The work of the kingdom

The kingdom of God comes near to one who calls. The Lord bows the heavens and comes down. Psalm 18 describes the work of the kingdom.

"He sent from on high, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemy,
And from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the Lord was my stay.
He brought me forth also into a broad place;
He rescued me, because He delighted in me."
Psalm 18:16-19

The kingdom of God sets an individual free from what has overcome him. This is what Jesus read to the synagogue concerning the gospel of the kingdom.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are downtrodden,
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord."
Luke 4:18-19

This is the good news that was evident in Jesus Christ. He set free the downtrodden. But Jesus did more than that; He trained disciples.

This is what is seen in Psalm 18.

"For Thou dost light my lamp;
The Lord my God illumines my darkness.
For by Thee I can run upon a troop;
And by my God I can leap over a wall.
As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the Lord is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God,
The God who girds me with strength,
And makes my way blameless?
He makes my feet like hinds' feet,
And sets me upon my high places.
He trains my hands for battle,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
Thou hast given me the shield of Thy salvation,
And Thy right hand upholds me;
And Thy gentleness makes me great.
Thou hast enlarged my steps under me,
And my feet have not slipped."
Psalm 18:28-36

This is the work of the kingdom of God; it sets a man free, and trains him to fight. The kingdom of God begins in a man, and works through that man. The world around him will be changed by him.