Welcome to NECF Sermons. Each message here is
designed to uplift and strengthen you in your
walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until
the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive
right in. Turn to your left and right and welcome
your brothers and sisters. We take your seats.
Smile. Your brother in the Lord is not responsible
for how hectic your day is. So, when you come
in the house of God, be full of joy. Hallelujah.
Be full of joy. It's an opportunity for us to
enjoy the word of God. Amen. And I trust that
God will keep speaking to us in Jesus' name.
Matthew 16. Matthew chapter 16. I'm reading from
verse 17. Matthew 16, from verse 17. 17 down
to 19. And Jesus answered and said unto him,
Bless thou, Simon Bar -Jonah, for flesh and blood
hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father
which is in heaven. And I say also unto you,
unto thee, that thou art Peter. And upon this
rock I will build my church, and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it. And I will
give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall
be bound in heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt...
bound shall lose on earth shall be loose in heaven.
Give me verse 17 again. Look at verse 17. In
verse 17 he said that for flesh and blood hath
not revealed it unto you but my Father which
in heaven. My Father who is where? Who is in
heaven. And what he is saying in essence is that
God lives in heaven. Or rather, God dwells in
heaven. Hallelujah. So God, who is spirit, John
chapter 4, verse 24. God, who is spirit, John
chapter 4, verse 24. It says, God is a spirit,
and they that worship him must worship him in
spirit, which is what? Which is truth. So God
is spirit, meaning that the physical eyes cannot
see him. We can't see God with the physical eye.
John 1, verse 18. John 1, 18 talks about, you
know, no one had seen God. No one had seen God.
He says, no man had seen God at any time. The
only begotten son, which is in the... Okay, no
one has seen God at any time. The only begotten
son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared
him unto us. So, the vehicle by which we have
an understanding of who God is, is through the
son. And the son obviously is talking about Jesus
Christ. So how we come to know the father is
through the son. And this God who is spiritual
or who is spirit rather, this God who is spirit
exists or lives in the heaven. Hallelujah. And
then we said heaven means the invisible, right?
We said heaven means what the unseen, which means
he dwells in the unseen. He dwells in the immaterial.
God dwells in the immaterial. It means the realm
of the spirit. You know, it means for us to have
access to God, we must have a relationship with
the immaterial world to have access to God. So,
there are different beings or there are different
characters, we can call characters, beings or
realities in the unseen or in heaven. We've talked
this in the seven meetings about, you know, the
realities of heaven. What is the composition
of heaven? We said heaven is unseen, right? The
unseen realm, meaning that it cannot be accessed
with the physical eyes, but then it is real,
it is true, it exists. And then there are different
components, there are different realities in
this unseen realm. And one of the things that
we saw in the course of our studies is that the
rulers of darkness dwells in heaven. Hallelujah.
We saw that the rulers of darkness, rulers of
darkness, one of the realities we saw in heaven
is that the ruler of darkness lives in heaven.
This is what we call the kingdom of darkness.
Okay, Ephesians chapter 6, verse 12. Ephesians
chapter 6, verse 12. The rulers of darkness lives
in the heavenly, in the unseen. Ephesians chapter
6, verse 12. It says, for we do not wrestle against
flesh and blood, but against who? Principalities
against powers, against the rulers of darkness.
Those who rule darkness of this age against spiritual
hosts of wickedness. Where? Where are they? They
are in the heavenly. That place is not in the
original. They are in the heavenly. Hallelujah.
So it means that the workers of darkness also
live in heaven. Amen? They live where? They live
in heaven. Ephesians 3 verse 10, the same Ephesians
3 verse 10, we'll see also, and other scriptures
we can see, giving us a hint of some of the characters
we have in heaven. To the intent that now the
manifold wisdom of God may be made known by the
church. To who? To the principalities and powers
where? In the heavenly. So these principalities
and powers, same as we saw in chapter 6 verse
12, they dwell where? They dwell in the heaven,
heavenly, in heaven. So if you ask you, what
are the realities of heaven? What are the characters
or what are the composition of heaven? The rulers
of darkness, right? Wickedness, wicked spirit,
they live where? They live in the unseen because
we can't see them with our physical eyes. Amen?
So the realm at which they operate is where?
It's in the heavenly realm. Hallelujah. And also,
The kingdom of God, that is the household of
God, or the family of God, made up of Christ.
Of course, Christ is the head of this family.
And believers, you and I, who are born again,
and even those who are asleep, we also make up
heaven. Are we together? So we have those evil
spirit, wickedness in the heavenly realm. We
also have the kingdom of God also where in this
same heaven. In the unseen. 1 Peter 3, verse
21. 1 Peter 3, 21 and 22. 1 Peter, yes. It says
there is also, yes, there is also an antitype
which now saves us. Baptism. Not the rumour of
the field of the flesh, but the answers of good
conscience towards God through the resurrection
of Jesus Christ. Verse 22. Who has gone into
heaven? Jesus Christ has gone where? Into heaven
at the right hand of God. Angels and authorities
and powers haven't been made subject to him.
Jesus has gone into where? Into heaven. Hallelujah.
Jesus has gone into heaven. Colossians 3 verse
1 to 2. Colossians 3 verse 1 to 2. If then you
were raised with Christ. Talking about who? Talking
about the believer. The believer has been raised
with Christ. Seek those things which were what?
Which were above. Where Christ is. Christ is
where? Christ is in heaven. Alright? Sitting
at the right hand of God. Right hand does not
mean that there is a left hand. We've always
taught this. It means a place of authority. A
place of authority in God. Alright? Verse 2.
Set your mind on things above, not on things
on earth. Set your mind on things above. Are
not things on earth. Ephesians 1 verse 20. Ephesians
1 verse 20. So we are seeing that Christ is in
heaven. Alright. 1 verse 20. Verse 19. Give me
verse 19 then verse 20. It says, And what is
the exceeding greatness of his power towards
us who believe according to the working of his
mighty power, which he worked in Christ when
he raised him from the dead and seated him at
the right hand in the heavenly. So Jesus is where?
is in the heavenly. Alright? Ephesians 2, verse
5 to 6. Ephesians 2, verse 5 to 6. Ephesians
2, 5 to 6. Everywhere we were dead in trespasses
made us alive together with Christ. So Christ,
where is Christ? Christ is in heaven, isn't it?
And we are what? Have been made, even when we
were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together
with Christ. So we are alive together with Christ.
By grace you've been, yes, verse 6 says, and
he raised us up together and made us sit together
in the heavenly. So the believer is where? The
believer is in Christ, but where? In the heavenly.
Hallelujah. Ephesians 3, verse 14 and 16. Ephesians
3, 14 and 16. For this reason, I bow my knees
to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole
family, which family are we talking about? The
kingdom of God, the family of God. Everyone that
believes in Jesus Christ, from whom the whole
family in where? Whole family in where? In heaven
and earth is named. Who are those that are made
of the family of God? Believers. Hallelujah.
Who have gone to sleep? Oh, say they have died.
All right. And we that are still alive, where
are we? We are. In Christ. And he will grant
you the according to riches of glory to be strengthened.
Yes. And then we see, yes, verse 15. Hebrews
12, verse 23. Hebrews 12, verse 23. Hebrews 12,
verse 23. To the dear assembly. Okay. What is
the dear assembly? It is a church of God. The
firstborn who are registered in heaven to God,
a judge registered way in heaven. That is the
residence of the church. That is the residence
of a family of God. You are born. Where are you
born? You are born into heaven. Hallelujah. Your
place of birth is heaven. Amen. You are not trying
to go to heaven, but you are born in heaven.
That is what happened at salvation. You became
born from heaven. When you believe the salvation
message, you are born in heaven. Hallelujah.
Amen. So, rulers of darkness and heaven, there
are other things that we've looked at that are
the realities of heaven. So, we've seen that
the heavenly realm is the unseen realm. Okay?
But then, there is what we call the kingdom of
God. The kingdom of God. Alright? The kingdom
of God in heaven. So, we are not in the same
family with demons and satans and all the wicked
spirits. Are we together? What distings us is
that we are where? We are in the family of God.
So there's a distinction between the kingdom
of darkness, which is in the unseen, and the
kingdom of God, which is still in heavenly. Are
we together? So we define that kingdom, that
we define kingdom as meaning dominion. Okay?
So we are under the word, the dominion of God.
in the heavenly realm. We are under the royal
power of God. We are under the rule, the rulership
of God in the heavenly. Therefore, the kingdom
of God in heaven refers to the sphere of God's
dominion. Are we together? The sphere where God
has dominion, where God has power and exercises
rule and his dominion over. God's dominion, God's
royalty, God's power, God's authority indicating
that in this sphere of of heaven, God is king,
is supreme. And all of us that are part of this
family are part of God's word, God's rule, God's
kingdom, God's family, God's household, which
is spiritual. But we have been delivered from
where? Where have we been delivered from? Colossians
1 verse 13 says that we've been delivered from
the kingdom of darkness. Where were we before?
We're in the kingdom of darkness, alright? And
we've been delivered from the power of darkness
and conveyed us into where? into the kingdom
of the son in his love, which means that salvation
happens where? Where does it happen? It happens
in the unseen. Hallelujah. That is why today,
if you are born again, very short, like me, if
you are born again, you will not change your
height because salvation did not happen in the
physical. It happens where? It happens in the
spiritual. How are we together? So, it's a translation.
From the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom
of light, we become part and parcel of God's
kingdom, of God's family. How did we have access
to the kingdom of heaven? Meaning the kingdom
of God. How did we have access to the kingdom
of God, which is in heaven? How did we have access
to the kingdom of God? Or what we call, yes,
the household of God, the family of God. Matthew
16, 19. Matthew 16, 19 says, and I will give
you the keys of the kingdom. Matthew 16, 19 talks
about what? It talks about keys. And I will give
you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatever
you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. And
whatever you lose on the earth will be lost where?
In heaven. And we saw that Jesus has these keys.
These keys is what we call, we call it the access,
isn't it? Jesus is the one that has this access
to this kingdom. It is through Jesus that we
have access to the kingdom of God, to the family
of God. And to us is given this access. And we
establish that this key or this access is given
when? At the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Amen?
When he died and he rose again, he gave us access
through Jesus. the kingdom. He gave us access
to the kingdom, the kingdom of God. And we say
that this access is what? It's the spirit of
God in us. Hallelujah. So categorically, we concluded
that these keys, this access to the kingdom or
access, you know, to the unseen rather, is the
spirit indwelling man. Every man has the spirit
of God in him when he's born again. That gives
him the ability to have access. to the kingdom
of God, to become part of God's family. John
chapter 3, verse 1 to 9, we see Jesus explaining
this concept to Nicodemus. John chapter 3, from
verse 1 to 9. There was a man of the Pharisees
named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man
came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi,
we know that you are a teacher, come from God,
for no one can do these signs that you do. unless
God is with him. Which means that the teacher
have seen Jesus did signs, okay? Signs that is
pointing to something that is eternal. Something
that is spiritual. And he concluded that God
is with him. For no one can do this thing except
God is with him. Now look at the response of
Jesus. You said to him, most assuredly I say
to you, unless one is what? Unless one is born
again, he cannot have access. The kingdom of
God. Unless one is born again, he cannot have
access to the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said
to him, how can a man be born when he is old?
His focus was on something physical. His attention
was on something natural. Can he enter a second
time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus
answered, most assuredly I say to you. Now he
explained to him what that born again means.
All right? Which is the activity of the spirit
of God. when the Spirit of the world comes into
man. This is the explanation of it. It says,
unless one is born of water, we've explained
that this water refers to what? It's an explanation
of the Spirit because in the Old Testament Scriptures,
the activity of the Spirit is explained with
a symbol of water. And it's expected that a man,
as Nicodemus should understand by the book, that
when we speak of water, we are talking of the
Spirit. Okay? So Jesus answered and said to him,
Most surely I say to you, unless one is born
of water, this and means what? Which is the spirit.
Which is what the spirit does. He cannot have
access to the kingdom of God. Which means to
be in God's kingdom, there must be what? The
activity of the spirit of God in a man. When
the spirit of God comes into a man, that is when
he has access to what? To the kingdom of God.
Verse 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh.
And that which is born of the Spirit, Spirit.
Do not marvel that I say to you, unless that
you must be born again. The wind blows where
it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but
cannot tell where it comes from and where it
goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.
Verse 9. Nicodemus answered and said to him,
How can these things be? And when we read further,
we'll see Jesus continuing the explanation, explaining
to him how a man... can be part of God's family
by the activity of the Spirit, what we call the
new birth. Amen? And in chapter 3, verse 16,
you see, he presents to him the message, okay?
For God so loved the world, right? And he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believed
in him would not perish, but have everlasting
life. Which means that when you put your trust
in what Christ has done, The spirit, the spiritual
birth occurs in a man. So Jesus explains that
the only way to have access to the kingdom is
by what? Help me, by what? By the spirit. Hallelujah.
So the believer is born. Where is the believer
born when he believes the gospel? He is born
in the kingdom of God. He becomes alive in the
kingdom of God. He is. In the kingdom of heaven,
in Christ. The kingdom of heaven where? In Christ.
Hallelujah. He becomes born in the kingdom of
heaven, in Christ. The believer, through the
one spirit, has access to the Father who is in
heaven by what Christ has done. Okay? The believer,
through one spirit, Okay, not another spirit.
All of us through one spirit. Ephesians 2 verse
18 talks about that one spirit. The spirit by
which you access God is essentially by which
I access God. Ephesians chapter 2 verse 18. For
through him, who is that? The spirit. Through
him, we both have access. Through him, we both
have access. This him is talking about Christ
by the spirit. Okay, through him. We both have
access to one Spirit. To where? To the Father.
So where is the Father? We began by saying the
Father is in heaven. Okay? How do we access the
Father? By the Spirit. By the Spirit. Through
what Christ has done. Then the Spirit comes into
us and we have access to the family of God. We
have access to God. So how did we have access
to the kingdom of heaven? By the Spirit of God.
through believing in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
How can we bring others into the kingdom of God?
By preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to them.
The same way with which you receive the spirit
of God and become part of God's family. Equally,
it is the same way. Okay? You didn't become a
believer by hearing fairy tales. Alright? You
didn't become a believer by hearing the story
of my life. You didn't become born again by hearing
the story of your pastor's life. But you become
a believer, a member of God's family, by putting
your trust in the gospel preached to you. So
also for us to bring others equally into God's
family, we must also preach the gospel of Jesus
Christ. So Jesus says in Matthew 16, verse 19,
And whatever you bind on earth, well, Lord, will
be bound in heaven and whatever you lose on earth
will be loosed in heaven. Having the keys will
enable the believer to bind and what? And loose.
Okay? Having the keys, what is the keys? The
spirit will enable the believer to act on behalf
of God. This access grants the believer the authority.
Alright? Having the spirit of God in you grants
you the authority. It gives you The ability,
authority, that key is authority. Amen? That
key in you, the spirit in you is authority. It
gives you the authority to represent the kingdom
of God. Where? Where are you representing the
kingdom of God? On earth. Hallelujah. So by the
spirit in you, you become a representative of
God on the earth. So you have the ability now
to do what? to preach the gospel and bring others
into the kingdom. Acts chapter 1 verse 4 to 8,
you see, Jesus Christ will tell them to wait.
Acts chapter 4 verse 8, Acts 1 verse 4 to 8.
Acts chapter 4, chapter 1 rather, Acts 1 verse
4, yes. And being assembled together with them,
he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem.
But wait for what? Wait for the promise. Without
the promise, they cannot represent him. Amen?
Without a promise. What is a promise? And I'll
give you the keys. Right? Of the kingdom. And
I'll give you the keys of the kingdom. So without
this promise, and this is what has been promised
from the ancient times. Without this key, without
this promise, we cannot represent God. So he
told them, he says, but wait for the promise
of the father, which said, you have had from
me. Verse five. For John truly baptized with
water, but you shall be baptized. ties with the
Holy Spirit not many days from now. Therefore,
when they had come together, they asked him,
saying, Lord, will you at this time restore the
kingdom of Israel? Because their mind is focused
on what? On an earthly kingdom. Okay? Their mind
is focused on an earthly kingdom, but Jesus is
talking about a spiritual kingdom. They're thinking
maybe God will take away the Romans and then
give them the kingdom on earth. Because they
were under Roman occupation. They were under
Roman colonial rule. They asked Jesus, will you
at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? Look
at what Jesus told them. He said to them, it
is not for you to know times or seasons which
the father has put in his own authority. Which
means that, forget about this issue of earthly
kingdom. But you shall receive, what will you
receive? You will receive power. So it's a key
power. Is the Spirit power? Yes. Is it authority?
Yes. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit
has what? Has come upon you and you shall be
what? Shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and
in all Judea. You know, Samaria, is it a Jewish
place? Hmm? I think it's for the Gentiles, right?
The Samaritan. The good Samaritan is a Gentile.
meaning that it includes other nations that are
not Israel. So the apostles will be what? Will
be witnesses where? From Jerusalem, okay? Judea,
which is a Jewish nation. Then Samaria, which
is the Gentile nation, including everyone. And
where? And to the ends of the earth. Hallelujah.
So the gospel, please pay attention, don't be
distracted. Pay attention. So the gospel we preach
in Jerusalem, in Judea, And we're in Samaria
and to the ends of the earth when the spirit
come to them. Hallelujah. So the binding and
loosing is related to what we said is related
to the forgiveness and reconciliation of men.
Isn't it? We saw it last on Sunday that is related
to the forgiveness of sins. In verse 21 or in
John, let's go to John 20 verse 19. John 20 verse.
19 to 23. Then the same day at evening, being
the first day of the week, when the doors were
shut, where the disciples were assembled for
faith of the Jews. This was after the resurrection.
Jesus came and stood in their midst and said
to them, Peace be with you. Verse 20. When he
had said this, he showed them his hands and his
side. when the disciples were, then the disciples
were glad. This glad day is they rejoiced. Hallelujah.
When they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them,
peace to you as the Father has sent me, as the
Father has what? Has sent me. As the Father has
what? Has sent me. So also I do what? I sent
you. The Father has sent him. Then he do what?
And he sent you and I. In our own context. All
right. Then how did he do it? Verse 22. And when
he had said this, he breathed on them and said
to them, receive the Holy Spirit. Now we've done
a teaching here. And then we said that this spirit
will receive a Pentecost. Are we together? So
if you haven't received the spirit, when the
spirit has come and they have received the spirit,
if you forgive the sins of any, what will happen?
They are forgiving them. All right? But how can
they do this? Because they have received what?
The Spirit in them. It's a function of the indwelling
of the Spirit that you can forgive the sins of
others and they are forgiven. If you retain the
sins of any, they are what? They are retained.
And how do we explain giving of forgiveness and
retaining of forgiveness? We say that it's what?
It's in preaching. Are we together? Don't say
that if I offend you and you refuse to forgive
me, God will not forgive me. God has forgiven
me. Okay? So forgiving me is for your own good.
We will fellowship together. This is talking
about the preaching of the gospel. Are we together?
The preaching of the gospel. Because we have
a spirit in us, we can preach and people will
receive forgiveness. In verse 21, he gave authority
to men to act as representative of the kingdom
of God. Of the kingdom of God. The agency by
which we have access to the kingdom of God. is
the Holy Spirit within us. That is the access
we have. That is the authority we have. That
is what makes us able to represent God on earth.
That is what qualifies you to represent God on
your campus. That is what qualifies you to preach
the gospel. Listen, what qualifies you to preach
the gospel is not because your conduct has been
good. Okay? It's not because your life has been
good all along. No. It's because God has saved
you. And he has put his spirit in you. So that
automatically qualifies you to talk about what
Christ has done. So you are with no excuse. When
you say, I cannot talk. My words are, I don't
know how to. No. Because there is an ability
in you. You can speak. You can talk about the
gospel. You can speak about what Jesus has done.
Hallelujah. You can speak about what Jesus has
done to others. Amen. So we see God sharing with
us the access by which men. will come into his
house, into the family. God has given us, he
has shared with us the access by which we can
bring others into the family. Verse 23 means
that the believer says, if you forgive the sins
of any, they are forgiven. It means that the
believer is the determinant by which men are
saved or not. Okay? It means that you are the
determinant. by which men are saved or not. If
you close your mouth from preaching, what you
are saying is, men will not be forgiven. What
you are saying is, the gospel will not reach
men. Okay? You can pray, we prayed here, that
let the word of God prevail in this land of Cyprus.
But the gospel will not prevail if men don't
go out to preach. So as you are praying that
the gospel should prevail, what you are saying
is, Lord, I am going to preach, and as I preach,
the gospel is prevailing. Because if you don't
preach, that prayer will not work. God is not
going to send angels from heaven to come and
preach. You are the angel that God has sent to
preach. Angel means what? A messenger. Are we
together? You are the messenger that God has
sent to preach the gospel. So the answer to the
prayer we prayed earlier on, when they led us,
all of them, they were praying the same thing.
You are the answer to that prayer. Are we together?
God has counted you worthy. of being part of
this plan, of being part of this assignment.
You're not too young for it. You're not too old
for it. Are we together? All of us are partakers
in this assignment because we have the ability
in us. The Spirit of God lives in us. Therefore,
we can represent God on our campuses, in our
homes, in our families, wherever we are. We must
preach the gospel because that is our identity.
In fact, I call it a family trade. That is a
family business. That is a family business. We
preach the gospel. We tell people about the family
of God. And we tell people how they can be part
of this family by showing to them what Christ
has done, that Christ has forgiven sins. Are
we together? So let's go to Mark, Mark chapter
16. Let's see something very important with the
time we have. Mark chapter 16, verse 15. Mark
16, 15 and 16. And he said to them, go into all
the world and preach what? Preach what? The gospel,
right? To who? To every creature. This every
creature means men. Okay? You don't preach the
gospel to your cat. You don't preach the gospel
to your dog. Because your dog. cannot receive
salvation. Every creature here means men, male
and female, of all nations, of all nationalities.
Alright? He who believes and is baptized, this
baptized simply means that he who believes is,
what is the word baptized here? Eh? To be immersed
in this truth, right? He who believes, this belief
is what we call baptized. will be saved. Okay?
But he who does not believe will be what? Will
be condemned. So when you don't preach, later
on we see in Romans, it says that if men are
not sent, how will they hear? Alright? But we
have a calling upon our lives and our calling
is to do what? Is to preach the gospel. Is to
preach the gospel. So what is the gospel? What
is the gospel? What is the gospel? Someone should
call us for it. What is the gospel? Huh? We don't
know the gospel? Okay. It's a dead and burial
of Jesus Christ and his resurrection, right?
Do we call it good news? Is it something sweet
to hear? Right? Oftentimes, you know, the word
gospel is referred to as good news, typically
associated with something sweet and pleasant.
Okay? However, however, we're going to study
this right now. However, in its original context,
the word gospel is associated with warfare. Okay?
It's associated with what? With warfare. A king,
war and claiming territories. The word gospel
in its original context, that word gospel is
associated with warfare. A king waging a war
and then claiming a territory. And when he claims
a territory, that territory becomes his territory.
Hallelujah. So that is a context, original context
of that word. The word gospel is translated from
a Greek word. The Greek word, let me spell it
for us. E -U -A -N -G -E -L -I -O -N. Let me
spell it again. E -U -A -N -G -E -L -I -O -N.
Euangelion. Or Galeon. Yes, it's Galeon. Which
means good tidings. It means good tidings in
the Greek. Alright? Now, the first time this
word is used in the Bible is actually in the
book of Samuel. 2 Samuel. It's used in the book
of 2 Samuel 1 verse 20. 2 Samuel 1 verse 20.
2 Samuel 1 verse 20. We are seeing the origin
of that word, okay? 2 Samuel 1, verse 20. He
said, tell it not in Gath. Proclaim it not in
the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of
the Philistine rejoice, lest the daughters of
the uncircumcised triumph. Now, the word proclaim
here is the word gospel or good tidings. It's
a Hebrew word, basah. Okay? B -A -S -A -R. The
Hebrew word basar as seen in 2 Samuel, which
means to bear news, to carry news. All right?
Move to 2 Samuel 4, verse 10. Let's see another
place where it's used. 2 Samuel 4, verse 10.
2 Samuel 4, verse 10. When someone told me, say,
look, Saul is dead. Who is Saul? Huh? Saul was
a king, right? Saul is dead. Thinking to have
brought good news. Thinking to have brought what?
A bazaar. Okay? Who is talking here? David is
the one talking here. David is also what? He's
also a king. Alright? I arrested him and executed
him and executed Ezekiel. The one who thought
I will give him a reward for his news. Because
he was thinking that the death of Saul was a
good news to David. Right? Good news. Good tidings.
2 Samuel 18, verse 19. 2 Samuel 18, verse 19
to 20. Yes. Then Ahimaz, the son of Zadok, said,
let me run now and take the word. This news is
what is the gospel. This news is the word Basar.
To the king, you see, any way you see the word
basar, you will see a king is involved in the
conversation. A kingdom is involved in the conversation.
Are we together? Oftentimes you see this word
basar, you see that a kingdom is involved. A
king is involved in the conversation. Let me
run now and take the news to the king, how the
Lord has avenged him of his enemies. Verse 20.
And Joab said to him, You shall not take the
news this day, for you shall take the news another
day. The news day is the word basar, which is
referring to what? The good news, what we call
the good tidings. But today you shall take no
news because the king's son is dead. It was an
announcement of the death of Absalom. Absalom
was a man that rose in opposition to King David.
All right? So, The word good news here is associated
to the kingship of David. Turn to verse 31. You
see verse 31? Verse 31. Verse 31. Yes. Just then
the Cushite came and the Cushite said, There
is good news, my lord the king, for the Lord
has avenged you this day of all those who rose
against you. Similarly, he's talking about David.
Alright? David and his rulership of his case
ship. So the word is always used in the context
of war reports. We've said this before. The word
is associated to what? With war. Case ship. Rulership.
The throne. And oftentimes with death of someone.
So it is always used in the context of war reports
or royal news. You know what the royal news is?
News that has to do with a kingship. Okay? Sometimes
the news could be good, which means victory.
Sometimes bad. For example, now we saw the death
of Saul was a good news. Why is it a good news?
It's supposed to be a good news to David because
Saul is dead. And when Saul is dead, who becomes
a king? David is legitimized as king, right?
So it is supposed to be a good news. And the
person bringing the news, was seeing himself
bringing a good tithing to David. Saul is dead.
But in the end, David translated it as a bad
news because he was celebrating. We'll look at
the story where we discover that he killed the
what? God's servant. Hallelujah. So he was executed
for that. Amen. So sometimes it's bad news. Death
of Saul, for example, and Absalom as we see.
But a verb itself means to announce news, okay?
It means tidings, to announce news or good tidings.
So how does the word relate to the kingdom and
kingship? How does this word really relate to
kingdom and kingship? Let's go further. Now,
in the ancient Near East world, in this region,
we're talking about this region, okay? When we
talk about the ancient Eastern region, We're
talking about where we are to the Middle East,
right? News. The verb is bizarre. B -I -S -S
-E -R. The verb is bizarre. Was often tied to
the faith of the king and the kingdom. Okay?
It was often tied to the faith of the king and
the kingdom. A kingdom affairs. So when Saul
died in 2 Samuel 1 verse 20, which we read, David
said, tell it not in gath, publish it not. This
word publish, the word proclaim or publish is
what it means to proclaim this news. Why? Because
the death of a king was news, all right, that
affects the honor and the security of the kingdom.
Are we together? So when David received this
news about Saul, The messenger thought the king
would reward him for this news. Unfortunately,
he was executed. So in that culture, in the near
eastern world, in that culture, reporting news
about a king's reign or victory or death was
the highest form of titans. And where it come
from? You know, they used to say a word, which
now I begin to relate to me. They said that it's
not in the mouth of a slave that you will hear
the announcement of the passing away of a king.
I just translated, I don't know whether it's,
Pastor Victor, did I just say that word? It's
a saying that is not in the mouth of a slave,
all right, okay, that you hear the announcement
of the death of a king, which means that it is
an important news that not everybody, can dispel
that news. Okay? When Queen Elizabeth died in
the UK, you didn't see it on a block. Was it
like a leaked news in the block that the queen
died? No. Okay? It was announced by what? By
the palace. What did you call it? The palace
has to announce the passing away of the queen
because this is a news that can only come from
what? from an official channel communicating
the affairs of the kingdom. The queen has passed
away. Are we together? So, Bisa or Basa, as we
call it, is not just general news. It's not gossip
on gossip news or on Sahara news or I don't know,
whatever blogs you have. It's not just any kind
of news, but specifically royal. political news
about the king's life. Okay? It's about the king's
life, about his enemies. And the stability of
the kingdom is around the king and their affairs
of the kingdom, about his life, and about whatever
revolves around the royal house. In 2 Samuel
18 -19, we saw Ahima wanted to run and bring
good tidings. that the Lord has avenged the king.
That is, his enemy has died. Here, the title
confirms what this Ahima was to bring, right?
Brought, rather. Confirms, what does it confirm?
It confirms that David's kingship is divinely
backed by God. Okay? That God has given him victory
over Absalom's rebellion because Absalom was
rebelling against King David. Alright? So, in
this sense, the gospel in Samuel is what? Is
a news of the king's triumph. Is the news of
the king's triumph. The king has triumphed. Showing
that his rule is secure and legitimate. Are we
together? So it shows the legitimacy of the king's
rulership. He has no longer anyone fighting for
the throne with him. His rulership is legitimized
and then he stands as the king, the only king.
There are no other kings. Okay? So this is the
context of the use of the word basa in the altar
setting. Then later on we will see the prophets.
They employ the usage of this word with the context
we have concerning rulership, concerning royalty,
concerning political news that revolves around
the kingship. Later on, we see prophets use the
word as proclaiming good news of God's reign.
Alright? Prophets later on will utilize this
word as proclaiming good news of God's reign.
Isaiah 40, verse 9. Let's look at how they utilize
it. Isaiah 40, verse 9. Isaiah 40, verse 9. Isaiah
40, verse 9. Okay. O Zion, who bring good, what?
Good tidings. You see the use of the word? Who
bring good tidings? Get up into the high mountain,
O Jerusalem. You who bring good tidings, lift
up your voice with strength. Lift up. Be not
afraid. Say to the cities of Judah, behold, what?
Your God. Hallelujah. So the prophet here is
using that word to describe what? Proclaiming
the goodness of God's reign. Remember, this is
a prophecy, right? 57. chapter 57 verse 7. Another
way where the prophet uses, very popular, Isaiah
57 verse 7. Am I correct here? Is it 57? 52.
52 verse 7. 52 verse 7. How beautiful upon the
mountains are the feet of him who brought good
news. What is the good news? Who proclaims peace?
Who brings glad tidings of good things? You see?
Good, good, good, good news. The news is good.
It's glad tidings. Who proclaims what? You see?
It's now salvation. Okay? Who says to Zion, your
God what? Your God reigns. Hallelujah. Your God
reigns. Nahum 115. Nahum 115. Now, home 115.
Behold, on the mountains. He's always on the
mountain. Hallelujah. He's always on the mountains.
I think mountain is a motif. You know what motif
is, right? It speaks of something. Okay? Behold,
on the mountains, the feet of him who brings
what? Good tidings. Who proclaims peace. Oh,
Judah, keep your appointed feast. Perform your
vows, for the wicked one shall no more pass through
you. He is utterly cut off. Okay? And when we
read further, we discover that he's speaking
about what God has established. His reign. Hallelujah.
So in Samuel, the verb is tied to earthly kings.
Okay? We see that the word basah is used to describe
the activity with earthly kings, human kings.
Is that what we saw? Right? Then in Isaiah and
other prophets, we see in Isaiah and other prophets,
we see that the same word or the same verb is
lifted to a higher level, announcing the reign
of Yahweh as king. Okay? Announcing the reign
of God, our God, Yahweh, as king. Alright? This
lays the groundwork for the New Testament gospel,
because the gospel was written with the context
of the Old Testament. So the gospel, as we see
in Matthew, in Mark 16, 15 and 16, that we are
to preach, okay, is the announcement that Jesus,
the son of David, is a true king. All right?
His enthronement. And his reign is established
by victory. Hallelujah. His reign is established
by what? By victory. That means the gospel in
the New Testament, as we see in the gospels,
the gospel as written in the, what we call the
New Testament scriptures, is not simply an encouragement.
Okay? It's not simply an encouragement or a moral
teaching. It is the royal proclamation. It is
a royal proclamation of what? Of God's victory,
of a king's victory and reign. So the word gospel
in a New Testament context is what? Is a proclamation.
is a royal proclamation of a king's victory and
his reign. The gospel is the public announcement.
What is the public announcement? That Jesus is
what? Is Lord. Son of David, the risen king.
That Jesus is Lord. So when we go to preach,
what you are going to do is that you are declaring,
okay? You are declaring the enthronement of Jesus
as king. You're not just telling people something
sweet to get them excited. Of course, it should
get people excited that their sins are forgiven.
But beyond that, what you're saying is that you
are declaring that God in Christ has become king
and he reigns. Are we together? You are declaring
a royal news concerning the enthronement of God,
God's kingdom among men. Okay? So in Samuel,
the good tidings were often about victory in
battle. Victory in battle. We're trying to compare
and contrast and see the context in the gospel.
It's about victory in battle. For example, in
the case of Absalom, defeated in 2 Samuel 18.
In the New Testament, the gospel proclaims that
Christ has conquered sin. Are we together? The
gospel proclaims that Christ has what? He has
conquered sin. He has conquered death. And he
has conquered Satan. So when you go to preach,
what you are declaring to people is that Christ
has conquered sin. Okay? Sin is no longer in
reign. In power. You are declaring that death
has lost its power. You are declaring that Satan
has lost its power. That is what you do at preaching
the gospel. And you are announcing the rulership
of God. The rulership of the kingdom of God.
In whose God is the king. Are we together? That
is what we do by preaching the gospel. You are
announcing that he has disarmed the rulers and
the authorities. You remember what we read? Let's
go back to that Colossians 2 verse 15. Colossians
2 verse 15. You are announcing that Christ has
disarmed principalities. That is conquering.
That is conquest. Having disarmed what? Principalities.
Where are these principalities located? We read
it earlier. Where are they? They are in the heavenly,
right? So when you preach the gospel, what you
are declaring is that Christ has what? Has disarmed
principalities and what? And powers. And he has
made them a public spectacle of them. How? Triumphing
over them in his death and his burial and his
resurrection. So when you go to preach, when
you see someone possessed with demons, what do
you do? You demonstrate. Are we together? What
are you demonstrating? You are demonstrating
the triumph of God in Christ. Okay? You're not
just preaching for people to feel that people
are forgiven of their sins. Of course, this is
true, isn't it? Fundamentally. But what you are
declaring is that God has the victory. All right?
All you're declaring is that God has conquered
Satan. He has conquered the principalities and
rulers of the kingdom of darkness. Are we together?
So, this is the implication of preaching the
gospel. This is what we are preaching. This is
what we are declaring. We are declaring his works.
that he has disarmed the rulers and the authorities,
triumphed over them by the cross. Just as David's
messengers shouted, the king has prevailed. We
who are apostles today, what do we shout? Christ
is risen, death is defeated. That is our message.
We are declaring the triumphant of Satan by Christ,
by what he has done. So the gospel is a war report.
Are we together? It's a war report. That is why
I said earlier on that the gospel, preaching
of the gospel is warfare. The gospel is war report
of God's final victory. When you go to preach,
have this understanding that you are going to
do it to declare the victory of God, the conquest
of God in Christ Jesus. It's a victory report
you are declaring. That God in Christ has become
victorious over sin, over Satan, over the rulers
of darkness, over all the authority of Satan.
Hallelujah. So in Isaiah 52 verse 7, Bazaar,
it raised Bazaar higher. It says, your God reigns.
This is the essence of the prophetic good news.
Jesus will let us say in Mark 1, verse 14 to
15, the time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God
is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.
So, the good news we preach is not just. It is
that God in Christ has forgiven sin. Are we together?
But it's not just that God forgives. but that
God has taken the throne as king through Jesus
Christ. All right? So if you have received the
gospel, what it means is that you are not just
forgiving your sins. What it means is that God
has become king in your life. It means that he
has conquered sin in you. He has conquered every
activity of Satan in you. And God has become
what? God has become king in you. So in this,
environment we are, in this sphere, in the family
of God, is where God reigns. Amen? Therefore,
you are no longer a slave to what? To sin. Are
we together? Therefore, we are no longer a slave
to principalities and rulers of darkness because
we are under the rulership of a superior power.
Hallelujah. Even though we are in heaven, okay,
but those spiritual forces are under our feet.
In Christ Jesus. Are we together? Because God
in Christ has triumphed over Satan. So the gospel
is the enthronement announcement of God's rule
over all creation. When you go to preach, you
are announcing the enthronement of God. Alright?
You are announcing the defeat of a ruler. and
the victory of another ruler. Hallelujah. Now,
in the New Testament, the gospel is not optional
information. It's not an optional information.
It is a king's proclamation demanding a response.
It is a king's proclamation demanding what? A
response. And what is a response? Believe it.
And when you believe it, what happens? You enter
the kingdom. And when you reject it, what do
you do? You remain in rebellion. Are you together?
You remain in rebellion. So to receive the gospel
is to bow to the king's reign. That is what it
means. To receive the gospel simply means that
you are bowing to the reign of who? Of the kings
of kings and the ruler of all. You're under the
authority of a king. And in this kingdom, we're
going to look at it subsequently. There's a culture.
There's a governance rule. There's a principle
that operates this kingdom. All right? We're
under a king that governs with rules. And I mean
rules. I mean principles that guide our living
in the kingdom. Fundamentally, it's love. Hallelujah.
Amen? Fundamentally, it's love. So when pastor
begins to teach us about the things of the Spirit,
he's telling us our culture in the kingdom. That
is what we do. Hallelujah. When they begin to
say, you lay hand, that is what we do in this
kingdom. It is our culture. That is why Paul
would say, do not be ignorant of the spirituals.
Because that is where you are. That is where
you operate from. Hallelujah. So what is the
preaching of the gospel? What is the preaching
of the gospel? The preaching of this gospel is
like sending messengers to announce a king's
victory to those who are still under the enemy
occupation. Do you understand? It's like you
are sent to go out and announce. For example,
now, in this territory, okay, in Lefkosha, okay,
For example, now, the Britain have conquered
the presidents, but then there are some officers
here holding us captive. Okay? So, an announcer
will come from left culture to this hole and
say, don't you know, have you not heard that
there's a victory that has been announced? All
these people standing no longer have legitimacy
over you because there's a change of government.
Amen? So when we believe that news that came,
which is the gospel, what does the news do to
you? It liberates you, right? If you choose not
to believe and you continue to serve those tax
masters, what will happen? You remain captive,
even though there's news of deliverance, of a
conquest that has happened. So what we do is
that we go to occupied territories under the
enemy's occupation. Ephesians 6 verse 12 talks
about the occupation. We go to these territories.
And when you go to these territories, it's warfare.
Are we together? That is why the preaching of
the gospel cannot be done carnally. Because the
preaching of the gospel is a spiritual activity.
Ephesians chapter 6 verse 12 talks about the
preaching of the gospel. What is it? Ephesians
chapter 6 verse 12. For we do not wrestle against
flesh and blood, but against what? What do we
wrestle against? Against spiritual what? Against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts
of wickedness in the heavenly places. Give me
verse 11. So put on the whole armor of God that
you may be able to stand against the wiles of
the devil. All right? Because when the preaching
of the gospel is equally for you to announce
and go to this occupied territory, okay, it's
a war. It's warfare. Are we together? But it's
a warfare that has been won by Christ. Hallelujah.
It's a warfare that has been won by Christ. So
the preaching, of the gospel is therefore not
neutral. It is active warfare against spiritual
darkness. It is active warfare against what?
Spiritual darkness. So what we are telling you,
preach the gospel, preach the gospel, preach
the gospel. We are telling you that engage in
war, engage in war. And you don't go into it
casually. Hallelujah. You don't go into it casually.
You don't go into this casually. It is spiritual
warfare. Active warfare against spiritual darkness.
Breaking strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10 verse
3 to 5. For though we walk In the flesh. Now
this flesh is talking about in our human body.
Right? We do know against what? Against physical
people. Alright? Verse 4. For the weapons of
our warfare are not physical. but mighty in what?
In God. Okay? For pulling down what? Strongholds.
Where is this stronghold? Hmm? In people's what?
In people's mind. Casting down what? Arguments.
Have you ever gone to preach the gospel and somebody
begins to bring one latest argument for you that
you've never had before? Alright? That is what
you go against as a messenger of the goodness
of the victory that God has done in Christ. Casting
down arguments and every high thing that does
what? That exalts itself against the knowledge
of God and bringing every thought that does not
align with the truth of the gospel. Bringing
every thought into captivity to what? To the
obedience of Christ. Because God is in rule.
He's in charge. He has conquered sin. He has
conquered Satan. And he has conquered whatever
the enemy is. Hallelujah. So I want to encourage
you, right, to be intentional about this activity.
Please, as a believer, heaven, or let me use
the word, the kingdom of God, is counting on
you. To do what? To declare what Christ has done.
You must be intentional. That is your primary
purpose in life. This semester, make it a duty
with this understanding that this week I'm going
to wage the spiritual warfare. Are we together?
I'm going to bind and loose. Now, I'm not binding
and loosing somebody in your village. When they
say pray for ancestral cause, you see the tone
of the prayer will change. You pray for souls,
all right? And when you pray for souls, you're
depending on what? On the help of heaven to execute
that tax. As a believer, take time to pray as
you go into the week because you're looking forward
to an opportunity where you find an occupied
life. Okay? And what do you do? You declare the
victory of God, thereby expelling what? That
reign of Satan and declaring the enthronement
of God in that life. Hallelujah. Because this
territory we are talking about is men, is people.
Are we together? And we convert these people
into what? Into the dwelling place of God. We
make them into the house of God, where God inhabits
and where God dwells. And that is your assignment
and that is my assignment. So we must be intentional.
That is how we manifest this kingdom. Are we
together? The Bible will say that it's not in
meat. It's not in eating and drinking. It's joy
in the activities of the Holy Ghost. So what
is the implication of this? The implication is
this, as I round up. Every gospel sermon, teaching,
or proclamation is what? It's a spiritual warfare.
Because we confront sin and darkness. Colossians
1 verse 13. That is what we confront, sin and
darkness. Colossians 1 verse 13. We confront
sin and darkness. He has delivered us from the
power of darkness, right? Darkness has power,
okay? That's what we confront. Darkness has power.
And then we convey men into what? Into the kingdom
of the son of his love. We establish God's rule
in human heart. We enthrone God in people's heart.
By the preaching of the gospel. What it means
is that preachers are like the modern day messengers
that goes to announce the news concerning the
activity of a king. And in this context, who
is a king? God is our king. Alright? It's an
honorable news. It's a privileged news that you
have to go and announce. And if you don't do
that responsibility, it means that you are failing.
It means that we are failing. It means that I
am failing. You don't do that by accident. You
do that with every level of intentionality. Set
a day in the course of the week. On Thursdays,
I don't have classes, but I'll pray for Thursday
on Sunday. God, as I prepare for Thursday, help
me, lead me. On Tuesday, you are praying for
Thursday. Send me to someone. On Wednesday, you
are praying for Thursday? Then on Thursday, you
do what? You go into the day with intention.
I'm going out today. You're not just going to
just throw. You know, I want to see my lecturer.
I want to see my course advisor. Then I will
just see if I see somebody in case I see somebody.
No, no, no, no, no. That's not how you watch
this warfare. You go with intentionality. Today,
as I woke up from morning, this is what I'm going
to do today. Looking for opportunity. That I
will share this news with someone. And then doing
the course that God has put before you. So you
are announcing victory to territories yet unconquered.
That is what you are doing. Because the heart
of a man that is not in Christ is an unconquered
territory. And what you do is that you declare
the rulership of God. The conquest that he did
on the cross of Calvary. The response of the
herald decides whether the territory joins God's
kingdom or remains under enemy control. These
are familiar words. Enemy control and God's control.
Hallelujah. So the response of a man to the gospel
is depending whether he will be part of God's
family or he will be under enemy control. Conclusively,
Mark 16. From verse 14 to 20 that we read earlier
on, portrays his preaching the gospel as continuing
role of a biblical messenger. And that is who
we are. Continuously. That is our responsibility.
That is what we do. Announcing the king's victory.
And later on we will see. Give me that text as
we close. Mark 16. And he said to them, go into
all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature. Okay? He who believes and is baptized
will be saved, but he who does not believe will
be condemned. Okay? And these signs will follow
those who believe. In my name they will do what?
They will cast out devils. Alright? They will
speak with new tongues. So what are you doing?
You are announcing the king's victory. You are
confronting spiritual enemies. Not physical enemies.
And what are those spiritual enemies? Devils.
Alright? And establishing God's reign on the
earth. Do you know that unbelief is demonic?
Oh, you don't know? You think it's just intellectual?
It's a grip of the enemy. You think it's just,
people are just, are just okay. Life is, no.
It's a grip of the enemy. They are slaves. Unbelief
is a demonic activity. And the only way a man
can be free from that is by the preaching of
the gospel. So what we're doing is that we're
establishing God's reign on earth. Every sermon
we preach, every act of the gospel proclamation
is a spiritual battle report. What do we do?
We declare that Jesus is Lord and is victorious.
It's a victorious scheme. Hallelujah. I just
want you to close your eyes and pray for yourself
and say, Lord, with this understanding, about
this kingdom business. I do it with all seriousness.
Please pray for yourself. Pray for yourself that
you do this work with all of your heart. or follow
us on social media. If you are encouraged, share
this message with someone you care about. Until
next time, stay blessed.