Kingdom Preaching Comes With Power

5 Minute Lessons on the Kingdom of God

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"⁵Then Philip (the only one in Scripture that was called an evangelist by name, Acts 21:8) went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ (the anointed King, the Messiah) unto them.

⁶And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake (they hung on his every word), hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

⁷For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies (who had been paralyzed), and that were lame, were healed.

⁸And there was great joy in that city.

¹²But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." (Acts 8:5‑8, 12 KJV)

Notice what Philip was preaching, the kingdom of God and Jesus as the Anointed Messiah King. The kingdom of God in its simplest form means the rule of God, the reign of God. To accept this rule and reign people must identify themselves with this Messiah by being baptized into His Name. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words states, "'baptizing into the Name' would indicate that the baptized person was closely bound to, or became the property of, the one into whose Name he was baptized." (page 89)

Jesus said,

"But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you." (Luke 11:20 KJV)

Exorcism seemed to be a major sign that Christ had come to overthrow Satan's rule and to redeem all those who God was calling to Himself through repentance and faith (Acts 26:18; 1 John 3:8).

The Apostle Paul said,

"For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." (1 Corinthians 4:20)

Also, in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (KJV),

"⁴And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
⁵That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." (1 Corinthians 2:4‑5 KJV)

This worked its way out in the Thessalonians' lives by turning them from idols to serve the true and living God.

"People everywhere are telling about the way you accepted us when we were there with you. They tell how you stopped worshiping idols and began serving the living and true God." (1 Thessalonians 1:9 New Century Version)

I will never forget seeing this power of God with my own eyes in the state of Florida (USA) as people were being baptized in the ocean. Demons were crying out as individuals were coming under the rule and reign of the Messiah-Savior. I thought to myself, "What is this?" It's the book of Acts, again being visited in the twenty-first century.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

Questions

Philip was the only one in Scripture that was called an evangelist by name.
True or False

Answer

"And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him." (Acts 21:8 KJV)
The preaching of the Kingdom was accompanied by signs, wonders and miracles.
True or False

Answer

"And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did." (Acts 8:6)

"³How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
⁴God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?" (Jesus preached the Kingdom Matthew 4:17; Hebrews 2:3-4 KJV)
Exorcism seemed to be a major sign that Christ had come to overthrow Satan's rule.
True or False

Answer

Jesus said, "But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you." (Luke 11:20 KJV)
When people believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized.
True or False

Answer

"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." (Acts 8:12 KJV)
The kingdom of God in its simplest form means the rule of God, the reign of God.
True or False

Answer

True

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The Gospel Goes to Africa