1. The Gospel Many Have Never Heard
Matthew 4: 17, 3: 24, 31-33

2. The Gospel Many Have Never Heard Matt 4:17,13: 24, 31-33
What do you think of this: “The Goal is not to get to heaven”?
We easily see importance of Matt 4:17 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Jesus spoke often, maybe always, of Kingdom.
Is it future? Perfect active verb= immediacy, complete, present, fulfilled.
NOT coming some day, NOT almost here…

3. The Gospel Many Have Never Heard Matt 4:17,13: 24, 31-33
Jesus spoke of ‘kingdom’ 126 times in gospels…
To Jews kingdom was future, not present, and to do with law, temple, and Jerusalem.
We must remember ‘repent’ as ‘change the direction of your thinking and life’.
Acts 1:3, “After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” (emphasis added)

4. The Gospel Many Have Never Heard Matt 4:17,13: 24, 31-33
Acts 19:8 “Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.”
Acts in 28:30-31, “Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.”
Kingdom HAD come and is not complete, so still coming in a way

5. The Gospel Many Have Never Heard Matt 4:17,13: 24, 31-33
Following Jesus brings the kingdom to our lives.
How do we enter and be part of the kingdom?
Matthew 5: 20 says, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
They kept outward appearance clean, if we clean up inner life we exceed them.

6. The Gospel Many Have Never Heard Matt 4:17,13: 24, 31-33
“whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”. Matt 18:4
‘born of water and the Spirit’ is natural birth plus Spiritual birth (John 3:6)
Jesus’ primary message was the availability, presence, and power of the kingdom of God, the central teaching of the NT.
Welcome to the kingdom through surrender, humility, trust, willingness to change…

7. The Gospel Many Have Never Heard Matt 4:17,13: 24, 31-33
Discipline is doing things over and over so they come more easily.
Is the kingdom near you? Have you repented?
To know the King is to see and hear and enjoy living in His Kingdom. Have fun!
Disciplined effort results in enjoyment, it is the Kingdom here and becoming more complete.
Don’t just wait to get to heaven, live in Jesus kingdom now and forever!