Kingdom Restoration by Pastor Scott Peterson
Kingdom Restoration – “on earth as in heaven”
The Kingdom of God is a grand renewal & restoration of God’s design – a life that we long for with Him!
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near” – Matthew 4:17
Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of heaven’s arrival in Matthew 4. He began to teach the people about kingdom living in Matthew 5 (eight Beatitudes – blessings of kingdom people); He taught His disciples about kingdom influencers (Salt & Light) in verses 13-16.
Scripture Study: Matthew 5:13-16 – a call to be kingdom influencers who make an impact for God’s good
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?
It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Jesus continued to teach with great authority on daily living principles based in the commands of the kingdom – Matthew 5-7.
In Matthew, chapter 8, we see a transition from His kingdom teaching –from principles to live by, to kingdom of God deliverance: miracles of healing, restoring, deliverance & the dead being raised to life (Matthew 9:25). This was when everything shifted and people began to ask about His authority, identity, and the impact of the kingdom of God. John the Baptist asked this very important question (that each of us should ask), “Are you the One who was to come?” Jesus replied, “Go and report to John what you hear and what you see: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the good news is preached to the poor.” – Matthew 11:5
Kingdom Renewal – restoring the old and making all things new
The Greek word for renewal, palingenesia, comes from two words joined together. Paling means, “again”and genesia has the meaning of “beginning” – so, beginning again, as in Genesis again; Garden restored; New Creations & so much more!
As we finish our study in the Kingdom of God teachings of Jesus, I am going to lead us in a study of some of the great deliverance stories found in Luke’s gospel; they are accounts of renewal, restoration and making things new again as God meant them to be, for this was and is the kingdom ministry of Jesus: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed…”
Do it again, Lord; do a new work of Your release, renewal & restoration in us and in our midst, by Your grace & for Your glory!
May Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth (in our midst) as it is in heaven (kingdom restoration).
A day is coming soon (and can be seen in His kingdom work today) when, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Behold, I am making everything new!”
Revelation 21:4-5
