Sunday evening service for 8/23/2009
Thy Kingdom Come- Matthew 6:10 a
Introduction:
What kind of Kingdom has Jesus? No castle nor palace has he. No congress nor parliament sitting, deciding what laws there will be. Perhaps he has need of but two laws: Love God and your neighbor as well. To obey them is all that is needed, as all of the saintly can tell. He has neither army nor navy; no air force to guard the frontiers to keep out the strangers unwanted and maintain the enemy’s fears. Immigration he seems to encourage, of some quite disreputable, like fishermen, publicans, sinners. To such he is hospitable. It seems there’s no revenue service or taxes we must calculate. He surely cannot run a kingdom on what we put into the plate! No 1040 form comes in April to fill out before the 15th, with penalties charged for nonpayment, beginning upon the 16th. No currency’s here with his picture, no coinage engraved with his name. And where are the posters and slogans proclaiming his power and fame? And I see no trappings of kingship, no robes made of velvet and fur, no crown made of gold set with diamonds, to befit our supreme arbiter. Jesus said that his kingdom was really not what Pilate had thought it had been. It was not of this world. And its glory was not of the kind to be seen. For those of us here in his kingdom, there is one other thing we have known: of the kingdom around in his lifetime, it’s the only one left with a throne.
WBTU:
A. What is the Kingdom?
B. In the time of Jesus, His devoted followers and many others had real difficulty in comprehending the Kingdom of God. Most of them thought of an earthly Kingdom. The people of Israel were weary with the burdens and angry at the Romans. Some were convinced that Christ was going to be their new reigning King over an earthly Kingdom.
C. When Jesus Christ went to the cross, this concept of the Kingdom seemed impossible.
D. That they had misinterpreted His teachings was obvious. He often talked about the Kingdom but now it seemed so out of touch. After the resurrection, this idea came back into being. (Acts 1:6 NIV) So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
E. This was going to be a different kind of Kingdom. Many debate this concept of Kingdom. There are those who assert that “the Kingdom of heaven,” referred to in Matthew is different from “the Kingdom of God” spoken of in Mark, Luke and John.
F. Others talk about “the Kingdom of heaven” as some future Kingdom that Christ will establish here on the earth. Some say this is of special significance to the Jews.
G. Others talk about the “Kingdom of God” as the activity and outreach of the Church. I am inclinded to think that in our day this is the Kingdom. Not the buildings and structure of the church but the people who have surrendered and pay homage to the Sovereign, King Jesus.
WBTU:
A. God has given us a great privilege. The privilege is to be a part of His great work here on earth. God wants to accomplish great things in the lives of Christians and He wants us to be a part of it!
B. God has chosen to get His work accomplished by answering our prayers. That is why we are to pray, “Thy Kingdom Come”
C. (John 14:12 NIV) I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.(John 14:13 NIV) And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.(John 14:14 NIV) You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Thesis: We need to ask God to establish His Kingdom in several ways.
For instances:
1. Ask God to establish His Kingdom in our hearts.
A. (Luke 17:21 NIV) the kingdom of God is within you. There are portions of our hearts and our lives that are not under Christ’s Kingship.
B. (Gal 2:20 NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
C. There are things in my life that I like that the King doesn’t like. I like my sins. (John 3:19 NIV) This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John 3:20 NIV) Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.(John 3:21 NIV) But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
D. If the Kingdom of God is within me, then I should make it my business as a loyal subject to see that nothing enters there to harm or offend my King. What I eat, what I drink will be checked with care. I will not permit narcotics, drugs, stimulants, sedatives, or other harmful materials to enter my body unnecessarily and thus pollute the Kingdom.
E. The same applies to my mind and emotions. I shall carefully monitor the material I read and the television shows I watch, lest my King be offended.
F. The conversations I listen to, the music I hear, the programs I tune into by radio will be carefully scrutinized to see that no subversive material intrudes on the Kingdom.
G. In the area of my innermost mind, will and spirit, I shall see to it that no subversive ideas, suggestions, attitudes, or human philosophies contrary to Christ’s teachings and commands will infiltrate my life. The Kingdom of God is within me. It follows therefore that no traitor of any kind can be tolerated, which might undermine my loyalty or subvert my allegiance to my King.
D. There are things in my life that I am not aware of that the King does not like. (Psa 139:23 NIV) Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. (Psa 139:24 NIV) See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
2. Ask God to establish His Kingdom in our family and friends
A. Some of us need to pray for our spouses.
B. Some of us need to pray for our children.
B. We know the weaknesses of our family and friends- pray for them.
C. We know the trials and tribulations of our friends and family, pray for them.
D. Ask God to bring His kingdom to their hearts. (1 John 5:14 NIV) This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.(1 John 5:15 NIV) And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.
E. His full Kingship needs to be over their lives.
F. We have the term "Spiritual formation" in our day. It simply means that we are striving to put into practice what we preach. Not just knowing the right things, but doing the right things.
3. Ask God to establish His Kingdom in the church
A. The organized church in the US is in a crisis. Are we going to follow the King or not? Well, we need to put it up for a vote. This is a monarchy not a democracy. If the King says it, it needs to be done. If the King says not to do it, then it needs not be done.
A. Ephesians 3:16-21 gives us 5 blessings to pray for in the church:
1. The blessing of support (vs. 16) - I cannot do such and such. It is too much. You are right, but it is not too much for God, he is all powerful.
2. Blessing of His presence (vs. 17) - Many times we forget that Christ is not our there, He is right here.
3. Blessing of insight (vs. 18-19) - Two kind of knowledge: Head knowledge and heart knowledge.
4. Blessing of imagination (vs. 20) - Pray that we will ask big and dream big dreams and if we do God will go beyond even this.
5. Blessing of glory (vs. 21) - Our purpose is to glorify God.
B. Paul was always praying for the churches. (1 Th 1:2 NIV) We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. (1 Th 1:3 NIV) We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
C. The 7 churches in Revelation are good prayer points.
4. Ask God to establish His Kingdom in the unsaved
A. I don’t really understand how God balances free will, His sovereignty (His control), and prayer. I do know that God’s will is that people get saved. (1 Tim 2:4 NIV) who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
B. We don’t save people, Jesus Christ does. However, our prayers can bring them to Christ. 7 things to pray for the unsaved:
1. God will convict them of sin
2. Eyes will be opened to the truth
3. Laborers will be sent to them
4. Hearts will be softened to the gospel
5. Should be protected from the enemy
6. Should have no peace until they find Christ
7. God would draw them to himself
5. Ask God to establish His Final Kingdom
A. (Rev 22:20 NIV) He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
B. (Luke 21:36 NIV) Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
