Thy Kingdom Come
“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Matthew 6: 9 – 13).
Note first this is not the “Lord’s Prayer.” He didn’t pray for it because it includes “Forgive us of our debts (sins). It is the “Model Prayer” He taught His followers to pray as a pattern for our prayers. It is not meant to be recited, but prayed.
We are to pray “Your kingdom come.” It is yours so come and reclaim it.
A kingdom coup decant occurred in Eden when Satan successfully tempted Eve and through her, Adam. God’s perfect world was despoiled when evil entered the moment mankind rebelled.
Ever since Jesus gave us the Model Prayer we have been entreating Him to come again and restore His rule. We pray, “Your kingdom come,” meaning please come and restore your rule. The prayer concludes “Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory.” What kingdom? The one for which we pray “Your kingdom.” It is yours Lord, come and completely restore it as in the creation you designed it to be. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Heavenly rules prevail in heaven. That rule on earth is what we are praying for every time we pray the Model Prayer. Come, dear Lord, and enact that rule.
In the restored kingdom there will be no more temptations. The tempter will be in chains.
What a day that will be. Oh glory!
Unfortunately many “pray” this prayer nonchalantly not realizing they are asking God for a completely new world order. Followers of Jesus hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness to be established on earth.
Whenever you pray be more conscious of the one to whom you are praying than about which you are praying.
It is not to be prayed with a desire to be personally delivered from the world’s disorder, though we will be, but by submitting to the will of God. The purpose of prayer is not to get my will done on earth; it’s to get God’s will done.
Our desire is for Him to triumphant in reclaiming control over what is His, He created it. “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1: 3).
Pray that His name be sanctified and glorified throughout the universe. Therein His name would surely be “hallowed.”
Our prayer is for God’s kingdom and God’s will to be done. Till then we are to live like kingdom people in obedience to our all glorious King. Live within your sphere of influence, claiming it as a bit of His kingdom.