Praying That Our Father’s Kingdom Come

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: Hebrews 12; Lord's Day 48
Psalters: 348, 339, 194, 49
  1. The kingdom.
    1. God reigns as Sovereign over all as the Creator and Sustainer.
    2. The kingdom of Jesus’ prayer is the Father’s rule of grace in Christ willingly recognized and acknowledged by all its citizens.
      1. It is God’s rule being acknowledged (Heb. 12:28), because He established, and realizes this rule by the power of His grace.
      2. It is called the kingdom of Christ because God establishes and exercises His rule through Christ.
      3. It is called the kingdom of heaven because it is spiritual, not earthly (John 18:36a).
      4. The best description of the kingdom is “righteousness.”
  2. The kingdom comes through-out history.
    1. It was in Paradise when God ruled in the hearts of Adam and Eve; and through them He ruled over all.
    2. When Adam purposely sinned, then Satan became the spiritual prince of this world (John 12:31; 14:30; II Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2).
    3. At the Fall God promised the establishment of His kingdom in the spiritual seed of the woman.
    4. The kingdom comes about through the activity of its King.
  3. Jesus would have us pray for the realization of this kingdom, thought we cannot make it to come.
    1. Personally, we learn to desire to be so ruled by His Word and Spirit that we may submit ourselves more and more to Him.
    2. Also, we are asking that God preserve and increase His church.
    3. Therefore, we ask that God destroy the works of the devil and of all violence which exalts itself against our King.
    4. And may the perfected kingdom come with the return of Jesus.