“THY KINGDOM COME” (Mt 6:10
June 25th, 2003
Int. (Dan 2:44) "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever."
1. (Lk 17:20-21) “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
2. (Mark 4:11) "And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:"
3. (Mark 4:26-27) "And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;" And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how."
4. (Mark 4:29) "But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come."
5. F. B. Meyers' Sermon on the Mount..(pg. 120) ̊' THY KINGDOM Come "In one of those sublime flights with which the Epistles of St. Paul abound, he tells us that the time is coming when the Son shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when He shall have abolished all rule, and authority, and power. From this we are at liberty to infer that the kingdom was originally the Father's; that by man's sin and fall, it has been alienated from His control; but that for purposes of recovery and redemption, it has been handed over to the Well-Beloved Son.
The Lord Jesus became incarnate for the purpose of regaining the kingdom by His agony, blood, and tears; though it is not as yet His, it is being acquired; and it shall be His, and angel-voices shall ring out the glad announcement that "the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ." When, therefore, we pray: " Father, Thy kingdom come," we are asking that the complete victory of Jesus Christ may be hastened; that He may speedily triumph over all obstacles and enemies; that all tyranny may be extinguished, all corruption exposed; that truth may reign in government, art, and science ; that trade may be free from chicanery and fraud ; and that He may speedily send forth His angels to gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them that do iniquity, destroying that last enemy, Death, and bringing in the golden age when all men shall know and love the Father, and become His obedient and loving children." Next, go to "Thy will be done."
6. Alan Redpath in his book, “THY KINGDOM COME”, said: “Before we can pray, "Thy Kingdom come," we must be willing to pray, "My kingdom go."
7. Edward Payson: "The kingdom, for the advancement of which we are here taught to pray, is that spiritual kingdom which Christ came to establish. It is styled the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of heaven, in allusion to a prediction of the prophet Daniel. (Dan 2:44) “In the days of these kings, says he, the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom, which shah never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”
I. CONSIDER THE POWER OF GOD’S KINGDOM.
A. HIS KINGDOM RULETH OVER ALL.
1. (Ps 103:19) “The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
2. (Dan 4:35) "And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?"
Sovereign Ruler of the Skys
John Ryland (1753-1825)
Sovereign Ruler of the skies,
Ever gracious, ever wise;
All my times are in thy hand,
All events at thy command.
B. HIS KINGDOM WILL LAST FOREVER.
1. (2 Sam 7:13) "He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever."
a. A few month's after Solomon became King, his Kingdom was divided.
b. "FOR EVER": Solomon didn't stay around for-ever.
2. (2 Sam 7:16) “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
a. Our Lord is sitting on a Throne today. He rules and reigns despite the rebellion of His subjects on this earth.
3. (Psa 145:13) "Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations."
4. Our Daily Homily. F. B .Meyers. (S-1-6) pg. 247 "These words are engravern on the door of a mosque in Damascus,which was formerly a Christian church. Originally they were plastered over by stucco; but this has dropped away, and the words stand out clearly defined. They seem to be contradicted by centuries of Mohammedanism; but they are essentially true. Just now the kingdom is in mystery; but soon it will be manifested.
Jesus is gone to the Father to be invested with the kingdom, as a Roman official might have gone from the provinces to Rome for his investiture on the part of the emperor as proconsul or governor. And Daniel tells us that when He comes to the Ancient of Days, He will receive from Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; and his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and his kingdom shall not be destroyed. It shall break in pieces, and consume all other kingdoms. The iron, clay, brass, silver, and gold, shall be broken in pieces, and become like the chaff of summer threshing-floors; but it shall become a great mountain and fill the earth.
We are called to receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Each faithful servant is to rule over his allotted cities. We are to reign with Christ for a thousand years in this world, sharing his throne and empire. We have been made kings unto God, and we shall reign for ever and ever.
"Then long Eternity shall greet our bliss
With an individual kiss;
Then all this earthly grossness quit,
Attir'd with stars, we shall for ever sit,
Triumphing over Death, and chance,
and Thee, 0 Time!"
5. “Nikita Khrushchev once boasted that he would exhibit the last Soviet Christian on television by 1965. Khrushchev has since gone to give account of himself to the Judge of all mankind, and his deadline for the extinction of Christianity in Russia has also passed. Throughout history, so-called big men and little men have strutted across the stages of life defying God. But as Psalm 145:13 promises, "Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
6. (Dan 4:3) "How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation."
7. Thomas Watson said: "Men could be content to have the kingdom of Heaven; but they are loathe to fight for it. They choose rather to go in a feather bed to Hell than to be carried to Heaven in a ‘fiery chariot’ of zeal and violence. "
II. THE PREACHING OF THE KINGDOM
A. THERE’S VERY LITTLE PREACHING ON THE SUBJECT TODAY.
1. (Mt 3:1-2) “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea. And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
2. (Mt 4:17) “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
3. JESUS SENT OUT HIS DISCIPLES TO PREACH THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
a. (Mt 10:6-7) “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, ......as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
4. An engineer at the Christian Broadcasting Network pleaded innocent to spreading the gospel. Well, with the way he allegedly spread it, Thomas Hainey is charged with sending out the message "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand" in the middle of a cable network show. No, it wasn't a CBN show; it was a Playboy Channel softcore sex film. -- Associated Press 5-23-90
B. THE OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS ADORED HIS KINGDOM BY FAITH.
1. (I Chron. 29:11, 13, 14) “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.”
II. THE PURSUIT OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
A. WE ARE ADMONISHED TO PURSUE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
1. (Mt 6:33) “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
2. Though the following story comes from the distant past, it speaks forcefully to the present: King Henry IV of France once asked the Duke of Alva if he had observed the great eclipse of the sun that had recently occurred. "No," said the duke, "I have so much to do on the earth that I have no leisure to look up into heaven."
Commenting on this, Thomas Brooks said, "It is sad to think how heart and time are so taken up with earthly things that we have no leisure to look to Christ and the things that belong to everlasting peace." Yes, how foolish is the person who caters entirely to this temporal world! It gives only momentary pleasure, and cannot bring the eternal rewards of Heaven.”
3. (Luke 17:20) "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:"
4. "THE": Our Daily Homily. F. B. Meyers. (S-1-6) pg. 391 "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. (Luke 17: 20). The Kingdom is "in mystery" just now. It is hidden from mortal eye, because the King Himself is withdrawn from the visible sphere. The creation groans and travails for its manifestation. He must be manifested before we can be manifested with Him in glory. In the meanwhile, it is not without, but within; not compelling human attention, but pervading human hearts. Let us remember this when we are lamenting the slow progress of Christianity in the world. It appears to recede almost as quickly as it advances; what it gains in one place it loses in another. If heathen lands are receiving Christ, are not the populations of Christian lands departing from Him? Stay; you cannot tell! It is useless to argue! There may be much more good working than you know. For every bold confessor there are probably seven thousand who have not bowed to Baal.
5. “WHEN WE ARE TEMPTED TO ESTIMATE OUR SUCCESS BY NUMERICAL RESULTS. When our church is crowded; our roll of communicants constantly augmented; and the money revenue large-we are disposed to think that the cause of Christ is really advancing in our midst. It may be so. But sometimes, where numbers are scant and difficulties many, a yet deeper and more lasting result is being achieved.
6. “WHEN WE ARE LAMENTING THE APPARENT SLOWNESS OF OUR GROWTH IN GRACE. You do not feel as you would; nay, to judge by your emotional life you fear lest you are positively receding in the divine life; you think that the quality and quantity of your fruit unto God is decreasing. Stay; the deepest work is not always the most obvious. Before the mole appears above the wave, years of work have been expended where no eye can see; but every stone tells in the result."
IV. THE PROBLEM OF GETTING INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. (Jn 3:3)
A. THE MUST OF THE NEW BIRTH IN GETTING INTO THE KINGDOM.
1. (Jn 3:3) “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
2. Isaac Watts wrote:
Not all the outward forms on earth,
Nor rites that God has given,
Nor will of man, nor blood, nor birth,
Can raise a soul to heaven.
The Sovereign will of God alone
Creates us heirs of grace,
Born in the image of his Son,
A new, peculiar race.
The Spirit, like some heavenly wind,
Breathes on the sons of flesh,
Creates anew the carnal mind,
And forms the man afresh.
Our quickened souls awake and rise
From their long sleep of death;
On heavenly things we fix our eyes,
3. The necessity of the new birth is vividly portrayed in the life of George Whitefield. At 16 he became deeply convicted of his sin. He tried everything to become acceptable to God. He wrote, "I fasted for 36 hours twice a week. I prayed formal prayers several time a day and almost starved myself to death during Lent, but only felt more miserable. Then by God's grace I met Charles Wesley, who put a book in my hand that showed me from the Scriptures that I must be 'born again' or be eternally lost." Finally, Whitefield understood that he had to trust in Jesus Christ. He believed and was both forgiven and changed. After he became a preacher, he spoke at least a thousand times on the subject, "You must be born again."
V. THE PRAYING FOR THE KINGDOM TO COME (Mt 6:10)
A. THE EARLY DISCIPLES HAD QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE KINGDOM.
1. (Acts 1:6) “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
2. Paul preached about the Kingdom. (Acts 19:8) “And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.”
3. Paul’s last days were spent preaching about the Kingdom of God. (Acts 28:30-31) “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”
B. JUST WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
1. (Rom 14:17) “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
2. (1 Cor. 15:24) “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.”
3. (2 Tim 4:18) “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
4. C. H. S. M & E. pg. 389 July 12 P. M. “Yonder city of the great King is a place of active service. Ransomed spirits serve him day and night in his temple. They never cease to fulfil the good pleasure of their King. They always “rest,” so far as ease and freedom from care is concerned; and never “rest,” in the sense of indolence or inactivity. Jerusalem the golden is the place of communion with all the people of God. We shall sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in eternal fellowship. We shall hold high converse with the noble host of the elect, all reigning with him who by his love and his potent arm has brought them safely home. We shall not sing solos, but in chorus shall we praise our King. Heaven is a place of victory realized. Whenever, Christian, thou hast achieved a victory over thy lusts—whenever after hard struggling, thou hast laid a temptation dead at thy feet—thou hast in that hour a foretaste of the joy that awaits thee when the Lord shall shortly tread Satan under thy feet, and thou shalt find thyself more than conqueror through him who hath loved thee. Paradise is a place of security. When you enjoy the full assurance of faith, you have the pledge of that glorious security which shall be yours when you are a perfect citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem. O my sweet home, Jerusalem, thou happy harbour of my soul! Thanks, even now, to him whose love hath taught me to long for thee; but louder thanks in eternity, when I shall possess thee.
CONCLUSION:
(Heb 12:28) “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”
“My soul has tasted of the grapes,
And now it longs to go
Where my dear Lord his vineyard keeps
And all the clusters grow.
“Upon the true and living vine,
My famish’d soul would feast,
And banquet on the fruit divine,
An everlasting guest.”