Thy Kingdom Come

Tip! Prayer, as taught by Jesus in its principal expression, enters into all the relations of life. It purifies fellowship.

"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).

This is the first thing Jesus told us to pray for in the Model Prayer. We open the prayer with deep love and great respect, "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name."

Then, almost in the same breath, Jesus tells us what is of utmost priority in our prayers "Thy Kingdom come."

Notice that there is a period, which means a complete sentence has been spoken. What follows next is, therefore, very interesting, for it serves as a fuller explanation of what Jesus means by the phrase, "Thy Kingdom come."

He says, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." In other words, the Kingdom comes into any life or circumstance at the moment God's will is done on earth in perfect harmony with what He has already done in heaven above.

So what does this mean for us today?

Simply this whatever God says that He has already done, even if the situation on earth contradicts it in every way, we may be sure that His power will work on our behalf to make every change necessary in order for things to line up with His will.

Furthermore, in light of the fact that we are ambassadors for Christ entrusted with the message and ministry of reconciliation, we may go about our day with the full assurance that we are backed up by the power of God especially in those moments when we are faced with the powers of darkness, which ever work to contradict God's will.

"Thy Kingdom come!" will be our declaration and we will see God's will done on earth, just as it in heaven.

The Power of Prayer

"The weapons we use in our fight are not the world's weapons but God's powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:4, Good New Bible).

We have an arsenal not made by human hands, but is stocked full with the powerful weapons fashioned by God Himself. They aren't for marketing or manipulation of any sort, but are specifically designed to demolish demonic strongholds — putting down every false argument raised against Truth. These weapons have the power of God to destroy the enemy's efforts against our Faith.

Prayer is one of these weapons, and when it is coupled with the Word of God it possesses a power that is invincible. That's why the early disciples said, "We will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the Word." When we follow their example, we will experience the same results that happened for them.

Let's look at a remarkable example found in the Scriptures.

When Joshua was battling the armies of the Amalekites in the valley of Rephidim, the Bible tells us that Moses was on the mountain lifting up the Rod which God had given him. As long as the Rod was held up, Joshua advanced in battle. When Moses' arms grew weary and he lowered the Rod, the enemy began to make advances against Joshua.
Aaron and Hur, two of Moses' friends, stood beside him and held his arms up — the result was a overwhelming victory for Joshua. (see Exodus 17:8-13).

The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. Jesus said that when we pray in secret, God will reward us openly. An example of this happened in Jerusalem when the disciples gathered in prayer and "the place where they were assembled was shaken." They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and preached the Word of God with boldness — even in the face of death threats.

This brief scan of the biblical record proves the age old adage — "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much!" (James 5:16). Prayer makes tremendous power available, the kind of power that is dynamic in its working and effective in its results; great power that produces wonderful results.

Why not pray today and look for what happens as a result. You just might find yourself praying every day!
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The Purpose of Prayer is to Train You to Reign with Jesus

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Revelation 3:21).

Three things happen as we pray. First, we have fellowship with God. Second, we cooperate in bringing God's will to Earth. And, third, we are being prepared for Eternity.

One thing is certain about Heaven — we will not sit around on fluffy clouds strumming harps and eating yogurt, preening our wings and polishing our halos. No; nothing like that at all. Instead, we will reign with Christ, for that's what the Bible tells us.

"To him that overcomes," Jesus said, "will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Revelation 3:21). John gave us a glimpse into this exalted place, and we hear a mighty host of ransomed men and women from all nations singing, "You are worthy O Lord, for You have made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." (Rev 5:10).

And the standing promise of the Ages, which fills our hearts with unshakable faith — the kind that overcomes the world — says it in perfect clarity: "They shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light: and they shall reign forever and ever." (Rev 22:4-5).

Our struggles here on earth, which intensify our resolve in prayer, become the very means whereby God is readying us for that place where we shall reign with Jesus. One old preacher called prayer, "reigning training." Its the process whereby God deepens our faith, broadens our vision, sharpens our discernment, awakens our passion, and unleashes His power.

The purpose of prayer is to train you to reign with Jesus. So when you bow your head to pray, remember — every king kneels in order to be crowned.

Three Things Happen as We Pray

"Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as in heaven." (Luke 11:2).

Three things happen as we pray. First, which we looked at yesterday, is that we have fellowship with God. The second thing that happens is that we cooperate in bringing God's Kingdom to Earth.

What exactly does this mean? Simply stated, it means doing our part to see God's will happen in our sphere of influence.

Practically speaking, it means you should never pray a prayer that is not already God's will. This is what the Bible is talking about when it says, "You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss; that you may consume it on your own lusts" (James 4:3). In other words, our prayers are not answered when we pray for selfish reasons, wanting to indulge our own desires.

"THY will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Whenever we pray what God has already decided to do, our prayers cannot miss! "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." (1 John 5:14-15).

But this not only means we are never to pray a prayer that is not already God's will; it also means that you should never pray a prayer that you are not willing to be the answer to. In other words, don't ask God to bless the poor if you are not ready to do your part in becoming the means whereby He does it.

Don't pray for change in the courts, in the schools, in the marketplace, or in the church — if you're going to sit passively by the side to see if any change comes. Otherwise you are praying empty prayers — mere religious words that have no meaning....and no power.

You must pray your passion — for it is in such prayers that God's answers come; and they come through you. He gives you wisdom, opportunity, patience, resource and power from on high to actually effect the answers for which you cry out to heaven.

"Thy Kingdom come," we pray, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Pray as though it depended totally upon God; work as though it depends totally upon you.
What are you prepared to do today to become the answer to the prayers you have been praying?

Have You talked to Dad lately?

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple." (Psalm 27:4, KJV).

Three things happen as we pray. First, we have fellowship with God.

I'm talking about real friendship; not some imaginary exercise of reciting religious phrases toward some divine place in the sky. No. David said we would behold the beauty of the Lord, and inquire in His temple. This is not some abstract thought about a make-believe world, nor merely a poetic license for things that are not literally real. I'm talking about actually talking with God....and having Him talk back.

"Call unto Me, and I will answer you," He says, "and show you great and marvelous things to wonderful to know; things of which you are unaware; things that you don't know and can't find out without asking Me; things you can never figure out on your own." (Jeremiah 33:3).

The New Living Bible says, "Ask Me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come."

Jesus invited us to pray to "Our Father, who is in heaven." This is a bond greater than any other relational connection we know. He has even placed His Spirit deep within our heart, whereby we call out, "Abba, Father."

From infancy to our elder years, God's Fatherhood is the undergirding and over-riding truth of our lives. And it is the single, most compelling factor in how we are to pray —

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:7-11).

The purpose of prayer is to strengthen, deepen, broaden, and lengthen our fellowship with God, our Father.

Have to talked to Dad lately?

The Privilege of Prayer

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple." Psalm 27:4 (KJV)

An invitation has been extended from the High Court of Heaven. It was not sent out to a select few, but was posted for all who hunger for something higher, something better, something more real than the hoopla and hullabaloo of the world's surface traffic.

We have been granted access to the Throne of Grace, and the invitation does not require any dress code. "Come as you are," it says. No need to rehearse what you will say, no need to primp on appearance — no cause to try and impress. And, what's more, you don't have to have it "all together" either.

"Come as you are IN YOUR TIME OF NEED," it says. What this means is that when you feel the least acceptable, THAT"S when you are the most welcomed!

Come broken, come dirty, come troubled, come fearful, come confused, come undone — the Lord waits for you! He will meet you — and change you! You will not leave the same way you entered. What a privilege!

The Bible says, "Let us come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in our time of need!" (Hebrews 4:16).

The old Gospel song puts it this way, "What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear; all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

"Have you trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

"Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge; take it to the Lord in prayer. Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer; in His arms He'll take and shield you — you will find a solace there!"

The invitation has been sent to YOU — accept it even now and come before the Throne of Grace, and discover anew the privilege of prayer.