Bible Study Notes: Prayer: Your Kingdom Come

Your Kingdom Come Matt 6:9-11

QUESTION: What has been your perspective of “the kingdom of God” when mentioned in the NT?

Luke 4:43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”

QUESTION: Were you surprised to read how often Jesus spoke of the kingdom in His ministry?

Matthew writes that Jesus mentions the kingdom almost 1.5 times on every page in his book. I would say that this is a huge theme in the ministry of Jesus, and yet, how did we possibly miss this?
Four teachings of Jesus about the Kingdom of God. 1) The Upside-Down Nature of the Kingdom

Not a visible kingdom:
Luke 17:20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed,
John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

This is so important to understand. Only those who have the Spirit in them, who have been born by the Spirit will be able to see this spiritual kingdom Jesus is speaking of. This is what makes the entire part of the kingdom upside-down for us compared to other kingdoms we observe. The world will call us crazy because we follow an invisible King with invisible power within a city no one can see.

John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

When we call all humanity to bow and observe Jesus as King, this will not sit well. We will be mocked and at times, persecuted for our faith. Instead of us fighting back, we will follow our King and continue to preach the good news.

Rome, in her misguided, pagan tyranny tried to enforce a loyalty oath to the emperor cult of religion, in which all people were required to recite the phrase kaisar kurios — “Caesar is lord.” The Christians responded by showing every possible form of civil obedience, by paying their taxes, by honoring the
king, by being model citizens; but they could not in good conscience obey the mandate of Caesar to proclaim him lord. Their response to the loyalty oath, kaisar kurios, was as profound in its ramifications as it was simple in its expression, Jesus ho kurios, Jesus is Lord. The lordship of Jesus is not simply a hope of Christians that someday might be realized; it is a truth that has already taken place. It is the task of the church to bear witness to that invisible kingdom. – R.C. Sproul

1 John 3:13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. John 7:7 ...it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.

QUESTION: What are some other reasons it is hard to serve an invisible kingdom in our world today?

2) What does the kingdom look like?

The kingdom is wherever the king is:
Luke 17:20 ...“The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed,
Luke 17:21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you” [or within you].

This is why we are called exiles and sojourners by Peter.

1Pet. 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Our home is not here, but the power of the kingdom and its purpose for those who can see it, is very real. I love how one author described the church as embassies. We are groups of people called out by God who are part of his kingdom stationed in an outpost bringing the message and the benefits of the kingdom to an alien world. The church was never commissioned to build or advance the kingdom of God.

2Cor. 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Our role as citizens of Christ’s Kingdom is to find those who belong and teach them to live in a way that reflects their citizenship.

QUESTION: Do you believe Christians today find social transformation more appealing than advancing the message of the kingdom?

3) What are the Benefits of living in the Kingdom?

A. Peace

B. John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the
world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

C. Freedom
John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

D. Joy
Rom. 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Rom. 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

What could we possibly want more than peace, freedom, and joy? It is guaranteed to us within the Kingdom of Christ.

QUESTION: Why is it so hard to trust that we could possibly have all three of these benefits within the Kingdom of God now?

4) How do we live in the kingdom?
Jesus’ call to his disciples was a radical change of perspective and living:
- Love your enemies
- Forsake your family (way of living)
- Don’t love and chase money, but use your money for the kingdom
- Our lives are not our own. He owns our sexuality, marriages, time, resources

Matt. 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
Matt. 6:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Matt. 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

QUESTION: Why is it hard to hear the words of Christ for kingdom living? Why do we struggle to forsake this world for the sake of God’s glory in His kingdom?

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