Thy Kingdom Come WK-1

Key Texts:

Matthew 6:9, Daniel 2:44, Matthew 5:17

Big Idea:

Revival doesn’t begin with a view of the Church—it begins with a right view of the King. The Kingdom is only as big as our revelation of the King.

SERIES INTRO

The Kingdom of God stands at the very center of Jesus’ teaching. Across the Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—Jesus refers to the Kingdom more than 100 times, 56 in Matthew alone. From His opening proclamation— “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15)—to His final instructions to the apostles after the resurrection (Acts 1:3), the Kingdom is the prominent theme. But this kingdom language began long before the Gospels. Daniel prophesied the Kingdom of God 400 to 500 years before Jesus was born on earth.

Daniel 2:44 NASB95

44 “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.

Daniel 4:3 NASB95

3 “How great are His signs And how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom And His dominion is from generation to generation.

The book of Daniel is a book of kings and their relationship to the heavenly King.

It is a book of kingdoms - which kingdom has more power-

Babylon

Medo-Persia

Greece

Rome

Heaven?

The Book of Daniel and the book of Revelation go hand in hand because Daniel foretells what Revelation reveals. That the kings of the earth are at war with the Kingdom of God. This has been the truth since the Garden of Eden and is still true today.

The real issue the religious leaders had with Jesus was not the place of His birth, nor His heritage, Jesus was from royal blood according to his mother Mary. The real issue was Israel wanted a militant King. This goes back to 1 Samuel 8:5 when Israel asked for a king.

1 Samuel 8:5 NASB95

5 and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.”

Israel did not mind the idea of a King, they wanted one – the issue was Jesus did not come to overthrowing Rome, He came as a heavenly king, overthrowing the kingdom of the heart. And this is still an issue in the church today.

We live well with imposed physical restrictions. That of laws, languages, and liberties. But do not tell me how to think, how to feel, and how to believe. You can tell me what to do, but don’t try and impose on me who to be. And this is exactly what the Kingdom of God does, it judges our heart. Jesus sermon in Matthew 5 was…

Matthew 5:17 NASB95

17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

Then he goes on to recite the mosaic law:

Matthew 5:21–22 NASB95

21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ 22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

Matthew 5:27–28 NASB95

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:43–44 NASB95

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

So, as believers - we must come face to face with the hesitancy of our own hearts to be lead. There are, I believe, five false views of the Kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God is not a Monarchy

A monarchy says: “I was born into this—obedience is automatic.”  “I grew up in church. I’m Christian by heritage. This is just who I am.”

This mindset assumes inheritance without submission. But the Kingdom is not passed down by family—it is entered through repentance and surrender.

John 3:3 NASB95

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

You don’t belong to the Kingdom because of who your parents were.

You belong because Jesus is King over you.

The kingdom of God is not a Tyranny

A tyranny says: “You obey because you’re afraid.” “If I mess up, God’s going to punish me.” “I’d better behave so God doesn’t get angry.”

This produces fear-based obedience, not love-based surrender. Jesus does not rule through intimidation—He rules through lordship rooted in love.

Matthew 11:28 NASB95

28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

The kingdom of God is not an Oligarchy

An oligarchy says: “A small elite group really run things.” “That level of holiness is for pastors.” “Spiritual authority is for leaders, not regular people.”

This creates spectator Christianity—where a few obey deeply and the rest observe casually. But the Kingdom of God makes every believer a priest and ambassador

1 Peter 2:9 NASB95

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

2 Corinthians 5:20 NASB95

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

There is no spiritual ruling class in the Kingdom—only submitted citizens.

The kingdom of God is not a Democracy

A democracy says: “The people decide what’s right.”

“I don’t see it that way.”

“That’s your conviction, not mine.”

“I’ve prayed about it—and I feel peace.”

This treats God’s Word like a suggestion box and truth like a vote.

Isaiah 55:8–9 NASB95

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

In the Kingdom, truth is not decided by consensus. Jesus doesn’t ask for agreement—He commands obedience. God’s thoughts outrank ours.

The kingdom of God is not a Republic

A republic says: “We elect leaders, but we keep our personal autonomy.”

“Jesus is Lord… but this area is mine.”

“God can guide me, but I make the final call.”

This is the most common modern version of Christianity: Jesus as advisor, not authority. But the Kingdom does not function on delegated independence—it functions on submitted dependence.

Luke 9:23 NASB95

23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

Romans 12:1 NASB95

1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

1 Corinthians 6:19 NASB95

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

The Kingdom of God is a Theocracy –

A theocracy means: God rules.

Not just: what you do, but how you think, how you desire, how you forgive, how you obey

Psalm 24:1 NASB95

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.

In a theocracy: God defines truth, God sets values, God determines identity, God establishes authority. This is reflected in the Lords prayer:

Matthew 6:10 NASB95

10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

Not my comfort.    Not my preference.      Not my timeline.

Every time we try to reshape God’s Kingdom to fit our preferences, we reveal where we still resist His authority.

Five Questions To Evaluate Submission

What I want to do now – is lead us in a series of questions that will facilitate a heart check today. Jesus Is King! But how well are we submitting to His rule?

1. Who Has Final Authority When Jesus’ Words Confront My Inner World?

How I forgive, how I view money, how I view sexuality, Jesus didn’t just regulate behavior—He confronted thoughts, motives, desires, and intentions (Matt 5:21–30).

You shall not commit murder’ – What does Jesus say? Anger is murder

You shall no commit adultery – What does Jesus say? Lust is adultery

You shall love your neighbor – What does Jesus say? Love your enemies

Jesus is relocates the law: From tablets to the heart, From actions to affections.

This isn’t a new thing – This same concept is recorded in Proverbs chapter 7

Proverbs 7:2–3 NASB95

2 Keep my commandments and live, And my teaching as the apple of your eye. 3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.

In the Kingdom, thoughts are not neutral territory.Most believers are comfortable with Jesus correcting what they say or do, but resist Him confronting how they think and desire.

We say, “God knows my heart”—but I wonder if what we really mean is, “God shouldn’t question my heart.”

“If Jesus is Lord over your behavior but not your inner world,

He’s not King—He is just a consultant.”

2. Where Do I Obey Jesus Selectively Instead of Completely?

Selective obedience is where rebellion masks as obedience. But it is also where we loose kingdom power. When Israel called to be like other nations, they were not rejecting “kingship” they were rejecting “Divine Kingship”.

This same selective obedience shows up in our lives.

· “I know the Bible says that, but…”

· “I’m just wired this way.”

· “God understands my situation.”

In Gods kingdom there is no exemptions.

“Partial obedience feels reasonable to us,

but in the Kingdom it’s still resistance—just religiously dressed.”

3. What Competes with Jesus for Lordship in My Life Right Now?

Matthew 6:24 NASB95

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Notice how Jesus says “No One…”. It is impossible to serve two masters.

You can locate lordship by asking:

Who or what can interrupt my time with God?

What do I protect first?

What makes me anxious?

What do I sacrifice for—and what do I refuse to?

Whatever consistently overrides obedience is already functioning as a king.

“Every kingdom has a throne.

If Jesus is not sitting on it, something else already is.”

4. Do I Want Jesus to Transform My Heart—or Just Manage My Behavior?

Matthew 23:26 NASB95

26 “You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.

The Pharisees were comfortable with external law but resisted internal transformation because they wanted rules and guidelines that they could master - and not a master to rule over them. The Sovereign King does not manages sin, He manages hearts and kills sin at the root.

Many believers want:

boundaries without surrender

forgiveness without formation

grace without governance

“If you only want Jesus to fix your behavior,

you don’t yet understand His Kingdom—because His goal is to remake you.”

5. Am I Living for a Future Kingdom While Resisting a Present One?

Luke 17:20–21 NASB95

20 Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

The “already / not yet” of the Kingdom is not permission to delay obedience. The future Kingdom is entered by those who submit to the present reign of the King.

This shows up when believers say:

“One day God will deal with that.”

“I’m just holding on until heaven.”

“This world is broken anyway.”

“You don’t prepare for the future Kingdom by resisting the present one.”

Salvation Response

“Before the Church advances the Kingdom, the King is asking for something much more simple, —and ultimately, much harder. I want us to take some time right now and allow God to speak into our spirit the answer to this question.

Where do I still need to move from God being my Savior

to God being my Sovereign King?