“Your Kingdom Come”

REVIEW: Touch on the topic of prayer.

Ø Introduction: “Our Heavenly Father in Heaven”

When Jesus teaches his disciples to pray he implies that a personal, intimate relationship must exist between the one praying and God.

People sometimes think of God as some kindly old fellow who sits somewhere in the heavens watching everything that goes on. Some might even think of this old guy as a rather innocuous person who threatens punishment and reward on the basis of what people do. Now, in a sense this picture has some truth. But the picture is terribly flawed. Flawed because our natural human nature is flawed by sin and cannot know God as He truly is.

Never-the-less, the Creator and sustainer of all things does everything necessary to have this flawed relationship and picture restored to one of complete and perfect harmony. He sent His One-And-Only Son Jesus Christ to us. He was sent to do what no other man could do. He took everybody’s sin upon Himself and as our substitute received the full weight of the Wrath of God on sin. As a free gift received by grace through faith in the Son of God, God credits His very own Righteousness and restores the lost relationship between man and Himself. This is the love God, our Father in Heaven has for all people.

It is this same love that comes to us today to heal and forgive, to cleanse and purify, to nurture and nourish those who draw near to Him in faith. Whether it be through the water and word of holy baptism; through the body and blood of the Lord’s Supper; through the message proclaimed in the written Word, we are once again being touched by the Divine Grace of our Father in Heaven. Thus introduced to our true God and Father, Jesus instructs us to pray this way: “Our Father in Heaven,

Ø The first petition: “Hallowed be Your Name”

Ø The second petition: “Your Kingdom Come”

So as we continue our series on prayer, we look today more intently upon God’s Kingdom. In giving some thought to His Kingdom we might have some questions we would like to ask of God. We might ask questions like:

Ø What is God’s Kingdom like?

Ø How do I know if I can be in His Kingdom?

Ø How can I be sure that I am really in His Kingdom?

Ø Finally, What does being in His Kingdom hold in store for me?

The written Word helps us to understand the Kingdom. The Word informs us that God rules as King over the whole universe. Thus we hear the words of the Psalmist say: “The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.” This statement reflects the creative and sustaining power of God over all things, over all creatures, over all mankind.

There is more to be known about God’s kingdom. Jesus speaking of the kingdom says: “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” Jesus is speaking to a man who doesn’t understand the kingdom. The man could only think in natural terms. How sad for that man. Until the Spirit of God touches human hearts, and they turn, no one will ever enter the kingdom of God’s love and grace.

There is one further aspect of the kingdom that we learn about from the apostle Paul. Speaking of his approaching death Paul says: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom.”

The aspect of God’s kingdom that we are concerned with today is what has come to be called God’s kingdom of grace. This is the kingdom that no one can enter unless they are born of the Spirit of God.

Being reborn is not something we do. Being reborn is not something we can see. However, being reborn is something that can be known. It is something that can understood through the Spirit of God. Peter speaks of this rebirth saying: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

To be raised from spiritual death to spiritual life takes a miracle. We all witnessed the miracle taking place today when little Lexie was baptized. How blessed she is to have parents who are concerned about her spiritual well-being. How blessed we all are in hearing the promise of God attached to the water of baptism. The promise of being touched by the Holy Spirit and forgiven all our sins. What a miracle of pure grace, indeed! Is it any wonder Jesus would say, “Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

The kingdom of God is not a stagnant place so that a person might say, “I have been baptized, I am saved.” Common sense dictates that a newborn baby cannot go without nourishment. In fact, no one can live without on-going, proper nourishment. A child reborn, no matter at what age, needs God’s nourishment to live in the kingdom. Would any of us feed our young once or twice a year, or even less often? What utter nonsense, Of course we wouldn’t. The child would die. Likewise also in the kingdom of God.

Everyone born of the Spirit of God, knows God and wants to learn of God. The reason why is because in His kingdom we receive the spiritual food that sustains life; real life. St. Paul speaks of this when he says, “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

That righteousness, that peace, that joy comes from only one source. And we, through faith, have become partakers of that source of real life. We have come to know Jesus Christ, the life and the light of all humanity. In this kingdom of grace we are assured of eternal life with God. He recreates us, giving us new birth into a living hope that is sustained by God Himself.

Thus Jesus teaches us to pray, “Your kingdom come.” Amen.

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“Your Kingdom Come”