The Present Kingdom God’s Big Picture

Abraham’s descendants The Israelites The Divided Israelites GOD’S BIG PICTURE Week 1: Duncan Week 2: Week 3: Steve T Week 4: Neil Week 5: Dorian Week 6: Ed THE KINGDOM OF GOD Pattern of the Kingdom Perished Kingdom Promised Kingdom Partial Kingdom 1 Partial Kingdom 2 Prophesied Kingdom GOD’S PEOPLE Adam and Eve No-one Abraham’s descendants The Israelites The Divided Israelites Remnant of Israel; inclusion of nations GOD’S PLACE Eden Banished Canaan Canaan/Israel (with Jerusalem and temple) Israel and Judah (leading to exile) New temple; New creation GOD’S RULE AND BLESSING God’s word: perfect relation-ships Disobedience and curse Blessing to Israel and all nations The Law; The King Kings New Covenant; New King; Great blessing

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. (Mal.3:1)

By faith in Jesus anyone can now be part of the people of God … And not just ‘people’ but sons and daughters! “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13)

Questions for children of God 1. Are you living in an awareness of the Father’s lavish love for you? 2. In what areas do you need to ask for the Father for more of the resources of heaven?

Jesus, the temple from which the Spirit of God flows 3. Are you thirsty? Do you need to come and drink of the Spirit which gives life? Do you need to come to the temple and drink more often? 4. Are you bearing fruit or are your leaves feeling withered? Does your ability to be fruitful need more irrigation?

The triumph of the King “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Col.1:13-15)

The reign of King Jesus 5. In which areas do you need to seek the rule and reign of Jesus? 6. Are there areas of life you need to submit to the King?

A New Covenant “But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned: we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” Romans 3:21-24 NLT

Jesus the source of God’s blessing 7. Do we need to come for the first time and ask Jesus to forgive our sins and bring us under his covenant of grace through faith in him? 8. Are we still carrying a sense of guilt about past sin that we need freeing from?

Jesus the source of God’s blessing

Living now in the Present Kingdom Grace and righteousness instead judgement for sin Adoption into the family of God as sons and daughters The gift of the Holy Spirit, like living water, to energise us and make us fruitful Rest and peace for our inner selves.