The Kingdom of God — sometimes called the “Kingdom of Heaven”—was the primary message Jesus proclaimed and taught throughout His earthly ministry, and a careful reading of the four gospels reveals this.
Christ’s training to the disciples on prayer involved the understanding that God’s kingdom has not yet been wholly fulfilled on this earth, hence he wanted them to pray for the manifestation of his kingdom on the earth as it is in heaven. Thy kingdom come is not just an expectation for the coming of Christ in the future, even though this longing is contained in the plea. But Thy kingdom come also is the prayerful desire of Christ’s servants to see God’s Kingdom become increasingly established throughout the world.
Our prayers ought to be with a mindset that recognises God’s kingdom’s purposes and the need to further those purposes. First and foremost, praying “thy Kingdom come,” means asking the heavenly Father to help us in our own lives to be faithful, obedient and effective Christians. We spread God’s kingdom not only with words, but also through our actions and our character.
We also know from Scripture that God wants all sinners to be saved (Eze.18:23; 2 Peter 3:9). So in Christ’s model for prayer, we have confirmation that intercessory prayer for the salvation of souls is a worthwhile endeavour. God’s kingdom will expand as more people turn to Christ for salvation. They enter the kingdom when they come to know the crucified King of that kingdom.
Another way we seek the establishment of God’s kingdom here on earth is to pray for aspects of God’s power and glory to be revealed and made known in the world. As extensions of God’s kingdom and carriers of His glory, our desire must be for God’s character and glory to be displayed through us in every sphere or commanding height of the society we function. This will bring about the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in Chapter 2:2-3 which states: “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, ‘come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem,” (NKJV).
When we pray, “thy kingdom come,” we ask God to shine His light into the world so that others may respond to Him with awe and reverence (John 1:1-15). Jesus is the light of the world who breaks through the darkness of sin by His work on the cross (John 8:12). Through Christ’s sacrifice, believers become lights to the world as well.
As believers in Jesus, we acknowledge God as our King. Praying, “thy Kingdom come,” means we desire His sovereign rule over our lives here on earth, as we submit to His authority and yield to His control in every aspect of our existence. Likewise, praying, “thy Kingdom come,” means we earnestly yearn for God’s reign to be established throughout the whole earth and over every human being. We pray, “thy Kingdom come,” so that God’s sovereign rule will come now and in the future in its fullness and permanence.
•Contact:pastoracukachi@gmail.com
