Praying That Our Father’s Kingdom Come
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 4/29/2018 AM |
Text: | Hebrews 12; Lord's Day 48 |
Psalters: | 348, 339, 194, 49 |
- The kingdom.
- God reigns as Sovereign over all as the Creator and Sustainer.
- The kingdom of Jesus’ prayer is the Father’s rule of grace in Christ willingly recognized and acknowledged by all its citizens.
- It is God’s rule being acknowledged (Heb. 12:28), because He established, and realizes this rule by the power of His grace.
- It is called the kingdom of Christ because God establishes and exercises His rule through Christ.
- It is called the kingdom of heaven because it is spiritual, not earthly (John 18:36a).
- The best description of the kingdom is “righteousness.”
- The kingdom comes through-out history.
- It was in Paradise when God ruled in the hearts of Adam and Eve; and through them He ruled over all.
- 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).
- At the Fall God promised the establishment of His kingdom in the spiritual seed of the woman.
- The kingdom comes about through the activity of its King.
- Jesus would have us pray for the realization of this kingdom, thought we cannot make it to come.
- Personally, we learn to desire to be so ruled by His Word and Spirit that we may submit ourselves more and more to Him.
- Also, we are asking that God preserve and increase His church.
- Therefore, we ask that God destroy the works of the devil and of all violence which exalts itself against our King.
- And may the perfected kingdom come with the return of Jesus.