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MATTHEW 6: 10a
(John 17)
The King Is Coming, He Has Come & He Has Won!
Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ…
We need to remember that the One speaking these words is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
He is the One appointed to be head over everything for the Church, which is his Body.
It is Jesus who is declaring forth the way his Kingdom will be ruled.
I mean, think of when the Governor-General, on behalf of the King, opens Parliament each year.
There he or she is, presenting a speech concerning the way the government plans to rule that year.
Then here is Jesus Christ, speaking as he’s about to begin his total rule, of the difference his reign will make for all eternity!
This section in Matthew 6 is only part of a whole address, found in the chapters 5 'til 7.
You might remember the way He began, with the Beatitudes in chapter 5.
Yes, the Beatitudes, or 'Beautiful Attitudes' as some have called them; those characteristics which reveal that we are citizens in his kingdom.
Ah, the kingdom!
This is the word which is the central focus of this text; the word which is our response personally, our dedication of allegiance, to this King.
But such a different King!
And such a different allegiance - we don't even see this King; there isn't an earthly country where we may meet him and be confronted by his physical presence and power.
And what kind of King must he be that we can speak with him when we are all alone, with no one else to see?
Though, what a King!
For as much as he is ruling from the heavens above, these words of the text ask that he's especially at work in our hearts.
Having recognised his place in heaven, with the words "Our Father in heaven"; and having prayed that we will see who he so gloriously is up there also down here, with the words "hallowed be your name"; we know that what has touched our lives has to keep touching our lives and all what's around us as well.
You see that you are a citizen of this Kingdom.
With the apostle Paul your citizenship is in heaven; the place which you know the Lord Jesus will come from soon, in all his glorious splendour upon the clouds.
That fulfilment is the bottom line to these words, "Your kingdom come."
And as we look at the phrase, “Your kingdom come,” let’s note, first of all, this means … IT WILL COME WITH THE KING’S RETURN.
The cry of the early New Testament believers, "Marantha; Lord come quickly!" is in our hearts and so from our lips as well.
Though that sometimes from our side seems to be taking so long, we only realise then how much we need to pray that more!
In his prayer for us, in John 17, verse 24, Jesus prayed, "Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world."
This is the big picture of this request - we're looking toward that great and coming Day when all the details of that picture are clearly shown!
Then everyone will see!
The apostle John saw this in a vision.
In Revelation 19, verses 11 till 14, he tells symbolically what we will see in the ultimate reality: "I saw heaven open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.
“With justice he judges and makes war.
“His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.
“He has a name written on him that no one but himself knows.
“He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
“The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean."
There he's coming, people of God!
Citizens of Heaven, welcome your King!
In the most total contrast to when Jesus entered Jerusalem two thousand years ago, on the colt of a donkey, when the people didn't really know, this will be the most awesome show!
You see, congregation, it is Jesus who is the Word, it is he who has been given the Kingdom by his Father, so that everything will be filled with the Father's glory.
Let's not forget that this will be.
But we who are now citizens of this Heavenly Kingdom, let's show that already it's making the difference.
In the second place, in this phrase in which we pray, “Your kingdom come,” we note … IT COMES RIGHT NOW IN ME - HIS CITIZEN.
Congregation, let's prove that we're joined to the Kingdom which began in paradise, and though we have tried to take it away from God through sin, and the devil is still stirring us to do that, the Lord yet keeps working out his plan for ultimate victory.
It was this very same Kingdom which ruled through Abraham and Jacob and Joseph and Moses and Joshua and David.
It was those bridgeheads then which pointed to the invasion when the very Son of the King came to this earth of ours!
The prophets spoke of the anointed One who was to come.
Isaiah is full of the Messiah!
And Jesus himself makes it absolutely clear.
It's this he boldly declares, as he begins his ministry.
As he is recorded in Mark 1, verses 14 and 15, "The time has come.
“The kingdom is near.
“Repent and believe the good news."
And we have repented - haven't we?
Isn't this Christ the Prince of Peace in our own lives?
Hasn't his Spirit begun making the most life-changing action in us?
That's what we pray.
We so join ourselves with God's will that our prayer is the acknowledgment of whose we now are.
We want to be ruled by him.
Consider with me, for a moment, those times that being a Kiwi/Aussie/American/Canadian meant something.
Which moments stand out?
Perhaps you think of sporting events - the Olympic Games, the football, the baseball, and many others!
And how about being a citizen of your nation when there is a terrible tragedy.
Then we're doing whatever we can together.
Political allegiances disappear because we are right there with those in charge.
It's as we're united in doing the right that our leaders matter more than ever before.
The legend of Winston Churchill stands so tall because he was the leader at such a time.
Congregation, now we confess to this spiritually.
You see, if we really want to fight for what's right, then we have to know what's right so that we can fight!
That's why God's Word and Spirit in our hearts joins us to the Mightiest Ruler of all!
Then we become more and more the Christians who know and live as the citizens of heaven that we are.
As Jesus says in verse 33 of this chapter 6: "But seek first r=the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
When you're united in a greater cause, the minor details become insignificant.
Will those searching for lost mountaineers get upset if they miss their daily shower?
There's a lot more important thing at stake!
For what are little luxuries when life itself is in danger?
And what really matters when we are joined by faith to God's Kingdom?
The Way, the Truth and the Life - that's who matters!
The prayer of our Lord in John 17 is about us being joined more and more to him.
If we can be so motivated to preserve life on this earth, how much more shouldn't we be fighting for spiritual life?
And as much as we may be united with others to look after life physically on this earth, how much more shouldn't we be joined to others in Christ's Body doing the same spiritually?
The Heidelberg Catechism in Answer 123 puts this aspect very simply: "Keep Your church strong, and add to it."
A kingdom cannot just be the king!
Without citizens he wouldn't be the king.
But he is the king precisely because he rules over a nation of people.
Even on the coins of that country his position is clear.
And what about the place of Christ Jesus?
Isn't the Church herself the witness to what he's done - through the doing, dying and rising of her Lord?
It was on the basis of this confession of who Jesus was, that Jesus said to Peter, in Matthew 16: "…on this rock…" - in other words, on the foundation of confessing the truth in Christ - "…on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it." (v18)
And so, in the third place, the phrase “Your kingdom come” means … IT IS COMING THROUGH HIS KINGDOM.
Later, in his sermon at Pentecost, Peter declared this purpose of the church out loud: "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact."
He lives!
He lives!
But … do we pray that?
Would we really want that the church is strong, and that the Lord is adding to our number continuously those who are being saved?
Dear believer - could you pray "Your Kingdom come", and not be in church this evening - if you can?
Can you pray "Your kingdom come" and put just a few coins in the offering bag?
Do you pray for elders, deacons, and minister, much as you may sometimes feel unhappy with them?
You know, God does answer our prayers.
But we have to pray them first.
And if we haven't really offered ourselves completely to the Lord in prayer, don't be so surprised if you don't have that real sense of blessing.
For it is in prayer, and in our asking for this request in our prayers, that we become so consumed with zeal for all the different spheres of God's Kingdom upon earth.
And here we go beyond our local church.
The Kingdom of Heaven also includes all people, and organisations, and human efforts, which recognise the authority and rule of Christ.
So Christian politicians, Christian homes, Christian schools, Christian hostels, and all those other Christian institutions and activities, are part of our prayer!
It's also about the way you do your work!
Believers, we have to seek the strengthening and growth of God's Kingdom.
To not move on in the Lord is to be lured into being distracted away from the Lord.
And there we find another prince - the prince of this world.
When we pray "Your kingdom come" we also mean that the battle against the devil will be won!
Even more than that, we recognise that the crucial battle has been won, but the mopping up is still being done!
In the fourth place this phrase “Your kingdom come” means … IT HAS ALREADY COME WHEN THE KING WON.
Congregation, let me compare this with the difference between D-Day and V-Day.
D-Day, with the landing during the 2nd World War of the Allied Armies, changed the course of the war.
After that invasion it wasn't a matter of if the Allies won, but when they would win.
Yet, even with victory so close the enemy could still inflict severe damage, if they weren't careful.
And that how it is spiritually too.
There is a terribly crafty villain out there, just waiting for believers to be caught unawares.
The Catechism well reflects the teaching of Scripture and church history as it says that praying "Your Kingdom come" also means asking the LORD to destroy the devil's work, and destroy every force which is against Him, and every conspiracy against His Word.
It's exactly when the Church and believers don't think these are a problem that the attack is most damaging.
And though doctrinal deviation and sinful living might seem the furthest thing from us, yet in prayer we're ever vigilant!
And we need to keep on praying this, because it could well be that in our trying so hard to be faithful we get tripped up by pride as well!
Does the soldier on duty at the battlefront have a few hours sleep because it's quiet near his lookout?
The Apostle Peter's warning in 1st Peter 5:8 is clear: "Be self-controlled and alert.
“Your enemy the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour."
Believer - watch out!
Keep on that armour of God!
That's the protection and weapon of God's Word and Spirit.
And confirm that Word with the assurance of the Spirit in the Lord's Supper.
Use that sacrament to draw into the precious faith, and so realise again the saving work of Jesus Christ.
As we need our food and drink physically, we must be spiritually fed as well.
Holy Communion is the Supper of the Lamb.
For Christ, the Lamb at the centre of the throne, is also the Shepherd, leading us to springs of living water.
That means now and forever!
Amen.
PRAYER:
Let’s pray…
O Heavenly Father, you planned so that we would be where we are - right now!
` You have so arranged history that our hearts would be changed and that we would have new identities as citizens in your Heavenly Kingdom.
You even sent your one and only Son to make it so!
Do help us by your Word and Spirit to be with you.
Help us to pray; teach us what to say; and stir us to do that every day!
In the Name of the One who so soon will completely overcome, as he returns on the clouds of glory; through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, we pray, Amen.
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Sjirk Bajema, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright, Rev. Sjirk Bajema
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