Thy Kingdom Come... Really? Series

Matthew 6:10 ESV

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

Today is part 2 of the sermon series on the Lord’s Prayer. Last month we covered the first line of the prayer - our heavenly holy Abba.

Series Review

The focus of the series is to look at the Lord’s Prayer as a way to reflect on the words and see how this prayer speaks to us about how we approach and relate to God.

Praising God

First, we saw that we approach God as a Father and what that means. Something I didn’t mention last time was that Jesus doesn’t start the prayer with requests. Instead, he starts acknowledging who God is - Abba. ?

He is praising God for who he is. This is where we start in our prayers. We’re not asking him to be our Father, he already is. We’re not asking him to be holy, be faithful, he already is.

You are…

• Alpha & Omega

• Author and Finisher of our Faith

• The great I AM.

• The Almighty

in our time alone with God, Just spend time pouring praise to God. Our prayers can be so self-focused we tend to go from saying God’s name to petition.

A definition that has helped me in my prayers is,

“praise God for who he  is, and thank him for what he’s  done .”

One professor experimented with us asking when we pray to only praise and give thanks. Pray for a few minutes without asking for anything. He wasn’t negating the place for petitions, but he suggested that most of our prayers are heavier on the petition side and light on the praise and thanksgiving.

Your Kingdom Come

Why would we pray this?

First, Jesus said to

Why?

Jesus knows human nature and knows how easily we are entangled with the things of this world, and so to constantly keep the proper perspective on life, he made it part of a model prayer.

I would also add that as disciples, we know what Jesus began, what we participate in, that we may experience in all its fullness.

Part of the Jewish prayer at the close of every synagogue service.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew, Mark, Luke (c) Model Prayer (6:9–13))

“Exalted and hallowed be his great name in the world which he created according to his will. May he let his kingdom rule in your lifetime and in your days and in the lifetime of the whole house of Israel, speedily and soon. And to this, say: amen” (Jeremias, Prayers, p. 98,

It creates anticipation, something that we hope for. To live in a better place, a better world, a better life.

Yet, just as many who prayed for this kingdom in their lifetime, they didn’t see it when Jesus came the first time.

For us today living in this day and age, praying a similar prayer anticipating God’s kingdom, we pray so that we don’t lose sight of the fact that we are pilgrims in this world, and God’s kingdom exists here and now. It’s the alternate kingdom within this world and we are ambassadors of this kingdom.

2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

We are already part of God’s kingdom and we want others to be reconciled and be part of God’s kingdom, thus we are sent into the world on behalf of Jesus and given the power of the Spirit to demonstrate how this kingdom is based on better promises and greater blessings, with real hope and real peace, with a just and loving King.

Let’s talk about this kingdom then…

What does Jesus say about the kingdom of God?

Matthew 6:31–33 ESV

31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Jesus tells us to seek first for God’s kingdom and his righteousness

The context is that people seek all kinds of things in the world out of concern or worry that they won’t have enough.

3 main concerns in life

1. People worry about what they’re going to eat (1st temptation)

2. They worry about what we wear (2nd temptation - what we’re going to look like).

• These are both common fears that humans have. Survival

• Jesus tells us not to worry about these things.

• Since we don’t have to worry, we use that energy to keep seeking God’s kingdom first. God will take care of these things.