Your Kingdom. Your Will.
21 Days of Prayer • Sermon • Submitted
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Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Jesus said, “Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven (focus off of self / motive …) … hallowed be your name (Yourreputation - motive. Susan’s sticker / Phone call). Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’”
When we say God’s Kingdom, what does that mean? There are several aspects to God's Kingdom that we should be aware of when we pray.
First,
A kingdom is a realm or a place where a king reigns or rules. A Kingdom has citizens, it has laws, it has a culture.
Keep that in mind.
The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
In other words,
God's Kingdom is the place wherever He reigns and wherever His citizens live, and wherever His laws are observed.
For instance, if you’re a Believer in Christ, you live in obedience, wherever you go - that’s where God’s Kingdom is. You have authority wherever you go. We’ll come back to that if we can.
Remember, we have two realms - the spiritual and the physical. How those two interact we're not entirely certain, but we know that the physical realm is caught up in the tension between two kingdoms in the spiritual realm - God's Kingdom and satan’s kingdom (title - adversary). They're not equal in power or authority but they are present nonetheless and active in the physical realm.
So what is this tension? Two things. One is the tension of knowing God is the Almighty, and yet we have chaos and sin and immorality and violence and suffering. Like - God, where’s our Kingdom? God, if you really are in control ….
So remember what we’re dealing with in this world is God's active will and His permissive will. God's active will will happen no matter what - can’t make it happen and can’t stop it from happening. His permissive will is where human freedom comes into play. It's in God’s permissive will where we can choose good or evil, choose which kingdom and which authority we will follow, we can choose to live by the flesh or the Spirit - where things may or may not happen. So, there’s tension that we experience between the two kingdoms.
The other thing about this tension is that God's Kingdom is already but not yet. Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom when He came, but not in its entirety. God's Kingdom is here, it is present, and we can experience His Kingdom now, but the fullness of His Kingdom is not yet - it’s on the way. It's kind of like a movie. Before a movie comes out in the theaters, we get the trailer- you get little scenes that builds up anticipation for the release date. We’re living in the “trailer” if you will - tidbits of the Kingdom - but we know the release date is coming. So that creates tension.
So what is God waiting on? The only thing that I can think of is more souls.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Understand that this tension between the two kingdoms and the tension between the already but not yet - the tension is going to get ramped up as the release date approaches.
So, until then, we pray, “God your Kingdom come,” we're acknowledging that there are two kingdoms at work in our world, but God we want more of your Kingdom in our world and in our communities and in our churches and in our homes. So, we’re praying for God’s reign and rule to come.
That’s in the general sense - let’s get more specific. Remember, I said that a kingdom has laws and a culture. The same with God’s Kingdom. So, what is the culture of God’s Kingdom? What does God’s Kingdom consist of? Any thoughts?
A Kingdom of power… authority … truth … restoration … light … life … righteousness … forgiveness … reconciliation … freedom … healing … unity … humility … faith …
A Kingdom where the first are last and the last are first … the least of these will be the greatest … pearl of great price … a treasure …
A kingdom of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).
When we pray, God, your Kingdom come - what are we asking? We are asking that whatever God’s Kingdom is - to come - to enter our world, our lives, our homes, our lives, our schools, our marriages ….
We’re asking for whatever God’s Kingdom is to manifest here - to become a reality here.
in the arena of God’s permissive will. “Your Kingdom of ____ come ….” We pray this, not only generally, but specifically for others as well.
Where do you or people you know need God’s Kingdom to manifest?
Remember, motive is critical (last week).
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
So, whose kingdom should take precedence in our prayers? Again,
Where do you or people you know need God’s Kingdom to manifest?
(Pause) We’ll come back to that.
Now, the next thing that Jesus said was to pray for God's will to be accomplished. Just as we pray for whatever God's Kingdom is to come, we pray that whatever God’s will is to be done. Same concept. So what is God's will?
Whenever we find something in Scripture that is God's desire, that's His will. E.G. - salvation of souls, obedience, victory over sin, proclamation of the Gospel, loving our enemies …. Again, we’re praying in the arena of God’s permissive will. God, your will be done in so and so’s life - in my life ….
So far, our part in this has been rather passive. We are praying for God's Kingdom and His will to be done out there or in here (my heart). However, there is an active part to this that we must play a part in.
Remember, earlier I said a kingdom has citizens - and
Citizens are essential to the function and the perpetuation of a kingdom.
When citizens don’t participate in their kingdom, the kingdom will eventually dissolve. So when we pray your Kingdom come and your will be done, we are also declaring (or should be) that we are willing to do our part. From the very beginning God invited humanity into partnership in creating His Kingdom. God said to Adam, “What are you going to name all these animals.” “Adam, Eve, go and subdue.” They had a part to play in the advancement of the Kingdom and so do I and you and you ….
For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Proclaim - there are a variety of ways to proclaim! Not just preaching, or mission work or …. You have a job to do in the Kingdom.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
I can’t! That’s a lie!
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
You are essential to the function and the perpetuation of God’s Kingdom! You are essential to the function and perpetuation of this church. You are essential to God’s will being done in this world.
Where do you or people you know need God’s Kingdom and God’s Will to manifest?
First, it is God’s will that you be saved - sins forgiven. Anyone?
Second, it is God’s will that you be sanctified - set apart for His service. Anyone?
Wrap this up: When we’re finished this morning, you’re invited to stay and pray for God’s Kingdom to come and God’s will to be done