Learning to Pray – The Focus of Proper Prayer Part 1

Thy Kingdom Come

Introduction: Having examined the perspective of proper prayer, we move on to the next phrase that our Lord uses to reveal how to pray properly to us: “thy kingdom come.” After directing us to make the hallowing of God’s name our priority in prayer, why does Jesus then emphasize the coming of the kingdom? I submit to you that the relationship is this: once we recognize the great object of prayer, yeah even of our lives, we should then begin praying for all of the elements that will lead to that object coming to pass. I believe that the Lord is teaching us that we need to begin praying in order of importance for those things that need to happen so that the great object of our lives (i.e. that God be glorified) can be accomplished. To better understand what He is saying, let us ask and answer three questions regarding this phrase, “thy kingdom come.”

I. What Does It Mean – Thy Kingdom Come? (Matt. 6:10a)

A. Whose is it? – God’s!

1. It is God’s (Matt. 6:9, 26:29)

2. It is Christ’s (Col. 1:13; 2 Pet. 1:11; Rev. 11:15)

B. What is it? – an everlasting kingdom!

1. It existed in the past (Matt. 8:11; Gen. 3:15)

2. It encompasses the present (Lk. 17:21)

3. It enriches the future (Rev. 11:15-19, 21:1-5a)

C. How does it come? – in power!

1. It has the power to convert sinners (Matt. 3:1-2, 4:17)

2. It has the power to inspire commitment (Eph. 6:10-18)

3. It has the power to produce a consummation (Rev. 19:11-21)

II. Why Should We Pray for It – Thy Kingdom Come? (Matt. 6:10a)

A. If the Kingdom does not come, then God is a liar (Lev. 26:3-46; Ezek. 36:1-38; 1 Cor. 15:19)

1. The promise in the Law of Moses (Lev. 26:3-46)

2. The promise of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezek. 26:1-38)

B. If the Kingdom does not come, then Jesus wasted His time on earth (Lk. 4:42b-43; Acts 1:1-3)

1. Jesus spent His ministry from the beginning preaching the Kingdom (Lk. 4:42b-43)

2. Jesus spent his last 40 days on earth speaking about the Kingdom (Acts 1:1-3)

C. It is of infinite value (Matt. 13:44-46; Lk. 16:16)

1. It is like treasure or jewels (Matt. 13:44-46)

2. It is something to be obtained desperately (Lk. 16:16)

III. What Good Will It Do – Thy kingdom Come? (Matt. 6:10a)

A. It will make us righteous people (Rom. 14:17)

1. Positionally righteous (Rom. 8:1)

2. Practically righteous (Rom. 8:1)

B. It will make us peaceful people (Rom. 14:17)

1. Peace with God (Eph. 1:6)

2. Peace with our fellow men (Rom. 12:18; Heb. 12:14)

C. It will make us joyful people (Rom. 14:17)

1. Jesus joy was accomplishing His Father’s will (Heb. 12:2)

2. It is God’s will that we should be with Him (Ps. 16:11)

Conclusion: So we see that praying for the coming of God’s kingdom is praying for the fulfillment of God’s eternal plans. God’s ability to bring about His eternal plan is that which “hallows” his Name; it is that which sets Him apart from all other things in the universe. He alone is eternal. He alone is all powerful. He alone is all wise. His plan, and His plan alone, is the appropriate culmination of all things. We should marvel that this God allows us to partake in the fulfillment of His plan through prayer and such actions as may be incumbent upon us to lead to those prayers being answered. Amen.