"Your kingdom come"

Introduction

Matthew 6:10 ESV

10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

2nd petition in Lord’s prayer

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2nd petition in Lord’s prayer

Any feedback from last week?

Continued thought from last week re praying for God + prayer as desire - HASTINGS

My thought, not Gospel truth

God does not need these petitions

The Christian Doctrine of Prayer I. Prayer Is Desire

Why do we pray? Because it is a vital necessity to the life of man. Prayer is desire; desire enters into everything in life, so that life is an unceasing prayer. Desire relates us to whatever we desire whether it be material things, mental attainments, or spiritual understanding. Desire may be superficial and transitory; and from such desire little return will come. A life that is filled with such desires is never able to express anything that is great or wonderful, but is satisfied with trivial results, showing that one cannot express anything that is greater or higher than the ideals that exist in the mind. When you see great things accomplished by any one, know that it is in answer to prayer; that only the great desire can bring the great result. This applies not only to some things, but to everything in life. Our lives, whatever they may be, are the true expression of our prayers. We should know that our false as well as our true desires are alike expressed, each desire as a seed carrying within itself its own fruition, each bringing its own punishment or reward.

But praying, and meaning, these petitions shows heart change

Somebody giving back to Bill Gates in generosity; he does not need the gift, but the giver needs to the expression of generosity

I see a link between petition 2 and 3; they fulfill each other

God’s Kingdom

Kingdom is the concept of where God rules

Humanity initially custodians of God’s kingship - see

Two senses of kingdom

Political and physical

broken by sin; God is still in control, through providence, guiding and providing

His plan of redemption includes the redemption of creation

Spiritual

Corrupted by sin

Internal giving over to corrupted minds and hearts - see

What do most people tend to focus on when they talk about “kingdom”?

People tend to get caught up on the notion of Israel and the Old Testament prophecies. How do you understand the notion of Israel relating to the church?

Romans 11:1–24 ESV

1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. 7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8 as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.” 9 And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; 10 let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever.” 11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! 13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

Where is the biggest display of conflict between God’s kingdom and man’s?

Kingdom coming

We are NOT asking for God’s sovereignty to be over creation, over the physical - He is already supreme

What we ARE asking for

Asking God to move in His providential care - right to pray for political situation

We are asking for the kingdom of grace over the heart of sinners; this is a positive statement that people often focus on negatively when they engage in ‘spiritual warfare’

We are asking for the kingdom of grace over the heart of sinners

We are asking for the culmination of the plan of redemption to come sooner; we want Jesus to come back sooner

Zachary and his nappy

Do you derive any comfort from the doctrine of God’s providence? Explain your answer.

We are still stuck in this body of death, dealing with the remainder of sin. How do you go about getting strength to subdue your flesh?

There are many people who still do not know the Gospel. How easy it is to pray for them, and trust God to move? Explain your answer.

How can we build up both a conviction and a sense of excitement about the coming kingdom?

Conclusion

Compile a list of people who don’t know Jesus - start praying for them

Read ; consider the joy of what it will be like when Jesus comes again