Prayer Matter – Praying with Power and Purpose

Part 5 – Seek God’s Kingdom and HIs Will

Matthew 6:10

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come,

your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

    but deliver us from the evil one.’ Matthew 6:9-13

10 your kingdom come,

your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

What is the kingdom of God?

• To pray for God’s kingdom to come, His will to be done is and .
• It causes us to put aside our desires, , our kingdoms for the true King, and His kingdom.

20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 3:20

In Augustine’s The City of God, both cities are punctuated by their … the City of God for it’s and the City of Man, for it’s .

“Our hope is not that the governments of this world will transform into the kingdom of God, but that the kingdom of God will come from heaven to earth in power and glory.” — R. Albert Mohler Jr.

The kingdom of God must be understood as something that is on earth but .

14 …Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:14-15

3 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, Colossians 1:13

Through His redemptive work, God continues the work of on earth.

6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;

    I will take hold of your hand.

I will keep you and will make you

    to be a covenant for the people

    and a light for the Gentiles, Isaiah 42:6

God had a plan to establish His kingdom on earth, clearly seen through the God made with , which He would ultimately fulfill in .

11 …“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Samuel 7:11b-13

In the New Testament, Jesus work on the cross is the work of a King who has come to .

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Matthew 28:18.

God’s kingdom today is made up of all who , who are gathered together in , and who are living under His .

15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:

“The kingdom of the world has become

    the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,

    and he will reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 11:15

How does God’s kingdom come to earth?

The Bible teaches that God’s kingdom comes only as the Word of God is by His people, coupled with the work of the , producing obedience and !

What does it mean to pray “your will be done?”

Theologians agree that “the will of God” can be interpreted in two ways:

1) Scripture may speak of God’s will.

10 I make known the end from the beginning,

    from ancient times, what is still to come.

I say, ‘My purpose will stand,

    and I will do all that I please.’ Isaiah 46:10

3 Our God is in heaven;

    he does whatever pleases him. Psalm 115:3

2) Scripture may speak of God’s will.

30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. Acts 17:10

3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4

6 The Lord does whatever pleases him,

    in the heavens and on the earth,

    in the seas and all their depths. Psalm 135:6

When Jesus prays “your will be done,” He is referring to God’s .

What does it mean for us to pray for God’s will to be done “on earth as it is in heaven?”

• Praying “on earth as it is in heaven” emphasizes the importance of so they too can worship the Father.
• Praying “on earth as it is in heaven” takes our focus off and puts it on .

When we pray, “Your kingdom come,” we are asking for God…

• to overthrow the kingdoms of man and the powers of .
• to create an allegiance in the hearts of all people to the of creation.
• to cause all other kingdoms (including our own) to .

To pray “Your kingdom come” is dangerous because:

• It imperils our and devalues our ease.
• It causes us to value before our own.
• It sets aside any desire for our own glory to pursue only .

10 your kingdom come,

your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10