A Message of Hope

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.  Matthew 4: 23
            Jesus proclaimed the “good news of the kingdom.”  Great crowds gathered to hear the teaching and be healed.  First century Judea was an amazing time in the history of the world.  God came to earth to save His creation.  What is different today about that message?  Is it still good news?  Can people still come to Jesus for healing?  Is God still working to save His creation? 
            These are the questions we want to explore today and during the upcoming study of the Sermon on the Mount.  People flocked to hear to hear the “good news of the kingdom.”  Large crowds from every town and region came to hear what Jesus had to say (vs 25).  They came to be healed of every disease.  They came to experience God on earth.
            Today in the year 2012, we need to consider why people should be drawn to Christ now.  Can they still respond to the “good news of the kingdom?”  Can they still be healed by the power of God from their diseases?  How we talk about our Savior to the world indicates the answer to these questions for us and others.
            The “good news of the kingdom” is still a viable message in our world today.  We enter His kingdom and serve Him in this world not for a reward after death, but for life here and now.  We spread His kingdom by our every action in this world.  We are his change agents that seek to fulfill the prayer that His will is done on earth as it is in heaven.  People flock to the message of the “good news of the kingdom.”
            God heals people in the world today.  James tells us to pray for healing.  We are told to have faith in God for that healing (James 5).  People come to Jesus for all kinds of healing.  They look for healing from their physical ailments.  They seek healing from all types of addictions.  Primarily, we come to Jesus for spiritual healing.  He is able to save us from ourselves (see Romans 6 and 7). 
            Our message to the world must be filled with the “good news of the kingdom.”  We must tell people about the wonderful healing associated with Jesus.  While we know that we may always have physical issues, God wants to provide the spiritual healing necessary for us to enter His kingdom and live with Him forever.  That is an eternal message that connects with everyone. 
Scripture:  Matthew 4: 23-25