Vineyard Church North Phoenix | Already / Not Yet People

1. Introduction
1. Mark 1:15 And saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
2. Rev. 11:15b “The whole world has now become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.”
2. Already / Not Yet People
1. “Already” Verses
1. II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 
2. II Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 
2. “Not Yet” Verses
1. II Corinthians 5:2-5 (NLT) ²For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 3inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. 4For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. 5Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.
2. Colossians 3:5 (NIV) Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
3. “Already” and “Not Yet” Passages
1. II Corinthians 6:4-10 ⁴But in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, 6in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, 7in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, 8by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; 9as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, 10as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.
3. What does the Bible teach about being an “Already / Not Yet” person?
1. Galatians 5:17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 
2. Every Christian lives in this experience!
1. At different times in the history of the church, people have tried to evade this reality by:
1. Triumphalism
2. Defeatism
3. Deliverance and Inner Healing
3. Do not fall into despair or hate yourself .
4. It will get harder .
5. It will get better !
6. Do not postpone availability to God until you are “O.K.”
4. Conclusion

(Unless otherwise indicated all Scripture verses are in the New American Standard Version.)