“Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done”

Introduction:

Recap how the Lord’s Prayer begins: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.”

This opening frames our understanding of who God is—sovereign, holy, and Father—and who we are in relationship to Him.

A right understanding of God shapes everything: how we view His Kingdom, how we live under His rule, and how we seek His will.

Body:

The Three-Legged Stool: God’s Glory, God’s Kingdom, God’s Will

These three foundational elements form the heart of the Lord’s Prayer:

1. God’s Glory: The prayer begins with adoration of God’s holiness.

2. God’s Kingdom: A desire for God’s rule and reign to expand on earth.

3. God’s Will: Aligning our lives with God’s purposes, in obedience and surrender.

Understanding God’s Kingdom:

What is God’s Kingdom?

The Kingdom of God is God’s sovereign reign over all creation, which manifests through His rule in the hearts of believers and the redemptive work of Christ. It is both already present through Christ’s first coming and the spread of the gospel, and not yet fully realized until His return when He will bring final justice, restoration, and reign over all.

The Kingdom is advanced through the preaching of the gospel and the transformation of lives by the Holy Spirit. It calls believers to live in submission to God’s will, displaying His glory and seeking to align their lives and the world with His righteous rule.

But His Kingdom is in conflict with the kingdom of this world.

The prayer “Thy Kingdom come” is a request for God’s reign to break into every part of life—our hearts, our recovery, our homes, our churches our communities and the world.

There are many things about the Kingdom of God, but I want to point out 3:

Its a call to Repentance:

Jesus himself said:

Mark 1:14-15

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Its call to Sanctification:

The whole sermon on the mount is about how Jesus is calling us to live different lives and we do that by bringing his Kingdom to the earth.

As believers, we are called to live out and spread this Kingdom on earth by living Kingdom-centered lives.

Its a call to Evangelism:

This prayer is a call for us to spread God’s Kingdom. Jesus and John the Baptist both preached, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.”

When we pray “Thy Kingdom come,” it’s an evangelistic prayer. We are inviting God’s Kingdom to break into the lives of others, into our families, churches, and communities.

John the Baptist preached the Kingdom was at hand, and Jesus commissioned His followers to bring that Kingdom to others.

As believers, we are called to live out and spread this Kingdom on earth by living Kingdom-centered lives.

Two Kingdoms at War:

The kingdom of this world is at war with the Kingdom of God. When we pray for God’s Kingdom, we are choosing sides in this spiritual battle.

So how do we go into battle. Let me use the 12 steps show us how we are to live and to fight in this battle. It is all have upside down to how we think we are to fight in live, but this is what Jesus is doing in this sermon. He is turning everything on its head.

The 12 Steps in Light of God’s Kingdom:

The 12 Steps of recovery are a practical model for aligning our lives with God’s Kingdom and will. Here’s how each step corresponds with this journey:

Steps of Surrender to God’s Kingdom:

Step 1: Admitted powerlessness over alcohol—Word: Surrender/Dependence

Acknowledging that we need God’s Kingdom to rule over our lives, recognizing our own brokenness.

Step 2: Came to believe in a Power greater than ourselves—Word: Faith

Trusting that God’s sovereign rule has the power to restore us.

Step 3: Decided to turn our lives over to God—Word: Submission/Commitment

Aligning our will with God’s, allowing His Kingdom to guide our decisions and actions.

Understanding God’s Will:

Understanding the will of God is no easy task. There are two ways to is and understand the will of God.

1. Decretive

2. Preceptive

Let me just draw your attention to what we know from scripture about the places God has revealed his will to us.

In heaven, God’s will is obeyed perfectly. On earth, we must strive to live in obedience to God’s will in the same way (John 14:15, 1 John 2:3-6).

Two requests here:

1. To know God’s will.

2. To have the desire and strength to do God’s will.

God’s Will for Salvation:

1 Timothy 2:4:

“God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

God wills for people to repent and be saved through the knowledge of Christ.

God’s Will for Sanctification:

1 Thessalonians 4:3:

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.”

God’s will is for believers to grow in holiness and moral purity.

God’s Will for Obedience to His Commands:

John 14:15:

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

It is God’s will for believers to live in obedience to His Word.

Steps of Self-Examination and Transformation: God’s Will

Step 4: Made a moral inventory—Word: Honesty

Seeing ourselves truthfully in the light of God’s Kingdom.

Step 5: Admitted our wrongs—Word: Confession/Repentance

Confessing our sins to God and others, seeking reconciliation.

Step 6: Ready for God to remove our defects—Word: Willingness

Opening our hearts for God to transform us as citizens of His Kingdom.

Step 7: Asked God to remove our shortcomings—Word: Humility

Humbly accepting God’s authority to purify us.

Steps of Reconciliation and Action:

Step 8: Made a list of those we’ve harmed—Word: Reconciliation

Seeking to restore peace and relationships, reflecting the unity of God’s Kingdom.

Step 9: Made direct amends—Word: Restoration

Actively seeking to repair what’s been broken, as agents of God’s justice and grace.

Steps of Daily Living in the Kingdom:

Step 10: Continued personal inventory—Word: Integrity

Living in alignment with Kingdom values through ongoing self-examination.

Step 11: Sought through prayer and meditation—Word: Communion/Pursuit

Deepening our relationship with God, continually seeking His will in our lives.

Step of Service and Witness:

Step 12: Carrying the message to others—Word: Service/Evangelism

Sharing the hope of the Kingdom and living out its principles in every aspect of life.

Application:

Kingdom living hinges on our understanding of who God is, as expressed in the Lord’s Prayer. When we pray “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done,” it transforms how we live in our families, churches, and communities.

Impact: God’s Kingdom impacts every aspect of life—our relationships, our actions, and our witness. We are called to live in a way that reflects His reign.

Quote by John Hannah:

“The end of prayer is not so much tangible answers as a deepening life of dependency.… The call to prayer is a call to love, submission, and obedience, … the avenue of sweet, intimate, and intense fellowship of the soul with the infinite Creator.”

This prayer is not just about seeking God’s intervention but seeking deeper communion with Him. It’s about aligning our will with His, as we trust Him to guide and transform us.

Conclusion:

Thy Kingdom Come is not just a prayer of words but a prayer of action, surrender, and transformation.

The 12 Steps show us how to live out this prayer, moving from brokenness and surrender, through transformation, to living as witnesses of the Kingdom.

When we live with God’s Kingdom and will as our central focus, we experience personal and communal transformation. May we continually pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.”