On the night of February 17th, 2023, an altar of Praise and Worship will be raised throughout the nation of Tanzania. This event will be a thanksgiving and worship night to thank Jehovah for His loving kindness, mercy and favor to the people of this nation. There will be intercession and prayer for the Lord to continue to show blessings and favor to the leadership, government and people of Tanzania.
(Usiku wa tarehe 17 Februari, 2023, madhabahu ya Sifa na Ibada ya Uimbaji itainuliwa juu ya taifa la Tanzania. Tukio hili inalenga kuwa ibada ya shukurani na kuabudu kwa kumshukuru Jehovah kwa upendo wake, huruma na kibali kwa wananchi wa taifa hii. Pia kutakuwepo na maombezi kwa Bwana ili aendelee kuonyesha baraka na kibali kwa uongozi, serikali na watu wa Tanzania.)
The event is expected to be broadcast live on national radio and there will be prayers for those who are sick and have various ailments to receive healing and deliverance from their circumstances. The District Commissioner of Ilala is expected to open the event as a representative of the Government of Tanzania at 8:30pm.
(Tukio hili inategemewa kurushwa mubashara kwenye redio ya taifa na pia kutakuwepo na maombi kwa walio na magonjwa na matatizo mbali mbali ya kiafya ili waweze kupata kukombolewa na matatizo hayo. Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Ilala anategemewa na amealikwa kuwa mgeni rasmi ili aweze kufungua tukio hili kama mwakilishi wa serikali ya Tanzania saa mbili na nusu usiku.)
Worship teams will be there to minister to God and a minister from Kenya has been invited and is expected to grace the event as prayers will also be lifted up for neighbouring countries in East Africa.
(Timu za kusifu na kuabudu zitakuwepo ili kumhudumia Bwana na mtumishi kutoka Kenya naye amealikwa na atakuwepo kwa kuwa maombi pia kwa ajili ya nji jirani za Afrika Mashariki zitafanyika.)
There is no entry fee but as there are limited seats in the venue entry will be by free registration on this link and by registering at the venue in advance to get a pdf ticket. The event will also be live streamed on Youtube and Facebook.
(Hakuna kiingilio lakini kwa kuwa ukumbi una idadi maalum ya viti kiingilio itakuwa kwa kusajili kwenye tovuti hii au kwa kusajili kwenye ukumbi ili viti vihifadhiwe na kupewa tiketi ya kuingia bure (pdf). Pia tukio litarushwa mubashara kwenye tovuti za Youtube na Facebook.)
..and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick Luke 9:2 (NIV)
In the book of Matthew Chapter 24 and verse 14, Jesus explains to his disciples the events leading to the end times and his return. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. ((NIV)
Throughout history the gospel has been preached but let us examine what gospel, or good news, Jesus preached and commanded his disciples to preach. It certainly was not the gospel of Christianity, or a new religion. It was not a message of salvation for sure but it was clear that the good news would bring about mankind’s salvation. This begs us to ask why he insisted on it being the good news of THE KINGDOM. To understand the message of the kingdom one must understand what a kingdom is, how it is administered and ruled and who it’s subjects or citizens are as well as their responsibilities. According to the Merriam – Webster dictionary, a kingdom is defined as:
1 : a politically organized community or major territorial unit having a monarchical form of government headed by a king or queen. 2 often capitalized. a : the eternal kingship of God. b : the realm in which God’s will is fulfilled.
Thus a kingdom can be agreed upon as a territory or community headed by a king. Obviously even a community has territory, hence being able to organize itself politically. Having established that we then see that Adam was given ‘dominion’ over the earth and all that was in it and commanded to ‘subdue’ it.
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1: 26-28, NIV
At this point you see that there is a territory and its possessions (all the living creatures and the land on earth) and one who is assigned to ‘rule’ over that territory.
Fast forward to the time of Jesus, and you find man in a state of struggle to subdue the elements and living creatures, let alone his own carnal desires which bring about every known evil perpetuated against fellow man. In this state God sends his son to remove the barrier between heavens authority caused by man’s rebellion against that authority (sin).
One would have expected that John the baptist would have preached the message of salvation but instead we see him in Matthew 3 preaching the following:
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”[a] Matt 3:1-3 (NIV)
When Jesus begins his ministry again the same message in Matthew 4:17 and 23,24:
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.
In Matthew 9:35 we see the same:
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
At this point it is clear that Jesus was not bringing a religion but proclaiming the sovereign nature of God and his right to represent him. He was not interested in systems of the world, and neither was he interested in overthrowing them. The word repentance has its root in the act of having a transformation of one’s mindset to move in a direction completely opposite to where they were pointed at. Mankind, unlike the fallen angels, did not fall from the kingdom. Mankind fell from their position of authority as representatives of the king on territory earth. As witnessed by miracles, signs and wonders (which are not supernatural in the heavenly kingdom, but just a restoration to what was supposed to be the natural), the kingdom of heaven or God reclaims territory and authority when God shows up. It is the very nature of a king to have dominion over his territory. His command is final. There is no democratic counsel, or option to do otherwise. Hence bacteria and viruses come under the dominion of God, as do body cells and parts. They submit to the final authority. This is commonly known as healing.
This explains why Jesus sent out his disciples with the following instruction in Luke 9:1,2:
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Notice once again he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God AND to HEAL THE SICK. Those two are not mutually exclusive and are a non-negotiable part of the contract. In Luke 10:9 we see another reference to healing the sick and the kingdom of God:
9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
This then is the gospel of the Kingdom. The restoration of the authority of God in territories by His presence manifested in those who have believed in the message of Jesus and embraced their redemption found in the work of the cross. Indeed by His stripes we were healed. This is not a declaration of possibilities or probabilities. It is the living word of God available to all who believe in Christ and who then receive the power to become sons and daughters of the King. The king always sent his representatives out with authority, for he knew that his glory was represented by their appearance.
In this last hour the Holy Spirit will quicken us to understand that the kingdom of God is one of power and authority, not for the sake of ruthless dominion but a loving restoration that will also see creation rejoice, even if for a brief period, in the manifest presence of the Father on earth as believers experience the last great outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the world is filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the see.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. – Matthew 5:6, NIV
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8, NIV
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3, NIV
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33, NIV
Holy Spirit we are hungry. Fill us with His righteousness and cause us to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God and verify it with miracles, signs and wonders. Father, THY kingdom come and THY will be done here on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen.
