This week we begin focusing on Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We will spend our study today looking into the phrase Your kingdom come. Unfortunately because of the nature of this online study, all the questions you may have regarding the kingdom cannot be addressed. Hopefully, the passages offered here will help you go deeper, if you are so inclined
ASSIGNMENT:
1. Read the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13. What is different in the first three petitions (Hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done) and the last three?
2. Do you consider the sequence of the petitions significant? Why?
We read in Matthew 3:1 that John the Baptist’s message was: Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John’s preaching attracted great crowds of Jews. These Jews were familiar with Old Testament prophecy that promised the Messiah would usher in an everlasting kingdom with a king like David who would rule from the throne in Jerusalem. They asked John what they should do. They were ready for a return to the former glory days of Israel.
In Matthew 4:17, we learn that early in Jesus’ teaching ministry He preached: Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
In Acts 1:1-3, we read of Jesus’ last meeting (or one of His last meetings) with the disciples shortly before His ascension into heaven. Luke tells us that He spoke about the things concerning the kingdom of God.
3. The kingdom the Jews expected was ____________ in nature. However, the kingdom Jesus spoke of was _______________ in nature.
4. Consider the following passages (notice that some indicate the kingdom’s presence in Jesus’ personal ministry and others speak of the “consummated” kingdom in terms of the future):
a. Luke 11:20 – interprets Jesus’ casting out the demons as a sign that the kingdom was present.
b. Luke 17:20-21 – indicates the kingdom was present as Jesus was personally present.
c. Luke 22:18 – Jesus speaks of the kingdom in terms of the future.
d. I Corinthians 15 – Paul addresses questions regarding future resurrection of the saints when Jesus hands over the kingdom to…God…(:12-24). Paul then moves on to teaching about the spiritual nature of the resurrected body (:40-58); in :50 – flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
5. How would you describe the kingdom?
6. As you pray the petition, Your kingdom come, what are you praying for?
Tony Ash says “the kingdom might best be defined as the rule or reign of God.” (Pray Always, pg 88).
Andrew Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer, wrote this: “The Father is a king who has a kingdom. The children and heirs of a king have no higher ambition than the glory of their father’s kingdom; in time of war or danger, this becomes their passion, they can think of nothing else. The children of the Father are here in the enemy’s territory, where the kingdom that is in heaven has not yet been fully manifested. What is more natural than when they learn to hallow the Father’s name, they cry with deep enthusiasm, “Your kingdom come!”
In closing, read Matthew 6:25-34. Consider the promises of Jesus regarding provision for our physical needs. “Camp” on verses 33-34 for a time. What lessons/implications are here for you, personally?
