The Kingdom

I.  The kingdom refers to God’s domain.  

     A.  The kingdom is where God lives.

1.  It is an invisible realm.  The throne of God is the 

            center of the kingdom.  The spiritual realm.

2.  The kingdom is realized when what happens here 

            on earth is at it is in heaven.  

3.  The kingdom comes in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

            Worship and prayer can cause heaven to invade earth.

B.  Faith brings God’s world into our world.

    1.  “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence

of things not seen.”  (Hebrews 11:1)

  2.  When we pray we loose what is in heaven to be loosed

on earth.

   3.  Faith is the connection by way of prayer. 

   4.  When does the kingdom come?  

a.  It comes in the presence of the Spirit of God.

b.  Whenever miracles or healings occur it breaks

                through.

     C.  Jesus spent 40 days teaching His disciples the kingdom.

       1.  Easter is resurrection Sunday.  Pentecost is Pentecost 

Sunday.  Pentecost also means 50.  Subtract 40 from 50

will give you the number of days the disciples spent in the
            upper room.  That number is ten.

      2.  On resurrection Sunday, Jesus breathed on the apostles

and told them to receive the Holy Spirit.  They were 

then indwelt with the Holy Spirit.  However, they were

not filled with the Holy Spirit because that came on 

Pentecost Sunday.

      3.  All Christians are indwelt with the Holy Spirit but not

all Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit.  You must

pray for God to fill you with the Holy Spirit.

      4.  Through baptism we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit

which is our salvation.

      5.  To be baptized in the Holy Spirit is to be filled with

the Spirit and this equips us with power to carry forth

the Great Commission.  (Matthew 28:16-20).

II.  Do you know when the presence of God is near?

     A.  He’s showing up but do you know it?

1.  Some people feel a sensation in their body.  Some feel

            His actual presence by sensing it around them.  Some

            may want to feel like crying when God’s presence is

             near.  People have different experiences.

2.  The glory of God is when God is in your midst.  When

            God is in your midst healing takes place as well as 

            miracles.  Thus, the question is, “How can we ask God

            to come in or midst?”

B.  We can change the atmosphere of our environment.

   1.  Our internal environment can change our external 

environment.  Unfortunately, the external environment

can also change our internal environment.

   2.  We are to live consciously that the Holy Spirit is within

us and to be aware of His presence.

   3.  The Bible says we are to allow the Holy Spirit to flow

through is like a river to help others.  Too many

          Christians have imprisoned the Holy Spirit instead.

   4.  Being aware of the Holy Spirit within us, and seeking to

do God’s will by being obedient, we can release the Holy

Spirit into the atmosphere to change that environment.

   5.  For example, going to a jail and the prisoner feels 

horrible and without hope.  By praying with this person

you can release the Holy Spirit of God into that jail

cell and change that entire environment by the power,

dunamis, of God.  Giving that person hope.

   6.  By being obedient, for we cannot save or heal anyone,

we allow the Holy Spirit to do the work.  In so doing,

we have allowed the kingdom of God to break through.

Heaven will have actually invaded earth.

    

   

Prayer

I.  Prayer is simply talking to God.  

     A.  Jesus never prayed outside of His Father’s will.

1.  He gave us a pattern of how to pray.

2.  Pray to the Father, in the Name of Jesus through

            the power of the Holy Spirit.

3.  A human being is no greater than his or her prayer

            life because there is nothing of eternal value that

            will ever be more important.

4.  Prayer is the connection between earth and heaven.

            When we pray, we want what is heaven to be here

            on earth.

     B.  Faith is the major connection by way of prayer to heaven.

1.  “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence 

            of things not seen.”  (Hebrews 11:1).  Nothing is 

            impossible with faith.

2.  You and God are a majority.

II.  Prayer makes available to us the unlimited resources of God.

     A.  Prayer through faith makes all things possible.

1.  The American Medical Association states that those 

             individuals who pray for those who are in the hospital 

             will have much better outcomes than those who do not.

2.  Prayer is the greatest power that God has given to us.

            Regardless of what gifts you may have or how much

            education you have, or how rich you are, don’t put 

            your faith in those things.  If you pray, you can change

            the world.

        3.  James 5:13: “Is anyone of you in trouble?  He should 

         pray.” At end of verse 16 he says, “The effective, fervent

         prayer of  a righteous man avails much.  

     4.  Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed 

         earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the 

         land for three years and six months.  And he prayed again, 

         and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced it’s fruit.  

     5.  The history of Israel was written according to the prayers 

         of Elijah.  And if Elijah hadn’t prayed you wouldn’t have

even read about him in the Bible.  The history of Israel 

was influenced because he, one single person with ups 

and downs just like the rest of us, prayed.  

     B.  The life of Jesus.

1.  Look at the life of Jesus.  Perfect prayer.  Doing the will

           of God.  Nothing happened in Jesus’ life without Him 

           praying. 

2.  Luke 3:21“When all the people were baptized, it came to 

            pass that Jesus was also baptized; and while He prayed, 

       the heaven was opened.  And the Holy Spirit descended in

       bodily form like a dove upon Him and a voice came from

       heaven which said, "You are my beloved Son; in You I am

       well pleased."  When did God speak that?  When did the

       Holy Spirit descend on Him?  When He was praying.     

  3.  Look at the 5^th chapter.  Verses 15, 16.  After He healed

          the sick, “the report went around concerning Him all the

          more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to

          be healed by Him of their infirmities.  So He Himself

          often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.”

     4.  In spite of the crowds, He was the only one who could

          help them.  He went off into solitary places and prayed.

          He was the Son of God and He knew He couldn’t heal

          them all unless He went into prayer.  Nothing happens of

          significance of spiritual value in your life unless you pray. 

    5.  Luke 6:12.  Jesus went out to a mountain side to pray.

        And spent the night praying to God.  There are many

        examples of Jesus going off and praying all night, getting

        up early and praying all morning in solitary places to meet

        with His Father.  Here He went out an prayed all night long

        to God.  And when morning came He called His disciples

        to Him and chose 12 Apostles.  

    6. Luke 22:39: “Coming out He went to the Mount of

        Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also

        followed Him.  When He came to the place, He said to

        them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’  And

        He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and

        He knelt down and prayed.saying, ‘Father if it is your will,

        take this cup away from Me; Nevertheless not My will, be

       Yours, be done.’  Then an angel appeared to Him from

        heaven, strengthening Him.  And being in agony, He

        prayed more earnestly.  Then His sweat became like great

       drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

    7. Being in agony.  With the devil doing everything in his 

        power to stop Him from going to the cross in order to

        redeem all of us.  With the angel of God helping Him.

        What did He lean on?  He prayed!  Nothing of eternal

        value will ever happen to us unless we are people of

        prayer.  

    8. When you pray, God battles and fights on your behalf.  The

       Biblical pattern is not if you pray, but when you pray.

Church

Church

I.  What is the church?

     A.  The New Testament word for church is ecclecia.

          1.  This word means an assembly or gathering of people

               called out in loyal obedience to God.

         2.  The church began by meeting in other people’s

               homes.  Nowhere in the New Testament is the church

               referred to as a building.  It wasn’t until many years later

               that buildings were made for people to have church

               services in.

         3.  The church is not supposed to be an isolated, private 

              religion.  The church is always described as a body of

               men and women who have come together out of love for

               God.

     B.  Who is the head of the church?

          1.  Jesus Christ is the head of the church.  In fact, the Bible 

              refers to the church as the “Bride of Christ.”

         2.  The mission of the church  is very clear.  Jesus tells us, 

“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.”  (Matthew 28:19)

         3.  This is referred to as The Great Commission.

C.  Who makes up the church?

          1.  All of us make up the Body of Christ – the church.  Since 

              Jesus is no longer physically here in body, if He wants 

              something done He has to find someone  to do it.  

         2.  Jesus is counting on all of us, as a congregation of 

              believers, to do it.  Every member of the church has a

               personal responsibility to take part in the mission of the 

              church.  

        3.  We are to let the Word go forth, that God loves us so

               much that we might have eternal life with Him.  This is 

               referred to as the “Good News,” the Gospel of Jesus

               Christ.  

 

II.  What is the ultimate goal and purpose of Christ’s Church?

     A.  There are three qualities that make up the goal of the

           church.

          1.  Bring people into a saving and personal relationship with 

              Jesus Christ.

        2.  Help them grow spiritually in the Christian faith.

        3.  Send them out into the world to witness to others about

               the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

     B.  What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

          1.  To make it crystal clear, the answer is found in John 3:16:

              “For God so loved the world that He gave His only

               begotten Son that whoever believeth in Him shall not 

               perish but have everlasting life.”

     C.  When did the church begin?

          1.  The church began on the day of Pentecost when the Holy  
                Spirit revealed Himself.
           2.  After Peter's sermon, on the day of Pentecost, the Bible
                tells us these words:  
           3.  "And with many other words he testified and exhorted
                them saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation.'
                Then those who gladly received his word were baptized;
                and that day about three thousand souls were added to
                them.  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles'
                doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in
                prayers."  (Acts 2:40-42.)

          4.  Our task is to continue the mission and to let the Word
                go forth that God loves you and wants you to be in His

                family, which is His church.  

Holy Spirit

I.  Who or what is the Holy Spirit?
     A.  The Holy Spirit is a person.

        1.  He is known by the following names:

a.  Holy Spirit.

b.  Holy Ghost.

c.  Comforter.

d.  Helper.

e.  Counselor.

f.  Paraclete.

2.  The Holy Spirit is the heart and soul of Christianity

             and without the Holy Spirit our lives cannot be

             fulfilled.

     B.  The Holy Spirit is first seen in the very beginning.

1.  “In the beginning God created the heavens and the

              earth.  The earth was without form and void; and

              darkness was on the face of the deep.  And the Spirit

              of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”
              (Genesis 1:1-2).

2.  “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image . . .”

(Genesis 1:26).

C.  The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity.

1.  God the Father.

2.  God the Son.

3.  God the Holy Spirit.

II.  What is the work of the Holy Spirit?
     A.  John 16:8-11 is the Scripture that explains this.

1.  The Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin, 

           righteousness, and judgment.

2.  The focus of the Holy Spirit is on Christ, the crucified

             Savior.  The focus is on the sin of unbelief.

3.  If we focus on Christ first, rather then our sins, Jesus

            will help us overcome our sins.  

4.  The Holy Spirit’s chief work is to glorify Christ and 

          convict people of their sins.

5.  The Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth.  

III.  The Holy Spirit will grow the church.

A.  Jesus gave all Christians the Great Commission.

1.  “. . . All authority has been given to Me in heaven 

and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all

nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father

             and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching the
             to observe all things that I have commanded you;

             and o, I am with you always, even to the end of the

             age.”  (Matthew 28:18-20).

2.  The church cannot grow and the Great Commission

cannot be fulfilled without the help of the Holy 

Spirit.

B.  Jesus told the apostles and disciples to stay in 

         Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit.

1.  After His resurrection from the dead, Jesus spent 40 days
            with His disciples instructing them on the

          Kingdom of Heaven.  He then ascended into heaven,

          but before He left, He told them to stay in Jerusalem

           until they received the Holy Spirit.  

2.  Jesus knew they would not be able to grow the 

          church on their own abilities.  It would require the 

          work of the Holy Spirit to do this.

3.  Ten days after Jesus ascended to heaven, the 

          Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost.  

            (Acts 2:1-4).

4. Pentecost means 50.  Thus, subtract 40 days that

         Jesus was on earth after His resurrection and you

          have ten days that the disciples were in the Upper

         Room following His ascension to heaven.

 
  C.  The focus of the Holy Spirit.

1.  To glorify Christ.
        2.  To convict people of their sins.   
        3.  To lead people to the truth.

D.  People have two choices to make in response to the 
           Holy Spirit.

1.  To accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior.

2.  To reject Jesus Christ as their personal savior.

E.  The work of the Holy Spirit comes down to this:

1.  Have you truly believed in your heart that Jesus is

          the Christ, the Son of the living God?

2.  Do you repent of your sins?

3.  Do you believe that by His death on Calvary that

          He paid for your sins?

4.  Do you now accept Him by faith as your Lord and

          Savior? 

Jesus

I.  Who is Jesus?

A.  He appears 40 times in the Old Testament.

1.  He is referred to as The Angel of the Lord.

2.  “And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a 

        flame of fire from the midst of a bush.  Then he

        looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire,

        but the bush was not consumed.”  (Exodus 3:2).

3.  Jesus was seen in His pre-incarnate form, i.e., without

       a body.  The word incarnation means to be clothed

       with a body, e.g., to have flesh.  His pre-incarnate

       form means He did not have a physical body yet.

4.  The Angel of the Lord is referred to as the Logos in

        the New Testament.  “In the beginning was the Word
        and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” 

        (John 1:1).

5.  Jesus was part of the Trinity as seen in Genesis 1:26:  

     “Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image,

        according to Our likeness . . .”

B.  Isaiah 53:3 gives us this description of Jesus.

    1.  “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of

           sorrows, and familiar with suffering.  Like one from

           whom men hide their faces.  He was despised, and we
            esteemed Him not.”

    2.  His life on earth begins in a broken down horse stable 

         sleeping in a feed trough.  

    3.  His mother’s name is Mary and she has a virgin birth.  

        What happens to a young woman who is engaged and 

  becomes pregnant?  She is branded an adulteress and 

         subject to death by stoning.

    4.  The angel Gabriel told Mary His name will be Jesus

           which comes from the word “Joshua” and means, “He
           shall save.

II.  Why did Jesus come to earth?

A.  Matthew 1:21 tells us:  “And she will bring forth a Son

       and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His

       people from their sins.”

     1.  He is the Son of God as revealed in His baptism.  The 

  heavens opened up and God said these words about

           Jesus, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well 

           pleased.”

     2.  Jesus begins His ministry by saying, “The time is
           fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent

           and believe in the gospel.”

     3.  After Jesus started His ministry at age 30, what did His 

         family initially think of Him?  Mark 3:21 tells us.

           “When His family heard about this, they went to take
            charge of Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind.”

B.  What kind of person was Jesus?

    1.  He had so much charisma that people would follow Him 

 instantly and leave everything behind.

    2.  He was able to show His feelings honestly.  He wept

           over the death of Lazareth.  He became angry at the

           money changers.  He laughed at weddings.

     C.  Jesus also came to earth, “. . . to save His people from

           their sins.”  (Matthew 1:21).  Also, “. . . that he might

           destroy the works of the devil.”  (I John 3:8).

III.  No one was ever like Jesus.

A.  When Jesus came to earth, demons recognized Him right

       away.  The sick flocked to Him.  

       1.  He introduced us to God.  He brought God near to us.

           He used the Aramaic word Abba, Father.  

2. When asked by Phillip to show us the Father, Jesus

              said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”  

3. When Jesus hung on the cross, it was a message to the 

            entire world that He had become the sacrificial lamb

              of God.  Rejected on earth and He was not accepted

              in heaven.  He hung between heaven and earth
              Totally rejected for us.

4.  He was the sin offering for the world.  All the

              rebellion, all the evil, all the sins of humanity were

              cast upon Him as He hung on the cross.  

5.  Why God cared so much about us, is a mystery we

              will never understand until we come before His

              presence.

6.  Jesus revealed a God who is love.  Who longs for us.

             Who cries when we stray from Him, and runs to us
              when we return.  A God who loves us so much that He

              gave His only begotten son for us.  (John 3:16.)

7.  The bottom line is this:  From Genesis 3 to Revelation

              22, is the story of how God does everything He can to
              get His family back.  It all culminates at the cross.

              No cross means there would be no salvation.

8.  That’s why we love Jesus.  We also know that Jesus is

               coming back again, only this time as King of Kings

               and Lord of Lords.