After a longer than expected Easter break, it’s good to be back with you. Last time we focused on opening prayer with praise by hallowing God’s name. It has been said that more of our prayer time should be spent in praise. To borrow a line from MercyMe: But still we praise our Savior in Spirit and in Truth
For we cannot say enough about You.
Next, we look at the opening petitions in the Lord’s Prayer: Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Mat 6:10). Here are some observations to consider:
Many of us in western culture have an aversion to the idea of kingdoms. The U. S. was established in opposition to this structure. However, history teaches us that the structure of the government cannot overcome unworthy/corrupt leaders regardless of their titles (king, queen, president or prime minister). Evil can find a way to corrupt any system. Jesus teaches us to pray for the Kingdom to come led by the only truly worthy King, who is incorruptible.
Praying for God’s Kingdom to come on earth is praying for God’s will to be done. It is aligning our prayers, our very spirits with divine intentions. (It’s important to note that these petitions focus us first on what God wants, not what we want.) Mark shows God’s intention with Jesus’ ministry by starting with the announcement of the Kingdom: “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mar 1:14-15).
Remember, gospel means good news. The Kingdom coming is God in Christ’s good news for everyone if we will accept it (repent and believe). Clearly, this is God’s will.
The Kingdom of God is initially internal, then becomes external. It is the liberation of humanity from the clutches and tyranny of the self. Prior to our conversions we are living imprisoned to the self with illusions of freedom. Jesus offers a prison shaking, life changing citizenship in the Kingdom. This new citizenship causes the will of God, the good news, to be shared with the world by Christian disciples (Kingdom citizens). In other words, this citizenship comes with a commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mat 28:19-20).
(TO BE CONTINUED with seeking God’s provision — Give us this day our daily bread.)
The Barnabas Strategy is an initiative of the Holy Spirit free of institutional constraints. … Ron Bellomy
Wow, this is incredible and I’m really excited to read more.
“It is the liberation of humanity from the clutches and tyranny of the self”.
This speaks to me in so many different aspects of my life. One of my biggest faults is not believing in my own capabilities and I hold myself back by lying to myself that I’m not able and that I’m not good enough for any of the blessings I am receiving. I have grown immensely on that as of recent and getting some confidence in myself as well as remaining humble. God is and has done so much for me and I pray daily for the wisdom and knowledge and guidance to be the Husband, father and child of god that he created me to be.