The beginning of a new year with all the anticipation it brings! This message is the next installment of a series on the Gospel of the Kingdom. Past weeks have discussed Jesus as the Seed of Promise, the Last Adam and life-giving Spirit.

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Gospel of the Kingdom:
Jesus, the Coming King

I.    Review.
A.    The Kingdom is coming.
1.    Matthew 16.
a)    The calling out of a new people.
b)    The announcement of the revolution against darkness.
2.    Matthew 17.
a)    The source of kingdom power revealed.
b)    The expansion of the kingdom begun.
3.    Matthew 18.
a)    The subjects in the kingdom described.
b)    Kingdom authority to be manifested among them.
B.    The King has come. The birth of Christ.
1.    He is the seed of promise.
a)    Fulfillment of the Genesis promise.
b)    Tasked to destroy the works of the Devil (1 John 3.8).
2.    He is the Life-giving Spirit.
a)    The last Adam.
b)    The progenitor of a new race.
3.    He is the coming King.
II.    The restoration of the throne of God.
A.    The Ruler of this world is a pretender to the throne.
1.    Satan has a kingdom (Luke 11.18).
2.    Domain of darkness (Colossians 1.13).
3.    It is terminal (John 12.31).
B.    The missing element in the Kingdom of God (1 Samuel 8.7).
1.    One of those times God gives what He knows isn’t best.
2.    The missing element: Subjects; obedient followers of the King.
3.    Apparently, God had been fine with the system of the Judges.
C.    The Kings of Israel became a placeholder for the righteous King.
1.    The monarchy wasn’t God’s first plan.
2.    David was established as the “type” of the King.
3.    The Kings became “stewards.” (Lord of the Rings).
III.    A Kingdom is unfolding in our midst.
A.    Jesus comes to take his place as the heir to the throne.
1.    The rightful heir to the throne (Luke 1.32).
2.    A liberator; savior (Luke 2.11) to depose illegitimate government.
B.    Inauguration- The coming king identified.
1.    Baptism.
2.    Inaugural address (Luke 4.18) speaks of liberation (the savior).
a)    Release the captives.
b)    Set free the oppressed
C.    Delegation- Jesus begins the calling out of the church.
1.    The Kingdom commissioning of the disciples.
2.    The gathering of the restored race.

IV.    So, what is He waiting for?
A.    The timing of the kingdom.
1.    Not just any time will do.
a)    Luke 7.6-8. His brothers encourage him to be recognized.
b)    Satan tempts Jesus to skip the cross.
2.    The people were eager for a new leader.
a)    John 6. They wanted to force him to the throne.
b)    In Luke 19 they were eager for the kingdom of heaven.
c)    At the triumphal entry that was the reason for the palms.
B.    Numerous references to active waiting.
1.    The ten virgins (Matthew 25).
2.    The servants with the talents (Matthew 25).
3.    Servants diligently working while waiting (Luke   12).
4.    The bride waiting for the bridegroom’s return (John 14).
C.    The returning King (Luke 19.12-27).
1.    This is a story with historical precedent.
a)    Archelaus (a wicked ruler) was crowned king by Caesar.