Thy Kingdom Come....
Matthew 10:7-8 And proclaim as you go, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons..Freely You have received, freely give”.
Of course the most popular and most well known place where Jesus mentions the Kingdom is in the “Disciple’s Prayer”.....Where Jesus instructs us to ask the Father for “Thy Kingdom Come in earth as it is in heaven”....So what does that look like, and exactly what is that we ask the Father for, when we pray the prayer Jesus asked us to pray. Jesus grew up under the oppressive rule of the Roman Empire whose founder and ruler was Julius Caesar followed by Mark Anthony and then Caesar Augustus. There have been 61 monarchs who have ruled over England and it’s tribute territories. America had to break away from that type of government, in order to find its own sovereign path and destiny.
We who have not grown up in areas where the rule of a King or a Queen is the way a society functions, really don’t have an accurate view of what a “Kingdom” is... In a kingdom, the ruler’s word is the law of the land.
An Arch Bishop was to do the wedding service for a certain King and Queen to be. He noticed the bride was very stressed out, so he asked what was wrong. She replied that she was awfully nervous that she would not remember what to do. The Archbishop told her that she only needed to remember 3 things.
First the aisle, cause that’s what she’d be walking down.
Second was, the alter because that is where you will meet.
And third, was the hymn because that is the song when they arrive.
Simple... The aisle, the altar, and the hymn. But while the bride was walking down the aisle, thefamily and friends of the king were horrified to hear her repeating those 3 words in order to remember them and stay calm...
Aisle, alter, hymn (I'll alter him) What made her calm, stressed them out like you just wouldn’t believe!
The modern version of Christianity has altered the true meaning of what it is to be part of a kingdom. We’ve become feel good, seeker friendly, happy hour, I’ll do it my way, instant blessing junkies! Bosses are having to be retrained so they don’t ask someone to do something in a way that might offend them, or so it’s not racial, or politically incorrect or incorrectly gender specific.... (What?)That’s not a kingdom....
So if we are told to pray “Thy Kingdom Come”, shouldn’t it be important to understand what we are asking... I think you know what I’m saying...
Revelation 19:16 “And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
A ‘Kingdom’ as “a very real place, ruled by a King who influences and oversees his Kingdom with His personality, His values, his morality, His lifestyle, his standards for living and His decrees, so that the people begin to reflect and live those things out as part of their belief system.
The Prophet Isaiah says that “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” When Adam sinned, he did not lose his religion, he lost dominion over the earth.
Jesus came to restore the Kingdom dominion on earth that Adam lost. The belief system of Jesus, is that He is bringing His kingdom into the earth to be the solution to earth’s problems. The Bible is about a king, His Kingdom and His Royal Family who are committed to His rulership.
The Kingdom of Heaven is a real place, with a culture where there is peace, joy, daily bread for all, forgiveness, love, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, selflessness, respect for all, healing, gentleness, and self-control.
God’s divine passion is to bring the influence of heaven’s culture into the earth by spreading His kingdom throughout the earth. In every home, every business, the marketplace, the streets and byways, every county and state, every country and island of the sea!
Psalm 33:5 “He loves righteousness and justice and the whole earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord”.
Isaiah 6:3 “And one angel called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”
You will see what you’re looking for, what you focus on..... If you look for evil, wickedness, debauchery, the curse, and evidence of the depravity of mankind... you will surely find it....Every kingdom is constantly attacked by other kings who wish to invade it, take it over and subjugate the people.
But what if we look for and hold fast to God’s righteousness, His justice, His lovingkindness, and His grace and mercy.... Cause it’s everywhere....
Psalm 108:5 “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, And Your glory over all the earth”. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’ll find it!
When God placed Adam in the garden, He gave Adam a lot of responsibility, but there was accountability. That meant Adam had to give an account for how he handled that responsibility. Being in a kingdom clearly means that we must account to the King, his statutes, his life values, rules and laws which bring order and purpose to the lives of all those under the king’s rule. “God told Adam [to] guard the garden and keep it, not just the material and physical things, but the laws and principals by which it functions. If I follow the King’s requirements, then the garden, (the worldwhich is filled with His glory) will meet my needs and pour out blessings on my path each and every day.
The Kingdom of God is one of the key elements of the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. Drawing on Old Testament teachings, it describes the relationship between God and those who receive Christ in the context of a King and His bride.
The bride gives herself to her husband at the betrothal ceremony, which is what we call receiving Christ as Lord and Savior.
The public event which seals this is our baptism in water, where we publicly proclaim that we belong to Jesus for the rest of our lives.
After the betrothal ceremony, the husband goes away to prepare the house (this is usually a year) that they will live in while the bride prepares herself to be pleasing to him when he returns. She spends this time becoming the wife He will want when he comes back to receive her. She never knows when he will return so she stays ready and prepared.
But he gives her a betrothal gift to bind their promise. Jesus gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit to be with us and in us until He returned.
If I want the king’s protection and provision, then I must obey what the king desires of me. A portion of everything I have and my gifts and abilities belong to the King and the kingdom which He represents.
Listen to Paul as He describes this...
Romans 12:1–8 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members,
and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ (our king) we, though many, form one body, (the kingdom) and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully”.
Paul even stated that he didn’t own anything in this world, but he was only the steward, who was using things to glorify the King.
I lease my car, it belongs to someone else, but I am required to return it in as good a shape as I got it. It’s a blessing, but it is also a responsibility which requires me to be accountable for every scratch and dent.
I rent a condo, but it is required of me that I present it back at the end of my lease in good a condition that the owner will approve of.Our bodies are on loan from God and one day they will be turned in because they have an expiration date.
1 Corinthians 6:20 “For you are bought with a price: (God is the owner) therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
What if we see our bodies, our abilities and talents, and all that we have, as on loan from Him, and we are accountable for what we do with it all, knowing that there will be a final inspection.
I mean, I may be able to hide things and have secrets from you, but nothing is hidden from Him, before whom all things are revealed.
Jesus gave us careful instructions to follow until He returns, and He gave us Holy Spirit to show us all things and help us in our preparations while He’s away. We are to manage the spiritual kingdom in His behalf, until the kingdom comes physically to this earth. So that the physical is ruled by the spiritual and not the other way around.
The owner of the company gave a brief speech to the employees then introduced the CEO. The CEO stated that he had started out sweeping floors and cleaning toilets, then went to the mail room, from there he went on the line, and then into management, before becoming a CEO. He then stated that if everyone would be diligent and be good managers of the job they’re given, there is no limit to what they can achieve. He turned it back over to the owner who complimented him on a great speech. The CEO then said “Thanks Dad”....
You are the owner’s children and he has destined you for management.
You see, we don’t have a blessing problem, we have a management problem. God didn’t send rain in the garden, until Adam was in the garden to manage what grew. He placed Adam in the garden to manage the garden of Eden which was supposed to be a global prototype.
Management is the primary reason He put people on the earth.”
God will not give you what you pray for, He will only give you what you can manage. God has heard everyone’s prayers, but when He doesn’t seem to answer, He is protecting us from things we cannot manage.
Why would God give me 10 million dollars, if I can’t manage to tithe
on what I already have? God trusts you and blesses you based on management, not your prayer requests. You fast and pray and wonder why God’s not responding but Jesus gave us a law of the kingdom.... it’s called seed time and harvest. Sowing and reaping... He said “He who is faithful in little shall be given much”.
God gave you a job to see how you manage other people’s property, so He can give you your own. God is watching to see if you pay your bills on time, and called in sick on the job but you weren’t, or didn’t keep a promise, or only did what you had to but never went the second mile...
We were placed in the kingdom to solve problems.
Joseph was the answer, going to Egypt to solve a problem that didn’t even exist yet.... David thought he was taking lunch to his brothers, but didn’t know he was the solution to a problem named Goliath.... Moses was brought into the kingdom to solve a problem that existed 400 years before he was born.
You are the solution in search of a problem to solve. “You exist because you are the fulfillment of God’s desires. That’s your assignment, and right now the problem is coming your way for a solution. You were not born just to make a living, get a pay check, work, eat, sleep, pay bills, and repeat the cycle, until you die. People get paid for the problems they solve, they don’t work for money really, but they get paid for solutions, that’s what people pay for. Doctors, lawyers, mechanics, cooks, teachers, firemen, cops, farmers and on and on.... make their money solving problems.
The graveyard is filled with people who never solved the problem they were born to solve, so their life had no depth of meaning. The problems you encounter, show up to introduce you to yourself, to your giftedness, to your value. If there was no Goliath there would be no King David — that giant problem was the ticket to his greatness. Stop trying to run away from the key to your greatness. David was not important until he killed Goliath. Your value goes up when the problems are solved. When you see difficulties on your job, don’t run from them embrace them. You are never remembered for the things you avoided. You are remembered for the problems you solved.
You don’t have to look for money because money is looking for you, if you are the solution. Money follows solutions.
Bill Gates is one of the richest men alive because he found a solution, called a computer for the average guy. IBM turned him away and now IBM is using his software. “Fast food businesses are so successful because they solve a problem. You don’t have to get dressed up, spend an hour waiting, no, it’s paper plates, napkins and let’s eat and go.... then they added drive through so you don’t even have to get out of the car... and we give them money non stop because they solved a problem.
“We get so busy trying to pay light bills and water bills, we walk past the problem every day that was designed to make us great. Jesus solved the problem of death, that’s why he’s so famous. He solved the most important problem on earth...The number one fear of humans is death, and Jesus gave you the solution to share with everyone you meet. Provision will follow solutions. You were born to solve the greatest problem mankind has. You’ve been given the keys to the kingdom. Believe me when you give people the solution to the greatest problem of mankind, God will make sure that provision will follow you. You were not saved to go to heaven, you were saved to give everyone you can, the keys to the kingdom, so they too can solve the problems of the world.
God calls all of us to manage the harvest. God’s kingdom is about life and growth. Everyone of us has the seeds of life and growth within us, we just need to find the right soil to be planted in so we can achieve and unlock our potential.
Every barren place, every needy area, is the soil that is calling your name so that you can plant the seed that is in you and see life and growth take place. 90 percent of success is in a person’s head, so find yourself, step into the barren place and be the life that is needed there.
Don’t be trapped by what you have already done or not done so that it makes you question what you can do. Don’t be so preoccupied with what has happened that you can’t embrace all that God has created you for. What is keeping you from being the answer right where you are. Don’t let the things you’ve done, keep you from the great things you are created to accomplish.
Paul says, Philippians 3:13-14” “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, I’m pressing forward unto those things which are still ahead. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
It’s time to stop grave digging.. God doesn’t care what you have done if you are willing to do what he still wants you to do.
You have to get out of the graveyard of the past, in order to accomplish your future destiny. Negative, toxic memories don’t go away, you have to send them away. Their shelf life has expired, they have no place in your new life....
God says, Isaiah 43:18 “Do not call to mind the former things, pay no attention to the things of old. 19 Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming”.
God wants your future to be greater than your past. He cancelsout your sins because he wants to bring forth your righteousness... He forgets your failure because he wants to see your success.... He is more interested in what you are born to do, than He is in what you have done. He doesn’t hold our past against our future and He doesn’t measure our future by our past.
Ephesians 2:1-4 “But God, who is rich in mercy, with His great love wherewith He loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, He has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) 6 And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus”.
I have an announcement... Change is coming! Our lives are in a constant state of transition. Life is always moving forward; nothing ever remains the same. We are continually being transported--whether suddenly or gradually--into the new, the different, the unexpected, or the untried. God wants you to use change for your benefit, so that it enables you to accomplish your God-given purpose in life. Change will bring problems which you are there to solve. We can still experience security, confidence, and freedom in the uncertainty of our changing world if we know who we are and that wherever we are in whatever circumstances, we bring solutions to problems around us. Determine that you won’t be the victim but the solution. Let those waves of change sweep you forward into what God has designed for this time and this place!
Prayer......Lord Jesus, Help me to remember the reason I began this journey with You. Help me to see the purpose behind Your plan and provide me with the necessary grace and perspective. Keep my focus set upon Your high calling, as I find strength for the next step, and discover faith to keep moving forth and to believe that miracles are possible today and in everykind of circumstances.
Lord, I know that You are ready and willing to answer and to release Your power and might. As I stay grounded in Your word and focused on the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, Yoursolutions shall be revealed. You are my source of love and life and the giver of a sound mind and receptive spirit. I know that You are the controller of everything and that nothing escapes Your attention.You have given me all that I require to walk in joy and peace. I rest in Your promises, and when life gets crazy, You give me sweet rest and having done all, I stand and give you all the praise and glory in Jesus name.
Declare.... God has put me in the right place at the right time to bring the solution to the problems in my path. They will release my blessing and the resources which I have prayed for. I will praise the Lord that changes which are coming are not the enemy but the messenger from God for my good.
