The Lord's Prayer #4

Thy Kingdom Come

(Matthew 6:9-13 NASB) {9} "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. {10} 'THY KINGDOM COME. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. {11} 'Give us this day our daily bread. {12} 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. {13} 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen."

The Lord's Prayer is Christ's answer to the Disciple's request recorded in Luke 11:1 "Lord teach us to pray". We also feel our need for a proper understanding and practice of prayer.

In previous lessons we have learned that true prayer must be addressed to the Father, through the Son, with the aid of the Holy Spirit. The Son is not to be the focus of our prayers but is rather our access to God. Christ's blood and righteousness stands between us and God granting us access into His Holy presence. It is as we are in Christ that we have the right to go, by means of prayer, into the presence of God with our praise, thanksgiving, and request. The Son is not the object of the Believers prayers. Likewise, the Holy Spirit must not be the focus of our prayers. God the Spirit points Christians away from Himself to God and to Christ. His function is to guide us into all truth, to convict us of sin, righteousness and judgment. He is a comforter to every believer. He is the third person of the Blessed Trinity, God the Holy Spirit. However, we are not taught to pray to Him, but rather to the Father. God The Holy Spirit will not draw attention to Himself, (See John 16:12-14). Our prayers are to be addressed to "Our Father who is in Heaven", in the name of Christ with the aid, direction, and support of the Holy Spirit.

Second, we have learned that our primary concern, our number one request, is that God's name be Hallowed.

The word, "Hallowed," means to set something apart as Holy. It means to consecrate, to venerate something or someone in one's mind. In this case, we pray that GOD be Hallowed. By this request we are declaring our desire that GOD be thought of, spoken of and treated as Holy by all and in all. That He be glorified, is to be our first and primary concern. By this request we are asking God, by His overruling providence, to direct and dispose of ALL THINGS to His own glory. To pray, "Hallowed be Thy name," is to ask God to make this true in OUR lives especially. When we use this phrase we are saying, "Oh God grant that we should properly think of, speak of, and worship You." All things exist to bring glory to God's name, to hallow His name, (Romans 11:36). This is especially true of the Christian. It is our special privilege to Glorify, treat as Holy, to Hallow our God. So we pray, "Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name."

However, the moment we pray, "Hallowed be Thy name", we are aware that God's name is not hallowed in and by Christians as it ought to be. It is certainly not hallowed by the unbelieving masses. Why is that? It's because the majority of people are yet in their natural state, they are sinners in rebellion against God. Most are worshipers of the god of this world, Satan. They are members of the kingdom of darkness and, therefore, hate the light. These do not glorify and hallow our God. They are naturally concerned about themselves, their wants and needs. They have no desire for God and cannot have, so long as they remain dead in sin, members of the kingdom of darkness. This brings us to the second petition in the prayer. "Thy Kingdom come." Brothers and Sisters, God's name will be hallowed and honored to the fullest extent only when His Kingdom is fully come.

The coming Kingdom of God is promised as early as Genesis 3:15-16. There, God reveals that a day is coming when the Son shall triumph over the Serpent of old. God's kingdom will come to be a reality without limit or qualification on any front. The promises and prophecies of the Old and New Testaments look forward to and concern the coming of the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven.

When Christ and John the Baptist were on earth the promises of the coming kingdom were very much in the minds of the people. Fact is, both John and Christ came preaching the Kingdom of God. "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

When we think of the Kingdom of God we must do so in three ways. First, there is a sense in which the Kingdom has already come. It came when the Lord Jesus Christ arrived. He said, (Luke 11:20 NASB) "But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God HAS come upon you." Jesus was exercising Divine power, sovereignty, and dominion over the kingdom of darkness. He was showing Himself to be the King of the Prince of darkness. So, there is a sense in which it can be said, the kingdom of God, "HAS", come.

Second, the kingdom of God comes when one is saved. When a person is born again he is translated out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light. He is now a citizen of God's kingdom. God, in Christ, is now his Lord and Master, the reigning governor of his thoughts, words, and deeds. Here is one answer to the prayer, "Thy Kingdom Come." The coming of the kingdom to the heart of an individual in salvation is the means by which the FIRST petition is answered, "Hallowed be Thy name." Only a Christian can hallow the name of God. This he will do, in an ever increasing way, because, old things have passed away and behold all things have been made new. The Christian lives to please and honor his God.

The nature of God's reign in a believers life is summed up in Romans 14:17. "for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." These are the characteristics of a Citizen of God's Kingdom. The person who lives under this reign of grace is characterized by righteousness. He is in possession of the very righteousness of God, imputed to him by faith in Christ. Further, he is one who practices righteousness with increasing faithfulness and proficiency, that God's name may be hallowed. There is a new principle of life in him that works its way out in holiness of thought, word and deed.

The Christian is also characterized by peace. The person to whom the Kingdom of God has come has peace with God, his conscience is free of accusation. The heart of enmity has been removed. He is not just a willing subject and servant of his new King, but a Son as well. This Sonship is revealed to him by the Spirit of God that lives within. This person enjoys peace with God and pursues peace with men as well, so that His Kings name will be hallowed and honored.

As a result of imputed righteousness and peace with God, this member of God's kingdom has yet another great treasure, "JOY in the Holy Spirit." This man, woman or child delights in God, in knowing, serving and worshipping Him. This joy, this delight, this excitement at being a son or daughter of God, hallows His name. This joy is not dependent on circumstantial comfort but on just being in the Kingdom of God as a Son and a Subject. Truth is, God's children can and ought to be joyful in all situations. Consider the example set by the Apostle Paul.

Philippians 4:10-14 NASB) "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. {11} Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. {12} I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. {13} I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. {14} Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction." The Apostle was stable, consistent in his faith, joy and worship no matter what befell him. Why? Because his joy depended on God, not the changing circumstances of life. Such contentment and joy, hallows, honors and brings glory to the name of God. The kingdom of God had obviously come to Paul.

So, the Kingdom came with Christ's coming, and it comes to each and every person born again by the grace and mercy of God.

Third, the Kingdom of God is yet future. The day is yet to come when, as the old Hymn declares, "Jesus shall reign where'er the sun does his successive journeys run." The whole message of the Bible looks forward to that day. God's people look forward to that day and therefore pray, "Thy Kingdom Come." Consider here the words of 2 Peter 3:11-13.

"Since all these things (earthly, material things) are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, {12} looking for and hastening (That is, praying, "Thy Kingdom Come.") the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! {13} But according to His promise we (Christians) are looking for NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH, IN WHICH RIGHTEOUSNESS DWELLS." This is the Kingdom of God as concerns the future. We who are Christian are instructed to pray, and indeed are glad to pray, for the final and complete coming of God's Kingdom. We look forward to and anticipate the day when all sin, evil, and wrong, shall have been destroyed. We long for, we pray for the day when God in Christ shall have put all His enemies under his feet. We will rejoice to see every knee bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Lord. What a day it will be when the kingdoms of this world shall have become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ.

So then, there are three things we are praying for when we offer the petition, "Thy Kingdom Come." First, we are saying, "let the Gospel be preached in the power of the Holy Spirit to the salvation of your people." It is a prayer which supports all true evangelism. It is a prayer for all real missionaries. This petition cries out for the souls of the lost. "Thy Kingdom Come."

Second, when the Believer prays, "Thy Kingdom Come", he is praying to be personally sanctified. Rule me, control me, reign in my thoughts, over my words, my deeds, so that I may hallow Thy name." The Christian longs to be Holy even as God is Holy, therefore he prays, "Thy Kingdom come to maturity in ME."

Third, as was said a moment ago, this petition looks forward to and hastens the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. On that day sin will be no more. The rebels will have been cast into the lake of fire with the Devil and his angels. The redeemed will at last be free from all that now keeps them from being perfectly holy in practice. Then our God's name will be hallowed on earth, even as it is at the present time in heaven.

Martin Lloyd Jones records a bit of prose which reflects our desire:

"Thy kingdom come, O God

Thy rule, O Christ begin;

Break with Thine iron rod

The tyrannies of sin."

The journey to that final state of Perfect Kingdom Existence begins with salvation. First, God exposes the one He intends to save to the outward means of salvation, the Gospel.

(Romans 10:13-15 NASB) "for "WHOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." {14} How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? {15} And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GLAD TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS!" The preaching of the Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation, is the outward call and means of salvation. It is, as it were, the declaration of the existence of the Kingdom of God, and of the benefits of entering into it.

Second, the Holy Spirit regenerates the heart of man. That is, He causes him to be born again. In this rebirth the sinner is given new eyes, ears, a new mind, and heart. With all this new equipment the sinner, for the first time, understands the message of the Gospel.

Third, understanding his lost condition, the judgment and wrath of God due him for his sin, the perfect righteousness necessary for acceptance with God, he cries out in faith toward Jesus Christ for forgiveness and is saved from the wrath to come.

Fourth, this man takes up his place in the Kingdom of God. He is a willing subject and servant of God. He grows daily in grace, knowledge, and personal holiness until he dies.

Fifth, at death, he is freed from all the restrictions and hindrances of the flesh. His soul is immediately in the presence of God.

Sixth, at the resurrection this former son of Adam is glorified. His soul and body rejoined, he enters the Kingdom of God and it enters him perfectly and forever. This man will never again fail to hallow the name of His God.

This is our prayer and this is our goal, the hallowing of the name of God by the coming of his kingdom in all the before mentioned ways. The pursuance of this goal is to be our occupation while we wait and pray. So said Jesus in Matthew 6:31-34.

"Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' (This is not to be the Christians central concern in life.) {32} "For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; (Unbelievers are preoccupied and indeed possessed by earthly and temporal things. All their waking hours are spent trying to figure out how to get stuff for their bodies. These have no concern for the great name of our God or His kingdom. It is much different for the Christian.) for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. {33} "BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU.

First, we pray, "Thy Kingdom Come", then we actively seek the Kingdom. That is, we do all that we can to hasten it's coming. We pray for and seek the salvation of God's lost Sheep, praying, "Thy Kingdom Come in the hearts of sinners that they may hallow Thy name." We seek the souls of men and, therefore, the Kingdom of God and His righteousness by personal evangelism when the opportunity presents itself. We seek the souls of men when we support good Christian Churches and their various ministries. We are seeking the Kingdom of God each time we put a sermon in the hand of another person. Each time we put an article in the paper that contains God's truth, each time a sermon is aired on the radio we are seeking the souls of men and women. Therefore, we are seeking the Kingdom of God.

We seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness when we seek and pray for our own personal sanctification. We seek our own sanctification when we give ourselves to the means of grace. The means by which God communicates His graces to us are prayer, Bible Study, Corporate Worship, Fellowship of the Brethren, the singing of Hymns and Psalms, the Preaching of the Word of God. When we are faithful in these privileges and duties we are seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Then again, we are to, "hasten the coming of Our Lord." We do this by looking forward to and praying for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. By praying that all the enemies of God be put under His feet, finally. The people of God who understand what the coming of the Savior means say together, "Even so Lord Jesus Come Quickly.

To seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness is to seek and pray for the salvation of God's Elect people. It is to seek and pray for our own personal sanctification and that of our Brothers and Sisters. It is to look for and pray for the second coming of Jesus Christ. To seek these things is to seek the Hallowing of God's name, His glory and honor. This is to be our first and primary concern in life. "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you."

What, "things", does Christ speak of? All the things that unbelievers are enslaved to. Houses, lands, clothes, food, cars, money. In other words, God says, "get your priorities in order." Put first things first. Spend your first and best energies seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and He will see to it that you have all you need on the physical side of things. All the things the Gentile or the unbeliever is in a panic over, your Father will provide. By these words, Brothers and Sisters, God sets His people free. We are free to serve, worship, learn, love, study, and evangelize. We are free to focus the first and best of our attentions on the present and coming Kingdom of God without fear that our physical needs will not be met. This is yet another way of saying be anxious for nothing. Does God know we need clothes, jobs, health care when we are sick? Does God know about ALL our needs both spiritual and physical? Yes He does and promises to provide all our needs according to His riches in Glory. Fact is, everything pertaining to the physical and the spiritual life is already in our possession. (2 Peter 1:2-3) God's Children needn't be anxious about the stuff they need for physical survival on this earth. God has promised to provide. We are free to, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness", as we trust in God's promise to provide the rest.

When we hear His word and obey with gladness. When we hear His promises and rest in them, we become a people who hallow and honor His name. We must learn to walk by faith and not by sight if we would bring Him glory. We are to pray, "Thy Kingdom Come". We are to spend our lives seeking the Kingdom's coming in these three ways. This is the second petition in "The Lord's Prayer", and something of it's application.

All the Sermons Preached from the pulpit of Sovereign Grace Baptist Church may be heard each Sunday at 9:10 a.m. on KJAA Radio, Globe at 1240 on the dial.

back