Prayer and Worship Study 3

Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done

People ask all the time, “I just wish I knew God’s will for my life.”

Philippians 2:1-11, Psalm 95:1-7, Matthew 20:25-28, Acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:32-37

Philippians 2:1-11

Philippians 2:1–11 ESV

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

Have the Attitude of Christ

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,

he did not think of equality with God

as something to cling to.

7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

he took the humble position of a slave

and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,

8 he humbled himself in obedience to God

and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor

and gave him the name above all other names,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Look back at chapter 1:27-28

Philippians 1:27–28 ESV

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

So how is our life worthy of the Gospel? Unity is only possible with true humility

Pride is thinking too highly of yourself.

Humility is not thinking too lowly of yourself, but thinking of yourself properly. The Gospel helps us with this.

Though we are wretched sinners, God loves us. Though we are undeserving, He has chosen to save us. I am both unworthy and declared to be worthy because of what He’s done.

Stand firm in one Spirit, one mind striving side by side, not frightened.

Chapter 2 continues with Humility

Who’s the example? Jesus

V’s 2:1 lists resources from the Lord

2-4 is unity through humility

V5 is who our example is.

Mind—attitude, set one’s mind on, hold a view

So what do we learn about Jesus? Selfless Humility, if anyone should think highly of themselves it’s Him

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible B. To Christ-like Humility (2:1–11)

No greater example of selfless humility (vv. 3–4) could be considered than Christ Jesus. Even though his person and work are unique, his humble “attitude” (v. 5), combining proper thinking and emotion (see on 1:7), is still binding upon believers. If the Savior could give up heaven’s glory to become a lowly man and suffer the ultimate humiliation of death by crucifixion (vv. 6–8) because of the divine compassion for mankind (John 3:16), Christians can also live out caring humility toward one another (Phil. 2:3–4).

Jesus willingly assumed certain self-limitations and made Himself nothing, a servant not one who is served, in the likeness of sinful man with flesh,

He humbled Himself and became obedient even to death by crucifixion, the most humiliating and degrading form of torturous death.

There is a cause and effect in V9, Jesus humbled Himself, therefore God exalted Him. The humble servant is exalted to the highest place of honor.

What does this tell us about His kingdom and His will?

If this is the path Jesus took, should we not also walk this same path, have this same attitude, have the same humility??

Psalm 95:1-7

Psalm 95:1–7 ESV

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice,

New Living Translation Psalm 95

1 Come, let us sing to the LORD!

Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come to him with thanksgiving.

Let us sing psalms of praise to him.

3 For the LORD is a great God,

a great King above all gods.

4 He holds in his hands the depths of the earth

and the mightiest mountains.

5 The sea belongs to him, for he made it.

His hands formed the dry land, too.

6 Come, let us worship and bow down.

Let us kneel before the LORD our maker,

7 for he is our God.

We are the people he watches over,

the flock under his care.

If only you would listen to his voice today!

What does this have to do with “Your Kingdom come and Your will be done?”

Revelation 4 is good to look at in light of this passage. It lists a 24/7 365 praise and worship session in heaven.

What is God’s will for my life, what does His kingdom look like?

Psalm 95:1–2 ESV

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

Psalm 95:6–7 ESV

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice,

Matthew 20:25-28

Matthew 20:25–28 ESV

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

New Living Translation Chapter 20

25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

So what does His kingdom look like and what is His will for my life?

We must be different than the non-believers in regards to power and authority. We must be servant leaders, give ourselves as servants of others, we must not care if we are first, most noticed, given credit, but our heart must be not to be served but to serve others.

How do we give our lives? Doulos—subservient to others, owned by another and that is Jesus. He says jump and we say how high Lord.

Acts 2:42-47 Acts 4:32-37

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 4:32–37 ESV

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

These are summaries of the activities and the spirit of the early church.

So what does God’s Kingdom look like and what is His will for my life?

At their gatherings, which mandated in Hebrews 10:25, they were devoted to

The apostles teaching

fellowship

breaking bread

praying

What was the result? Awe, wonders and signs, they were unified, caring for each other, going to church together and meeting in homes, they met and grew in love and generosity, and their numbers grew.

This is attractive to the unbelieving world, so much so that we are trying to establish this as a form of government, but this is for the church and people to do out of love from God, not as mandated by a governing organization.

The second passage—What were they doing?

They were giving their testimonies of the resurrected Lord Jesus with great power

Great grace was upon them

They were caring for each other out of their own profit, entrusting $$ to the church leaders.

What would this world look like if the Church lived like the early Church??

Would it be necessary for the government to take this on?

Would the numbers of believers be growing?