THE KING AND THE KINGDOM - part 5 - Pastor Deborah Cobrae

Main message: The sermon teaches that the kingdom of God is both present and coming, and that God's "economic system" for bringing heaven's promises into our lives is faith — a faith that is heard from God's Word, confessed aloud, and expressed through obedient works. The preacher used biblical analogy (seed/word, Abraham) to show how hope fuels faith and how faith overcomes the fear-driven kingdom of darkness.

Key points:

• The kingdom is "now and not yet": Jesus is the reigning King (the Lamb who opens the scroll) and a new creation/eternity is promised beyond current trials.
• God's economy (how the invisible becomes visible) is faith: faith comes by hearing the Word (seed/parable imagery) and the promise contains power to bring itself to pass.
• Faith must be confessed verbally (2 Corinthians 4:13) and demonstrated by corresponding obedience/works (James 2; Abraham in Romans 4 as the model).
• Hope fuels faith (hope against hope in impossible circumstances); fear is the operative force in the kingdom of darkness and must be replaced by kingdom faith.
• Kingdom power is expressed in meekness, forgiveness, and submission to God's commands; believers are called to live by these kingdom laws.
• Invitation and call to respond: repentance, receiving Christ, and beginning discipleship (born again and follow-up steps).

Scriptures mentioned: Genesis to Revelation, Revelation (John and the scroll imagery), John 20, Psalms (reference to "a thousand years" / Psalm), Psalm 1, Romans 1, Romans 10:17, Matthew, Mark, Luke (parable/seed teaching), 2 Corinthians 4:13, James 2:22-26, Romans 4:18-22, Jeremiah 31:16-17