The Lord's Prayer - 2

THE LORD’S PRAYER ~ 2


"Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."
- Matt 6:10

In the books of Revelation, Isaiah, Micah and Zechariah among others, we can read of the Kingdom of God, the New Jerusalem coming to the earth in the future. This is the Christian hope, the physical Kingdom in which God will dwell with His people on the earth.

It is indeed a real Kingdom. One in which the blessed shall eat bread (Luke 14:15). One in which, with Christ, the saints shall drink of the fruit of the vine (Luke 22:18). One in which we dwell safely, build houses, plant vineyards, and abide securely with God (Eze 28:26)

When Christ, Head and body, has driven out sin and rebellion from God’s creation, then -
"Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness,
A Faithful City.
"Zion will be redeemed with justice
And her repentant ones with righteousness."
- Is 1:26-27

This is the Eternal Kingdom. This was what God promised to His friend Abraham (Gen 17:8). And this is what Abraham looked forward to, "for he was looking for the City which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God." (Heb 11:10). And that is our hope as well. For as yet "we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come." (Heb 13:14)

Yea, I stand firm upon God’s promise. For He says - "I will bring them back and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God in truth and righteousness."(Zec 8:8)

We are encouraged by the Lord Jesus to "Seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness..." (Matt 6:33)

And in this we discover that there is another aspect to this Kingdom that is here now, that is internal. For Jesus also said, "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation;... for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20-21) In addition to being the eternal dwelling place of the righteous, the Kingdom of God is to be our way of life even now. THE Way of Life. The Kingdom of God within us is - "righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Rom 14:17)

It begins in us as a seed. A seed that must be nurtured (Matt 13:18-23). We are called to water that seed, by seeking the Lord, submitting our ways to Him and inviting Jesus into every aspect of our lives. God will bring the increase of His kingdom into our lives, and we will bear fruit as we worship, pray, read the Word, and fellowship. The fruit that we bear is the evidence of Christ in us. The evidence that we are following Him, walking in His ways, and being transformed from glory to glory into His image.

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
- Gal 5:22-23

May that be the fruit we bear.

"Thy Kingdom come..."

Lord, may Your Kingdom come to us internally in a very real way, that convicts us and changes and transforms us by Your Spirit, that we may be truly born again, and prepared to enter into Your Eternal Kingdom when You appear.


Dear friends, let us hold on to that promise of His coming everlasting Kingdom, even as we focus our present attention each day on coming to know Him, and being conformed to His image, more and more.

Michael


Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;for our God is a consuming fire.
- Heb 12:28-29