Thy Kingdom Come

Thy Kingdom Come Luke 4:40-43 A Special Reign • God rules over all – Daniel 4:34-35; 5:21 – yet, the “Kingdom of God” is a special subset. • Many want the blessing of God, but willingly refuse the Kingship of His Son – Matthew 21:28-43 • Many willingly move among Kingdom citizens, but are not part of the Kingdom – Matthew 13:24ff; 22:12-14 • A reign both present and future – Mark 1:15; 14:25 • A reign that’s defined by the good news of God’s salvation – Acts 28:16-31; John 3:3 A Special Power • The kingdom always arrives with great power – 1 Corinthians 4:20 • The power of bold proclamation – Jesus’s Mission (Luke 4:43); our message until Christ returns (Matthew 24:14); Paul’s mission in Ephesus (Acts 19:8); • The kingdom is the citizenry of the saved (Revelation 12:10) and forgiven (Matthew 18:21ff) A Special Realm • The Kingdom is at present an unseen force bubbling beneath the surface of human affairs (Matthew 13:31-33) • The Kingdom is not visible in any tangible way: nationality (Acts 28:28), language (Acts 2:6-8), dress (Luke 20:46), diet (Romans 14:17), or any other visible marker. • God’s Kingdom reigns in minds and hearts: “The Kingdom of God is … of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). How Should we Pray? • We need to pray for a miracle of transformation – from common to bold (see Acts 4:13) • We need to pray for a miracle of focus – from now-focused to forever-focused (see Matthew 13:45-46) • We need to pray for a miracle of regeneration – from death to life.