Withholding the Gospel Does Not Build the Kingdom

​Many Christians would agree that building the kingdom of God is an important part of Christianity.  Getting people who do not know God to be born again, getting more people to attend church, and helping people with their problems seem to be the main points of what many churches focus on.  Yet, in today’s time, many churches and Christians individually attempt to do these actions without declaring the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:1-9).  When this happens, faith is not being increased as it should, but religiosity is being produced.  Religiosity is when a person acts as an image of being right with God but does not allow God to have a relationship with them (2 Timothy 3:5).  This type of behavior produces those who stand before Jesus and are turned away because they did not have a relationship with Him (Matthew 7:21-23).  Having a true relationship with Jesus Christ is the key to building the kingdom of God because it involves obeying God’s Word (Matthew 7:24; James 1:22; Luke 11:28).  The kingdom of God is not built by the method that makes sense to man’s mind of marketing or gimmicks but is built by allowing the Word of God to be preached (Luke 17:20-21).  Christians must remember that Satan has many people in the world blinded to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4).  The only thing that can expose the lies and deception of the enemy is the truth of God, His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:13).  Churches and Christians alike should be speaking and preaching the Word of God everywhere they go.  At times, just speaking God’s Word without rebuke or harshness will expose the deception and lies with the truth of God, while others must be given the Word of God in warning and be saved by fear (Jude 22-23; 2 Timothy 4:1-2).  In both situations, the Word of God should not be withheld.  The Gospel is the source of building faith, a necessary element to please God (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6).  Building faith builds the kingdom of God.  When people are not given the Word of God, they are not given the proper seeds to produce substance for God (Mark 4:2-20).  Withholding the Gospel does not build the kingdom of God, but gathering people builds the kingdom of man.  Preaching the Word of God and lifting up Jesus Christ will draw men unto Him (John 12:32).  Not only did this take place at the cross, but to this day, people can be drawn unto Jesus when His people lift Him up and preach the Gospel.  When this takes place, others can hear the Word of God, understand the importance of salvation, and be made disciples of Christ.  The kingdom of God reproduces itself when the Gospel is the focus of a church and God’s people.  May God’s people not withhold the Gospel, but may they present it at all times, being led by the Spirit of God in how to minister on each occasion.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.