The Gospel Of The Kingdom by Apostle Michael Orokpo: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

What Gospel Actually Means

The word gospel — transliterated from the Greek euangelion and the Hebrew bisora — was not a commonly used word in ancient times. These words describe a message that is too good to be true, yet true nonetheless. Such messages only come when kings make declarations, because in the ancient world only kings held the level of power to bring to citizens possibilities that seemed impossible.

A royal decree that brings glad tidings — too good to be true yet true — is what we call the gospel. Isaiah 52:7 — \"How beautiful are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your king reigns.'\" It is a royal message, because only the king has the capacity to do what seemed impossible. Isaiah 61:1 — \"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.\" He has anointed me — the empowerment of a king. Romans 1:16 — \"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes.\"

The Six Expressions of the Gospel

The word gospel is used in several specific expressions throughout the Bible. Each captures a different emphasis of the same holistic message:

• The Gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 1:1) — emphasizes His divinity and sunship. Every time this phrase is used, it is revealing Jesus as the Son of God, the king of kings.
• The Gospel of Grace (Acts 20:24) — emphasizes the unmerited favor of God, everything Christ brought that you do not deserve. If I have the righteousness of God, that is grace — I don't qualify based on merit, but Jesus made me righteous.
• The Gospel of God (Romans 1:1) — emphasizes the sovereignty of God: that He was able to become flesh while remaining divine, to taste of death as an immortal and rise again. Only God could do that. His absolute authority is on display.
• The Gospel of Peace (Ephesians 6:15) — emphasizes the reconciliation power of the gospel. A murderer can be forgiven and restored. Two enemies can put their crisis behind them. We come from different backgrounds and yet we call one another brothers and sisters — because the gospel has reconciled us.
• The Eternal Gospel (Revelation 14:6-7) — the holistic end of the gospel, where salvation and judgment coincide. At the end of time, God will recompense those who accepted Him and separate from Himself those who rejected Him. There is no middle ground.

All five expressions, taken together, constitute the gospel of salvation. And salvation, when received and lived under God's authority, becomes the gospel of the kingdom. The kingdom is the most comprehensive expression, capturing all the others.

The Progressive Manifestation of the Kingdom

God's agenda from the beginning has been kingdom. From the moment He created man, His first declaration was about dominion. Genesis 1:26-28 — \"Let them have dominion.\" He created man for the purpose of government. The blessing He gave was the ability to prosper — which means the ability to exercise dominion is His ability, not man's. The entire creation enterprise is designed to bring the manifestation of His kingdom into the earth realm.

The kingdom has manifested progressively through history:

1. God's authority in creation — He creates realms and automatically becomes their king. Everything created is subject to Him.
2. God's authority in a broken world — When man fell, the world became chaotic. But God still had authority to save. He slew an animal and used the blood to cover man — the first atonement. No matter how broken the world is, God has authority to save whomever He chooses.
3. God's restorative program through promises, covenants, and laws — In a broken world, the way God restores what is destroyed is through holding on to His promises, entering covenants, and staying within the ambit of His laws. Isaiah 9:6-7 — \"Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, the government shall be upon His shoulder.\" I am going to give you a son — and when that son comes, the kingdom will be back.
4. The announcement of the kingdom through Jesus — Matthew 4:17 — \"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.\" He announced it in words and in the demonstration of power. Luke 11:20 — \"If I by the finger of God cast out devils, it means the kingdom of God has come to you.\"
5. The formal inauguration of the kingdom — through the cross and resurrection. When Jesus merely announced it, only He embodied it. But when He died and rose from the dead, it became available to everybody. Colossians 2:15 — He spoiled principalities and powers. Matthew 28:18 — All power in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go in that power.
6. The embodiment and manifestation of the kingdom by believers — You embody it, now you manifest it. Acts 1:8 — You shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto Me. Matthew 28:18-20 — Go therefore, disciple all nations.
7. The ultimate consummation — Revelation 20-21 — Jesus reigns with His people for a thousand years. Then a new earth appears and a new Jerusalem descends. The civilization of that city will be fully regulated by Jesus Christ, and all its citizens will be in perfect synchronization with the kingdom — which was God's original plan from Genesis 1.

We are currently in the sixth phase — embodying and manifesting the kingdom. This is where God is in the progression. So when we deal with the gospel of the kingdom now, our focus is on Christ, what He did, and the implication of what He did in and through our lives.

The Four Components of the Kingdom

The kingdom as God intends it to be experienced by believers stands on four pillars. A complete gospel of the kingdom must capture all four:

1. The Life of God

   John 3:3 — \"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.\" You begin kingdom work not with dos and don'ts but by receiving the life of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; that which is born of the spirit is spirit. If you don't have the life of God, anything you do is dead works — your piety, your humility, your submission are still not vetoed by the spirit of God.

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   Apostle Michael Orokpo

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   This life is what frees you from sin. Romans 8:2 — \"The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.\" Without the life of God, even holy living becomes a struggle — because it requires a change of nature first. Romans 7:19-24 captures Paul's anguish: I want to do good but I find myself doing what I don't want to do. Who will free me? Romans 8:1-2 gives the answer: no condemnation in Christ Jesus, and the life-giving Spirit sets you free.

   Every message that is eternal-life oriented is the gospel of the kingdom. The people who preach divine health, new creation, righteousness by faith — they are kingdom preachers. You will be very myopic to think kingdom preaching is only about self-denial. It is one over four.

2. The Will of God

   Matthew 6:10 — \"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.\" There is no kingdom of God where there is no will of God. The kingdom begins where the will of God finds expression. Within the kingdom message, this is where Jesus is revealed as king — and if He is king, you must submit to His will.

   This is not something done as champions. It is hard. Jesus Himself in Gethsemane said: \"Father, if it were possible, let this cup pass over Me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Thine.\" He sweated blood. He prayed three times. Yet when He concluded this is what God wants, He submitted.

   A believer who still has the luxury to do what he or she wants is not fully in the kingdom. Being in the kingdom means you pay the price to isolate the will of God for your life — both the generic will and the prophetic will — and when you find it, you submit to it.

3. The Wisdom of God — Kingdom Culture

   The kingdom is also the realm governed by God's wisdom. Matthew 16:19 — \"I will give you the keys of the kingdom.\" Within the context of the wisdom of God, Jesus is revealed as judge and as Lord. You live your life based on the prescriptions of His kingdom — His ways. This is where kingdom culture and kingdom values find expression.

   The kingdom stands on four feet: life, will, wisdom, and authority. Those who only preach submission to the king without ever teaching the life of God or the power of God are carrying one leg of a four-legged table. Those who preach eternal life and new creation but never speak of submission to the king are also incomplete.

4. The Authority of God

   Luke 11:20 — \"If I by the finger of God cast out devils, it means the kingdom of God has come to you.\" The last component is authority — the demonstration of power. John 1:12 — \"As many as believed Him, to them He gave the authority to become sons of God.\" Mark 16:17 — \"In My name, cast out devils.\" 1 Corinthians 4:20 — \"The kingdom of God is not in words, but in the demonstration of power.\"

How to Participate in the Kingdom

Having the kingdom in you does not automatically mean you participate in it. A visa to a country does not mean you can access its civilization freely. There are protocols:

1. Genuine repentance. Turn away from your old life, from sin, from mediocrity. Jesus said, \"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.\" Matthew 4:17. Paul summarized his gospel as \"repentance towards God and faith towards Jesus.\" Acts 20:21.
2. Be born again. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. John 3:3 — \"Except a man be born again, he cannot enter the kingdom.\" Romans 10:9-10 — believe with the heart, confess with the mouth.
3. Adopt righteousness, holiness, and obedience as your way of life. Romans 14:17 — \"The kingdom of God is not in meat and drink, but in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.\"
4. Diligence and faithful stewardship. 2 Peter 1:10-11 — \"Giving all diligence, make your calling and election sure, for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom.\" Seek first the kingdom. Matthew 6:33.
5. Yieldedness to the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14 — \"As many as are led by the spirit of God, they are sons of God.\" Sons who carry the kingdom are led by the spirit. Don't go where your strength takes you — go where God leads you.

Kingdom Values to Prioritize

Seeking first the kingdom means making these values your priority:

• Humility — Matthew 23:12. Whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
• Love — Matthew 22:37-39. By this shall all men know you are His disciples.
• Mercy and forgiveness — Matthew 5:7. Blessed are the merciful — they shall receive mercy.
• Justice — Seek justice. Advocate for the oppressed. Don't close your eyes where people are being robbed of justice.
• Peace — Matthew 5:9. Blessed are the peacemakers — they shall be called the children of God.
• Purity — Matthew 5:8. Blessed are the pure in heart — they shall see God.
• Faithfulness — Matthew 25:21. Well done, good and faithful servant. We are promoted in the kingdom based on faithfulness.
• Generosity — Luke 6:38. Give, and it shall be given to you. God loves a cheerful giver.
• Servanthood — Mark 10:43-44. He that wants to be great must first be the servant of all.
• Truthfulness and integrity — Your yes must be yes. Your no must be no. Kingdom people are known for their integrity.
• Meekness — Matthew 5:5. Blessed are the meek — they shall inherit the earth.
• Joy — Romans 14:17. The kingdom of God is in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. The fountain of life ceases to flow when joy is taken.
• Faith and dependence on God — Be strong in the Lord. John 15:5 — Without Me, you can do nothing.

Citizens of the Kingdom

The kingdom is only for citizens. There are four identities every kingdom citizen carries:

• Son — John 3:3. You must be born again to see the kingdom. Sonship is the foundation of citizenship.
• King — 1 Peter 2:9. You are a royal priesthood. Revelation 1:6 — He made us kings and priests unto God.
• Priest — The king advances the kingdom and carries its authority; the priest connects the realms, intercedes, and channels heaven's resources to earth.
• Witness — Acts 1:8. You shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto Me. You don't just embody the kingdom — you manifest it.

You walk out of this place functioning as a son, as a king, as a priest, and as a witness. That is the full scope of the gospel of the kingdom.