gospel of the kingdom - Awake Nations · of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, In the day that the LORD

Gospel of the Kingdom On Earth as it is in Heaven

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Table of Contents

PART ONE: 1. Restoring the Gospel of the Kingdom 2. Dominion Destiny PART TWO: 3. The Gospel of the Kingdom as a Witness to the Nations 4. Kingdom Commission PART THREE: 5. The Kingdom: Past, Present, Future- Part 1 6. The Kingdom: Past, Present, Future- Part 2 PART FOUR: 7. Miracles, Signs and Wonders 8. On Earth as in Heaven

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KEY VERSE: “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14, NLT).

Session One

RESTORING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course you will be able to:

1.Understand the difference between man-made religion & the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus and the Disciples preached.

2.Understand the in depth the significance of the Great Commission.

3.Experience the provision and power of the Kingdom of God in your life.

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INTRODUCTION:

In recent times, God by His Spirit has been granting a deeper revelation of Himself and His ways to the Church in order to perfect us for His coming and equip us to fulfill the _____________ ______________. This is not surprising as Jesus Himself said in John's Gospel chapter 16 that it is the job of the Holy Spirit to lead believers into “all truth!” The Lord informed His people through the Prophet Isaiah that in the last days He would grant an ever-increasing revelation of Himself and His ways. “Moreover the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, In the day that the LORD binds up the bruise of His people and heals the stroke of their wound” (Isaiah 30:26). At the turn of the 20 Century, God chose to pour out His Spirit afresh upon His people beginning at a livery stable on Azusa Street in Los Angeles. That experience has literally spread to the ends of the earth! Today, Pentecostals and Charismatics are the fastest growing stream of Christianity boasting roughly _______ __________________ adherents worldwide! As one might have expected, after the Baptism of the Holy Spirit was restored to the Church, the other Gifts of the Spirit began to manifest resulting in powerful demonstration of healing and the miraculous, especially in the 1940s, 50 and 60's. In the past 20 years or so, we have recognized and realized the need for the _______________________ of apostles and prophets. From these apostles and prophets has risen a clarion call for the restoration of the “Gospel of the Kingdom!” For many years, the Church has taught a message we call the “Gospel of Salvation.” In the New Testament there is only one reference to the “Gospel of salvation” - Ephesians 1:13 yet there are many more referenced to the Gospel of the Kingdom. However, there are many more references to the Gospel of the Kingdom. The problem is that we have neglected to preach the more prominent theme found in the New Testament; namely, the Gospel of the Kingdom!


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As you study the New Testament, you will discover that the Gospel that Jesus and the apostles preached was much more than an invitation to experience heaven after death; it was for them and is for us today, a ______________________ to exercise the authority of the Risen Christ who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords over the devil, destroying his works and setting captives free. Understanding the Gospel of the Kingdom is Critical! In fact, when Jesus was approached by His disciples 2000 years ago and asked, “...what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?,’” though he referred to various other phenomena, in Matthew 24:14 he pointed to the Gospel of the Kingdom advancing to all the nations of the world as the one event that would unequivocally usher in the End: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Seeing that this is such a significant task, it is imperative that we understand the difference between the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus spoke of and the gospel that is commonly preached today! First, we observe in the New Testament that Kingdom was first introduced by John the Baptist. “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 3:2) Right after John was arrested and incarcerated, Jesus debuted His public ministry by announcing the coming of the Kingdom! “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15. Jesus did not invent the phrase “The Gospel of the Kingdom,” but built upon existing Old Testament teaching and Jewish Apocalyptic writings that followed the same pattern of thought. For example, the regular synagogue prayer during Christ's time, read: "May He let His Kingdom rule... ________________ and _____________." Note that both John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus cried out that “the Kingdom was at hand.” What did Jesus mean when He cried out that the “Kingdom was at hand?” The Greek word translated "at hand" means to “________ _______ _____ _____________.” In other words, they were claiming in no uncertain terms that the Kingdom had come! Though Scripture does indeed refer to a literal, physical Kingdom that will be ushered in once the last enemy of death is defeated, Jesus clearly taught the present existence of the Kingdom of God!




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Consider the following:

•Jesus said, after casting out demons, “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. “ (Matthew 12:28). •“And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who

will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.” Mark 9:1 Anytime there is a manifestation of God's power it is a testimony that the King is present ruling and reigning in His Kingdom!




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Session Two

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Dominion Destiny What is the prerequisite for the end of the world? What events will precede the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ? The disciples asked these very questions of Jesus two thousand years ago. _____________________ records: “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when shall these things be and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?’” Jesus’ response is given in the ensuing verses of Matthew chapter 24. He states that many false prophets and Christ’s would appear in an attempt to __________________ (v. 3-4, 11). He further announces that there will be an increase of wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes and that lawlessness would flourish resulting in a culture of intolerance towards Biblical righteousness and the true Christian Faith (v. 12). Of all the signs, however, that will precede His return, Jesus says that there is really only one thing that will unequivocally usher in the End: the preaching of the Kingdom Gospel to all creation. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). Seeing that this is such a significant mandate, it is imperative that we understand what the true Gospel of the Kingdom really is!

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The first thing we learn about the Gospel of the Kingdom is that it was the message preached by the Lord Jesus Christ. Matt 4:23 narrates that, “...Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.” The Gospel of the Kingdom is also the message that the Lord summoned His followers to preach. He said in Matthew 10:7, 8, “And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.’” Please note that in both of the aforementioned references the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom was, invariably, accompanied by mighty works such as the healing of the sick, the deliverance of the oppressed, and even the raising of the dead! The New Testament is clear: the Gospel of the Kingdom is powerful and was never intended to be communicated in ________________ only. The testimony of the Gospel is to be made effective not only by proclamation, but also in ______________________ of the power of the Holy Ghost. Paul the Apostle declares under the inspiration of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 4:20, “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.”

THE SHOW AND TELL GOSPEL When the Lord Jesus walked the earth 2000 years ago, the Gospel He preached came not only in word, but also in works. Luke 8:1 records, "And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.” Don’t miss it! Jesus not only spoke of the Kingdom, He carried it to the people! The term “kingdom” in English is literally, “____________ _____________________.” The dictionary describes ‘dominion’ as the “authority and power to govern and exercise control.” In the original economy of God, it was His intention that humankind would exercise His rule on the earth. We read in Genesis 1:28, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

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Psalm 8:6 reiterates this truth, “You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet. Once again this theme is emphasized: “The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's; But the earth He has given to the children of men” (Psalm 115:16). When the Lord created man, he was created in His image and glory (See 1 Cor. 11:7). Psalm 8:5 further reveals that man was...”made... a little lower than the angels” and was “...crowned...with glory and honor.” The word ‘crowned’ in Hebrew means ___________________ or ___________________. We know that prior to sin, while dwelling in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were naked, yet they were not embarrassed. “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” (Genesis 2:25). After their transgression, they immediately became conscious of their nakedness. “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings” (Genesis 3:7).

RECOVERING WHAT WAS LOST The reason for this sense of shame is that they were no longer covered by the glory of God. Sin literally strips of the glory. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Not only did Adam and Eve experience the loss of God’s glory as a result of sin, their spiritual authority was also ______________. Hence, Satan now became the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4) as well as the prince or ruler of the world (See John 12:31). When Jesus came to the earth, He came to restore to man the glory and authority that was lost. The devil knowing this attempted to strike a deal with Jesus at the very beginning of His ministry. “Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours" (Luke 4:57 Emphasis Mine). Of course, Jesus would not negotiate with Satan. He was well aware that such a transaction would not be legal in nature as it failed to address the root cause of the forfeiture, namely, sin. There was no short cut to reclaiming the authority and glory.

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Christ must go the way of the Cross becoming a sacrifice for our sins and paying the price of our redemption. “For without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin” (Hebrews 9:22). After Jesus’ resurrection, a permanently binding, legal ___________________ occurred which resulted in the authority and glory being restored to humankind. Jesus cried out, “All authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). Paul said elsewhere, that God the Father “raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:19-22).

GLORY CARRIERS What is the result of this? The person that is truly born–again and filled with the Spirit has access to both the __________________ and ___________ of God. Paul reveals this to us. He says, “God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). Jesus confirmed this: “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them...” (John 17:22). We have been created to share in His glory and know His authority. The truth is that the authority is in the glory! The Bible says, “The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD” (Psalm 97:5). The word translated “mountains” can also be used figuratively referring to anything that _____________________ our God’s will. For example, Zechariah 4:7 declares, 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!” Paul reminded the Ephesians that God is “...able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20 Emphasis Mine). Notice, he says it is the power of the Spirit in us that is limitless! The glory of God fully manifested in and through the Church is unstoppable and will bring transformation to the nations! Consider with me the power that was at work in the Early Church:

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Acts informs us that the anointing carried by __________________ was so strong that the sick were brought “...out into the streets and laid...on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed” (Acts 5:14-16). Paul, likewise, was so full of the glory of God that the Lord worked “...extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them the evil spirits went out of them” (Acts 19:11, 12). Let’s be honest! When was the last time you witnessed such glory and power at work in the Church? Most, Christians have _________________ witnessed the like. Nevertheless, the fact is, it is God’s desire to manifest His glory and power through His people to the nations today! Paul shares a profound revelation about the Glory! He says that Church ”...is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself]” (Ephesians 1:23 Amplified). The Church is the only means by which God’s glory is ______________________ on the earth today! We were created to exercise His dominion over all of creation. Jesus, as the Second Adam exercised dominion over devils, sickness, death and even the elements when He walked the earth. Just before He went to the Cross, Christ reminded His Church, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (John 14:12).

Reflection Questions: 1. What does the term ‘Kingdom’ mean? 2. What precedes the “End of the World or age” according to Matthew 24:14? 3. 2 Peter 3:12 says that the Day of God can be “hurried along” (NLT). How is that

possible? 4. What does it mean to take the Gospel of the Kingdom to the nations? 5. What two things did Adam and Eve forfeit as a result of their sin?

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Session Three

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The Gospel of the Kingdom As a Witness to the Nations

Introduction The Scripture tells us that the return of Christ and the end of the age can actually be accelerated by the people of God: “Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God...” (2 Peter 3:12). The word “hastening” means “to speed along.” The following translations clearly attest to this fact: “...looking forward to the day of God and ________________it along....” New Living Translation “...as you look forward to the day of God and ______________ its’ coming....” New International Version We are expected to not only anticipate the coming of the Lord but accelerate it! How can this be? The only rational explanation for our ability effect “hurrying along the coming of the Day of God” is found in Matthew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14 Emphasis Added). By taking the Gospel of the Kingdom to the nations of the world, we in fact hasten the coming of the Lord!

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The Early Church was on a mission. They were consumed with a passion and singular vision of spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom to the ends of the earth. Such an objective would ultimately pave the way for the return of the Lord Jesus and usher in the restoration of all things. “For he [Jesus] must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets” (Acts 3:21, NLT).

TESTIMONY OF TWO OR MORE WITNESSES In Matthew 24:14, we are informed the preaching of the Kingdom Gospel is a witness to the nations. This is significant. In the Greek, the word is a ______________________ _________________ and speaks of testimony that can be corroborated by at least two witnesses and therefore will hold up under legal scrutiny (Deut 19:15; 2 Cor 13:1). A careful study of the New Testament reveals that the Gospel is substantiated by adequate, supportive testimony. There are in fact two witnesses that validate the testimony of the Gospel. What are these two witnesses? They are the ______________ of God and the ________________ of the Holy Spirit. Jesus put it this way: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me...the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me...” (John 5:39, 36b). In a court of law it would be presumptuous on our behalf to expect jurors to believe a testimony that lacked corroborating witnesses. Yet, that is precisely what we do when it comes to the Gospel. We “present our case” without supporting testimony. In the days of His flesh, Jesus not only declared the Kingdom to the people, he also ____________________ it to them! “Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God” (Luke 8:1). To our astonishment, the Lord even went so far as to state that men are not obligated to believe any testimony in support of the Gospel that lacks the substantiating testimony of miraculous works. “‘...The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me... If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”” (John 10:25, 37-38, Emphasis Added).

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CREDENTIALS OF THE KINGDOM Signs and wonders are God's way of testifying to validating the authenticity of the Gospel message. There are many today, who due to unbelief and hard heartedness need powerful proof of the truth of the Gospel. They need to be shown the “credentials of the Kingdom” in order to be persuaded! What are the credentials of the Kingdom? Jesus' ministry credential was the anointing of the Holy Spirit and power on His life and ministry. “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst” (Acts 2:22 NKJV).

“God _____________ _______________Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. NLT

Jesus of Nazareth was a man __________________ by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him” NIV

Elsewhere we read, "This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will (Hebrews 2:3-4).

Jesus’ words in Mark 16:15-20 charging believers to take the Gospel throughout the world is commonly known as "The Great Commission.” It is a co-mission because two parties have agreed to work together on a mission: we who are believers and the Lord Himself. Here is how it works: "And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs" (Mark 16:20, NLT).

THE SHOW AND TELL GOSPEL The Gospel of the Kingdom is powerful and is never to be communicated in ______________ only. The testimony of the Cross of Christ is to be made effective not only by proclamation, but also in demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power!

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When John the Baptist was in prison, he sent representatives to Jesus requesting that he testify truthfully whether He was the Coming One. Jesus readily concedes that He is the Messiah and points to the miraculous power of God accompanying Him as the verification. "Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Luke 7:22).

BREAKING THROUGH IN A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT

Phillip was led by the Holy Spirit to go to __________________ and preach Christ o the multitudes there. In the natural, it was probably the last place on earth he would want to go to! Phillip was from Jerusalem. Samaritans and Jews had no dealings with each other. There was deep-seated _____________ __________________ as well as sharp ____________________ ___________________ between the two groups. Yet, against all odds, Phillip saw revival! “And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip....” (Acts 8:6). Why was it that this people who were typically hostile toward Jews would give Phillip their undivided attention? The verses continue, “...hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed” (Acts 8:6-7).

CONCLUSION: The power of God operating through His people today is non-negotiable if we are going to penetrate hearts of unbelief. The operation of signs and wonders point to the greatest miracle: “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house” (Mark 2:10 -11)

Reflection Questions: 1. Why is it that genuine New Testament miracles are rare today? 2. How has experiencing the power of God opened up the heart of someone you

know? 3. What qualifies someone to be in Five-fold ministry today?

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Session Four

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Kingdom Commission

Introduction:

Modern Christianity is stands in stark contrast to the faith we read of in the New Testament. Consider the following:

THE CHURCH TODAY THE CHURCH IN ACTS

Church _____________ Kingdom Expansion

Winning Converts Making ___________

Instructing in _______________ Impart Revelation & Power

Gathering Going

Maintaining Multiplying

Pastoral

Forgiveness from Sin Power for the Present

Holding the Fort Taking ____________

Leaving Earth/Going to Heaven Bringing Heaven to Earth

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If we are truly going to live and act as Christ’s Body on the earth today, we are going to have to make a fundamental ___________________ shift. Such a change, by necessity, will require a new administration governing the land. In the natural, a nation may possess a plethora of natural resources, but if they are not intentional about tapping into those resources the people will remain in poverty. Moreover, a government that is corrupt and controlling can cut off the flow of wealth and blessing to the citizens. A government that lacks vision and initiative or is just purely indifferent will continue to exist as a “developing nation” (really an undeveloped nation).

The same is true in the Kingdom. We have an abundance of grace for every good work. There is no shortage of spiritual resources! We possess all the riches of glory in Christ Jesus (See Philippians 4:19). The problem is our ____________________. Our spiritual leaders are either ignorant of the potential that resides in the Kingdom that could be readily shared with their people or they do not want others to access these resources due to selfishness or fear of losing control.

In order to see the Kingdom of God advance on the earth today we must have “_______________ government.” The Early Church possessed such an empowering administration. The apostles and other leaders embraced the Government of Christ’s Kingdom. Isaiah 9:7 describes this government as an administration that would bring peace and execute justice for its subjects, “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom to order it and establish it with judgment and justice.”

This government is foundationally apostolic and prophetic with Christ Jesus being the cornerstone that holds the building together. “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Eph 2:20).

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CHARACTERISTICS OF APOSTOLIC GOVERNING CHURCHES

First, when we say apostolic governing churches we are in essence saying: Churches that are led by __________-___________ ministry teams that exist for the purpose of extending the Kingdom of God throughout the earth. Such apostolic communities are intentional and highly effective in seeing people healed and delivered, equipped and empowered to fulfill the call of God on their life and impact generations. That which compels these Apostolic Governing Churches is the mission of Jesus:

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen’” (Matt 28:18-20).

MISSION OF THE CHURCH

The Great Commission, succinctly stated, is all about ________________________. The Greek language bears this out. The words "go," "baptizing," and "teaching," are participles modifying. Only the verb "make disciples" is in the imperative. The main emphasis, then, is on the command to "make disciples.” In order to make disciples, first we need to understand what a disciple is: A basis definition is that a disciple is a _________________ of Jesus Christ. However, when you study the Scriptures you see that it goes much deeper than this. To disciple a person to Christ is to bring him into the relation of pupil to teacher, taking Christ's yoke of authoritative instruction (Matthew 11:29), accepting what He says as true because He says it, and submitting to His requirements as right because He makes them. Disciples are those who hear, understand, and obey Jesus' teaching (Matt 12:46-50).

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Jesus said in Luke 6:40, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” A disciple is someone that knows how to live as Christ did when He was in the world (1 John 2:6) and do His works (John 14:12). In order to fulfill this mandate, we must be submitted to the Lordship of Christ in order to be “perfectly trained” and brought to maturation so as to mirror the mannerisms and exemplify the teaching of Jesus Christ. “For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).

APOSTOLIC GOVERNING CHURCHES EXIST TO.. . 1. ______________ THE KING’S RULE THROUGH HIS DOMAIN:

The Early Church was proactive about reaching people and seeing them become family in the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ command was to “go” to them and make disciples. “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (John 10:16). Those that are born of the Spirit transition into the Kingdom (See John 3:3, 5; Col. 1:13).

2. ENACT ___________________ FOR THEIR SUBJECTS:

Our Lord said to “baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit....” Baptism speaks of newness of life (See Romans 6:4). The government of God eradicates injustice and eliminates oppression (Acts 10:38; 1 John 3:8). (See also Luke 4:18-19).

3. EDUCATE SUBJECTS ABOUT ______________ AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Christ said we are to “...teach them all Things whatsoever He commanded...” This Includes both their rights as sons and daughters of the King as well as their responsibilities. They are to live in such a way that they do not bring reproach to the Royal Family.

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KEY VERSE: “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).

Session Five

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THE KINGDOM: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE PART 1

INTRODUCTION There is a basic theme that unites both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. That theme is the Kingdom of God and the King. The phrases "Kingdom of God" and "Kingdom of Heaven" do not appear in the Old Testament. These are New Testament terms. But as you will discover as you study the past history of the Kingdom of God, its foundations were laid in Old Testament times. The present and future forms of the Kingdom are built on these Old Testament foundations.

1. THE PAST KINGDOM: ___________________

The Kingdom of God is eternal. This means it has always existed and will always exist: Thy Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations (Psalms 145:13). God's Kingdom existed first in ___________________. When God created the earth, it was His desire that His Heavenly Kingdom be extended to the world He had created.

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A CHOSEN ___________________:

To fulfill this desire, God created a perfect environment as an extension of His Kingdom. In this Garden of Eden He created the first man and woman who were to multiply and populate the earth. By this method of reproduction they were to extend the Kingdom throughout the world.

The creation of the world marked the preparation of the Kingdom of God to be inherited by man: Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (Matthew 25:34)

The first man and woman, Adam and Eve, were given dominion over the earthly extension of God's Kingdom: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26-28)

God did not want _________________ servitude from the subjects in His earthly Kingdom. He wanted man to be part of the Kingdom of God by free choice. So He made a law in the new Kingdom. The law was based on freedom of ____________. The choice would determine whether or not man would continue to live in the Kingdom of God: And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17)

In Genesis chapter 3 you can read the story of the wrong choice made by Adam and Eve. When Adam and Eve sinned, they lost their inheritance in the Kingdom of God. Because of sin, certain curses came upon Satan, the earth, and man. You can read about these curses in Genesis chapter 3. The earth was no longer a perfect environment, a flawless extension of the Heavenly Kingdom. Man no longer had dominion over the earth, and he was separated from the presence of the King because of sin.


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God had offered to extend His Kingdom through a man, but the Kingdom had been rejected. Man lost the inheritance prepared for Him by God from the foundation of the world and Satan took control of the earth. But in this darkest hour came the promise of God to restore the Kingdom of God to man. God said to Satan: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel (Genesis 3:15) This was the first promise of a King who would someday come and crush the power of the enemy, Satan. From a woman's body the King, Jesus Christ, would come. Through His death man could be cleansed from sin, reborn into the Kingdom of God, obtain eternal life, and reclaim his rightful inheritance. A CHOSEN ____________: After man failed, God chose a nation through which He could extend His Kingdom throughout the world. God raised up Abraham as the man from whom this nation would descend. He made many promises concerning the nation of Israel and their role in the ________________________ of God's Kingdom throughout the world. (You can read the story of Abraham and the promises given him and the nation of Israel in Genesis 12 through 25.) The nation of Israel was chosen for ________________, not privilege. They were not chosen because they were better than other nations or God loved them more. It was a choice of responsibility. That responsibility was to extend the Kingdom of God throughout the earth. God gave Kingdom laws to the nation of Israel. Many of these laws are recorded in the book of Exodus. Earthly kings were later appointed to help govern God's Kingdom. But the nation of Israel failed in its responsibility to extend the Kingdom. Time and time again the nation sinned and turned to false gods. Because of their rejection of the Kingdom of God and failure to fulfill the responsibility of its extension, Israel became a divided nation. They were separated into the nations of Israel and Judah. Finally both of these nations were conquered and ruled by heathen nations. Despite Israel's failure, God promised that His Kingdom would someday be restored in visible form and Israel would again be part of it. Through the prophets, God gave many promises about the coming King and the Kingdom of God in its future form.


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Promises were given to David (II Samuel 7:16; Psalms 22:27-28; 72:7-11; 89:1-4; 96 and 98) and to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 3:17-18; 23:5-6; 31:31-34). Promises were given by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 2:2-5; 33:20-22; 35; 62:1-2; 65:17-25). Promises were also given to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 26:25-30; 37:22-28), Joel (Joel 2:28), Zechariah (Zechariah 8:20-23; 12:10; 14:9-17), Amos (Amos 9:15), and Micah (Micah 4). There were many other promises given concerning the Kingdom in addition to those listed. The nation of Israel waited for the coming of a Messiah who would fulfill these great promises. They waited for a King who would free them from the control of other nations. They waited for the Kingdom which they had lost to be restored in visible form.

2. THE PRESENT KINGDOM: _________________ There is a key verse which links together the Old and New Testament accounts of the Kingdom: The law and the prophets were until John; since that time the Kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. (__________________) Old Testament prophecies predicted the coming Kingdom and its King. The New Testament fulfilled these predictions. The Old Testament law laid the foundation for New Testament principles which would govern life in the Kingdom. When Jesus came He did not do away with the law but fulfilled it and expanded Kingdom principles on this foundation. When John the Baptist lifted up his voice in the wilderness of Judea and announced, "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand," he used terms common to his day. These terms were understood by the nation of Israel, for the hope of the promised Kingdom and its King burned in the heart of every Jew: In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (Matthew 3:1-3)

A RE-CHOSEN _____________: In the Old Testament, God selected a man to extend His Kingdom throughout the world. Adam failed in this responsibility. In the New Testament, God sent His own Son, Jesus, (The Second Adam) to extend the Kingdom to the world. Jesus fulfilled this responsibility, as He made it the central purpose of His life and ministry.


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After the imprisonment and death of John the Baptist, Jesus began to share the message of the Kingdom: The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel. (Mark 1:14-15)

During His earthly ministry, Jesus selected several key men to be His disciples. Jesus instructed them to go and preach saying "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" (Matthew 10:7). What does the term "at hand" mean? Look at the same words of Jesus used in a different context: Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. (Matthew 26:46)

When Jesus said the one who was to betray Him was "at hand," He meant the person (Judas) had arrived. The time for betrayal was "at hand." When Jesus said the Kingdom of God was "at hand," it meant the Kingdom had __________________. Jesus spent His entire life telling people the Kingdom had come, teaching the principles of Kingdom living, and explaining how men and women could enter the Kingdom of God.

A ________________ PEOPLE:

In the Old Testament, God chose the nation of Israel as the corporate body of people through which the Kingdom could be extended throughout the world. Israel failed in this responsibility.

In the New Testament, God selected the __________________, those who receive and respond to the Gospel, as the corporate body through which the Kingdom is to be extended. The Apostle Paul, chosen of God to bear the Gospel of the Kingdom to the Gentiles, wrote these words: Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 3:8-11)

Remember that the Kingdom was prepared for man by God from the foundation of the world.


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The Church has been chosen by God to reveal this mystery of the Kingdom to the nations of the world. Through this, the eternal purpose of God will be accomplished: Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which he hath purposed in Himself; That in the dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him. (Ephesians 1:9-10)

The Church is the visible corporate body through which the Kingdom of God is to be extended throughout the world. Study the following diagram:

Jesus left the Church with the responsibility: Declare and demonstrate the Gospel of the Kingdom to every nation [ethnic group] in the world (Mt 24:14). He equipped believers with the power to accomplish the task: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)


Universal Organization The

_________

Local, visible organization through which the Kingdom

is extended The

__________

Individuals of which the Church is

composed ___________

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7

Jesus taught that "the Kingdom of God is at hand." That is, where the King is and where His rule is acknowledged, the present Kingdom of God exists. The Kingdom of God is the sphere of God's rule. The Kingdom in the world is presently the sphere in which, at any given time, His rule is acknowledged. Remember that from the time of Satan's ______________________ in Heaven, war has existed between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan. The earth is the scene of this universal rebellion against God. Through the sin of man, a curse came upon the earth and Satan has taken advantage to try to establish his evil kingdom. It was evident that he controlled the earthly kingdoms when he tempted Jesus: Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto Him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve. (Matthew 4:8-10) But God has not relinquished His sovereignty as King in the face of rebellion of man. He has declared His purpose to establish it again: And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a Kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the Kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. (Daniel 2:44) The Kingdom of God is ___________ and ___________! It is not something in the future which we cannot know until it is visibly established at the end of the world. “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it” (Matt. 11:12, cf. Luke 16:16 NIV). Jesus wanted His ____________________ to know that the kingdom of God had already come, and that it was on the move. It had come because He, the King, had come! As Jesus went about His ministry, He was advancing the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God comes when the power of God is manifested through people being saved, delivered, healed, and baptized in the Holy Spirit. We can help advance the kingdom of God by imitating the ministry of Jesus. We should minister in the Spirit’s power just as He did. As we do, we release the Kingdom in power! “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matthew 12:28).


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“AND JESUS said to them, ‘Truly and solemnly I say to you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death before they see the kingdom of God come in [its] power’” (Mark 9:1 Amplified Bible).

Preaching and Praying the Kingdom to Earth Jesus taught us not only to preach the Kingdom, but also to ____________ the Kingdom to Earth. This prayer is sometimes called the Lord’s Prayer. In this prayer Jesus taught us to pray “Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven” (Matt. 6:10). What does it mean to pray that God’s kingdom will come? When we pray, “Thy kingdom come” we are asking God for the powers of the Age to Come would invade the earth in this age resulting in:

• People being ____________ into the Kingdom (John 3:3-8). • People being filled with the _____________ (Acts 1:3-8). • People being ________________ and ___________________ by the power of God

(Matt. 12:28; Luke 11:20). • For _____________ to come again to the earth (Luke 22:18; Rev. 12:10; 22:20).

Tasting the Powers of the Age to Come Jesus and the apostles talked about “this age/world” and “the age/world to come.” The writer of Hebrews speaks of those who had “tasted of the powers of the age/world to come” (6:5). In this verse he ties the two ages together. He says that in this age we can experience the powers of the coming age. George Eldon Ladd comments, “The Age to Come is still future, but we may taste the powers of that Age. Something has happened by virtue of that which belongs to the future has become present. The powers of the Age to Come have penetrated This Age.”

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This truth is illustrated in Figure 1.1 below. What is this power of the age to come? It is the power of _____________ manifested through the Holy Spirit. Today we taste the powers of the age to come when we are saved, filled with the Spirit, healed, or otherwise touched by the Spirit of God. Also illustrated in Figure 1.1 are the various “comings” of the kingdom of God to earth. Note how the kingdom of heaven has broken into this age in different ways and at different times.

The small arrows at the top left illustrate the many times when God’s presence and power has been manifested throughout history. The three big arrows pointing downward illustrate three major breakthroughs of the Kingdom: the _______________, ________________, and the Second Coming of Christ, which is yet to come.

The arrow pointing from the right to the left illustrates how the powers of the age to come are often illustrated in this present age.

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Reflection Questions

1. How did (and does) the ministry of Jesus relate to the kingdom of God? 2. When did Jesus transfer His kingdom power to His church? How did He do

it? Does He still do it today? What should our response be? 3. How does a new understanding of our “Kingdom Prayer (i.e., the Lord’s

Prayer), as found in this chapter, help us to pray more effectively “Your kingdom come”?

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Session Six

1

THE KINGDOM: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE PART 2

THE FUTURE KINGDOM Jesus told His disciples the Kingdom was at hand and was actually in their midst. Yet, He also spoke of the Kingdom in its future, _________________ form. Israel had expected the Kingdom of God to come in visible form, with great fanfare, ruled over by a visible and powerful King: And as they heard these things, He (Jesus) added and spake a parable, because He was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the Kingdom of God should immediately appear. (Luke 19:11) The parable Jesus told was of a nobleman who went into a far country and would return to receive his kingdom. As Jesus was approaching Jerusalem, He was preparing the people for His forthcoming ________________. Through this parable He revealed that the Kingdom in its visible form was to be postponed until another coming. On His return, it would be established. Israel believed that the true King would immediately establish the Kingdom in all the glory of its previous visible form under King David. God had promised King David: He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (II Samuel 7:13)

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2

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the people thought He was coming to establish the visible Kingdom with Jerusalem as its capitol as had been prophesied since Old Testament times. Because of this, they rejoiced and honored Him as ____________ as He entered the city. They cried: Blessed be the Kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest. (Mark 11:10). But the Kingdom was not to be visibly established. Jesus had already given the parable of the nobleman who went to a far country and later returned to receive his kingdom. But Israel had not understood these Kingdom parables. Because Jesus did not immediately establish a visible Kingdom, a short time later the same people who had received Him as King rejected Him. They turned against Him and called for His death by crucifixion. Because it did not come as they expected, the Jewish people rejected both the Kingdom and its King: He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:11-13) Because of this rejection, Jesus announced that the Kingdom of God had been taken from Israel and given to a people who would produce the fruit of righteousness: Therefore say I unto you, The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. (Matthew 21:43) By this, Jesus meant that the message of the Kingdom would be taken to the _________________ nations (all nations other than Israel). They were ready to receive and respond to it. Jesus said the nation of Israel and Jerusalem, their capital city, would come under ________________________: And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24) Because Israel rejected the Kingdom and the King, the visible establishment of the Kingdom in its final form was postponed until another coming of the King. That other coming is called the second coming of Jesus Christ. In the end, all things will be brought into subjection to the King, Jesus, who will return to establish the visible Kingdom.

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The Disciples Disappointed Even the disciples had expected Jesus to establish this "__________________" or future Kingdom before Calvary. When Jesus died, their hope was lost. After His resurrection their hope revived. In the period of time between the resurrection and His return to Heaven, Jesus spoke many things about the Kingdom of God. This prompted the disciples to ask, "Wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). Jesus answered: ...It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. (Acts 1:7) The coming of the Kingdom is certain, but the timing of its visible restoration rests with the Father. Jesus did share many things which must happen on earth before the Kingdom would be established in its final form. These signs were revealed to help us recognize when the time is near. You can read of these signs in Matthew chapters 24 and 25, Mark chapter 13 and Luke 17:20-37; 21:8-36. Jesus told the disciples that when these things began to happen, they were a sign that the visible restoration of the Kingdom of God was near: So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the Kingdom of God is nigh at hand. (Luke 21:31)

THE GOSPEL TO ALL NATIONS And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:14) When the King comes again and establishes His Kingdom visibly, the following will occur: 1. JESUS WILL ________________ TO EARTH: ...This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven. (Acts 1:11) 2. JESUS WILL _____________ ALL KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD: Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father, when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, till he hath put all enemies under His feet. (I Corinthians 15:24-25)

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And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in Heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15) 3. SATAN AND __________________OF HIS KINGDOM WILL BE CONQUERED: And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10) 4. ALL THE ___________________ WILL COME INTO THE KINGDOM: And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 8:11) 5. ALL PEOPLE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE JESUS AS _________________: And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. (Revelation 19:6) 6. ALL MEN, ___________ ________ ____________________, WILL BE JUDGED BY

GOD: I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick (living) and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom (II Timothy 4:1) (Revelation 20:12, 13, 15) Jesus told a parable about the Kingdom being like a great net cast into the sea which gathered every kind of fish. When the net was drawn in, the good fish were separated from the bad (Matthew 13:47, 48). He also spoke of the Kingdom as tares and wheat growing for a time together. But in the end, the good wheat were separated from the tares (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-42). By the example of tares among wheat Jesus taught that the Kingdom had come, but evil men were still present. For a time, the two would coexist. At judgment, they would be separated. Both of these parables concern the separation which will occur at the time of judgment. Those who have entered the Kingdom through the new birth will be accepted into the visible Kingdom in its final form. All others will be cast out of the Kingdom:

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There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the Kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. (Luke 13:28) 7. THE KINGDOM OF GOD WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN ITS ____________ FORM: And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a Kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:14) 8. TRUE BELIEVERS WILL _____________ WITH JESUS IN THE KINGDOM: To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in His throne. (Revelation 3:21) 9. THERE WILL BE A __________ HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH: You can read the descriptions of the new Heaven and earth in Revelation chapters 21 and 22. Jerusalem will be the throne of the Lord, and all nations will be gathered into it:

A SUMMARY Now let us summarize the past, present, and future of the Kingdom of God.

• God's Kingdom existed in Heaven before the creation of the earth and will continue to exist eternally.

• God created the earth as an extension of His Heavenly Kingdom. He chose man as the instrument through which His Kingdom would be extended. Man failed in this responsibility.

• God chose a nation through which His Kingdom would be extended. But Israel failed in the responsibility. They turned to heathen gods and accepted worldly standards instead of the Kingdom principles.

• Then God sent His Son, Jesus Christ. Where the first man, Adam, failed, the second man, Jesus, succeeded. He ushered in the Kingdom of God on earth. Jesus provided a way, through spiritual rebirth, that man could live in the Kingdom of God and that Kingdom exist within him even though he still lived in the natural world. Because the King and His Kingdom were rejected, the visible establishment of the Kingdom was postponed until a second coming.

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• To extend the message or "Gospel" of the Kingdom, God has now chosen the Church. The Church is the instrument through which the Kingdom message is to be shared with the nations of the world. Where the first chosen people, Israel, failed, the Church will succeed. When the Gospel of the Kingdom has been preached throughout the world, the second return of the King will occur. The Kingdom of God will be established in its final, visible form. All other worldly kingdoms will be defeated.

FACTS ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD You have learned of the past, present, and future of the Kingdom of God. Here are some other basic facts about this Kingdom: 1. IT IS RULED BY GOD FROM HIS _________________IN HEAVEN: The Lord hath prepared His throne in the Heavens; and His Kingdom ruleth over all. (Psalms 103:19) 2. IT IS RULED BY A ______________ WHO IS ____________________: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) 3. THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS _________________: Thy Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. (Psalms 145:13) 4. THE KINGDOM OF GOD CANNOT BE MOVED, ______________, OR DESTROYED: Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. (Hebrews 12:28) 5. THE KINGDOM WAS PREPARED SINCE THE ____________________: Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (Matthew 25:34) 6. GOD WANTS US TO ________________HIS KINGDOM: Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. (Luke 12:32)

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And I appoint unto you a Kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me. (Luke 22:29) 7. GOD'S KINGDOM IS _______________OVER ALL OTHER KINGDOMS: The Lord hath prepared His throne in the Heavens; and His Kingdom ruleth over all. (Psalms 103:19) 8. THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS COMPOSED OF _________________ FROM ALL NATIONS: And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the Kingdom of God. (Luke 13:29) 9. GOD'S KINGDOM IS NOT A KINGDOM OF THIS _______________: Jesus answered, My Kingdom is not of this world: If my Kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my Kingdom not from hence. (John 18:36) 10. GOD'S KINGDOM IS BASED ON SPIRITUAL ___________________: For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:17) For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. (I Corinthians 4:20) 11. GOD'S KINGDOM CANNOT BE ________________BY FLESH AND BLOOD: Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (I Corinthians 15:50). Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Jesus answered, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. (John 3:3 and 5) 12. THERE ARE SPIRITUAL _____________TO GOD'S KINGDOM: And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven. (Matthew 16:19)

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KEY VERSE: “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:7-8).

Session Seven

1

MIRACLES, SIGNS AND WONDERS

INTRODUCTION The Gospel of the Kingdom is not just a message to be shared by proclamation, but a Kingdom to be established by the demonstration of the Spirit and power. “Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God” (Luke 8:1 Emphasis Added). Paul declared: “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). The true Gospel is not fully preached unless it is _________________ by the tangible, accompanying power of signs, wonders and miracles. “I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ” (Romans 15:18-19, Emphasis Added). There are at least three reasons revealed in the Bible as to why we can expect to see the Kingdom come with today not just in word, but in ________________.

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2

1. THE _______________ OF CHRIST Every miracle and healing Jesus performed was motivated by his great mercy. Throughout the Gospels there are at least fourteen referenced to Jesus being or having compassion on people. In each incident, there was a subsequent supernatural miracle wrought by Christ.

Consider the following references in the Gospels:

•Matt 14:14, "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he ________________ their sick."

•Mark 1:39-41, So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean.' Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"

•Luke 7:12-15, “As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out-- the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

THE HEART OF THE KING As you learned in session four, the benevolent character of King Jesus is displayed in His ___________________________ to establish His righteous Kingdom rule among His people and eradicate injustice and eliminate oppression: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:18-19).

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Healing and miracles are actually the means by which God demonstrates His profound love and personal concern for His people. In Mark 3: 1 – 5, we read of an event that makes this amply clear: “And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.” Do you see the significance of verse 4? Jesus is implying that if He refused to heal this man it would be an evil act tantamount to murder! 2. THE _________________ OF THE GOSPEL One of the most common misconceptions relating to Gospel is that it is really only concerned about spiritual needs. The fact is the very nature of salvation has been greatly misinterpreted! The word salvation in the New Testament Greek is _________. The noun, “save” is _________ and is used most commonly of spiritual salvation (Romans 10:9, 13). However, in James 1:21, the word is used in a different way. James exhorts his hearers to receive the “implanted word which is able to save their souls.” Note: He is addressing Christians. The word ‘soul’ is ______________ which speaks of the "sensory-self" or the emotions, mind and will. He is saying allow the word to renew your thinking, guard your emotions and captivate and control your will. In other words, salvation is spiritual but also psychological. In the New Testament there is a third application of salvation: the physical. In Acts 4:9, the word sozo is translated “made whole” of the crippled beggar that was healed through Peter and John. The term is employed in Matthew 9:21 in reference to the woman with the issue of blood being healed.

ISAIAH'S PROPHECY OF THE MESSIAH Matthew 8:16-17 declares, "When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.’"

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Jesus was fulfilling what was previously written by the prophet Isaiah 53:4, "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.” You will notice that there seems to be a discrepancy between Matthew's wording and that of Isaiah. Matthew says that Jesus carried our ‘diseases’; Isaiah says ‘sorrows.’ There is no contradiction here. The Hebrew word in Isaiah's text means "to feel pain." It can be translated literally or figuratively. The implication is something we should not overlook. The Holy Spirit is saying that Christ went to the Cross to redeem us from all pain: spiritual, psychological and physiological. Bill Johnson states the following on page 32 of When Heaven Invades Earth: “The gospel of salvation is to touch the whole man: spirit, soul, and body. John G. Lake called this a Triune Salvation. A study on the word evil confirms the intended reach of His redemption. That word is found in Matthew 6:13 (KJV), "Deliver us from evil." The word evil represents the entire curse of sin upon man. Poneros, the Greek word for _________, came from the word ponos, meaning _________. And that word came from the root word penes, meaning ________. Look at it: evil-sin, pain-sickness, and poor-poverty. Jesus destroyed the power of sin, sickness, and poverty through His redemptive work on the cross. In Adam and Eve's commission to subdue the earth, they were without sickness, poverty, and sin. Now that we are restored to His original purpose, should we expect anything less? After all, this is called the better covenant!" 3. THE __________________ OF MEN’S HEARTS The third reason why the Lord desires to manifest His supernatural power in contemporary society is because there are many today that need powerful proof of the truth of the Gospel. Satan, the god of this world has blinded them so that they cannot believe. “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4, NIV). New Testament signs and wonders is the added component needed to break through the darkness of men’s hearts. It is the means by which God Himself bears witness to the message. "...God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will” (Hebrews 2:4). Again, we read, "And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs" (Mark 16:20, New Living Translation).

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OPEN HEARTS Phillip was led by the Holy Spirit to go to Samaria and preach Christ to the multitudes. In the natural, it was probably the last place on earth he would want to go to! Phillip was from Jerusalem. Samaritans and Jews had no dealings with each other. There was deep-seated racial prejudice as well as sharp theological disagreement between the two groups. Yet, against all odds, Phillip was able to break through and see revival. “And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip” (Acts 8:6).

Why was it that a people who were typically averse toward Jews would give Phillip their undivided attention? The narrative is clear, “...hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed” (Acts 8:6-7).

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KEY VERSE: “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in l ike manner” (John 5:19).

Session Eight

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“ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN”

INTRODUCTION It is truly amazing when you think about how effective Jesus ministry was while he was here on the earth. Wherever he went, He manifested the Kingdom of God in power. Truly all of the resources of heaven were available to Him and he lacked no good thing, always having sufficiency to fulfill His calling and ministry. Acts 10:38 informs us that Jesus in the days of His flesh “went around doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil.” What was the reason for His ability to minister so fruitfully to the needs of people? The same verse continues “...________ ________ ________ _________ ________.”

THE ECONOMY OF THE KINGDOM It is apparent that Jesus operated from another economy: the ____________ economy. All though there were times were His ministry received financial support from those on the earth (Luke 8:2-3), Jesus did not depend solely on this source of provision. Think about the following:

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KEY VERSE: “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in l ike manner” (John 5:19).

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Passover was at hand. Jesus required a venue to celebrate the Feast with his disciples. What did Christ do? Did he receive an offering and go and search for a room to rent? No! He waited on His Father to grant him the course of action He should take. Luke 22: 7 – 13: “Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.” So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?” And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.” So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.” On another occasion Jesus was in need of cash to pay the required taxes to the State on behalf of Himself and Peter. Now the scriptures do not tell us whether Jesus had the needed money in his ministry coffers or not. All we are told is that Christ gave clear instruction to His disciple how to meet the need: “...So go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us" (Matthew 17:27). Once again the provision of heaven came to the rescue! On at least two instances, we see that Jesus was able to feed thousands of people without having adequate natural resources. He once fed five thousand men (Matthew 14:21) and on another occasion four thousand (Matthew 15:38).

ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN The reason that Jesus was so effective is summarized in John 5:19: “Then Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the _______________ do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.’” The New Living Translation puts it this way: “So Jesus explained, ‘I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.’”

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KEY VERSE: “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner” (John 5:19).

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We need to understand that when Jesus was on the Earth, the works that He did were accomplished not as the Son of God, but rather as the Son of man! In other words, the miracles were done not as the God in the flesh, but as a man in the Spirit! Jesus ______________ Himself. He put aside His deity and learned to walk as a man empowered and governed by the Holy Spirit. “Who, being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:6-7). As a man, Jesus ________________ the will and intent of His Father in heaven and He implemented it on the earth. The Father delighted to show Jesus His will! “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does” (John 5:20) Jesus modus operandi was that simple: He saw what was going on in Heaven and replicated it on the earth! He executed the Kingdom agenda on the earth! The results were that there was never an insufficiency of natural or spiritual resources to accomplish the will of the Father!

THE SENSUAL PEOPLE The people of the earth live and respond to the circumstances of the visible world, not the invisible. They seek after the things of the earth and not the things of heaven! They are __________________, Jude says, “they are sensual, not having the Spirit” v. 19 Luke 12:28 – 30, “And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.” Philippians 3:19, “their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.”

SEEING THE KINGDOM The ability to see into the heavens was not restricted to Jesus alone. It is God's will that we experience the same. We are to pray that “His kingdom will come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” When we are born-again of the Spirit we enter the Kingdom (John 3:5). Once we are in the Kingdom we can begin to see those things that are invisible to the _________________ man (John 3:3; 1 Cor 2:9-10, 12, 14).

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“But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are ____________________ discerned.” As sons of God we are to “...walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7). What does that mean? Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Amplified Bible! “NOW ________________ is the assurance (the confirmation, [a] the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you __________ on earth will be ____________ in heaven, and whatever you ___________ on earth will be ________________ in heaven” (Matthew 16:19). Understanding the perfect passive participle: Amplified Bible - “Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven.”

SEEING THE INVISIBLE Hebrews 11:27 - “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.”

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HOW DO WE ACQUIRE THE ABILITY TO SEE THE INVISIBLE?

1. SHIFT FROM THE VISIBLE TO THE ________________ – 2 Cor 4:18. “while we do

not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2. BELIEVE THAT THE LORD _________________ TO SHOW YOU ALL THINGS – John 5:20; Ro. 8:29 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. (Joh 5:20)

3. ___________________ YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM: Isa. 50:4-5; John 15:15; John 17:8

Revelation comes through relationship: “The Lord GOD has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned. 5 The Lord GOD has opened My ear; and I was not rebellious. John 15:15, I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. John 17:8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me;

Awake Nations with Glenn Bleakney www.awakenations.org

© 2012 Awake Nations with Glenn Bleakney. All Right Reserved.

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gospel of the kingdom - Awake Nations · of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, In the day that the LORD