A Ministry of Growing Influence

When Jesus began His ministry, the activity of God was again apparent in Israel after four hundred silent years. He came preaching, teaching, and healing, demonstrating Divine power and authority that gave His ministry great influence. He announced the Kingdom by preaching in the synagogues, taught the people by expounding upon the Word and giving the true sense of its meaning, and cast out demons and healed the infirmities of all who came to Him, without limit or condition. These miracles had four practical benefits. They proved that Jesus was Divine, proved He was the Messiah, showed God’s compassion for the sick, and demonstrated with power that the Kingdom of God was near. As far as is possible, we emulate Jesus’ ministry so that we also may have influence for God’s glory. We have no authority to proclaim new revelation and so we don’t have the power to heal, but we can preach and teach. This we do, preaching the gospel and teaching everyone to obey all that God has commanded, so that we may present everyone complete in Christ.