Lord Teach us to Pray 2

I. Introduction

A. Series on Prayer. Do we have a culture of Prayer?

B. I have had a personal focus on the temple of late. Remember when Jesus overturned the tables and cleansed the temple? He upset their money to cleanse and set the house back in order…

Matthew 21:13–14 (NIV) 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’  but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. “

C. If our personal lives, our families, our church doesn’t meet Jesus requirement of being a house of prayer we should not be surprised with our tables being overturned.

D. Today we will discuss about the Kingdom coming and God’s will being done. Something we participate with first in prayer!

II. Kingdom Come, Will be Done!

A. Our Father’s Kingdom

Kingdom - the domain ruled by God as sovereign King. The early proclamation of John the Baptist and then Jesus was “Repent, the Kingdom of heaven is near.”

The word “near” or “come” is very physical in nature pointing to a heaven breaking through into the natural.

Do we really believe if Jesus’ kingdom was acknowledge and submitted to, it would be heaven now?

We all have dominions: family, work, and civil and spiritual. We have authority to bring that kingdom as His ambassadors. What would it look like when it comes?

Power to transform lives and community in a fallen context.

1 Corinthians 4:20 (NIV) “20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” It’s easy to say Jesus is Lord but if there isn’t the power of transformed life, it’s just talk.

The Kingdom Saves - John 3:3 (NIV) “3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

The Kingdom Heals - Luke 10:9 (NIV) “9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

3. The Kingdom Delivers - Matthew 12:28 (NIV) “28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

If folks and communities aren’t being saved, healed, and delivered it’s just man playing in their religious sandbox. That’s not what we are praying for.

When Jesus is Lord, the kingdom comes and lives change.

B. Our Father’s Will

Interesting that Jesus say’s His father’s will instead of command. “Will” is a desire leading to a purpose.

A command is given and received without any regard to desire or want, just obedience. Yet “will” indicates purpose that comes from desire. To know the will of God isn’t raw command but instead an intimate connection to know his heart and then accomplish that purpose.

What is God’s clear desires and what would the world like like if that desire lead to purpose?

The Father’s children come home. - 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) “9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

The Father’s children become one. - John 17:20–21 (NIV) 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

III. Conclusion and Invitation

A. Are you praying religious prayers or kingdom prayers? When the kingdom comes there will be daily salvations, healings, and deliverances. How about children coming home in droves and unity we never thought possible. Your kingdom come, your will be done!

B. What is Holy Spirit saying to you?

C. Knell if you are able and we say this prayer together….

Matthew 6:9–13 (NIV) “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,  but deliver us from the evil one.’”