Matthew 6:9-13
Your Kingdom Come
Where is the kingdom of God? People often think of it as in heaven. In Matthew, there are many references to the kingdom of heaven. In Luke, similar passages refer to the kingdom of God instead. Some of the Psalms mention God's throne in heaven, and the everlasting kingdom. This is why we often think of His kingdom as "up there." But there are clear passages in the Bible that say God's kingdom is on earth, too. Jesus announced the coming of the kingdom in Mark 1:14-15, saying it was "near."
When Jesus announced the kingdom, why did He tell people to "repent and believe"? The kingdom is to be within us. This happens through repentance and belief. Repentance means turning away from one thing and turning to another. In this case, it means turning from ways that are opposed to God's plan and turning toward Him. As we believe more strongly (by learning what God has done and what He offers), we are more likely to repent. And repentance is ultimately all or nothing.
Did Jesus tell us to repent in order to bring in the kingdom, or so that we could join the kingdom? Matthew 13 gives several parables that begin with "the kingdom is like." Most of them describe gathering and winnowing. In farming, winnowing is the process of removing the non-nutritious parts of the harvest and leaving just the good grain. The Greek word for repent is metanoia, related to our own metamorphosis. We are changed, and our actions are changed, as Christ's righteousness (goodness) is actually given to us ("imparted" is the term theologians use). This suggests that we are invited more to join the kingdom than to create it.
"I'm going to teach you some things. Turn away from your old ways and follow me . . .," Jesus seems to be saying.
The kingdom is often described as a gathering to a specific place. But we are nearer to the kingdom than that would imply. We can join it without waiting for the final gathering. Jesus said that the kingdom was "near." It is all around, but not yet recognized. And it can be described as being in enemy territory, since this world is often opposed to God's intentions.
"Near" may indicate a time frame as well as physical closeness. When Jesus announced that the kingdom was near, He could have meant both. "Look! Here I am! The promised kingdom is arriving now!" as well as "Change your ways and join me as I establish the kingdom in people around you." As people are transformed by God, they have an impact on the world around them. In fact, people have an impact (influence, help, hinder) on others all the time; followers of Jesus should have a positive impact.
When we become Christians, it is almost like finding a secret society. The church, when it is persecuted, flourishes. Ignoring the church is a more effective strategy if one wants to limit its effectiveness.
Jesus is the embodiment of the kingdom. It was made available through his death and resurrection.
If being a follower of Jesus Christ doesn't define you, you aren't a follower of Jesus Christ. David shared an introduction someone once made of herself: "I am Dianne Jones, a follower of Jesus Christ brilliantly disguised as a bank teller." Each of us is invited to become as close a follower as that.
The kingdom has a past, when it was begun by Jesus. The kingdom has a present, when any believer opens her or his life to allow God to work. The kingdom has a future, when Christ returns and all is placed under Him (meaning there will be no more enemy territory).
When we pray "your kingdom come," what are we praying for? We mentioned the expansion of the kingdom, justice in our world, removal of difficulties (especially those caused by evil), and holiness. When we deliberately pray for the kingdom corporately (as a group, knowing that we are joining with others to pray for the same reasons), we are asking God to bring about His plan and purpose for our universe. This prayer helps us to gain God's perspective for the world. And we hope to become messengers of the kingdom.
There are competing kingdoms. The kingdom of God is different from the kingdom of the world. We certainly want to identify ourselves with God's kingdom, but too much separation can keep us from connecting with those who are in the world's kingdom. Besides competion with the world's kingdom, the kingdom of God also has competition with our own lives. This part of the Lord's prayer asks Him to help us shift from selfishness to God's designs. This expresses our willingness to let God win, defeating our personal kingdoms.
Summation of the first part of the Lord's prayer:
- Recognition and adoration of God comes first (He is in heaven)
- There is intimacy and mystery in prayer (our Father has a hallowed name)
- God is not confined to a place (kingdom is everywhere)
- We can be resigned to God's will or cooperative
In the morning worship service, Pastor Brad emphasized many of the same points we'd discussed. Especially, some of us noted his declaration, "When we repent, we agree with God that the past will not have power over our future."
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