SEA
SEA, THE
RIVER
RIVER
RED SEA
RED SEA, PASSAGE OF
EXODUS
RED SEA
I. The Bitter Lakes region
II. The Gulfs of Suez and Aqabah
JORDAN
I. Archaeological sites
II. Topographical features

b. BELIEVERS
The first requirement to enter the kingdom is to be ‘born again’. It is a spiritual, not a physical rebirth.

It is through the difficulty we have in separating the physical from the spiritual that we do not understand that, in the spiritual, we have eternal life now.

We are granted access now into the kingdom.

The problem is, in our humanity, we tend to see the kingdom as being a tangible, future place of existence, but in truth, it is spiritual, not physical. Yes, we still retain a perishable body, but it is not our body that inherits the kingdom.

So in the kingdom, we are to live to please the Spirit, not our old sinful natures.

In the kingdom we are to develop the spiritual attributes in our life.

Attributes commonly called the ‘Fruit of the Spirit’.

This is not easy, for the ‘world’ does not appreciate or understand spiritual values and may well persecute us because of them.

The lure and acquisition of worldly riches, in fact, has a hugely negative impact on our ability to inherit the kingdom. The results of this are particularly apparent in the Western world today.

Including the so-called ‘religious’ people who say one thing but do another.

While we continue to live in an age of God’s grace, a final day of judgement will inevitably come. People scoff at this, for grace has abided with us for so long. Even biblical teachers have become captured by false, human based doctrine. But we are to stand true to kingdom principles until the end.

This particularly applies to Christians. For once we have had the truth revealed to us, we are 100% accountable for the way we live and any ongoing, deliberate sin in our lives!

Yes, judgement begins with the family of God! While it may well be painful now, the outcome is well worth it.

For God’s mercy triumphs over His judgement for those who act in accordance with His will.

This truth of kingdom living is not well understood by today’s believers. But if we truly possess God now, living by His Word and following His will for us, we will avoid judgement and enjoy the eternal life we have already inherited.

Primarily we do this by living in love, to both God and others. In this way we become like Jesus. As we live in love, so the fear of judgement and punishment is removed from our life.

For we will inherit the glorious kingdom that Peter, James and John got a glimpse of during the transfiguration of Jesus.

The kingdom that Jesus spoke about in the Garden of Gethsemene just before He died on the cross, for you and for me.

For we will have victory over the world, even if at present it seems far away.

And we will inherit the final, New Kingdom of Jesus upon the earth. Hallelujah!

For the Kingdom of Jesus has conquered, is conquering and will conquer, the kingdom of the world.

Grasping the vision and living the reality of the kingdom within leads us down the path to spiritual maturity.

as we move into the final 2 weeks of our study, looking at 'Winning the War'.

The concept of inheriting the kingdom NOW, is one of the major, maybe the major, revelation that is forming the foundation for the church of today and tomorrow!

While the Lord's Prayer has fallen out of favour in many churches today, the basic truth that it contains Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven is at the very heart of the future church.

God's kingdom is being built on earth inside every genuine believer. His will, will be done on earth, as He has promised! Hallelujah! Amen!

ASSYRIAN OFFICERS

Of the 8th century BC. A bas relief from the Pergamon Museum, Berlin, Germany.