Thursday, March 17, 2011

"The Model Prayer" (Part 2)

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
(Matthew 6:10 )

I-God Speaks of the Future - “Thy kingdom come”. By His Kingdom we mean: the Kingdom of grace which God sets up and maintains in the heart of all living members of Christ, by His Spirit and His Word.“And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 3:2).

Jesus’ kingdom is not centered in palaces and thrones, but in the hearts and lives of His followers. The Kingdom of God begins in the hearts of those who believe in Jesus. The Kingdom of God is personal, not national or ethnic, and its entrance requirements are REPENTANCE and SPIRITUAL REBIRTH. Jesus as King – not a military or political leaders as the disciples had originally hoped, but a SPIRITUAL KING who can overcome all evil and reign in the heart of every person. If we refuse to SERVE THE KING faithfully, we are DISLOYAL SUBJECTS, fit only to be banished from the Kingdom.

By His Kingdom we mean chiefly, the Kingdom of glory which shall one day be set up, when Jesus shall come the second time. When Jesus ascended into heaven, God’s Kingdom would remain in the hearts of all believers through the presence of the Holy Spirit. But the Kingdom of God will not be fully realized until Jesus comes again to judge all people and remove all evil from the world. Christ’s second coming will be swift and sudden. There will be no opportunity for afterthought, last-minute repentance, or bargaining. The choice we have already made will determine our eternal destiny. Our tomorrows are all safe with Him. Our father has planned better times for the future.

II - A PETITION CONCERNING GOD’S WILL - “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”. We here pray that God’s laws may be obeyed by men as perfectly, readily, and unceasingly as they are obeyed by angels in heaven. When we communicate with God, we don’t demand what we want, rather we discuss with Him what He wants for us. If we align our petition to His will He will listen, and we can be certain that if He listens, He will give us a definite answer. Obedience to God’s will cannot be negotiated. When it comes to obeying God’s will – HALF-WAY obedience won’t do.

(Messages by: Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon)

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