.

DEVOTIONAL INSIGHTS

INSIGHTS ON PRAYER

The Lord's Prayer (Part Two)

INTRODUCTION

MORE ELEMENTS IN THE LORD'S PRAYER

Thy Kingdom Come

The Rule of God in the Hearts of His Followers

Next Jesus prays that God's kingdom will come. What is the kingdom of God? Basically it is the rule of God. Many times when we think of "kingdom" we think of a place, for example, the land belonging to the kingdom of Siam or to the kingdom of Naples in the 19th century. It can refer to territory; however, it always refers to the rule in the hearts of men. In the 19th century a citizen of the kingdom of Siam could be a loyal citizen of that kingdom even if he lived in the United States. In the same way God's kingdom consists of His rule in the hearts of those who follow Him. At the present time we see the kingdom of God in heaven and in the church. Although we do not live in heaven right now, we are in God's kingdom because He rules in our hearts. (Right now we see the kingdom of God in the church.) A day will come when we will see the kingdom of God over all creation, the invisible as well as the visible, the material as well as the spiritual.

The theme of the Bible to a large degree centers on the kingdom of God. We see this kingdom partially realized in the reign of God in the nation of Israel. We also see in the OT the prophesy that a day will come when the Messiah will pour forth His Spirit upon His followers so that the kingdom of God will become a greater reality. (The word "Messiah" literally means the "Anointed One." When the Bible was translated into Greek, the word "Messiah" was translated into the word "Christ" which also means the "Anointed One.") According to Matthew 16:16 who is Jesus?

Next, because Jesus humbled Himself to the greatest degree of humility, what has God given Him (Matt. 28:18)?

Now that God has elevated Jesus to the status of Lord over all the creation, how are we to bring people beneath the lordship of Jesus (Matt. 28:19-20)?

At this present time do we see all people subjected to the lordship of Jesus?

What is going to happen though on the last day (Philippians 2:9-11)?

After this great event has occurred, what is Jesus going to do with all that has been subjected to Him (1 Cor. 15:24)?

We see the importance of the kingdom of God in the last prayer that John writes to conclude the Book of Revelation What is that prayer (Rev. 22:20)?

Your Involvement in the Kingdom of God

The question you have to ask yourself is how involved you are in bringing in the kingdom of God into the world? How effective are you in bringing people beneath the lordship of Jesus Christ? Who was the last person you led to the Lord? When did that occur?

Pray that you be sensitive to the Lord leading you in bringing others to Him.

Thy Will Be Done On Earth As It Is In Heaven

God has been convicting me about this element in the Lord's Prayer. If we are not careful, our prayer to God based on the Lord's Prayer is going to be a one-way street--we'll be doing all the talking and God will be doing all the listening. Communication implies that 2 people are involved in the dialogue, not just one.

We see this type of dialogue in Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. There is a progression in Jesus' prayer which shows that dialogue is taking place between Him and the Father. The Greek text states that in the first hour of prayer Jesus prays: "If it is possible [and it is possible], let this cup pass from Me" (Matt. 26:39). In the second and third hours of prayer Jesus admits that this is not possible; therefore, He prays: "If this cannot pass away unless I drink it [and it cannot] . . ." (Matt. 26:42). In each hour of prayer, He concludes His prayer with "Thy will be done." First, He states His preference; later He submits entirely to the Father's will after discerning what that will is.

Now take the different areas of your life to God in prayer and ask Him to reveal His will to you in these areas, and then pray that God's will be done in these areas. (Take your time and work slowly through each question. Otherwise, this is a meaningless exercise.)

AREA

WHAT IS GOD'S WILL FOR YOU IN THIS AREA OF YOUR LIFE?

AREA

WHAT IS GOD'S WILL FOR YOU IN THIS AREA OF YOUR LIFE?

My Devotional Life of Obedience . My Relationship to My Wife .

My Relationship to My Children . My Relationship to the Rest of My Family .

My Relationship to My Church . My Relationship to My Job .

My Relationship to My Nation . My Mind: Am I thinking the thoughts of God? Yes or No (circle one)

My eyes: Do I have the perspective of faith and hope or the perspective of unbelief/fear and despair? Yes or No (circle one) My tongue: Do I bless people and build them up, or do I curse them, tear them down? Yes or No (circle one)

My heart: Do I love those whom God has created, or do I hate them (stay angry at them)? Yes or No (circle one) My hands: Do I do the things God would have me to do, or do I do my own thing? Yes or No (circle one)

My feet: Do I go where Jesus would have me go, or do I go only where I want to go? Yes or No (circle one) My wallet: Am I doing with my money the things God would have me do, or am I using my money for my own selfish purposes? Yes or No (circle one)

My time: Am I using my time the way God would have me use it, or am I using my time the way I want to use it? Yes or No (circle one) My reputation: Do I worry more about what God thinks about me, or do I worry more about what others think about me? Yes or No (circle one)

Notice that Jesus prays that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We all recognize that until Jesus comes, this is not going to happen. God's will is done perfectly in heaven, while even the best of Christians don't always do God's will. Jesus though is praying with regards to His second coming in which God's will shall be done perfectly on earth. How are we to live in light of the fact we believe that God's will one day shall be perfectly done on earth? By trying to do His will until Christ returns. According to the Bible if I believe that righteousness one day will fill the earth, then I am to live righteously at the present time. If I believe that one day we shall all be united in love, then I am to live a loving life of unity right now. That is the only appropriate response to our belief that this type of future is coming. Any other response falls short of what Christ desires from us.

AREA	WHAT IS GOD'S WILL FOR YOU IN THIS AREA OF YOUR LIFE?	AREA	WHAT IS GOD'S WILL FOR YOU IN THIS AREA OF YOUR LIFE?
My Devotional Life of Obedience	.	My Relationship to My Wife	.
My Relationship to My Children	.	My Relationship to the Rest of My Family	.
My Relationship to My Church	.	My Relationship to My Job	.
My Relationship to My Nation	.	My Mind: Am I thinking the thoughts of God?	Yes or No (circle one)
My eyes: Do I have the perspective of faith and hope or the perspective of unbelief/fear and despair?	Yes or No (circle one)	My tongue: Do I bless people and build them up, or do I curse them, tear them down?	Yes or No (circle one)
My heart: Do I love those whom God has created, or do I hate them (stay angry at them)?	Yes or No (circle one)	My hands: Do I do the things God would have me to do, or do I do my own thing?	Yes or No (circle one)
My feet: Do I go where Jesus would have me go, or do I go only where I want to go?	Yes or No (circle one)	My wallet: Am I doing with my money the things God would have me do, or am I using my money for my own selfish purposes?	Yes or No (circle one)
My time: Am I using my time the way God would have me use it, or am I using my time the way I want to use it?	Yes or No (circle one)	My reputation: Do I worry more about what God thinks about me, or do I worry more about what others think about me?	Yes or No (circle one)