When we pray “Your kingdom come” in the Lord’s Prayer, what exactly are we asking God to do? In this sermon from Matthew 6:10, we work out what Jesus meant by “kingdom” and why it matters for how we pray.
We begin by distinguishing two aspects of God’s reign. He rules over all creation in His providence, but the world is in rebellion, and it often looks as if evil is winning. We trace the story from Adam’s fall, through our own attempts to rule, to the realization that in reaching for a throne we only bowed to another king. Then we see how the promised Son of Man, as C. S. Lewis put it, landed in enemy-occupied territory. Jesus resisted the temptation of the kingdoms of the world, defeated the powers of darkness at the cross, and ransomed us into His kingdom.
From there, drawing on Pastor Adriel Sanchez, we look at three ways the kingdom comes:
In us. Through repentance and faith, our allegiance shifts from sin to Christ, and we ask that the kingdom would get more of us.
Around us. As ambassadors of the King, we bring comfort, hope, truth, and the good news of forgiveness wherever we go.
Ahead of us. The kingdom is already here but not yet fully here, and we wait for the return of the King.
Along the way, we’re cautioned about popular talk of “building,” “expanding,” or “conquering” for the kingdom. Scripture tells us to enter, receive, seek, and pray for the kingdom, but never to build it. The kingdom is a gift God gives to the meek who take up their crosses and follow Jesus.
Join us as we learn to pray, with faith and longing, “Jesus, King of Heaven, come and make the world right.”
Scripture referenced: Matthew 6:10; Psalm 103:19; Romans 5:12; Colossians 1:13; Colossians 2:15; Daniel 7; Matthew 4:1-17; John 3; John 12:31; John 18:36; Genesis 6:5.