Abingdon Community Church God’s Big Picture The Prophesied Kingdom Sunday 2nd December 2018

The story so far…

Samuel / David / Solomon BUT it doesn’t last… Promise to Abram Through Joseph Under Moses & Joshua Samuel / David / Solomon BUT it doesn’t last… Many descendants Family together People delivered Nation of Israel, following after God Division (Israel & Judah) Idolatry Be blessed Be a blessing Blessed in Goshen Saved many God’s plan – law God’s presence - tabernacle Under God’s law, blessed & influencing nations Covenant broken, Invaded & destoyed God’s king established God promises a ‘forever king’ Kings go astray Last king captured Promised Land Place of provision in Egypt In God’s land, temple showing God presence Disobedience leads to exile, Temple destroyed

Decline & Exile

Enter the Prophets… The concept: Exodus 4:14-16 - A spokesperson for God! The prototype: Moses Terms: ‘Seer’, ‘Man of God’, ‘nabhi’ – called out / calling out Become main representatives of God as partial kingdom declines Oral prophets: in the history books e.g. Samuel, Nathan, Elijah Writing prophets – ‘major’ & ‘minor’

Samuel Nathan Gad Ahijah Elijah Elisha ??Joel Nahum Zephaniah Habbakuk Obadiah Jonah

Role of the Prophets… e.g. Micah 6, 4 Looking back: ‘covenant enforcers’ Message of JUDGEMENT Warn, remind, explain: calling God’s people BACK Looking forward: declaring HOPE God is not finished with His people! His covenants are both conditional and unconditional He will bring about the perfect kingdom…

The prophets message to us… Challenges our Priorities Calling back Commissions for Purpose Calling higher Comforts us with Promise Calling forward

A new exodus A new passover lamb All nations included Jer 16:14-15 Prophetic hope Example references A new exodus A new passover lamb All nations included Jer 16:14-15 Isaiah 53:6 Isaiah 49:6 A new temple A new creation Ezekiel 40-48 Isaiah 65:17-19 A new covenant Jeremiah 31:31-37 A new king Isaiah 9:6-7

God is not finished with you yet! Hold on to His promise! Align your priorities with His! Step into His purpose for you!

The Big story is about to move on… Last words of the OT: Malachi 4 Judgement, Hope, Prioirities, Promise The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all. 2 “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.[b] And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. 3 On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 4 “Remember to obey the Law of Moses, my servant—all the decrees and regulations that I gave him on Mount Sinai[c] for all Israel. 5 “Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. 6 His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.”