The Kingdom of God encompasses all that God is doing in the universe. In the Model Prayer we are told to pray, “Your Kingdom come, you will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” That His Kingdom come is the expressed will of the Father. By encouraging us to pray for it, Jesus invites our participation in His Work. It further reveals the forces who desire to hinder its’ manifestation. They are:
- Satan – 2 Cor.4:4 says, “Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”
- World system – 1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world of the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
- Un-renewed mind – Eph.4:23 “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”
God knows everything about us – He needs no additional information (John 2:24-25). Since Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden, mankind has been instructed to obey God. Joshua 1:7-8 says, “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make you way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Psalm 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper.”
- THE GREAT COMMISSION
Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and Make Disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- DAILY CHOICES
Mark 8:34-35 “Whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.”
- TWO THINGS
- WORD – Read, Study, Memorize, Meditate in it, & Obey it.
- Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to his world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
- Psalm 119:11 “Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
- Psalm 119: 34 “Give me understanding and I shall keep your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.”
- Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
- Psalm 119:130 “The entrance of your words gives light, it gives understanding to the simple.”
- HOLY SPIRIT – power, specific guidance and revelation.
John 14:16-18 “And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you.”
Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
SO, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? LEARN to hear and recognize the voice of God and LEARN to obey Him.