He is not saying that we are to necessarily repeat this prayer word for word, ( although I do not believe that that would be out of line ), but rather, He is giving us the things that go into prayer, what to pray about, how to pray, etc, etc.
Let's look today at just a couple of the things that He lists for us.....
1. Your Kingdom come.
God does have a kingdom, and He does intend to bring it to the earth ( this is the 1000 year reign of Christ that is coming ) and here, Jesus is telling us we can pray about this, and ask Him to bring His kingdom. That it might come to the earth, that Jesus might come to the earth once again.
When you begin to look at Scripture, you very quickly see that it is filled with prophecy. The plans and intentions of God given to us in advance. Most prophecies in the Bible have a dual aspect to them. That is, there is first of all the immediate fulfillment during the time of the people to whom it was given, and then a future aspect to it's fulfillment. A contemporary and future aspect.
Your kingdom come is surely in regards to the future. However, there is something in this petition that can be applied to us today and each day in our walk with the Lord. Your kingdom come, means, "might You rule now" So, we can apply this to our own lives day by day. Lord would You please rule in my life today.
Our part would be to come under His authority and seek to honor Him, and do His will. In fact, He is going to speak about His will be done in this prayer also. So, Lord, Rule in My LIfe. That's one very good application, Rule in my personal life, my family, my work, my church, etc, etc. Let me come under Your rule in all of this areas
2. Your will be done.
There you have it in black and white. Very clear. A petition for God to do His will. A request on our part for the will of God to be done. He goes on to add, "on earth, as it is in heaven"
It's interesting to do a study on the meaning of God's will. When you do, you find out, that God's will means that which is pleasing to Him. Isn't that interesting. It puts the phrase and the concept in a whole new light as it were.
To do God's will is not just to obey rules or regulations that He has put forth in His Word, but rather to yield my life and will to that which pleases Him. Think about that for just a moment. God pleased.
Yes, God is pleased when my life is in sync with His will
Why would He be pleased about that? I believe it's because He knows that our lives will be the most blessed that they can be. When we go His way, we are going in the way of blessing, and nourishment. I also believe that being in His will, means that our lives become transformed into His image, so that we are then more useful for His purposes and plans, It makes us useful instruments.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.
