom situation, but will will add that as soon as we are able.

When we going to return to Wednesday night to impact clubs, others want to know the answers. The same whenever we see that the covert is is going lower lower than it is now, and when our governor decides that it's safe to move into phase 3 or maybe even beyond.

The next time that the only other announcement that I would make is if you have a copy of the a prayer sheet which was set out by email to all of you who are on the in the know email list and if you're not would be happy to add you, but please note that Aaron and Wendy Lynch have discontinued their landline their course members at beacon and their cell phone numbers are listed in the prayer sheet on the prayer sheet on the announcement side one free air in a different one for Wendy.

So if if you'll take the time to make to to write those numbers down, put them inside your church directory and you may want to log them in your phone memory as well, but get them in your church directory that would be very helpful indeed we have some phrases to share Rob Conrad had a procedure to remove kidney stones and it went well.

Dale Evans got a good report on the scan that he had just side of Roy came through his dental surgery just fine. That was on matter of great concern. Our government official. The week is Village of Alamance Mayor pro tem Nadine Sharp.

She has been involved in one way or another with the government of Alamance for a long long long long time.

Many years. Please pray for her.

Please thank the Lord for her faithfulness as we consider members we do want you to know that our pope, who has been back to church to three times in spite of his COPD.

Nevertheless, now has a cold and that's just aggravating. It COPD is a breathing problem in a cold aggravates fluency and breathing that that the right word, but the ease of breathing and so he's struggling with that.

Him under the other section.

We are pleased to hear that Julius Busey air is recovering from foot surgery. Pray for him. Janice Craig, the mother of Duane Craig is in hospice and is declining. Scott DeLorean. He and his wife and son moved to the Philippines. Not too many months ago after worshiping with us over a number of months anyway.

He has dang fever. I guess that's how you pronounce that I see from time to time on missionary prayer letters a DE NGU. We there's another way to pronounce it. Please let me know. I should've looked it up but anyway please pray for him a Mary Hicks and aunt of Sue Elliott had a heart attack.

As in: hospital, Darla Hayes… Sister Rhonda. Some of you will remember Rhonda from Mandy Rhonda lives in Virginia right on the border was with North Carolina. I'm thinking maybe self Austin. I'm not sure exactly but anyway she has a grandson, the son of her son was involved in a very serious ATV accident. He's in Duke Hospital ICU with multiple skull fractures possible damage to his brain. Pray for Tyler Rankin, Robert Sweet continues to have hard issues. Please pray for him. This is Sarah Cardwell's father, we are fervently praying that the Lord might allow Stuart walk to have a liver transplant scheduled three times in the last several weeks only to have it aborted at the last minute for one reason or another, and so he is still on the urgent transplant list when a suitable donor becomes available.

Praying for Trevor Johnson Arita short report from him in a moment. Missionary to two up a pool who is home attending to some health and family needs. And likewise, Paul Snyder, serving in the same location is in the USA for treatment of a health condition and also his daughter Marianne had a number of families in our church who been touched by death. The last week of Sue Elliott saw the passing of an aunt Iva Booker missionary Janice worth Stephen Janice worth. We have supported first in Scotland and then in England for many many years.

Many decades really and in Janice's Father Paul Chandler died. In fact the funeral was today in Hendersonville, North Carolina Stephen Janice were not able to travel because of covert restrictions and other issues with that one primarily her father Paul Chandler was a Baptist pastor for decades and decades and decades. In fact, he was 90. I think 96 when he died, but I think he was still pastoring past the age of 90. Pray for that family is a dear man and he's missed by his three daughters had 1/4 daughter, who is with was with the Lord with three daughters who are living Gary on Gary Allred's uncle Thomas Cook passed away and Sue vessels because with cousins husband Mark tier also passed away.

Prayers appreciated for each of these families. Denise Marley asked us to pray moving to another section in the cancer section. Denise Marley asked us to pray for Nancy Bingham who has pancreatic cancer and is having surgery. I guess today that surgery on the 20 60th that's today and Marie Hobbs has cancer and is declining. Steve Lynch asked us to pray for her. We can praying for Sabia ESL students who have needs Pedro Eugenio and his wife both tested positive for Cova 19 with the now recovering nicely and he's one of those who is chomping at the bit to get back to ESL classes. He's ready to go thank the Lord for that.

Pedro and his wife, and then were praying for Maggie Moreno has a mass which is of concern.

It hasn't yet been examined. There's been no biopsy is to determine the exact nature praying for this lady that the Lord is gracious to her. Clarissa missionary communications in a moment, as we customarily do on Wednesday night.

One of the focuses of the main focuses on our and our Wednesday night service and then when I open God's word were also going to be looking at the text of Scripture that has to do with the proclamation of the gospel to the world. In other words, what we call missions. With that in mind, I have selected a him to read the words tonight by Chris Anderson, a title for the sake of his name, go to the world for the sake of his name to every nation, his glory proclaim. Pray that the spirit why is will open darkened eyes granting new life to display Jesus fame love the unloved for the sake of his name like Christ. Befriend those whose heads hang in shame. Jesus did not condemn, but was condemned for them.

Trust gospel power, for we once were the same rescue lost for the sake of his name is Christ command snatch them out of the flame tell that when Jesus died, God's wrath was satisfied urge them to flee to the Lamb who was slain look to the throne for the sake of his name. Think of the throng who will share in his reign, some for whose souls. We pray will share our joy that day joining our song for the sake of his name. Cora says in Jesus power preach Christ to the lost. For Jesus glory count all else, but lost but loss rather gathered from every place trophies of sovereign grace last lice be wasted.

Exalt Jesus cross when you bow with me in order prayer father. It is always a privilege to bow before the throne of grace. It is always a privilege to pray to the create tour of the universe. The create tour of every one of us who are listening in to this service tonight to the heavenly father who has made us your children by the giving of your son. What a privilege it is to come into your presence in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, having been joined to Christ by the work of your spirit, and by the work of faith which you have granted to us by the work of your spirit father we come to you to praise you to thank you to worship you, and to petition your throne on behalf of those who are in need. We, Lord, to pray for the prosperity of the gospel as it is proclaimed around the world.

Thank you for this communication tonight with our dear friend David Cassels in Chelmsford, England, and I pray that you will bless his ministry in his congregation and cause the gospel like to go forth in that location.

Pray for those who are listening to the services.

The services they come by by means of electronic communication and who are hearing the gospel. Some, perhaps for the very first time we pray Lord that you will open their hearts and bring them to a knowledge of Jesus Christ we pray now that you will guide our hearts toward those things which are eternal. We pray the will bless those missionaries were faithfully proclaiming your word around. As we ask these things in Jesus name.

I said I would read an update from Trevor Johnson and here's the portion of his recent prayer letter that pertains to what's going on with the Johnson family. We returned to the United States to settle in Nola know what is their oldest child. He's 15 or 16 I think 16.

He wasn't progressing in homeschool very well. He is now at Missouri military Academy, the Christian aunt and H.

Don nondenominational military school and is doing well despite some adjustment.

We have felt like parental failures, but the school is good and my trip to the US is caused me to get worse in my condition and I am more fatigued and achy being here in the United States where I cannot rest, and everything costs more. We took our daughter Alethea age 13 to a seminar camp for missionary kids and we are addressing some snarkiness on her part. Others tell me the teenage years can prove challenging, but I was hoping to miss out on all of this. Both kids claim to love the Lord and no one even started the Bible study at night Tuesday before he was moved to a different barracks so it seems that they are doing well. In the meantime there father myself is trying to recuperate. Despite pain and get restarted for about the 50th time on his doctoral dissertation in the winter and spring. We plan to visit different countries. In case Indonesia keeps blocking my visa next year we hope to be healthy enough to serve again in a poor area. For now we are doing very much in an administrative capacity in Trevor Johnson see loss of violence are compos in Brazil right dear partners in the gospel by God's grace.

Brazil is slowly going back to normal life after months of reinclusion. What a blessing to return to work at the church office are people present services shall begin on September 6.

Statistics say that more than 105 million people have died either from or with covert, 19 course would be worldwide. According to the warrant, World Health Organization report three.

Most promising vaccine studies in the world are relying on scientists and volunteers in Brazil through the fear feel ministry, we held an online Bible conference for women, to our surprise we had more than 2000 people connected with us. The theme of this three-day event was counseling one another.

The main speaker was a lease Fitzpatrick, the author of counsel from the cross bond you and I also had the privilege of speaking to this group.

See loss in Vons or compos in Brazil. 20.

Kathy pain right of their recent arrival back in the states from South Africa. They made really.

I don't know if I should call an emergency trip.

Maybe we should call it that because of health issues with Kathy's mother and friends. We arrived in Atlanta yesterday afternoon tired but safe and Lord willing, free of cover 19 we are required to self monitor for 14 days and isolate so we are camping in our basement of the home.

We lived in when we were caring for Kathy's mother so this must be his mother did come home for the Kathy's mother may have already passed away. We've already been able to make Skype calls to two families in South Africa in the church and they assure us of their prayers for us and for the work to prosper in our absence. Once you please pray that God will use this time to cause the body to function in a healthy manner and grow in grace and in the development of their gifts for the work of the ministry. We will be in touch with moral news when we complete the isolation.

We will be able to have time with my mother as soon as we complete the CDC required isolation.

We have chatted with her and with our children and grandchildren. They are always eager to see us as we are to see them. We thank the Lord for making it possible for us to make this trip and pray that it will be a very profitable time spiritually. I can also fill in a little bit of background.

They weren't sure that it would even be possible to get a flight from South Africa to America, but they had made it known that they were looking for a flight wanted wanted to do that and they got an email. I think maybe from the American Embassy said they had a flight that was carrying a number of people that were coming from South Africa to America and so they were able to get on that flight and that's how they home. They are now at this time in Greenville, South Carolina. Finally, the latest newsletter from Piedmont rescue mission there having to make a lot of adjustments because of covert. Everything is changed because of covert.

But here's what Tony Honeycutt writes in for the August prayer letter.

How do we start this letter. Our minds are going in so many directions is in our letter last month. We are still praising the Lord for many blessings, praising him that the men are still healthy in our staff have remained healthy. We are also praising the Lord that we were able to reopen the good Samaritan super thrift store for the public to come in and shot three days a week as we enter the sixth month of the pandemic.

We are all growing weary but with the full understanding that God is in control and working his will out in the situation our finances are taking a hit. Now with the baby bottle boomerang under half of what came in last year and now with a greater vision banquet date only a few months away. We know what we are going to have to go about this fundraiser in a totally different way than in the past.

Please pray for us to have wisdom to know how we can raise the money that we need. In spite of the pandemic we have several ideas we are tossing around right now and will definitely have more answers in the next prayer letter community meals will also have to be handled in a totally different way. This year, please pray for wisdom for us to make decisions for each of these events. The men's division and pregnancy services division have been trying to keep things going as close to normal as possible. We are seeing new clients in the pregnancy services on a weekly basis with all safety measures in place. We put a hold on men entering the program but as of this week we are opening the doors for men to come in under strict supervision and safety measures will be taking their temperatures daily, requiring them to wear masks when they are out of their rooms for at least the first two weeks.

They are here. Please pray the men stay healthy. Even with the new man being brought in the family shelter is making progress all the apartment wall divisions have been done in the waiting inspection before we can move to put up the sheet rock the plumber is waiting on the inspector to answer two questions for him before he starts his work on the bathroom and kitchen plumbing. We need to find someone who can put in window for us. We need about eight windows put in on the outer walls that the outer walls that is a prefab metal wall if you know someone that could help us with this please let us know. We are required to have a window in every bedroom that is on an outer wall. We do wish things were moving faster on the shelter but we are moving on God's timetable and he knows what is best for us. Please pray for finances for the shelter because of the pandemic.

Our finances are beginning to suffer and all of the ministries. Thank you for your continued prayer support and financial support.

We are praying for all of you.

God bless Tony and Tammy Honeycutt Piedmont rescue mission enough take your Bibles and open them please to Matthew chapter 24 spent a couple weeks ago. I guess August.

Well, that would be to weeks ago. I think this two weeks ago we entered Matthew chapter 24 Matthews record of Christ. All of the discourse in preparation to examine more carefully. Verse 14, which has to do with preaching the gospel of the kingdom to all the world and we spent our entire time in the first 13 verses of the chapter leading up to our text in verse 14, because there are so many things.

Those first 813 verses that sound exactly like what we see going on around us in the world today because we already covered those verses and talked about those verses, and applied many of us versus to our current world situation and our current national situation were not going to do any of that tonight except to read them simply going to read them to get our text in its context before I begin reading. I remind you that this is Jesus talking to his disciples, his apostles not long before he went to the cross. They have left Jerusalem crossed a kindred kindred Valley have gone up to the Mount of olives.

From that vantage point, they are looking back upon that temple that temple is shoot, I got a new insight into the largeness of that temple as I've been preparing for my message for this coming Sunday morning and only two mentioned that the Romans had built a fort fortress.

Antonio or Antonia forget which named after Anthony Anthony and Cleopatra fame. But here the great had built that fortress for Roman government, which he of course was the leading official during his life and they building adjacent to the northwest wall of the temple of the out outer courtyard wall of the temple area. That fortress is large building high enough so that from the fortress they could look down into the temple courtyard which is what they needed to do because that's where riots tended to break out in Jerusalem.

In fact, one of those broke out with the apostle Paul will be talking about that this coming Sunday but that fort it if if I'm understanding correctly housed a cohort of Roman soldiers, which would be about 600 that would have to be a pretty good size building to have barracks rooms and sleeping facilities for that many members that many soldiers and yet when you look at it on a chart as I have done. It is only just a it doesn't even cover 1/4 of the north wall of the temple area. The temple once you Jesus and the disciples are looking back on this huge temple that had been enlarged by Herod the great, great builder. He built things all over. He loved to build and he left quite a legacy of building built the temple enlarging it so it became virtually one of the wonders of the world. It was was an amazing structure. He built the whole city of Caesarea on the coast, which became the capital city for Roman government in that province.

He built other cities will talk about another one of those this coming Lord's day.

He was quite the builder and Jesus and the disciples are looking back at this bag deficit temple is just astounding.

It really is something that people from many parts of the world would come to just in order to see the magnificence of the structure and yet Jesus had told his disciples that he was going to be destroyed. That's the opening verses of the Oliver discourse in Matthew 24 then Jesus went out and departed from the temple and his disciples came up to show him the buildings of the temple.

Jesus said to them, do you not see all these things assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Now, as he sat on the Mount of olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, tell us, when will these things be and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age. And Jesus answered and said to them, take heed that no one deceive you. For many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.

See that you are not troubled for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrow, then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you and you will be hated by all nations for my namesake and then many will be offended and and then many will be offended, will betray one another and will hate one another.

Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold, but he who endures to the end shall be saved 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. The gospel of the kingdom for things.

The message the field.

The goal, the culmination first of all, the message what is the gospel of the kingdom. Jesus said, 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. What is the gospel of the kingdom is that different from what we call the gospel will know, but there are a number of aspects of it here that will help us to understand, perhaps in a fuller dimension. So what is the gospel of the kingdom of the first place.

It is a message of good news. We know that because of the word gospel. That's what it's called.

The gospel of the kingdom and the word gospel means good news the gospel is good news. What is the good news of the gospel.

It is that sinners can be forgiven sinners can be cleansed of their sins. Sinners can be made right may justified in the tribunal of Almighty God. Sinners can be cleansed in order to be brought into the very presence of God. The good news of the gospel is a salvation is possible for sinners and that is a great marvel that it should be so we tend to take for granted that God to save sinners as if that's very commonplace and sometimes we argue and complain because God doesn't do it may be in a greater measure, and assuming as we do that, of course he's going to do that. Of course he would want to do that. Well the truth the matter is, he does want to do it, but he certainly not obligated to do it. The fact that he would save even one sinners a great marvel, remembering that when the Angels send when holy angels sinned against God, they were cast out.

No remedy, no salvation, no Savior, no cleansing, no justification, no redemption.

They were they sealed their fate when they send what if God had done the same thing for humanity.

The fact that God didn't deal with the holy angels that way tells us that he's under no obligation to save anyone. He's under no obligation to save a fallen angel. He is under no obligation to save a fallen man or woman. And yet in grace.

He does that is good news. And when we seal that perspective we begin to understand what great news.

It is what good news. It is we don't take it for granted when we realize that it is a marvelous, marvelous message.

It is in many ways. A surprising message that a holy God would care enough about rebellious hell deserving sinners to rescue sinners out of their lost condition and to bring them into union with himself and so the message of the kingdom was a message of good news. Secondly, the message of the kingdom is a message of Matthew's gospel.

I don't think I would have time to develop this fully, but there's a very interesting wording in our text in Matthew 2414 and we read and this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world. Why not just the gospel will be preached in all the world.

What's the significance of saying this gospel when you look back in the context of what Jesus is said previously in the Oliver discourse leading up to the text that were looking at tonight in verse 14. You don't see anything that looks like the gospel so Jesus can't be pointing back to something that is already said to the disciples in this context is the media content. He hasn't given them the gospel and then comes back and says this gospel that is this gospel that I already mentioned will be preached in all the world. So what power we understand this gospel and the best way that I can understand it is the gospel that has been presented in the gospel in the book we call the gospel of Matthew.

The gospel according to Matthew. Now there is one aspect that is immediately prior and so will refer to that. The closest thing you can find to a gospel message. I suppose in the words prior to the text is the one in verse 1313 obviously precedes 1414 is our text but in verse 13 Jesus said but he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Maybe that's what Jesus means he that endures to the end shall be saved and this gospel.

The gospel we must call it. Therefore, the gospel of perseverance. This gospel he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world that would be the most obvious way to understand that phrase.

This gospel, the problem being that most modern Christians would not consider the words of verse 13 to be a gospel message at all. He that endures to the end, the same shall be saved. That's not the gospel.

As we think of the gospel.

That's not the message that Christ died on the cross for sinners and rose again from the dead for sinners and those who believe in him will be saved. That's not what this is saying he who endures to the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel shall be preached to the ends of the world will a proper understanding of that message.

He who endures to the end shall be saved. You probably can only properly understand if you study it out carefully.

All throughout the gospel or gospel, but a proper understanding of that message is that indeed salvation does involve persevering to the end, it does. We could say require persevering to the ad that is not to say that it is perseverance that is the these entrance into salvation.

It's not perseverance that justifies us before the judgment bar of God. It is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ applied to our sinful record that justifies his before the judgment bar of God is the righteousness of Christ that is imputed to us the justifies us before the judgment bar of God. But this truth which is too seldom understood to seldom emphasize too seldom proclaimed it has, namely that all those who are born again by the work of God spirit all who experienced a number all who are justified by the righteousness of Christ before the judgment bar of God.

All of those will persevere in the faith to the end that becomes a mark of genuine faith. There are people who profess faith, who do not have genuine faith. Be there and you can see that what they don't persevere.

Christ parable of the four soils of Matthew chapter 13, would teachers that in there. We learned that the seed fell 1st on the pathway, the hardpacked school oil and nothing sprang up, but some of the seed fell in thorny soil and sprang up it was choked out. Other seed fell in rocky soil and sprang up in was choked out or was killed by the heat of the sun and some seed fell in good soil and sprang up and continued to grow and produce fruit. What is that teaching us is teaching us that not everyone who professes to believe will endure some profess in their profession of faith is choked out in short-lived others prefer profess and their profession of faith proves to be lasting. It endures, and Jesus said in verse 13 for he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world.

In other words, the gospel of perseverance the gospel that tells us that those who persevere in the faith. Well, when they die be transported immediately into the presence of the Lord they will be forever with the Lord. They have been saved.

They are being saved, they will be saved and perseverance is a mark of that and Jesus said that gospel needs to be proclaimed.

We didn't even say needs to be said. It will be proclaimed in all the world. The other elements of the gospel in other parts of Matthew's account I will not refer to at this time. So what is the gospel.

It is number one. A message of good news. It is number two.

A message of Matthew's gospel message of of perseverance and it is thirdly a message of the kingdom in this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world of the kingdom and objective genitive of the kingdom of the good news concerns the kingdom, the message of the gospel pertains to the kingdom.

Now what does that tell us about the kingdom. The kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of God. The kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All of these would be synonymous terms. What does this tell us about the kingdom tells us the kingdom is present as well as future. This gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed. We also understand that the kingdom will always have a king.

Otherwise, you don't even call the kingdom. Why would it be a kingdom unless it were the domain of the king. The king's the king's rule over this territory is what gives this territory. The name kingdom.

It's the dominion of a king, and so the gospel of the kingdom must be proclaimed in all the world will who's the caring King Jesus the Lord Jesus Christ.

In other words, you need to understand that the gospel has to do with the King of Kings and Lord of lords. It has to do with the sovereign ruler, and that has to do with our proper relationship to that ruler to become subjects of the kingdom means to come under the rule of the kick someone will say you are preaching of salvation by works, that we are saved by obedience to the king, and it's not that's not the gospel. The gospel is we are saved by faith alone, by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Yes yes yes but we need to understand that this saving faith involves the element of submission to the King as a change of heart. What is our condition before salvation is a condition of rebellion against the king unwillingness to to live under his authority but unwillingness to acknowledge his right unwillingness to acknowledge our responsibility to obey his laws.

We flaunt them week disobey them week go our own way. We pay no attention to the authority of the King. What a salvation do changes of brings us to repentance.

We see our sinful rebellion. We've rebelled against the rightful caring and we surrender use that kind of language we surrender to Christ. We surrender to the king. We bring ourselves under his rightful rule because it is a message of the kingdom. Salvation entails becoming the subject of Christ's kingdom.

That's the message that needs to be proclaimed.

What is the field where is this message to be proclaimed is it to be proclaimed to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. When Jesus sent out his disciples on previous occasions. That's what he told him to do. Going into the way of the Samaritans, don't go to the Gentiles go to the nation of Israel preach the gospel to the Jews. That's not what he says here shortly before the cross, the focus is already changing its enlarging its expanding is getting ready for the great commission that will give after the cross, going to all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. And he says essentially the same thing here in this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world, which is synonymous with all nations that we read in verse nine, then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you and you will be hated by all nations for my namesake in the gospel.

This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world.

Another was preached unto all nations as a witness to all the nation preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. So this is the field.

It is the world know it is interesting that God takes the responsibility to see this does perceive this will happen and this gospel of the kingdom, and I slept earlier and said ought to be, but that's not what it says this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world is a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come, Lord Jesus Christ. How can you be so sure. Maybe your disciples won't be willing to do it may be little fail in their task. Maybe they won't obey the commission maybe they won't take the gospel into all the world.

That's not possible in this gospel of the kingdom will be preached.

There we see a statement of Christ's sovereignty. He will see to it that it is preached he will so move upon the hearts of his people, that it will be preached to all the world now. Christ takes responsibility for this, but we have a responsibility as well because every child of God was a member of Christ's kingdom was surrendered to the authority of the King as a desire to carry out his will, and if he tells us that it is his determination. It is because will. It is his purpose that this gospel shall be preached of the end of the world. What do we do but say Lord where how can I help where do I fit in. Lord Sandy Bay. That of course will be our response, but thirdly, we consider the goal that I must move quickly now.

What is the purpose of our activity. What we trying to do in preaching the gospel of the kingdom to the ends of the world.

Is it our goal to win the world to Christ is our goal to enlist as many decisions as possible, not according to this text we are told two things it is to proclaim the message that is preach this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world and it is to bear witness to all nations. This gospel of the kingdom will be preached, that is proclaimed in all the world as a witness to all nations. It is our job to proclaim it.

It is our job to be a witness.

Our goal is to participate in God's work of redemption. Our goal is to proclaim the gospel which is the means God uses to bring his chosen ones into union with Jesus Christ to bring them to faith.

What is our part to preach what is our part to witness what is our part to bear testimony. What is God's part to make that effective in the hearts of those that he is drawing unto himself.

Our goal is to be faithful in the proclamation of the gospel to as many people as we can trust in God to use it according to his sovereign will.

And finally, the culmination, how long do we continue this work until the end comes as the income yet know so I was still involved with this.

Yes, we are still gladly eagerly desiring lay haltingly wanting to be part of this work, praying that God will allow us to have a part of this great work of redemption. We will faithfully preach the gospel of the kingdom to all nations. We will faithfully witness the gospel of the kingdom to all nations.

We will faithfully give that others may go to faraway places with the gospel of the kingdom to all nations. We will pray that God will attend the proclamation with success and will use it to change hearts and lives.

We will eagerly participate in this wonderful work of the gospel of the kingdom now show closing prayer.

Help us oh Lord to be eager servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Messengers of the gospel whom you will bless and use in this great we praise you that Rod Comrade Conrad came through his kidney stone procedure and is recovering. Thank you. We praise you the Dale Evans got a good report. We thank you that the anxiety and fears for Dale and Charlotte have been relieved. We thank you for the wonderful news of Josiah ever. Veronica Josiah Royce surgery. His dental surgery that was capable of bringing extreme extreme pain and difficulty to him and yet Lord, in your goodness.

You allowed it to go smoothly and to do none of those things and to accomplish the purpose for which it was intended for the want to pray tonight for our government officials and those whom you place an authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in this world. We pray for Alamance Mayor pro tem Nadine Sharp. You will guide her and guard her in usurping this task we pray for our pope to unite touch and strengthen him and allow him to be up and about again for Julius boozy air that you will help him to recover from his foot surgery for Janice Craig in her declining condition for Scott glory in the Philippines who has this fever that you might touch and heal him. Pray for Mary Hicks who is in Cohen hospital with a heart attack and Tyler Rankin, who is in such precarious condition at ICU would do after this this accident on an ATV and we pray Lord that you might spare the life of this young man restore him to kill the pray for Robert suite you will give him the relief that he needs with his heart condition.

Pray for missionary Stuart law, who needs a liver transplant in Trevor Johnson who needs a restoration of his health and Paul Snyder. Likewise, pray for the families of Ivo Booker and Paul Chandler and Thomas Cook and Mark here you might minister graciously to each of these families. We lift up Nancy Bingaman. Pray that you will minister to her needs and bring her successfully through her pancreatic surgery.

We pray for Maria Hobbs who is declining that you might minister graciously and powerfully to her now, Lord, we give our hearts to you a fresh you have bought us such great price.

We are not our own. We have been bought with a price. Lord help us to live in gratitude. The one who loved us and gave himself for as we ask these things in Jesus name