Hope
Darkness - we can’t see
Hope keeps us moving toward the end
Promises made/promises fulfilled

Flashlight
Hope on?
Where is it pointed?

What will be lets us know what was missing
After all, no one hopes for what they already have

Stump and Shoot

Death and rebirth

King
Return (stump)

Full of the Spirit
OT

Judge
Not by ears/eyes
Righteouness and justice

Shalom
Creation
Humans creation

YHWH
Israel and Judah
Bring everyone home

Whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord

Amazing Future

What do we do with this?

Fertilizing stumps?
Bring it about ?

Flashlight
With this as their hope, they walked toward it in the darkness.
Value/ Hold onto

On this side of Christ, we see how the King was even better
He had the Spirit…gave it to us
made a way for Shalom to come to the whoh creation

We await his return

But we can’t build or bring the kingdom anymore than they …

Dr. Michael Rhodes:

I am convinced God’s people can “bear witness to,” “embody,” “live into,” “receive,” “make known,” and “anticipate” God’s kingdom.

But I’m equally convinced we cannot “build” it.

Both statements are true:

Our work stands in some mysterious, beautiful continuity with God’s coming kingdom. That Jesus will somehow use our work in his coming world.
AND
that God’s kingdom in no way depends on the success or failure of our efforts.

Let’s keep our flashlights on
Pointed Forward and toward
Is. 11

Let us bear witness to,” “embody,” “live into,” “receive,” “make known,” and “anticipate” God’s kingdom

Until Christ returns
Calls us from the ends of the earth
and brings shalom