No matter where we grew up, whether we were raised in a traditional church or Evangelical church, we all were taught the Lord’s Prayer, also known as “The Our Father.” This prayer has been used to unify us, in our focus on Jesus.
The apostles were given this prayer as a model when they asked Jesus, “Teach us to pray.”
The very first line of this model prayer is, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6: 9-10)
The focus of this verse is for heaven to come to earth.
First, we recognize our Father in heaven as holy. The word hallowed means holy, holy is your name.
Right alongside this verse, we say, “Your kingdom come, your will be done”…we are saying your will has a purpose. We, in essence, are asking God to carry out His purpose to fulfill His original intent.
Adam and Eve’s disobedience opened the door to create another will on the earth, other than what God intended.
Yes, God gave mankind a free will, but He intended for man’s will to be one with God’s will.
Kingdom-focused believers are to extend His heavenly rule here on the earth.
Maybe that’s why there are over 100 references to the “Kingdom” in the four gospels alone.
Kingdom believers serve the world with their God-given gifts. Did I say world? Yes, I did. Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be your servant.” (Matthew 23: 1) Even when we go to work, use our talents and gifts, we are serving our employers, as unto the Lord.
Note: That unkind boss of yours might need to see the character and love of God in a way that you can display. Sometimes those places that we want out of, are the direct places that God has placed us in for others to see Him.
Kingship is all about servant leaders.
God did not send us a religion. He sent us His kingdom, eternal and unshakable. Look at the mission of Jesus:
- He came to reintroduce the Kingdom of God on earth to man.
- He came to restore righteousness and holiness to mankind.
- He came to restore the Holy Spirit in man.
- He came to retrain mankind for kingdom leadership.
- He came to restore the kingdom rulership of God on earth through mankind.
- He came to bring His Kingdom on earth to earthly kings; so then we, in turn, would minister to others.
How is the world going to meet the King if they don’t understand about the Kingdom of Heaven?
Way back in creation we are told, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Genesis 1: 1-2)
The Spirit hovered over the waters, over the earth, over what’s going to be created on this earth. The Spirit laid between heaven and earth and remained in one place in the air. He was between what’s in heaven and what’s on earth; perhaps, looking for a place to reside–inside God’s kings and queens.
Kingdom-followers allow the connection of Holy Spirit to be part of the Godhead to be established on the earth.
What do I mean by that? Well, God’s Spirit lives inside of man, as a born-again believer. If we yield to the Holy Spirit, we are allowing Him to flow through us. The Spirit directs His thoughts and life to manifest God’s kingdom on earth. The word manifest is not something to be afraid of. The dictionary says to manifest is:
- Clear or obvious to the eye or mind.
- Display or show (a quality or feeling) by one’s acts or appearance; demonstrate
Maybe that’s why the first book after Jesus’ resurrection is called the Book of Acts when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon men (the apostles) who were displaying the power of God. They were preaching and demonstrating the gospel of the Kingdom as Ambassadors.
Don’t be a stumbling block for the Holy Spirit. He desires to “Live and move and have His being in us.” Paul talked about this, revealing this truth sharing, “The God who made the world and everything in it, is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth. He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17: 24-28)
We are kingdom-minded human beings with the very being, (the essence of God), within us. His Holy Spirit is alive and well.
KINGDOM PRINCIPLE: The acts modeled in the Book of Acts are what “IN HIM, we live and move and have our being,” looks like. It was the original “move of the Spirit,” that moved hearts toward God.
KINGDOM ASSURANCE
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