20150811 YOUR KINGDOM YOUR WILL

YOUR KINGDOM YOUR WILL

Matthew 6:10 May Your Kingdom come soon. May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Jesus has already begun to preach, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." (Mat 4:17) And in Matthew 12:28 He says, “But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.” In other places Jesus says that the Kingdom is “near” or “already among you.” I won’t take time to go into all of this here, but I believe that Jesus clearly showed that the Kingdom is indeed here and is indeed active. However, not everyone sees it. It is not fully established as it will be one day. Therefore, our prayer is, “Fully establish Your Kingdom here on earth as it is in Heaven.” When His will is done His Kingdom is being established.

This brings us to the part of this verse that we should pray more fervently, “May Your will be done.” God whose ways are far above our ways and whose thoughts are far above our thoughts (Isa 55:9) desires that we would seek His will over our own.

Life is full of trouble. Jesus even promised it would be (John 16:33) but He also promised He had overcome and would be with us. Much of our prayers are for God to get us out of the trials of life when they should be for God’s purposes to be fulfilled in them. Now, I cannot pretend to fully understand, nor interpret God’s purpose in any given trial, but I know He desires that we would be like Christ (Rom 8:29). I know that sometimes He will use us to help others be like Christ (Gal 4:19). And I know that He is not willing that any should perish (2Pet 3:9).

So, knowing these things let us be found faithful in our prayers, crying out to God for His Kingdom to be fully established and for His will to be done even through our suffering, in our suffering and, when it is His will, through sufferings removal. Our brothers and sisters who are imprisoned for the faith often ask us to pray; 1. Not for our release 2. For the salvation of our captors and fellow prisoners 3. For God’s will to be done through our suffering. 4. And that our faith will not fail. It seems they get that God has a purpose in their suffering that goes beyond just setting them free from it.

Father in heaven, fully establish Your Kingdom in my heart, in our hearts and lives and upon this planet. May Your will be done today for Your glory. As John Ortberg says, “Father, bring up there down here.” In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

PERSECUTED FOR DOING RIGHT

PERSECUTED FOR DOING RIGHT

Matthew 5:10-12 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.  (11)  "God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are My followers.  (12)  Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

Jesus explains this beatitude and with it gives a command, that being, “Be happy about it! (‘it’-persecution for doing right).” And “Be very glad!” Then He gives this reason for such rejoicing, there’s a great reward.

I don’t like the idea of being persecuted, tortured or killed because I’ve done something right… “Right,” when we hear that word in the USA we tend to think of “my rights” instead of doing something righteously. Everything about the Sermon on the Mount goes against fighting for “my rights.” God’s way is so much different from ours and yet this is what Jesus was talking about when he said, "You are truly My disciples if you remain faithful to My teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32.

We have yet to see real persecution in this country, but it may not be far off. How will you handle it? Will you be able to rejoice when people mock you, lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you follow Christ? Will you be happy about it or will you sulk in self-pity?

The second time Peter and John were arrested for preaching the Gospel they were flogged. Take a look at their response. Acts 5:41-42  The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.  (42)  And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: "Jesus is the Messiah."

They obeyed the Lord’s command to rejoice and they kept right on preaching the Gospel. May God grant us that kind of obedience and faith. May our eyes be set on the author and finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ and on the reward that awaits us in heaven.

Father in heaven, grant us faith and obedience to rejoice when we are persecuted for doing right. May we always choose to do right regardless of the cost. And may You ever be glorified in our lives. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!