The Lord's Prayer Part 2 Series

Maybe most of you are more patient than I am. When something is decided upon, I want to get it done A.S.A.P. Red lights should be replaced by green lights at my arrival at the intersection. Over the years God has painstakingly, progressively, patiently helped me cool my jets when waiting for something to happen over which I have no control. He has a long way to go. Still, I order the red lights to give way to green.

The disciples were somewhat impatient as well. After the resurrection of Jesus and revival of their hope, they queried Jesus, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the Kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:6-8 (NASB). They hoped to get the ball rolling; they were chomping at the bit for some action; they wanted the Lord to hasten a bit.

Those with a consciousness of God and His Kingdom should eagerly wait and work and watch for its consummation. Jesus taught us to pray for that in that prayer we call “The Lord’s Prayer.”

He did not intend this prayer to become a ritual, or prescribed formula or a thing to be mindlessly repeated word-for-word. It is an example of brevity, humility, dependency, praise and surrender.

Having said that, we ought to be conversant with God in the kind of terms and expressions in that prayer. Today we will look at some of the kind of words that should be part of every prayer in some way or another.

In this simple, short, prayer there are two requests oriented on the Kingdom theme. Let’s look back at that prayer Jesus taught His disciples: "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.'” Matthew 6:9-13 (NASB).

I. YOUR KINGDOM COME:

A. A Kingdom is a domain ruled by a King. It can be a malevolent or benevolent king, a foolish or wise king, a bad or a good king, who reigns supreme.

B. The good news is that God is the epitome of benevolence, wisdom and goodness. The ultimate expression of this is that He gave His Son to die for His enemies to establish them in His Kingdom. Though there was a wide gap between Holy God and sinful mankind, we can get in. Linda sang,

I don't need to walk on water.

A bridge was built for me

God gave His Son who gave His life

on a cross at Calvary

I can walk in faith sheltered safe

because of what He did

I don't need to walk on water.

I have a bridge

C. And still, though the Kingdom is readily available to us 24/7/365, we need to work and pray for the absolute reign and rule of God to hasten.

D. For what kind of Kingdom do we pray and wait?

1. It is a DIVINE Kingdom. It is not ruled by any human potentate. God reigns with Jesus at His right side.

2. It is an ETERNAL Kingdom. Isaiah rightly said, “ His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. ....” Isaiah 9:7 (NLT2).

3. It is a RIGHTEOUS Kingdom. Paul wrote, “ For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17 (NLT2).

4. It is an INTERNAL Kingdom. “Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The Kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the Kingdom of God is within you.’” Luke 17:20-21 (NIV).

5. It is a CHRIST CENTERED Kingdom. The writer of Hebrews wrote, “about the Son He says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.’” Hebrews 1:8-9 (NIV).