Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

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

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?

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