WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

This morning I was awakened by sounds of someone moving near me. I thought it was Mrs Lee wanting to take something. I turned....and horrors of horrors...I saw a man's face, inches away from mine!! I shouted, "Who are you?!? GET OUT OF HERE!" Anyway, I have related this incident in the next posting THE ONE NEW MAN.
Well....that was just something extra......now I can't sleep..it is 5am, so here goes.....
We had a full day of lessons on Sunday, 9 March at Kehilat HaCarmel.Sunday is a normal working day here. This is a summary of what was taught :
Session 1Peter shared that he would like to redefine what prophecy is :1. God says it and it is in the Bible for all to read2. God's action in history - by watching and praying and being involved in the world)3. Prophetic Event - God creates the event...we need revelation to see it and begin to participate in it.
A good example is the INCARNATION OF JESUS. It is important to everyone, it was written God's purpose to send my Son, that He would do this. When Jesus came, he FULFILLED prophecy. There are 20-0 direct prophecies fulfilled through Christ.The writers made it clear that Jesus is the fulfilment of the prophecies. Matthew 1:22, 2:14.
As we read, there will be a point where we receive revelation, everything changes when you receive it...YOU are in the picture! You participate through revelation.
God is a MORAL (pure, righteous, just, will judge sin, correct injustice) and VERY PURPOSEFUL in what he does - means to accomplish in the world.What's my part, what does God want to do in my nation? Get the bearings from what God does.
The restoration of Israel as a nation was a huge event that fulfilled 50-60 direct prophecies. We are the generation that will see it. Jesus was born to fulfill prophecy. Jesus grew up in Nazareth to fulfill prophecy. In Luke 4:21 - fulfilment of prophecy with a big 'P'! He preached, they heard His voice. 
Israel is in the news everyday for more than 65 years. We are the people of God and need to understand what is happening.
In Ezekiel 36:22,231. I am speaking to you Israel. God intends the world to see it, and impact the nations as well.2. Not for your sake, but for my Name's sake.3. Chief beneficiaries - not even you. It is the nations ('nations' means non-Jewish people)
v24 - own land. God chose our time to do this.First Christians in 2000 years to see this. This is prophecy with the big 'P'....cause such a commotion that the world will know that I AM THE LORD.God is saying, "I am a faithful God. When I make a covenant, I keep my promise. "
God's word will never pass away, it stands forever! 
"I promise them a land. People question my faithfulness. The world will know that I am a covenant keeping God"
Session 2
We love Romans...only the first few chapters, when we come to end of Chapter 8, we bllnk and miss 9, 10 and 11. This is because it talks about the nation of Israel and during that time there is no nation of Israel, and there was no reason to hope there is a nation..Romans 11 is talking about the Jews and Gentiles. These 3 chapters is the reason why Paul wrote the Rome. Paul always writes due to some problems in a place. Here, the Jewish apostles planted the congregation, but all Jews were expelled from Rome by Emperor Claudius. Then the Gentiles said they didn't need the Jews. The first few chapters were to show Paul's credentials before he dealt with the problem. 
Romans 9:6Within natural Israel, there is a chosen Israel. Within the genetic Israel, genetic descendants of Abraham, within that are the Messianic Jews. God looks at them and they are the real Israel in His eyes. There is a Messianic Israel. How can the whole if Israel be saved? Through the Messianic Jews!The problem is always A LACK OF REMNANT. When God wanted to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, it was A LACK OF REMNANT. 
Romans 11God used the failure of the Jews as a benefit to the rest of us. Hard for Europeans to reach out to the Jews...cos of what happened during the Holocaust. We cannot say to them "You need to come to Jesus!" but you can say "Your Jewish Messiah changed my life!"Romans 11:12 - they are coming to the Lord. v15- life of God.
During 1960's modern Jews appeared. There were only about 50 believers. Now there are about 15,000 believers in Israel. When the Jews started coming back to the land of Israel, there was an increase in the restoration (people coming to the Lord) in other countries.
1. Bridegroom coming to His bride2. Coming back as King
Romans 11:16 - two olive trees1. Cultivation Olive Tree of Israel2. Wild olive tree of the nations
*Israel has the national culture given by the lips of God. God was in every aspect of the their society - their holidays, how they are to run their businesses, agriculture, law, etc.*v 17 - when the Gentiles come to the Lord, we are grafted into their tree.*v 20 - In God's family, there are many nations. In God's family there is  one firstborn, Israel. We can learn important things about God, that can only learn through the older sibling. They fell/failed, disobeyed. We can only remain attached because of what WE BELIEVE.
*v20. Why 'fear'? The fear of God is good. Paul is writing this 2000 years ago. He was prophesying, not knowing what was going to happen to the Jews (esp Holocaust). God gave the WORD. We need to know modern history. Land was lost, scattered, minority group, discrimination against. last century, the most advanced nation, Germany, plotted to kill every Jew in the world.
*v21 God did not spare them.*v23, Paul is prophesying the rise of the Messianic Jews *v24 Suddenly the Jews reclaiming their identity againWe must not blink anymore but must embrace these chapters*v25 Encouragement to the Messianic Jews...they are coming to the Kingdom..only partially hard. The Jewish/Israel's salvation is connected to the World, different countries of the World.*v26 All Israel will be saved! It will be a national revival!
*v33-36 Paul went into singing!
All these sets the prophetic watch. The key is - the Jews are back!
Session 3
Peter Tsukahira mainly shared about the history of the Jewish nation...how it is important to start from the OT. If we start from the NT, it is like coming to watch a movie after the intermission!
I am very encouraged by what he shared because this is what I wrote in GOD'S WORD & YOU! He shared on the TIMELINE of the nation...and spoke about the time when the Jews decided that they no longer wanted God to be their King and asked to have a human king...and God gave them. I was just thinking.....maybe I will let Peter take the Timeline that I already have and he can add/modify it as there was one thing that is new to me .....
Genesis 12Abraham in obedience was prepared to go where the Lord wanted him to go. Those who are on your side will be on my side. God has a reason for this. In Gen. 12:3...so that all the families will be blessed. God's plan is to bless everyone in the world. From the beginning, Israel is to be a servant nation. But Israel became a Jonah nation...didn't want to do what God wants them to do.
Exodus 19:5God rules His Kingdom in a lawful way. The Kingdom of God is the centre of Jesus' teaching, and the centre of what He did. The Kingdom of God began much earlier than in Matthew.
Ex. 19:5 is where the covenant begins. God's Kingdom has a role, should be anointed, accountable to the King. My Kingdom is a society, with all kinds of people. We are to be the people to bring God's Kingdom to earth....to the society. God ruled every aspect of society for the Jews. Today, we equate our religion with the KIngdom of God. God wants CHANGE, where whole civilizations coming into the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is about training, understanding what justice is. 
In Acts 1:6, what was the last question that the disciples asked Jesus? RESTORE THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL. That's the question, WHEN ARE YOU PUTTING GOD AS OUR KING, AS KING IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE NATION?
When will you rule in Malaysia?Rule with the fear of God?
That is the Kingdom of God!If the disciples asked today, Jesus would probably say, Yes, I am restoring. But now, the Holy Spirit is upon you and I to be His witnesses, to give us power to impact society. 
The Lord will ask us, What did you do about my Kingdom?We let society go to hell because we want more decisions for Christ.
ASK GOD FOR A SOLUTIONTHE SOCIETY IS OUR FIELD!