C REATION F ALL R EDEMPTION R ESTORATION

Genesis 2:18, The L ORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him…”

Genesis 2:18, The L ORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him…” 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Genesis 2:18, The L ORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him…” 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. Genesis 3:8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the L ORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the L ORD God among the trees of the garden.

Revelation 21:3-4 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ u or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation 22:2b-3a 2 On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse.

Luke 17: Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

Luke 17: Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23 People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them. 24 For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

Luke 17: “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

Luke 17: “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.” [36] 37 “Where, Lord?” they asked. He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”

What is the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God through the joyful submission of His creation

What is the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom of God Has an “ALREADY” component to it

What is the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom of God AND, has a “NOT YET” component

Luke 18:1-8 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

Luke 18:1-8 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ”

Luke 18:1-8 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Today’s Message: Prayer in the “Not Yet” Luke 18:1-8

Luke 18:1 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ Prayer in the “in between” time

Luke 18:1 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ Prayer in the “in between” time What is Prayer?

[Prayer is communicating with your Heavenly Father.] Prayer is the practice of the presence of God. It is the place where pride is abandoned, hope is lifted, and supplication is made. Prayer is the place of admitting our need, of adopting humility, and claiming dependence upon God. Prayer is the needful practice of the Christian. Prayer is the exercise of faith and hope. Prayer is the privilege of touching the heart of the Father through the Son of God, Jesus our Lord [by the power of the Holy Spirit]. ~ Matt Slick, Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry Founder. [Steve Treichler additions] Prayer in the “in between” time What is Prayer?

Six Fundamental Beliefs for meaningful prayer

Hebrews 11:6a And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Six Fundamental Beliefs for meaningful prayer 1. God is there

Hebrews 11:6b And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Six Fundamental Beliefs for meaningful prayer 2. God Invites us to the table

Genesis 15:2 But Abram said, “Sovereign L ORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” Six Fundamental Beliefs for meaningful prayer 3. God is Powerful

1 Peter 5:6-7 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Six Fundamental Beliefs for meaningful prayer 4. God Cares and Listens

Luke 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Six Fundamental Beliefs for meaningful prayer 5. God is Good

2 Corinthians 12:7b-9a 7b Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Six Fundamental Beliefs for meaningful prayer 6. We need Help

Luke 18:2 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ Here comes da Judge!

Luke 18:3 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ Here comes da Widow!

Luke 18:3 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ Here comes da Widow! Why a widow?

“ The widow in the Old Testament is a typical symbol of the innocent, powerless oppressed (cf. Ex. 22:22–23; Deut. 10:18, 24:17, 27:19; Job 22:9, 24:3, 21; Ps. 68:5; Isa. 10:2; also Jth. 9:4). Isaiah 1:17 calls on the rulers and the people to “plead for the widow.” Then, in verse 23, we are told, “everyone loves a bribe … and the widow’s cause does not come to them.” The Jewish legal tradition required that on the basis of Isaiah 1:17 “the suit of an orphan must always be heard first; next, that of a widow …” (Dembitz, 204). Thus this woman had legal rights that were being violated. Bruce writes of her, “too weak to compel, too poor to buy justice” (Bruce, Parabolic, 159). Plummer observes,“she had neither a protector to coerce, nor money to bribe” (Plummer, 412; cf. Marshall, 669).

“ Ibn al- Ṭ ayyib comments on the plight of the widow in Middle Eastern society: “In every time and place the greedy have found the widow vulnerable to oppression and injustice for she has no one to protect her. Thus God commands the judges to give her special consideration, Jer. 22:3” (Ibn al- Ṭ ayyib, Manqariyūs edition, II, 312). Jeremias suggests that “a debt, a pledge, or a portion of an inheritance is being withheld from her” (Jeremias, Parables, 153); and, as Bruce observes, “A widow was one who was pretty sure to have plenty of adversaries if she had anything to devour” (Bruce, Parabolic, 159). The issue is clearly money because, according to the Talmud, a qualified scholar could decide money cases sitting alone (B.T. Sanhedrin 4b, Sonc., 15). ~ Kenneth E. Bailey, Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes: A Literary-Cultural Approach to the Parables in Luke, Combined Edition., vol. 2 (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1983), 133.

Luke 18:3 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ Here comes da Widow! What’s the case about?

Luke 18:5a 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ” Her Response to Judgment #1

Luke 18:5a 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ” Judgment #1 You lose!

Luke 18:4b-5 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ” Judgment #2 Alright, already! You can have your way!

Luke 18:4b-5a 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ” Judgment #2 Reason #1 why he changes his mind

Luke 18:5b 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ” Judgment #2 What the widow gets

Luke 18:4b-5 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ” Judgment #2 Reason #2 why he changes his mind

Luke 18:6 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” LISTEN to the Unjust Judge! Poor Man

Luke 18:7a 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” LISTEN to the JUST Judge! BQ #1 – Will God bring justice?

Luke 18:7b 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” LISTEN to the JUST Judge! BQ #2 – Will God keep putting us off?

Luke 18:8a 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” LISTEN to the JUST Judge! Answer #1 – YES!! Justice

Luke 18:8b 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” LISTEN to the JUST Judge! Answer #2 – NO!! (Putting them off)

Luke 18:8b 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” The Challenge to Jesus’ Disciples

Gospel Application

How’s your life in the Already, but Not Yet?

Gospel Application How’s your life in the Already, but Not Yet? Will Jesus find unreserved dependence on him to have relationship with him in prayer?

The Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11 Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us And lead us not into temptation. Amen.