A. The kingdom was prophesied (Dan. 2:44; Matt. 3:2; 4:17)
B. The kingdom was prayed for (Matthew 6:10)
C. The kingdom was promised (Matthew 16:18-19)
D. The kingdom was preached (Acts 2; 8:12; 19:8; 28:23-31)
E. This same kingdom still exists today (Mark 9:1; Acts 2; Colossians 1:13)
II. Yours is the power…forever
A. The “mighty works” of Jesus (Matt. 11:20-23; 13:54, 58)
B. It was by God’s power that…
1. Jesus was conceived (Luke 1:35)
2. Jesus was raised from the dead (Philippians 3:10)
3. The soul-saving Scriptures were written (Romans 1:16; 2 Peter 1:3)
C. Why do so many deny the power of God? (2 Tim. 3:5)
III. Yours is the glory…forever
A. Glory shines in the life of Jesus (John 1:14)
B. Glory shines in the resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:4)
C. Glory shines in the ascension of Jesus (1 Timothy 3:16)
D. Glory shines in the foreverness of Jesus (Colossians 3:4;
2 Timothy 2:10)
A. When He comes, we will be “gathered together to Him” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)
B. The falling away must first come (Acts 20:29-30; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Peter 2:1-3)
II. The man of sin (2:3-10)
A. “Exalts himself…so that he sits as God in the temple” (2:3-4)
B. Restrained in Paul’s day (2:5-7)
C. When the man of sin is revealed, the Lord will destroy him (2:8)
D. Deception and rejection (2:9-10)
III. Strong delusion (2:11-12)
A. Confusion (Isaiah 5:20)
B. Rejection of the truth (John 12:48)
C. Pleasure in unrighteousness (Hebrews 11:24-26)
A. The lioness represents either Judah or the royal family (19:2; cf. Psalm 89:3-4)
B. The first cub is Jehoahaz [Shallum] (19:3-4)
C. The second cub is Jehoiachin [Coniah] (19:5-9)
D. The third king lamented is Zedekiah [Mattaniah] (19:10-14)
II. A closer look at Jehoahaz
A. The son of Josiah, the last good king (2 Kings 23:25)
B. Taken into captivity into Egypt by Pharaoh Necho
C. The first Judean king to die in exile (2 Kings 23:31-34; Jeremiah 22:10-12)
D. Pharaoh Necho places Jehoiakim on the throne – Jehoiakim is not the second cub; he was despised by the people (Jeremiah 22:18-19)
III. A closer look at Jehoiachin
A. Carried into Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:10)
B. The hope was for him to return, but Babylon brought him out of prison and made him comfortable in that land (2 Kings 25:27-30)
IV. A closer look at Zedekiah
A. Another son of Josiah; uncle to Jehoiachin
B. Made king by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Chronicles 36:10)
C. The last of David’s dynasty to sit on the throne in Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:1-7)
V. Lessons for today
A. We must not put our trust in any person, but especially an evil person (2 Kings 23:32; 24:9, 19)
B. The people trusted in the house of David rather than God – do we trust in the White House more than God’s house today?
C. Let us pray for the nation’s leaders—whoever they are—that their decisions do not hinder the work of the Lord’s church (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
A. Scriptural names for this office
1. Elders (Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 5:1), presbyters (1 Timothy 4:14)
2. Bishops (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1; Titus 1:7), overseers (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2)
3. Pastors (Ephesians 4:11), shepherds (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2)
B. Qualifications to serve as an elder (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9)
C. Spiritual duties of the eldership (Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:4; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:2; Titus 1:10-11)
II. Deacons
A. diakonos is a servant or minister (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8-13)
B. Qualifications to serve as a deacon (1 Timothy 3:8-13)
C. Duty is service in whatever capacity appointed to them by the elders (Acts 6:1-6)
A. Where to worship (Jn.4:19-21; Gen. 22:5; Acts 8:27; 24:11)
B. Understanding in worship (John 4:22; 1 Cor. 14:15-16)
C. True worship vs. false worship (John 4:23-24; Mt. 15:8-9)
II. “In spirit”
A. The proper attitude (Psalm 122:1; Acts 2:46-47; Hebrews 10:19-25)
B. Is spirit enough? (1 Samuel 15:7-9, 13-15, 22-23)
III. “In truth”
A. Prayer (Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 2:1, 8; Acts 12:12)
B. Singing (Colossians 3:16-17)
C. Preaching (1 Timothy 4:2; Acts 17:11)
D. Remembering the Lord’s death (Matthew 26:26-29; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
E. Giving (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8:7-9)
F. Is truth enough?
I. The glory of His church (1:1-4; Ephesians 3:10-11)
A. Exhibits growing faith (2 Peter 1:5-9)
B. Expresses an abounding love (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10)
C. Exudes an enduring patience (James 1:2-4)
II. The glory of His righteous judgment (1:5-9)
A. Always righteous and impartial (Romans 2:2-6, 11)
A. For the faithful, He will give rest (Romans 2:7, 10)
B. For the rebellious, He will take vengeance (Romans 2:8-9)
III. The glory of His Son (1:10-12)
A. His Son will be glorified and admired in that Day (Philippians 2:9-11)
B. His Son must be glorified in us today (Philippians 2:12-16)
A. The great eagle is Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar; the willow tree/vine is Zedekiah in Judah (17:1-6, 11-14)
B. The second eagle is Egyptian Pharaoh, Hophra (17:7-8, 15a; cf. Jeremiah 44:30)
C. Will the vine thrive? (17:9-10, 15b-21)
II. Messianic hope (17:22-24)
A. The tender one cropped off by God is Jesus (Isaiah 11:1; 53:2)
B. Planted on a high and prominent mountain – the kingdom of Christ would be exalted over all the trees of the field (other kingdoms)
III. Lessons for us today
A. In whom do you place your trust? (Psalm 46:1)
B. Integrity is vital – do not make flippant vows (Numbers 30:2; Ecclesiastes 5:4-5)
A. Prophecy (Isaiah 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-3)
B. Promise (Matthew 16:18-19)
C. Practice (Acts 2:41-47)
II. The distinctive and singular nature of the church
A. One flock (John 10:16; Acts 20:28)
B. One body (Ephesians 4:4; 1:22-23)
C. One bride (Romans 7:1-4; Ephesians 5:22-33)
III. Identifying the church of the Bible by its traits
A. The designation (Acts 20:28; 1 Tim. 3:15; Romans 16:16)
B. Organization (Philippians 1:1; Ephesians 4:11-12)
C. Worship (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2; Colossians 3:16-17)
IV. A rejection of division
A. The Lord prayed for unity (John 17:20-21)
B. The Lord paid for unity (Ephesians 2:14-16)
C. The Lord pleaded for unity (1 Corinthians 1:10)
D. The Lord planned for unity (Ephesians 4:1-6)
V. How one becomes a part of the Lord’s church
A. The Lord is the one who adds a person to the church (Acts 2:37-40, 47)
B. Those who are added must continue in the faith (1 Corinthians 10:12; 15:58)
A. All the time, yes (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Philippians 4:6)
B. In sorrow and great distress (Matthew 26:37)
C. When we are alone (Matthew 26:21, 31, 34)
II. Where should we pray?
A. In seclusion (John 18:1)
B. Separated Himself even from His closest friends (Matthew 26:37; Luke 22:41)
III. How should we pray?
A. With persistence (Matthew 26:39, 42, 44)
B. Earnestly (Luke 22:44)
C. Humbly (Matthew 26:39 fell on His face)
D. Seeking God’s will (Matthew 26:39, 42; 1 John 5:14)
IV. What happens when we pray like Jesus prayed?
A. God hears us (Hebrews 5:7)
B. We receive strength from God
1. Through His Word (Psalm 119:28)
2. Through His servants (Luke 22:43; James 5:16)
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)
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