Praying For The Kingdom
Text: Luke 11:3
Key Verse: So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. You will be done On Earth as it is in heaven. – Luke 11:2 NKJV
A kingdom is a country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen. God’s kingdom is not physical but spiritual, but it manifests physically. In the New Testament, the word kingdom appears 162 times, yet the idea of God’s kingdom is barely understood by believers today. We must cultivate a kingdom mindset.
Every kingdom has its territory and who exercises dominion over it. God created man to rule over all the Earth and exercise dominion over it, but man lost that authority to the devil in the garden of Eden. The Earth, which once belonged entirely to God, became an object of contention as the devil established his counterfeit kingdom.
Therefore David blessed the Lord before all the assembly, and David said: “Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and the the the the the the the the the the the the the Earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand, it is to make great And to give strength to all. – 1 Chronicles 29:10-12 NKJV
Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” – Luke 4:5-7 NKJV
In the old testament, we see the rise and fall of many kingdoms, we learn how kingdoms increased in wealth, military might, and size by conquering other kingdoms. Every king desires to preserve his kingdom’s rule from generation to generation and pass it on to his children.
The character of the king determines the nature of the kingdom. Wicked kings ruled by oppression and enslaved neighboring nations. Even today, Satan rules by oppressing people and holding them in captivity.
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. – Proverbs 29:2 NKJV
And the children of Israel cried out to the Lord; for Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and for twenty years he had harshly oppressed the children of Israel. – Judges 4:3 NKJV
How powerful you are! How great is your strength! Your kingdom is founded on righteousness and justice; love and faithfulness are shown in all you do. – Psalm 89:13-14 GNT
The kingdom of God is not earthly but spiritual. People become a part of God’s kingdom by confessing faith in the Lord Jesus, they are translated from the kingdom of darkness into light. Satan’s mission is to continue to oppress the world\’s citizens as long as they remain ignorant of God’s kingdom and the freedom it offers.
Jesus answered, “My kingdom doesn’t belong to this world. If it did, my followers would have fought to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. No, my kingdom doesn’t belong to this world.” – John 18:36 CEV
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. – John 3:5 KJV
God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and ought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. – Colossians 1:13
CEV
Jesus, teaching the disciples to pray for God’s kingdom to come, reveals the desire of God to restore His kingdom rule over all the Earth and release the people from the bondage of the devil. As a citizen of God’s kingdom, do you seek to advance and extend God’s rule on the Earth? Is your life’s pursuit building your kingdom or God’s?
But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. – Matthew 6:33 KJ21
Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things. – Matthew 6:33 GNT
How concerned are you about God’s kingdom matters? How often do the issues of the church of God and His people make your prayer list?
God’s kingdom isn’t just a lot of words. It is power. – 1 Corinthians 4:20 CEV
God’s kingdom isn’t about eating and drinking. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness. All this comes from the Holy Spirit. – Romans 14:17 CEV
When we pray for God’s kingdom to come, it asks for the release of God’s power to set men free from bondage. God’s kingdom brings righteousness to homes, marriages, and communities. Restoration of peace and joy is the outcome when God’s kingdom appears. Jesus announced the kingdom of God, and he went about manifesting it.
Praying for God’s kingdom to come in other communities, tribes, and nations is to desire their deliverance from the oppression of satan’s rule in their lives through ignorance and to release to them the abundant life that Jesus offers.
The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness. – John 10:10
GNT
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. – Acts 10:38 KJV
As you pray, remember God knows your needs, God’s kingdom comes when God anoints you and makes you an instrument of healing, deliverance, and salvation to those around you, that was how the disciples prayed!
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. – Acts 4:29-31
KJV
Lord, listen to their threats! We are your servants. So make us brave enough to speak your message. Show your mighty power, as we heal people and work miracles and wonders in the name of your holy Servant Jesus. After they had prayed, the meeting place shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and bravely spoke God’s message. – Acts 4:29-31 CEV
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing me into your kingdom by sacrificing your Son Jesus. Please give me a kingdom mindset and help me pursue your kingdom’s growth and advancement. Make me an instrument to bring your kingdom benefits to all who l come in contact with every day of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Ada
Photo by Luis Fernando Felipe Alves on Unsplash
