BIBLE STUDY: The Lord’s Prayer - Week 3 - Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done
The Lord’s Prayer • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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ZAKK LOWER THIRD
Let me ask you a question. When you pray — what’s usually at the top of your list? If you’re like me, it’s the stuff that’s stressing you out:
“Lord, help me get through this week.”
“Lord, give me wisdom in this decision.”
“Lord, take away this problem.”
And listen — that’s okay. God cares about our needs. But when Jesus teaches us to pray — He moves us beyond our own to-do lists. He lifts our eyes higher. Before we get to “our daily bread”, He teaches us to pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.”
This is a dangerous prayer. Because it means surrender. It means saying, “God, not my way, but Yours.” And if we’re honest — that’s not easy. We like control. We like comfort. We like when life goes according to our plans. But Jesus reminds us — the point of prayer isn’t to bend God to our will — it’s to align ourselves with His.
As we always do, let’s pray the Lord’s prayer together:
LORD’S PRAYER GRAPHICS — FULL SCREEN
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
forever.
Amen.
BACK TO ZAKK FULL SCREEN
During His earthly ministry, the “Kingdom of God” was one of Jesus’ favorite topics, and we see it right here in the Lord’s Prayer. Matthew 6 verse 10:
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
And the Kingdom is mentioned over a hundred times in the Gospels. And it’s not just about Heaven someday — it’s about God’s rule and reign breaking into the present.
Jesus said in Mark 1:15
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
See, the Christian life is living in a Kingdom of both already and not yet. Already, because Jesus has brought it to us through His life — death — and resurrection. But also not yet — because it will only be fully realized when He returns.
So when we pray “Your Kingdom come,” we’re asking God to rule here and now — in our hearts — in our homes — in our city — and in our world. We’re saying, “God, may Your agenda advance, not mine.”
Think about it like this — many of us are familiar with two flags that can still be found in a lot of churches across the U.S. — the Christian flag — and the American flag. But think about if those two flags are on a flagpole. Whichever one is on top declares whose authority rules.
Now — I’m not saying you need to go out and pledge your allegiance to the Christian flag — it’s a symbol of who we worship — Jesus Christ.
But if we follow that thought — when we pray to God, “Your Kingdom come,” — then we’re lowering the flag of self and raising the flag of God’s rule.
So here’s how we live this out.
First, we pray for God’s Kingdom to break into places of darkness: broken families — divided communities — and nations at war.
And then, we ask ourselves — in what part of my life am I resisting God’s reign? Where am I still clinging to my own kingdom?
WE ARE KINGDOM BUILDERS GRAPHIC — TV
Listen — we are, by nature, all kingdom builders.
Some of us are building a kingdom around our job. Whether it’s climbing the corporate ladder — or building our own business — or trying to establish ourselves as important in the workplace.
Others of us may be building a kingdom around our families. We want everything to be perfect — we want our kids to get good grades in school — or maybe we’re just trying to give our kids or grandkids everything that we never had growing up.
Some of us may be building a kingdom around our stuff — the nice house — or the nice car — all of the things that make us look “successful”.
Maybe you’re in a stage of life where your kingdom is creating a legacy that outlives you.
And hear me — none of those things are wrong. But those kingdoms — the ones that are focused on our wants — and needs — and desires — those are the kingdoms that should come second. If we’re flying flags on a flagpole — the flag at the top should always be carrying the banner of the one true King — King Jesus. Everything else is secondary.
We put God’s Kingdom first by that powerful line in this prayer “Your will be done.”
And this phrase mirrors Jesus’ own prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Just before His arrest in the Garden — Jesus prays something similar — Matthew 26:39
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
When we pray that line, “Your will be done,” we’re praying one of the hardest — most counter-cultural prayers we can pray. Because deep down — every one of us wants our will. We want control. We want things to go the way we plan.
This was the same struggle in another Garden — the Garden of Eden. Adam and eve had God’s will spelled out clearly — but they wanted their will instead. Sin has always been humanity’s way of saying, “My will be done.”
But Jesus takes this idea and flips it on its head in Gethsemane. That prayer — it cost Him everything. He surrendered His will so that God’s will — our Salvation — could be accomplished.
WHEN WE PRAY GRAPHIC — TV
This means every time we pray, “Your will be done,” we’re following Jesus into that garden moment. We’re saying, “Father, even if it’s hard… even if it hurts… even if I don’t understand… Your way is better than mine.”
This is a dangerous prayer — it’s risky — because sometimes His will leads us through suffering. But it also leads to life. God’s will isn’t cruel — it’s perfect.
Romans 12:2 shows us why we pray that prayer:
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Think of a GPS. You can ignore the directions and take your own shortcut — but it usually doesn’t end well, does it. The GPS keeps saying “Re-routing… re-routing…” until you finally get back on track. Praying, “Your will be done,” is saying, “Lord, keep re-routing my heart until it lines up with Yours.”
Proverbs 19:21 tells us:
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
God calls us to pray honestly. He wants us to bring our desires. But He also wants us to surrender them. We have to trust that God’s will is wiser than ours — even when it doesn’t make sense. And we have to ask ourselves — do I pray more for my will to be done — or for God’s?
James 4:15 says
Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
Think about a child learning to swim… they want to thrash and kick their own way — but the parent is holding them — saying, “Trust me. I’ve got you.” That’s what it feels like to surrender to God’s will — letting Him hold you — even when your instincts are screaming for control.
We as believers have to ask ourselves — “Where am I fighting God’s will right now? Where am I saying, ‘God, my way is better’?” And then make it practical: each morning, pray “Father — I surrender my schedule — my decisions — and my desires. Not my will — but Yours be done.”
The third thing we pray in this line is, “On Earth as it is in Heaven”. Heaven is the place where God’s will is done perfectly and joyfully. There’s no debate — there’s no resistance — and there’s no half-obedience. When God speaks — His will is carried out in full.
Revelation 21 — verses 22 and 23 give us a glimpse of what Heaven will look like:
I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
In this place — there’s no more mourning — or crying — or pain. That is what we’re longing for when we pray, “On Earth as it is in Heaven.” We’re saying, “God, let this broken world start to look like that world.”
This prayer is both futuristic — and present. Yes — it looks ahead to the day when Christ returns and establishes His Kingdom in fullness… but it also invites God to begin that transformation here and now — in our life — in our community — and in our church.
Paul tells us this is what we’re expecting in his letter to the Philippian church:
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Think of a movie trailer. It’s not the full film — but it gives you a taste of what’s coming. That’s what our lives as believers are meant to be — a trailer of Heaven. People should get a preview of God’s justice — His mercy — and His love they encounter us.
And we do that by living out the calling of Colossians 3 verses 1 and 2:
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Think about the smell of bread that’s baking in the oven. You don’t have to wait until it’s finished to enjoy it — you get a foretaste just from the aroma. Our lives — filled with the spirit — are meant to be that aroma of Heaven in a broken world.
And here’s how we do that:
We ask — “How can my life be a preview of Heaven to the people around me?”
And then we live out Heaven all around us: we extend forgiveness — because there is no unforgiveness in Heaven.
We show compassion — because Heaven is full of mercy.
We pursue justice — because Heaven is marked by righteousness.
And we live with hope — because Heaven is where God wipes away every tear.
When we pray, “On Earth as it is in Heaven,” we’re asking God to make us His instruments of that reality. It’s not just, “Lord, fix the world out there.” It’s “Lord, start with me… in here.”
One of the hardest parts about praying this prayer — is that it requires that we trust that God sees the bigger picture. And if we’re honest — that’s not easy. Because we can only see the present moment. We see the bills on the counter — or the bad news from the doctor — or the conflict in the family. But God sees the whole canvas. He’s not limited to just the corner we’re staring at.
When we pray for His Kingdom and His will — we’re confessing, “God — I trust you know what I can’t see. I trust that even when my circumstances look messy — You are weaving them into something good.”
Isaiah 55 — verses 8 and 9 say:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
That means there will be times when God’s will feels confusing… and even frustrating. You might pray for healing and not see it. You might ask for open doors and then watch them close. You might long for resolution — and instead find yourself waiting.
But trusting the bigger picture means remembering that God is not just writing your story — He’s writing His story. And our lives are part of something much larger than what we can see right now.
Have you ever tried to put together a puzzle without looking at the box lid? You pick up pieces and try to make them fit — but it can drive you crazy because you don’t know what the finished product is supposed to look like.
That’s how life can feel to us sometimes. We’re fumbling with the pieces. But God sees the picture on the box. He knows how it all fits together.
There are countless examples of this throughout Scripture:
In the Old Testament — Joseph was betrayed by his brothers — thrown in a pit — sold as a slave — falsely accused — and imprisoned. If Joseph only judged God’s will by his immediate circumstances — he would’ve been left in despair. But years later, Joseph could say in Genesis 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
What looked like disaster for Joseph was actually destiny.
Paul was imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. On the surface — it looked like failure. But from that prison cell came letters — Philippians — Ephesians — and Colossians just to name a few — that still encourage and build up the church two thousand years later. What looked like confinement became the means of global impact.
And even Jesus Himself — the Cross looked like defeat. His followers scattered — His body was broken — His mission looked crushed. But from Heaven’s perspective — it was the victory of God’s will — securing Salvation for all who believe.
These stories remind us — God’s will doesn’t always look good in the moment — but it always produces good fruit in the end.
But let’s be honest — sometimes God’s will doesn’t make sense. Sometimes it feels like the opposite of what we’d choose. And it’s tempting to think, “Man, if God loved me, He wouldn’t let this happen.”
But here’s the truth — God’s love and God’s will are never in conflict. He might allow pain — but He never wastes it. He may lead us through valleys — but He’s always with us in them.
Romans 8:28 reminds us:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
They key phrase there is “in all things”. Not some things… not only the easy things. But all things. Even the heartbreak. Even the waiting. Even the things we wish He would change right now.
Think about a master artist painting a mural. Up close — all you see are brushstrokes — just blotches of color and random lines. But step back — and it becomes something breathtaking. Trusting God’s will means believing that He is painting something beautiful — even when all we see are the strokes.
There will be moments when praying, “Your will be done” feels like surrendering your heart into the unknown. That’s scary. That’s vulnerable. But it’s also freeing. Because it means the weight of running the universe is no longer on our shoulders — it’s on His.
Some of us may be carrying situations right now where we don’t see the bigger picture. Maybe you’re praying for a prodigal child. Maybe you’re waiting for healing. You’re struggling with unanswered questions. And maybe it feels like God is silent.
But hear this — silence is not absence. And delay is not denial. God is still at work. And one day — whether in this life or the next — you’ll see the bigger picture and realize He was good all along.
This prayer challenges us to choose to trust that bigger picture. We’re saying, “God, I don’t see it yet — but I trust that You do. I don’t understand it yet — but I trust that Your will is better than mine. I don’t know how it all fits — but I trust that one day, it will.”
And that trust — more than anything else — is what makes our prayers powerful. Because it’s not faith in ourselves. It’s faith in the One who sees the end from the beginning — the Author and Perfecter of our faith — the King whose Kingdom cannot fail.
Let’s pray together.
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Father, we come to You with open hands. Too often, we cling to our own kingdoms… our own plans… our own wills. But now we pray the words of Jesus: “Your Kingdom come — Your will be done — on Earth as it is in Heaven.”
Rule in our hearts, Lord. Rule in our homes. Rule in our church. And in our city. We pray that Your justice — and mercy — and truth be known here as they are in Heaven. And when our wills resist, we pray Father that You bend us back to Yours. Teach us to trust that Your will is always better than ours.
We long for the day when Your Kingdom will come in fullness — when every knee bows — and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord. Until that day — let us live as previews of Heaven — signs of Your reign in this world.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
ZAKK FULL SCREEN
I hope this week’s study has been both a blessing — and a challenge to you. As always — I’ve provided a resource guide to go along with this study — of how you can incorporate this into your life over the next week.
Until then — I’m praying for you — and praying that God’s will reigns in your heart.
See you next week.
