As We Pray Your Kingdom Come

Given on Aug 17, 2024 by Joey Jewell

Are we in conflict in our prayers by praying for God's Kingdom to come while praying for things to improve in our daily lives?  Will praying for His Kingdom to Come hasten the return of Christ and God's Kingdom on earth?  In this message we seek to answer these questions and why Christ instructed us to pray this prayer.

Good afternoon brethren, and happy Sabbath. Today is August the 17th. That puts us just two months out from the Feast of Tabernacles. Of course, that means that we’re only about a month and a half away from the beginning of the Fall Holy Days. We have the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement. So these Holy Days --- God’s annual festivals --- representing His plan for mankind. These Fall holy days represent times yet to come. We have these Holy Days as a reminder of God’s plan --- to give us a refresher of why we are here, why we are on this earth. And these days help us to connect more with God and His purpose for us. We also have our weekly Sabbath to connect with God. We come together, fellowship, learn more of God’s way. But we also have daily ways of connecting with God in worship. Of course, the first thing that might come to mind is Scripture reading. Scripture reading helps us keep in touch with God. We also have prayer. We can relate to and connect with God. Through prayers we can connect to Him at any time. So I have a question for you regarding your daily prayers. You don’t have to raise your hand. But in your daily prayers do you pray for something personal --- that will benefit you in some way. Maybe pray that things will get better in your life. Not necessarily things you would need --- but maybe a pay raise, or promotion at work, a better job, or maybe something on a wider scale like praying for the economy to improve --- praying for things that would make life a little bit easier. I’m sure we all pray for something of this sort one time or another. We want things to improve in our lives. 

Another question about your daily prayers. Do you pray for God’s Kingdom to come. You probably say, “Well sure I do.” We know that preceding the return of Christ and God’s kingdom being established on earth --- there will be extremely tough times on earth. Did you ever think that maybe I should pray for things to get worse. But do you ever think like you may be in conflict in your prayers? Requesting for things in your current life to improve, while praying for God’s Kingdom to come? 

Let’s turn to Matthew 6. Is praying for the current situation to improve in conflict with praying for God’s kingdom? In Matthew 6 we have where Christ instructs us thus how to pray. Matthew 6, and we’ll pick it up in verse 7. Matthew 6 verse 7 it says, Jesus speaking, And when you pray, do not us many repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore, do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask. In this manner therefore pray. “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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Now in this prayer, we have Jesus acknowledging God’s holiness. And the first thing He asks for is God’s kingdom to come. And then we are to pray for sustenance, forgiveness, and protection. But the first request here in this model prayer is for God’s kingdom to come. So we know that this prayer is an outline. We don’t necessarily need to recite it word-for-word. It’s a guide for how we should pray. But it’s clear that we are to pray for God’s kingdom to come. 

Warning His disciples not to use vain repetition, Jesus tells the disciples that the Father knows the things that you have need of before you ask. For God already knows why we need to pray for His Kingdom to come. It almost seems like maybe a little presumptuous to advise God --- in essence saying, “Have you seen how bad things are down here? You need to send your Son soon.”  But God knows exactly how things are here. Will praying for God’s Kingdom hasten the return of Christ?  Is this why Christ instructed us to pray for it?

For this message, we’ll see what the Bible reveals to see if we are in conflict when we pray for God’s kingdom to come while praying for our lives to improve. We’ll look to answer why Jesus instructed us to pray His coming come. 

Did you ever think why Christ instructed us to while we pray for God’s kingdom to come? Why should we pray for it? We talked about like maybe we’re in conflict when praying for worldly things to improve and praying for God’s kingdom. It makes you wonder why did Christ tell us to pray this in the first leading up to the model prayer. 

Do we pray this just because we are fed up with our current politics and government --- the way they conduct their business? We see how deep the corruption, the lies and deceit is in our regime government. We see failed governments that make us angry --- make us want to see something done about it. It can be pretty frustrating at times. Is this why Jesus instructed us to pray “Your kingdom come”? 

During His earthly ministry, Jesus we know often preached about the Kingdom of God. Matthew 24 and verse 14 He tells us (Jesus tells us) this gospel (this message of the good news) --- the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations --- and then the end will come. And He went on to say in Matthew 24:14 that there would be a time of great tribulation that had not been seen since the beginning of the world until this time --- nor shall ever be. And unless those days were shortened no flesh would be saved. We know that mankind will come to the brink of annihilation. Humans can’t solve our most difficult problems. Six thousand years of human history have shown that man cannot solve his problems with other humans short of going to war. I’d like to read a little section here from what’s titled “The Encyclopedia of Death and Dying” --- sounds like an inspiring, heart-warming read --- “The Encyclopedia of Death and Dying” by Michael C. Kearl. He says that “Although war has been a near constant in the human condition, estimates are that in the last thirty-five hundred years there have only been 230 years of peace throughout the civilized world. It is the past hundred years that will undoubtedly be remembered as the military century. All of our war fatalities have over the past half millennium --- three quarter have occurred in the twenty-first century --- including roughly 26 million in World War I and 53 million in World War II. So recognizing this inclination of mankind to go to war, some have suggested that wars are normal and even necessary to bring about the relatively few years of peace that we do have. Though the end result of this philosophy is that humans are almost perpetually at war. If we believe that we have to have war, we will have war. 

Jeremiah 10 verse 23, another scripture, the prophet Jeremiah explains the problem with human reasoning apart from God. Jeremiah 10:23 says, “Oh Lord. I know the way of man is not in himself. It is not in who walks to direct his own steps.” Jeremiah is simply saying that man does not know how to consistently govern himself and make good decisions. We tend to want to look inside ourselves for answers to life’s problems. The truth is we don’t always have the answers. 

Proverbs 14. Another familiar scripture I’ll just read. Proverbs 14 and verse 12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” We can sometimes ignore what’s going in the world around us --- and turn the TV off, the radio, turn off your device --- where you don’t get any of those “Breaking News” alerts. But some of the problems, the social problems and other issues still impact our personal lives. The issues can become very direct and very real to us. And so we look to God and His government that we long for. 

Let’s turn to 1 Timothy chapter 2. We’ll pick it up in verse 1. So should we pray for our government so we can live better lives? Well. Let’s see what the Bible says in First Timothy, chapter 2 beginning in verse 1, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Let’s turn to Second Chronicles, chapter 7 --- where we pray for our government leaders would be led by God in their decision-making. God wants us to live peaceable, comfortable lives. 2 Chronicles chapter 7 --- we’ll read verse 14. 2 Chronicles 7 verse 14, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Again, here God talks of healing the land, that people may live in peace and prosperity. We’re told that when a nation of people turn to God, He will intervene and make their lives better. So no --- we’re not in conflict in our prayers when we pray for these things. But even in good times (those happen from time-to-time) --- during good times --- we should still pray for God’s kingdom to come. But maybe there’s some other reason to pray for God’s kingdom --- other than just to bring peace to this world. As we will see here shortly, we pray for God’s kingdom for different reasons than we pray for other things. 

Let’s turn to Matthew 6 and verse 33 --- where again in the model prayer that Christ gave us --- the first thing we are to ask for in prayer is for God’s kingdom to come. And this is in line with what Jesus’ central message. Matthew 6 verse 33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Seek first the kingdom. So the first […….] mentioned in prayer is that we are to seek His kingdom. This famous prayer is that we should get our minds focused on what it should be. It should be our main objective in life --- to be a part of God’s kingdom. Let’s go back to --- in Matthew 6 verse 25. Prior to telling us to seek first His kingdom, Jesus tells us not to worry about our physical needs. Matthew 5 verse 25, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? We know that these are familiar scriptures. We should always keep them in our minds. These are words directly from Jesus to us. Drop down to verse 31, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we wear? --- sustenance, protection. Verse 32, “For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” We can relate this section of scripture here directly to the model prayer --- as praying for sustenance, protection and God’s kingdom. Praying for God’s kingdom puts us in the mindset that we seek first God’s kingdom --- not to be so concerned about our physical needs. 

Let’s turn to Luke chapter 21 --- pick it up in verse 34. So can we hasten God’s kingdom to come praying this prayer? And is that why we should be praying this prayer? Luke 21 verse 34, Jesus speaking, “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Again there He tells us not to be consumed with the cares of this life --- but to keep focused on God’s kingdom. And just in this section itself, some might interpret this to mean that Christ’s return could be eminent (could happen at any time). But we know --- according to the Bible --- that is not correct. The Bible tells us that many things must take place first. I’ll just read 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 3, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.” And earlier in Luke 21, Jesus gives indicators that signal when His coming is near. Let’s go to James chapter 5 --- we’ll read verses 7 and 8. “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” So is to hasten Christ’s return one of the reasons why Jesus instructed us to pray for His kingdom to come? So in James 5 verse 7, the Bible tells us to be patient here even though we are to pray for the kingdom to come. “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.” So this is referring to the seasonal rains or spring and fall that must come first before the fruit is ripe.

Let’s go to Matthew 24. We’ll read verse 36. Jesus, speaking here about when His return might be. Matthew 24 and verse 36, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” These and other Bible verses make it plain that not even Jesus knows [knew at the time He spoke these words] the precise day and time when He’ll return. 

In Acts 1 and verse [7] --- the final time He was asked about the divine prophetic timetable, and Jesus said “…. It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.”

Let’s go to Galatians chapter 4. So only God [the Father] knows when the time is [for the second coming of Jesus Christ]. The first coming of Jesus was a carefully planned occurrence. It didn’t happen by accident or at a random time in history. Here is Galatians 4 and verse 4, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.” So it says there that “when the fullness of the time” had come. Other translations render this “the appointed time” or “the right time” or something similar to that. So God established His plan in timetables at the right time. 

Even in Revelation 13 verse 8 --- that Jesus Christ the Lamb of God was “slain from the foundation of the world”. But the actual event didn’t occur for several thousands of years.  

Let’s turn to Isaiah chapter 61:1-2. This is a scripture that in Luke 4 --- Luke chapter 4 where Christ read and referred this to Himself here. Isaiah 61 and verse 1, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound.; [Verse 2] To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,” Scripturally, both comings are connected and intertwined here --- but yet a considerable time lapse between these two events. Those are enormously important steps in God’s plan for humanity. 

Now turn to Daniel 8. Daniel 8 --- we’ll read verses 18 and 19. Daniel has a vision. It was Gabriel speaking to him. Daniel 8 and verse 18, “Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright. And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be. Again, we have here “the appointed time”.

Let’s turn to Ephesians chapter 1. Another scripture letting us know that Christ’s return and coming kingdom will come at God’s specified time. Ephesians 1 --- I’ll read verses 7 through 10. I’ll read this from the Revised English Bible --- as we consider Paul’s words here to the church at Ephesus. It says, “In Christ our release is secured and our sins forgiven through the shedding of His blood. He [the Father] has made know to us His secret purpose in accordance with the plan which He determined beforehand in Christ --- to put into effect when the time was right --- namely that the universe, everything in heaven and earth might be brought into a unity with Christ.” Paul speaks of a time which undoubtedly includes the second coming of Jesus --- and apparently extends beyond that. 

We can be absolutely sure that no major event in prophecy will occur without God’s knowledge and his direction and anticipation. These crucial occurrences have and will have happened when the time is right --- not before.

We’re still in Ephesians 1. I’ll just read verse 11 here from the Translator’s New Testament. It makes it clear that God can guide and direct events to accomplish His ends. Verse 11, “For this was the plan for the one who shapes the whole course of events to His appointed ends.” 

Isaiah 46. I’ll just read this. Isaiah 46 and verses 9 through 10, it says, “Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure.’

God the Father will send Jesus Christ back to earth to usher in His kingdom at precisely the right time. Unlike us --- you know --- we can’t see the whole picture. We can perceive bits and pieces here and there. 

Paul said in First Corinthians 13 and verse 9 that, “… we know in part and we prophesy in part.”

So Jesus’ instruction to pray for God’s kingdom to come wasn’t to hasten His return. So what are some other reasons He asked us to pray for His kingdom to come? Well probably the most obvious is that He wants us to eagerly and enthusiastically seek the time of His direct intervention in human affairs. 

Let’s look at some other possible reasons we are instructed to pray this prayer. We can look at the business world for possible answers. During the past half century leadership models have been evolving. Gone are the days of simply barking out commands and expecting employees to perceive company goals. Managers now seek to instill in their employees a passion for corporate objectives. They want employees to take ownership of the company’s philosophy and perspective to bring them to view those goals as personal. The company I’ve worked for the past few years --- we’ve acquired quite a few of our main competitors --- not only taken on their business, but many of their employees as well. And so we’ve been having a series of companywide meetings to programs to onboard these employees --- to get them in line with our company values --- showing who we are and what we do. One thing the management keeps preaching is “be all in on the company mission”. So in a way, when we spend time praying for the kingdom of God --- meditating on His kingdom --- we begin to take ownership. Not only that --- we also grow as Christians. You know --- kind of like the people renting cars or houses treat them with the same care the owners would? No. Unfortunately, most renters don’t. The same holds true for just about anything. If you have a personal interest and investment --- you will take better care and work harder.

Let’s turn to Isaiah 26. As we pray “Your kingdom come” we get a sense that we are part of this awesome kingdom. We are invested in something that’s much bigger than ourselves. We draw comfort in focusing on God’s plan for us --- knowing, trusting His kingdom will come. Isaiah 26 verse 3, it says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”

Let’s turn to Ezekiel 9. Ezekiel --- a young man from the priestly line of Zadok. He was too young to serve in the temple when he was taken captive to Babylon. While living in this strange land during the most difficult years of his people, he began his role as prophet --- first warning of impending destruction --- then holding out hope for restoration. One striking vision in chapter 8, God Himself directs Ezekiel’s attention to the adulterous practices pervasive throughout the land --- and even in the temple complex. Now here in chapter 9 verse 4, God commanded an angel. He said, “and the LORD said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” And then charged six angels to go through the land --- killing anyone without that mark. It wasn’t good enough for the people in question to avoid the pagan practices. No. They had to show enough anguish, to sigh and cry --- to lament the pain the people of Judah and Jerusalem brought on themselves. The same way we should pray for the kingdom --- not merely for our own sake, but for the sake of all mankind. We can relate this to our current world. We lament over the woes of this world. 

Let’s turn to Matthew chapter 5. We look around the world --- we see people lost --- suffering fearful. Hope is in short supply for many. People are just desperate for good news. Matthew 5, let’s read verse 4. I’ll read this from the NIV “Blessed are those who mourn, For they will be comforted.” Again. We have the benefit of being comforted. If we count ourselves among those blessed to understand the gospel, the good news --- we should hunger for the kingdom on behalf of the hopeless humanity.

Let’s go to Matthew 23. Consider Jesus’s example here. It says something remarkable. Immediately after rebuking the scribes and the Pharisees, where He presented the seven major grievances --- also called “the seven woes” --- in verse 33 (He called them woe to you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites), verse 33 He said “Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?” So this verbal lashing starts in [verse] 13 and ends in 36. We read all this --- you might think that Jesus held nothing but contempt in His heart for the scribes and Pharisees. But this would be wrong. For we read here in verse 37, it sheds light on Christ’s true feelings. Matthew 23 and verse 37, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” So even in rebuking the religious leaders, Jesus never stopped loving them. We don’t think the same way God does. We can fail to understand that He yearns for the kingdom. When we recognize this --- it's probably one of the most important reasons to pray for His kingdom. It’s God’s desire to dwell with us. 

1 John chapter 3 and verse 1. It says, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! …  [He’s forming a family. He longs to be with His family.]

Let’s go to Psalm 37 (for a final scripture). Brethren. We’ve seen Christ’s returning kingdom will happen in God’s time --- not before.

We see that praying for God’s kingdom is not in conflict with our other prayers. In praying for God’s kingdom, we pray for different reasons --- while we pray for other things. Jesus’ instruction for us to pray for the kingdom is for our benefit --- to help us set our minds were they should be --- and helps us to grow as Christians. Helps us to take ownership and feel a part of this coming kingdom. It gives us the comfort knowing God’s awesome plan. And we pray it because we mourn the abominations of the world --- we pray this prayer. And we pray it because it's God’s will and desire to bring His kingdom with His family. 

Psalm 37 and verse 1, “Do not fret because of evildoers. Nore be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass. And wither as the green herb. Trust the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret --- it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 

Praying for that the kingdom of God is an investment of our time and our lives. And that investment actually transforms our hearts and minds. We’re not convincing God of something He needs to do --- but rather learning to see and hope, and praying for what is best for the world --- especially for God’s will and great desire. So as we pray daily for God’s kingdom to come --- we remind ourselves of responsibility to our Creator. We maintain the vision of God’s future for all who will respond to Him. And so as we pray this daily prayer, let’s remember why we pray “Your kingdom come.”