Do you know how many countries there are in the world? About 191.
The average student in America knows very little about what is happening
in other countries. On the other hand, students in other countries
often know much about the US.
Our society has the tendency to look inward, paying little attention
to other countries. If not for 911, we would care less where Afghanistan
is. Now, because of Bin Laden, not only can we locate Afghanistan
on the map, we have also become familiar with where its mountains
and caves are. 911 broadened our world perspectives. How about Andorra,
Belarus, Berim, Eritrea, Kiribati, or Vanuata? We probably will say,
how interesting, but who cares? If your company is sending you to
one of these places, you will be in a hurry to find out more about
it. Often, it is self-interest that causes us to notice others existence.
In this prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, he directed their
attention not just on themselves but on the father who is in heaven.
Jesus knew that his disciples were very much concerned with the fate
of the Jewish nation. Some of them might be hoping that Jesus' mission,
and therefore their mission was to establish a new political kingdom
on earth. In this prayer, He calls their attention not on the kingdom
they are in, that is the earthly kingdom, but on another kingdom:
God's kingdom, the heavenly father's kingdom, the kingdom of heaven.
This kingdom of God is a repeated theme throughout the Bible. In
the OT, it was promised the coming of Messiah, establishing his kingdom.
In the NT, when John the Baptist appeared on the scene, his first
words were, "Behold, the kingdom of God is near, Repent". When Jesus
began his ministry at 30, he proclaimed, "The kingdom of God is near,
repent." Late he told his followers that the kingdom of God is in
their midst.
This morning we want to explore this theme of God's kingdom. We'll
take a closer look at the 2nd petition in the Lord's Prayer: Your
Kingdom Come.
I. God's sovereign rule over the earthly kingdoms.
Let's first look at the earthly kingdoms. First there are the different
political systems. Some are democratic, others are dictatorial. There
is the socialist versus the capitalist; plus some in between. Some
are more successful than others.
These different kingdoms come and go. Historians told us that looking
at the world history, there are 21 major civilizations. At one time,
Egypt was a super power, center of knowledge, not anymore. We may
still remember the height of USSR. Then there was a time when Britain
was known as the Great Britain or the Great British Empire. Today
USA is the remaining super power in world politics, but China is the
one to watch in the 21st century.
Even within the same country, we see government/administrations come
and go. In China, we learned that if you don't like the present regime,
just wait another 50 years, or 100 years. Here in America, we say
just wait 4 more years. Looking at our kingdoms from the earthly perspective,
one rises and takes the place of another.
However, there is another way of looking at these kingdoms or human
history. In the book of Daniel(5:11-12, 26,18-21), there was an incident
with king Belshazzar of Babylon. While hosting a big banquet, he displayed
items that his father took from the temple in Jerusalem. This was
greatly displeasing to God. In the middle of the dinner, a hand appeared
and wrote certain words on the wall. In great fear, they found Daniel
who interpreted these words, God has numbered the days of your reign
and brought it to an end." Daniel also gave a more detailed explanation
of these words, The most high God gave your father a kingdom, and
majesty, and glory, and honor….But when his heart was lifted up, and
his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne,
and God took his glory from him……till he knew that the most high God
ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointed over it whomsoever
he will. And now, you, his son has not humbled your heart, though
you know all this…" That evening, Belshazzar was killed and Darius
became the king.
This incident clearly tells us of God's sovereign rule over the kingdoms
of the world. Yes, it is the human kingdoms, some of them even working
against him, yet they are still under his sovereign control. No matter
what country we live in, he is the sovereign ruler of human history.
II. God establishing his kingdom on earth.
On the one hand God is sovereign over human kingdoms and history.
On the other hand, he also established his kingdom on earth. In the
OT, he called Abraham to be the father of all nations. And out of
those nations, he has chosen the Israelites to manifest his rule among
them. While the surrounding nations had kings to rule them, God told
the Israelites that He would be their king. They disobeyed him and
wanted a king like the other nations. So Saul became their first king.
Because of Saul's disobedience, God chose David and told him, Your
house and your kingdom will endure forever before me, your throne
will be established forever."(2 Sam 7:16) David clearly recognized
that this is a reference to God's kingdom. Even though David's kingdom
enjoy great expansion, but the OT writers also pointed us to the coming
of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
When Jesus Christ came into the world, the first utterance of his
words when he began his public ministry was, "Behold, the kingdom
of God is near, Repent." With his coming, the kingdom of God has arrived.
Some of his disciples and many followers were expecting a visible
and politically powerful kingdom. Jesus repeatedly taught them that
his kingdom is not like that. Later, Paul explained in Romans 14:17,
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but
of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit…" In Boice's words,
"this kingdom comes today whenever and wherever God's righteousness,
peace, and joy transform a life and bring the fullness of spiritual
blessing. That is, whenever, God rules in a human life, there is his
kingdom. This is a spiritual kingdom. This spiritual kingdom is also
expressed in the visible church.
1. Characteristics of God's kingdom on earth.
Mary in Luke 1:51-53,He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He
has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things.." Jesus in Luke 4:18-19,
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach
good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the
prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,…"
Who is in his kingdom? The blind, the sick, the weak, the oppressed,
the widows and the orphans. Later on, Paul added that God had not
called the wise but the foolish. It is just the opposite of the worldly
kingdom, isn't it? The world wants those with 20/20 vision, the strong,
the powerful, and those high profile people. But God's kingdom is
not so. Remember one time David was on the run from Saul and ended
up in a cave. Who came to him? All those who were in distress or in
debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader.
About four hundred men were with him." (1 Sam 22:1-2). This incident
also fore tells what God's kingdom will be like. God brings such people
into his kingdom and transforms them with his power into individuals
who will manifest his glory and beauty.
When we lose sight of this, we get into trouble. When Constantine
in the 4th century gave God's people political power and prestige,
corruption entered. When the pope gained military power, the church
became the Holy Roman Empire. When Martin Luther started the Reformation
movement, many of the German princes were with him not because of
doctrines, but because they were tired of the church's rule over them.
When God's church, his kingdom on earth began to go after wealth,
prosperity and power, the church will become corrupted.
2. Imperfection in God's kingdom on earth.
I think many of us have expressed our disappointment with God's visible
kingdom on earth, the church. We have seen behaviors, attitudes and
values that are inconsistent with the King of this heavenly kingdom.
Sometimes so great is our disappointment, that we withdraw from the
visible community of God's people.
We probably remember Jesus' parable of the farmer sowing seeds. Some
of the seeds were in good soil, others in thorns, rocky soil or road
side. Only the ones in good soil gave good harvest. There was also
another parable about the wheat and the weeds. The servant noticed
that weeds were growing alongside with the wheat and asked if they
should pull them out. And the owner's response was leave them there
and wait till the harvest time. Then, the wheat and the weeds will
be separated.
These parables tell us that while on earth, God's kingdom will not
be perfect. Because members of his kingdom still carry with them the
marks and consequences of sins. Sometimes it is personal sins from
the past, other times, the impact of our society has greatly and adversely
affected us. There may even be those who claim to be followers of
Jesus Christ, but in reality, they do know Him. As long as we human
beings are in this visible kingdom of God on earth, there are problems
and imperfections. And this is why we look to
III. God's kingdom to come.
We have seen God's kingdom in the past and present. Now, let's take
a look at the future aspect. Your Kingdom Come. There is the aspect
of the kingdom that is to come. In Matthew 24:30-31, At that time
the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations
of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the
clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send
his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect
from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." In
the book of Acts, we read about Jesus ascending into heaven. Acts
1:10, They were looking intently up into the sky as he (Jesus) was
going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men
of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky?
This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come
back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Both these
passages tell us that there will come a time, when Jesus Christ will
return to this world and establish his kingdom in its full glory.
Yes, the kingdom has come, it is a limited form, but it will come
again in full force.
On June 6, 1944, the Allied Army landed in Normandy. This is known
as the D-day. But the final victory did not come until one year later.
When Jesus died on the cross and resurrected 3 days later, he triumphantly
defeated Satan. Yes, Satan is defeated, but he still has the power
to influence us. But on the day when Jesus Christ comes again in his
full glory, Satan, the devil will be completely subdued. We live in
between D-day and V-day. We are joyous because our lord has already
won the war. We also look forward to the day to see his full glory.
Yes, he has come, yet he is still to come.
So, what do we mean when we pray, Your Kingdom Come? F
1. God's kingdom will continue to expand in my life.
We understand that God rules in our lives. He has transformed us
by his power. This transformation is an on going process. There may
still be some areas of my life that he is not in charge of. I could
be very disciplined in my reading of his word and praying, but I still
have some reservations to handing over how I do business. Or I am
a very good husband and father, yet I am hesitant to have him rule
over how I spend money and reluctant to give 1/10 of what I have to
God.
Instead of asking God to expand my territory, we are to ask God to
expand his territory in our lives. We want him to expand his rule
in all areas of our lives. Let him be the king of my entire life.
2. Use my witness to expand his kingdom on earth.
When I pray, Your kingdom come, I am also asking God to use me to
expand his kingdom on earth. C.S. Lewis describes this world as "enemy
occupied territory." And Christianity as "the story of how the rightful
king has landed in disguise and is calling us all to take part in
a great campaign of sabotage." I ask him to help me to tell others
the good news of the heavenly kingdom. The message of how Jesus came
into the world to deliver us from God's wrath and the bondage of sins.
I am no better than any other persons. Personal evangelism is like
two beggars meet on the street. One beggar tells the other where he
can find water and bread.
When I pray, Your Kingdom Come, I am also asking God to help me live
a life that will point others to his kingdom. I will ask him to help
me to live a life of integrity, love, acceptance and forgiveness.
Through words and deeds, God uses me to expand his kingdom into other
people's lives. Conclusion:
Too often when I pray, I find myself focusing on my own immediate
world. This or that need I have; or this or that person's/family's
needs. No wonder a former Buddhist made the comment, "listening to
you Christians praying, is like asking blessing from the Buddha."
However, we are to remember that we have been invited by God to bring
our needs to him. As a matter of fact, he invites us to bring all
our needs to him. So we don't have to be apologetic when we pray for
others and ourselves. We are to fervently and persistently pray for
each other. At the same time, we also need to remember to lift our
eyes up and see God's kingdom. Not just an abstract concept, but his
kingdom is in those who have trusted him. His kingdom is in those
whose lives have been transformed by his righteousness, peace and
joy. His kingdom is in those who have received all the heavenly spiritual
blessings. Not only this, we also remember our role in expanding his
kingdom both in our own personal lives and on earth. And moreover,
we are looking towards the day when his kingdom will come in full
glory and power. This is what Jesus taught in Mat 6:33.
