How often have we prayed “Thy Kingdom come” and not understood
what we are really praying? Wait a
minute! We live in a republic not a kingdom. Aren’t kingdoms kind of going
obsolete around the world? No, this
kingdom is God’s kingdom, He is the King and of His Kingdom there shall be no
end! Each time we pray this we are
praying for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and for Him to establish His
Kingdom on earth-as it is in Heaven.
This is very important for us to understand. For those who are skeptical, consider the
accuracy of the Bible. In the Old Testament
there are about 300 scriptures foretelling the first coming of Jesus Christ,
which is historically verified. Now,
what are the odds that all of them have come to pass? However, there are over
2400 in the Old and New Testament that speak of His Second Coming and they too
will all come to pass. Thy Kingdom Come
soon!
The second portion of this verse of the Lord’s Prayer gives
us a lot of needed understanding, for it strongly infers that God’s will is not
being done on the earth as He desires.
That becomes quite obvious when we compare the forgiveness, peace, love,
tranquility, health, holiness, etc. of heaven with the sin of earth where
chaos, violence, rebellion, pain, death, suffering and all sorts of wickedness that
is flourishing. If God’s will was always
being done on earth there would be none of these horrible things happening! Let’s not forget that sickness, disease and
death are not God’s will. St. Paul said
death is an enemy that will be defeated. (1 Corinthians 15:54). St.
Peter preached in Acts 10:38 “How God
anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went
around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil,
because God was with him.” This shows clearly that sin and sickness are enemies
of Christ. But sin and suffering continue
to spread in the world at this time but we are to pray for God’s Kingdom reign
to come and His will be done! God uses the Church to enforce His will on earth
including praying for the sick and those who are bound by sin and addiction. Someday soon Jesus Himself will return and
set all things in order and bring judgement to all. Those who refuse to repent will be judged at
Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the age. Come Lord Jesus come!
1 John 5:19, warns the Christian; “We know that we are
children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”
The world is deceived and is in rebellion being led by the first rebel
satan. It is at enmity (war) with God. (Romans 8:7).
As people of God we are now at enmity with the world’s culture…spiritually
not physically however. We are in the
world but not to be part of it “Do not love the world or anything in the world.
If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything
in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of
life-comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires
pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:15-17). We are to be constantly
pushing back against the worldliness of this culture by praying, proclaiming
Christ and doing all we can to fortify and further His Kingdom and praying for His
will to be done here on earth. Or as
Chuck Colson said: “Redeeming culture is
the never ending mission of the Church.”
That means we are to be the true salt and light of this world. Let’s get about our Father’s business!
Thy Kingdom come thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven!
Pastor Gary A. Smith
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