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.
3. Seeking it first tells us that it is a matter of priorities. It’s where we put God in the order of importance in our lives. Kind of like the 3rd temptation - I will give you “the” kingdoms of this world, putting this “kingdom” ahead of God’s kingdom). Many have bowed a knee to the devil seeking to have the kingdoms of this world.
When younger I would think about a time when I wouldn’t live a life of scarcity, where I could buy the things I wanted, I could have a good paying job, and somehow I wanted to get these things my way. If it meant lowering God to a lower place in my priorities, then so be it for the time being.
I was seeking the things of this kingdom for the time being. I was seeking my worth, my position.
I was trying to put myself in a place of prominence. That I would be able to do the things I wanted first and then give God his place.
I want to be a professional baseball player, I wanted to have a couple milli, how many of you have added to that wanting to get married before Jesus comes…
… you get married and then you’re praying for Jesus to hurry up.
When I prayed “thy kingdom come” did I really mean it? I didn’t even know what I was saying.
Looking back I didn’t mean it, but I don’t have to look too far back and wonder, “Am I still pursuing other things more than I am God’s kingdom?”
The irony of ultimately wanting God’s kingdom, while working on our own first. I’ll give my life to God when I’ve done what I want to do. Because I do want to go to heaven. What I was really saying was that God’s kingdom doesn’t have what I want. I was actually saying, what God wants to give me is less than what I want for myself.
Not realizing that what God’s kingdom offers is so much more and better than what I could ever imagine.
I can be successful, I can be prosperous, I can have true fulfillment in life even if I don’t have much, I can find true love, I can have peace and hope. I don’t have to seek for these things the way the kingdoms of this world offer it.
The kingdoms of this world offer me riches, security, and success among other things, not realizing God offers me those same things, but through a different path.
“Thy Kingdom Come…”
It is also a future kingdom. The kingdom fulfilled when we can actually experience not only the spiritual blessings but the literal presence of God, in an established kingdom where sin and death have been eradicated.
It’s the kingdom of God that begins here and anticipate the future kingdom when Jesus comes and we reign with him throughout eternity.
Daniel 2
This is what Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was all about. The kingdoms of this world are temporary. A kingdom is powerful for a season, even a couple hundred years, then another king comes and takes it away. That king does everything to keep his power only for another one to snatch it away and that is the history of the world. Ultimately, there will be a Rock that will smash every earthly kingdom and will last forever
Daniel 2:44 ESV
44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,
But wait, the elections are coming up and I’m hoping for a better kingdom! The candidates have a vision for a better country, for a brighter future and we get sucked into it and begin to believe it and we fight over who’s right and who’s wrong. In the end, God will smash the kingdoms of this world, bring an end to them all, and establish his kingdom.
But what about now?
What is God’s kingdom right now?
We have to do some soul-searching about our place in God’s kingdom.
First, to be part of it you have to be born in it.
John 3:3–5 ESV
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
It is a spiritual kingdom therefore we need to be spiritually re-born by allowing your life to be led by the Holy Spirit and not by the spirit of the kingdom of darkness. Allowing God to wash you of your allegiance to this world.
Matthew 5:3 ESV
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Revelation 3:17 ESV
17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
We are the poor in spirit, not acting like we have it all together.
The Kingdom of God is not for pretenders but for those who see themselves for who they really are. The Lord’s Prayer helps us to be real with ourselves.
Parable of the Landowner - doesn’t seem fair
As ambassadors of Christ in this world we treat all people regardless of their beliefs, their country of origin, their language, their race, or their socioeconomic position, we treat them all with the love of Christ. This is how God’s kingdom gets nearer.
Parable of the Wedding Feast - Matt 22:2
Matthew 22:2 ESV
2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,
Not only do we treat them well but we invite them to God’s table and sometimes that starts at our table
If the ones you invite don’t come, go and invite others.
Yes, that’s God’s kingdom. Indiscriminately invite everyone you can find, good or bad, to be part of this kingdom.
All are invited.
Jesus calls out the religious people who make it harder for people to enter God’s kingdom
Matthew 23:11–14 NRSV
11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. 13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them.
The Kingdom of God is something that is proclaimed
We are proclaiming the message of the gospel of Jesus,
Luke 9:60 ESV
60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Luke 10:9 ESV
9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus lays out the new law of the Kingdom of Heaven. He takes the 10 commandments and opens people’s minds to the deeper meaning of the law. Jesus establishes himself as the new Moses handing down the commandments to the people and expands on commandments 6-10 about how we treat others in this kingdom.
Thou Shall not Murder - Sinai
Getting angry, insulting, cursing - Hills of Galilee
Matthew 5:22 ESV
22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
Make Amends with Your Brother before bringing your offering to God
Matthew 5:23–24 ESV
23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Do not commit adultery - Mt. Sinai
Don’t have lustful intent - Hillside in Galilee Matt 5:27-28.
Matthew 5:27–28 ESV
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
It goes on about
• divorce
• making promises
• about retaliating
• loving your enemies
• giving to the needy without seeking recognition…
These are all how ambassadors of Christ promote and advance the kingdom of heaven, by living and proclaiming these things.
We fall short many times ourselves, ambassadors don’t always live out to perfection the ideals of the King, but we know what God’s plan is for us.
Then comes the Lord’s Prayer
So, to live this kingdom life, the disciples felt the need to ask Jesus about “how to pray.” Because to live this life that Jesus was presenting them, they realized that this is not something we can do on our own and we need spiritual power, the power of God’s kingdom.
So in our prayer, after we acknowledge that we are approaching our Holy Heavenly Abba, who is also our king, we pray about the kingdom. We acknowledge that God’s kingdom is for all who want to be part of it, but to really experience all that this kingdom has to offer, we listen to the words of King Jesus, and we follow his example.
We pray that our heart, mind, and soul are sincere with God, that we seek his kingdom and not just say, “Lord, Lord.” Seek his righteousness, which is the will of the Father.
Prayer
Heavenly Abba, because you are holy, you are the King of the universe and the king of our lives. You reign above all kings and your kingdom is forever and ever. Father, let your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Thank you for giving us a better kingdom, while we live in this world. You have called us to be ambassadors, may we do so faithfully until your kingdom is come in all of its glory.
May we be faithful as a church, to exalt your name and not ours, to live out the principles of this kingdom, even the hard ones, to love our enemies, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to not seek revenge, to heal the brokenhearted, to bind the wounds of the hurting. While the world seeks to expand an earthly kingdom, help us to not get caught up in the frenzy of empty, worldly rhetoric. May we keep our eyes on you until that day when we see you in the clouds and welcome us into your eternal kingdom. IJN, amen.
