Why Pray Thy Kingdom Come?

Fred R. Coulter—December 29, 2012

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Recently the question came up concerning Matthew 6 and what was in the book, Appointed Times of Jesus the Messiah. Since we have a framework of the Holy Days and we understand how they fit within the plan of God, then why do we need to pray, 'Your Kingdom come'—which is a pretty good question.

We find it right here in Matthew 6:9: "Therefore, you are to pray after this manner… [which then is an outline or a model prayer] …'Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name; Your kingdom come…'" (vs 9-10). If we understand the Holy Days and we can get fairly close to it, why then do we need to pray, "…Your Kingdom come…"?

Let's understand something about the Gospel, and let's see what the Apostle Paul wrote about it; a summary of his ministry. This is when he sent for the elders at Ephesus to come on down to Miletus. He preached to them, and he was reviewing what he had said to them. After they had all gone there. There were some very interesting things in Acts 20 that are very important for us to understand. This is after he had been preaching probably 20 years, just about 20 years right on the nose.

Acts 20:18: "And when they had come to him, he said to them, 'You know how, from the first day I came to Asia, and all the time I was with you. I served the Lord with all humility and with many tears and temptations, which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; and how I did not keep back anything that was profitable…'" (vs 18-20). Is it still profitable to pray every day, Your Kingdom come'? and What does that mean?

"'…but preached to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house. Earnestly testifying, both to the Jews and the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ'" (vs 20-21). That's the very basis and beginning of the Gospel. We're going to see it's called the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. We're going to understand that it will mean more than the day that Christ comes back bringing the Kingdom. It has a great deal of relevance to our lives in relationship to our standing with God.

Verse 22: "And now behold, I am bound in the spirit, and am going to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall happen to me there; except that the Holy Spirit fully testifies in every city, saying that bonds and tribulations await me" (vs 22-23).

He really had a terrible time when he got there, but it was one way of getting the litmus of Paul to those in Jerusalem. Plus a safe way of getting him out of there through being arrested by the Romans and then taken down to Caesarea. Then later, going off on to Rome.

But he says, v 24: "But I myself do not take any of these things into account, nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify the Gospel of the grace of God." Preaching the Gospel of God has two parts:

• The grace of God: mercy, forgiveness, repentance, receiving the Holy Spirit, having direct access to God the Father in heaven above. That's what he's talking about the first part here.

• Verse 25: "And now behold, I know that you all, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the Kingdom of God, will see my face no more."

So, the Kingdom of God then becomes the question. Is it we're just praying for the Kingdom of God to come? or Does it have more meaning to us?

We'll look at the different Scriptures concerning that. What does it mean personally to you? Let's once again see how this prayer starts out. First of all, it is 'Our Father Who is in heaven.' You can search the Old Testament all the way through. There is not one Psalm that starts out 'Our Father' or has 'Our Father' in it at all. There are some Scriptures showing that God treated Israel as a Father but that was the One Who became Jesus Christ.

'Our Father' puts us into that relationship directly with God the Father and Jesus Christ. When Jesus came He came to reveal the Father personally. The Father was not known in the Old Testament except by the Most High God and in one place in Dan. 7 the Ancient of Days.

Matthew 11:25: "At that time Jesus answered and said, 'I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to babes…. [Christ came to reveal the Father and His way.] …Yes, Father, for it was well pleasing in Your sight to do this'" (vs 25-26).

Now notice, at this time, before the coming of the Holy Spirit, v 27: "All things were delivered to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son personally chooses to reveal Him."

This puts us in direct access to God the Father. Hasn't happened before in what we would call the covenant with Israel. Let's just understand: the beginning of all of Paul's epistles say, 'Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.' In Ephesians 2 we are told how this was made possible by the forgiveness of our sins. This is something even the children of Israel never had. So, it goes to the Gentiles and to Israel, but it's very important foundation of everything that we have.

When we say 'Our Father,' we are submitting ourselves to God the Father and everything that He stands for and all that Jesus taught. Let's see what Jesus had to go through to make this possible.

Ephesians 2:11: "Therefore, remember that you were once Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by those who are called circumcision in the flesh made by hands. And that you were without Christ at that time, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God… [When it says 'without God' that means without God the Father] …in the world" (vs 11-12)—also without Christ.

Verse 13: "But now in Christ Jesus, you who were once far off are made near by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, Who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition" (vs 13-14). That middle wall of partition consisted of the traditions of the Jews that they were not allowed to go and be in the presence of Gentiles, nor were they allowed to come to God, nor were they allowed to come to the temple.

If they were proselytes and circumcised they could come to the court of the Gentiles or they could come to the area in the synagogue where those who fear God are the proselytes and they could be in that section. So in the synagogue you had three sections:

• for the men of Israel or Jews
• for the women
• for the Gentiles—they were always put in the back

These commandments of men are the things that had to be abrogated, not the laws and commandments of God. This is where Protestantism gets all off. I won't get into that at this time.

Verse 15: "Having annulled in His flesh the enmity…" The enmity is the hatred toward the Gentiles and the superiority of the Jews and in turn the Jews were hated by the Gentiles. So, it was a two-way street.

"…the law of commandments contained in the decrees of men…" It's not made that clear in the King James. The Protestants read it and say that He's annulled the laws of God. If you annul the laws of God, then you have the situation if there is no law, there is no sin. If there is no sin, what do you have to repent of. If there is no law, what do you have to obey? Lawlessness reigns! This is actually, when you get down to it, we look at our society and it's Protestantism who has caused the foundation of this Godless society to come about.

"…so that in Himself [Christ] He might create both into one new man, making peace; and that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross, having slain the enmity by it. Now, when He came, He preached the Gospel—peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have direct access by one Spirit to the Father" (vs 15-18). That is the key. That's why we start out our prayer 'Our Father.' Notice it is not My Father, it is 'Our Father' because it's all the brethren and that goes all the way down through time.

Verse 19: "So then, you are no longer aliens and foreigners; but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of the household of God." That's part of what it means, 'Our Father.' Then you can tie in all of the introductions to all the Epistles of Paul.

Even the question has come up: We know God's will is going to be done, so why do we have to pray for God's will to be done? That's a good question. We'll get to that after 'Your kingdom come.'

Matthew 6:9: "…'Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed by Your name; Your kingdom come'" (vs 9-10). What does that mean? Let's look at some examples of what Jesus said. We saw that Paul went about preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom.

When Jesus began His ministry, let's see what He said. Let's see that 'Your kingdom come' has more meaning than just Jesus bringing the Kingdom to the earth. It has to do with your relationship with God and you are putting yourself under the authority of God everyday when you pray that.

Mark 1:14: "Now after the imprisonment of John, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom of God, And saying, 'The time has been fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is near at hand; repent, and believe in the Gospel'" (vs 14-15). That was over 1900 years ago that He said it. What does it mean the Kingdom of God is near at hand?

Who was Jesus? He's the coming King of the Kingdom—correct? He represented the Kingdom of God on earth. Anyone who came near to Him was near to the Kingdom of God. Plus this has to do with the rule of God. It isn't just going to be through the Law and the Prophets. It's going to be God's rule in our lives. So, the 'Kingdom of God is near at hand, repent and believe the Gospel.'

Let's see what it does. What does it mean to us personally? We know we are not in the Kingdom of God. How do we know that? The Catholics say the Kingdom of Heaven is where you go when you die and that the Catholic Church is the Kingdom of God on earth and that pope is the replacement of Christ to do the work of Christ, which is the work of the Catholic Church. Let's see what all of this involves, because this model prayer gives us the parameters on how to pray. You just don't repeat that prayer.

Colossians 1:1: "Paul, an apostle by the will of God, and Timothy our brother. To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colossi: Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying for you continually" (vs 1-3).

How did they get to this point? Remember back in John 6 it says, 'None can come to Me—Jesus—unless the Father draw him.' God the Father is drawing those that He's calling. He is directly involved in their lives and when they're coming to the Father they are putting themselves under God the Father and under Jesus Christ.

Verse 4: "Since hearing of your faith in Christ Jesus, and the love that you have toward all the saints; Because of the hope that is laid up for you in heaven, which you heard before in the word of the Truth of the Gospel" (vs 4-5). So the Gospel and the Kingdom all contain more than just the narrow definition of the Kingdom of God coming on the earth.

Verse 6: "Which has come to you, even as it also has in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, just as it is among you, from the day that you heard and knew the grace of God in Truth." When we say 'Our Father in heaven' above, this brings all of this to us.

Verse 9: "For this cause we also, from the day that we heard of it, do not cease to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding."

When you say 'Your will be done,' in addition to 'Our Father,' in addition to 'Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,' Who is on earth and Who are you praying to?

• You're praying to the Father for His will in your life.
• You're praying to the Father for His will with the other saints of God.
• You're praying so that you will have the knowledge of His will because we're to grow in grace and knowledge.

"…knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" (v 9). All of that comes under the will of God, 'Our Father,' and 'Your Kingdom come.'

Verse 10: "That you may walk worthily of the Lord, unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God; Being strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory…" (vs 10-11). That's another reason why we pray Your will be done, so

• we can be strengthened
• we can be helped
• we can receive God's Spirit
• we can repent of our sins

We will look at that model prayer and we're going to see how important that that is. But let's finish what we're doing here about the Kingdom of God in our lives now. It is what it is.

Verse 12: "Giving thanks to the Father… [That's all a part of Our Father in heaven. You thank Him, you praise Him, you glorify Him.] …Who has made us qualified for the share of the inheritance of the saints in the light." When you study in the Bible concerning the inheritance that we're going to have, that is going to be quite some inheritance—eternal life and the universe—that is awesome indeed.

Verse 13: "Who has personally rescued us from the power of darkness… [Who is the one who is the power of darkness? Satan the devil! We have to be rescued from him.] …and has transferred us unto the kingdom of the Son of His love." In other words, we are under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of God. When we say, 'Your Kingdom come,' we are also asking that God's dominion over us is the important thing in our lives and the important thing in the lives of all the brethren.

Verse 14: "In Whom we have redemption through His own blood, even the remission of sins."

Here's another thing when we say, 'Your will be done,Your Kingdom come.' Here's part of the will of God because He has made known to us His plan or His secret.

Verse 26: "Even the mystery that has been hidden from ages and from generations, but has now been revealed to His saints…. [God is the One Who makes it available to us.] …To whom God did will… [you ask for His will, there it is] …to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (vs 26-27). That's the relationship that we have with God. How is this going to work? What we are asking for when we say, Your Kingdom come, we're praying

• that His Kingdom will come to the earth
• that we are transferred under the jurisdiction of His Kingdom
• that we want His will to be done in our lives
• that we are to live according to God's will

Let's see in Col. 3 how this translates to us. What this shows us then is what we need to be doing with the Spirit of God. Is it God's will that you be made perfect? Yes! Is that a process? Yes! Are we to continually be doing that? Yes!

Here's what we're to do, Colossians 3:12: "Put on then, as the elect of God… [That also tells us and reminds us that God selected us.] ...Holy and beloved, deep inner affections… [Overcoming the hatred, jealousy, lust and greed of the flesh.] …kindness, humility, meekness and longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so also you should forgive. And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection" (vs 12-14).

To grow in love with the nature that we have that's hostile against God and overcoming 'the law of sin and death,' this is something that we have to constantly work at. Overall we're going to have challenges to do that. Being in the flesh we're not perfect, yet, but we are going to be in the bond of perfection and growing if we are doing it.

Here is where it is the rule of God in our lives, v 15: "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you were called into one body, and be thankful." Coupled with that, we look at what happens when the peace of God rules in your heart.

Verse 16: "Let the Word of Christ dwell in your richly… [it comes from God the Father and Christ both] …in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And in everything…" (vs 16-17). Notice how this expands out. This is why Christ gave the model prayer so that we can take the other teachings and put them all together and get the full picture.

"…—whatever you do in word or in deed—do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him" (vs 16-17). That's why we say 'Our Father.' There will be times in praying that you'll want to just praise God

• for His power
• for His glory
• for His righteousness
• for His goodness
• for His kindness
• for His mercy
• for His knowledge
• for His understanding
• for His Word

all of that, and pray for the brethren and pray for those who need help. Should you even pray for people in the world? But of course! Especially that whatever experience they are going through, that they might really learn and grasp the things concerning God.

Let's expand on this just a little bit more. Let's also realize this, God gave the Sabbath—every seventh day—for a very important reason: That we don't forget God! The biggest problem that Israel had was forgetting God and that was because they were pursuing their own ends rather than obeying God. God told them they would be blessed if they would keep things in the letter of the law, which they could do.

'Your Kingdom come' has a greater, broader meaning. That includes

• preaching the Gospel
• discussing the Word of God with other people
• the rule of God in our lives
• the entire plan of God

Matthew 6:9: "…'Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name; Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven'" (vs 9-10). Notice the focus; the focus is on God and with the Sabbath when we come together and study the Word of God, when we come together and fellowship with one another, when on the Sabbath Day before we even come to services, we get up, we pray, we study, we understand the Word of God, and we are refreshed.

What happens when you do not do what God says? Obviously the will of God is keeping the Sabbath—correct? Yes, it is! Have you ever missed two or three Sabbaths in a row and you got lazy and you didn't study? How did you feel?

The secret is this: Spiritual knowledge must be renewed continually, all the time! We've got the world out there after us, we have the things going on in the world that are just absolutely getting insane nowadays. We have to overcome the world. We have to overcome our human nature. We need the power of God to do it. So that's why the first part of the prayer all involves our coming to God, looking to Him for the power. 'Kingdom come, Your will be done.'

Verse 11: "Give us this day our daily bread." It says give us, not me. This tells us that prayer is not a 'give-me' session with God. That's why Paul said he prayed for the saints continually. We are to pray for wisdom and understanding, not only for ourselves. We are to pray for the basic things that we need in life. "Give us this day our daily bread"—but what's the most important bread that we need? The spiritual bread, the spiritual food! In everything there is the physical and there is a spiritual.

Verse 12: "And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors." That's a very important thing. It is us! We need to pray that God will forgive other people as well as well as your own selves. There is something that is really important to understand, which is this.

You want to have a blessing from God? Verse 14: "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."

A lot of people say, 'If they don't come to me and repent, I'm not going to forgive them.' Why not? Maybe if you pray for their forgiveness, maybe God will act upon your prayer and help bring them to the consciousness that they need to repent and then they will come to you! Maybe they won't come to you and say, 'I'm sorry, I really offended you.' But you know by their action, you know by their words that they no longer have anything against you.

"…Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors…. if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."

Verse 15: "But if…" You don't want to let these accumulate. If you let them accumulate, you're just going to build up other things that are difficult: anger, bitterness, hatefulness, resentfulness. Does that come from the love of God? No!

"…you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (v 15). He says that over and over again in different places, but that's a key important thing for us to understand.

We're coming submitting ourselves to God the Father:

• to His rule
• to His Spirit
• to His Word

through everything that has to do with our lives and the lives we are associated with as brethren.

Track 2: or Download

In reading and recording the New Testament I was struck by how much there is in the New Testament, warnings to be aware of:

• false teachers
• false doctrines
• sinning
• giving into the flesh
• becoming lackadaisical

The other thing that struck me was how much of the New Testament is based upon loving God and loving your neighbor by the very structure of how it is put together. Let's see that. This whole prayer (Matt. 6) is structured on that very basis. Notice the first three:

• Our Father Who is in heaven

That shows you have to have love of God, love toward God.

• Hallowed be Your name
• Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Matthew 6:11: "Give us this day our daily bread." You're praying for the other person as well because you love them. Right here in this prayer we have the love of God and love of neighbor.

Let's see how Jesus also applied this in another way, which then included the phraseology that Jesus had said previously in Luke 5. He said, 'You've heard it said in old time to love your neighbor and hate your enemy. I say to you love your enemy, pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you.' Let's take a look at that, this is a repeat of what we saw in Matt. 6.

Luke 10:22: "Then He turned to the disciples and said, 'All things were delivered to Me by My Father; and no one knows Who the Son is, except the Father; and Who the Father is, except the Son, and the one to whom the Son personally chooses to reveal Him.' And He turned to His disciples and said privately, 'Blessed are the eyes that have seen the things that you see. For I tell you…" (vs 22-24). We need to also understand the power and greatness and awesomeness of our calling.

Verse 24: "For I tell you, many prophets… [How many do we have in the Old Testament? Did they see any of the things that the disciples have seen? No!] …and kings have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things that you hear, and have not heard them."

When we tie this in with the Sabbath and having the whole Word of God available to us, don't you think that God is demanding a lot more of us? Awfully hard to say 'I don't have time to study' when we have all of the technological slaves in our houses! It's awfully hard to say you don't have time to do what God wants when there's no one chasing you from pillar to post.

Luke 12:42: "And the Lord said, 'Who then is the wise and faithful steward, whom the lord shall put in charge of his household… [That's the Kingdom—right?] …to give to each one the portion of food in season? Blessed is that servant whom the lord, when he comes, shall find so doing. Of a truth, I tell you, he will set him over all his possessions'" (vs 42-44). That's the ultimate in the Kingdom of God coming when we have our reward, when we have all the things given to us.

Verse 45: "But if that servant shall say in his heart, 'My lord delays his coming,' and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to be gluttonous and become drunk." That's not just physically, that's also spiritually. Become involved with the religions of this world.

Now notice a crisis always happens when you don't expect it, v 46: "The lord of that servant will come in a day that he does not expect, and in an hour that he does not know, and will cut him asunder, and will appoint his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew the will of his lord… [Do we know the will of God? Not only do we pray Your will be done, but also, Lord, so we can understand and do it and do it every day.] …but did not prepare, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But the one who did not know, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For to whomever much has been given, from him shall much be required…'" (vs 46-48).

Think about what God has for us today. Think about what He's given to us and think about the times because we understand times are going to get difficult and we are going to be increasingly and severely more difficult as we go on in time. We're not going to have the opportunity to be able to do the things that we have the opportunity now when that time comes. We also have to have things prepared. We have to have things ready. There is a new generation coming.

The other day I was in the bank and over in the restaurant across the street. What I noticed was I'm one of the many gray heads in the bank and in the restaurant. I was thinking about this past election. The Democrats are happy that they won because they know in four years all of the old gray heads that are against them and voted, a good number of them won't be around to vote again. They've got all the brainless conditioned people in their hands.

Think about it! We have to have everything we can do ready for the next generation. Someone wrote and said, 'Who is going to replace you?' I said I didn't know. God hasn't made that known. We have everything that we have here. Like my son, Jonathan, he can help out and do some things.

This program Back to the Bible, they had everything recorded. He went through the Bible verse by verse by verse and ten years after his death, guess what they're doing? They're still using all of his tapes and studies on the radio program and they have added some things to it, a new announcer, and different things like that. They're still going strong.

I also said, concerning this, that if someone comes whom looks like maybe would be someone who could do what I'm doing, I'm going to be very, very skeptical because of the experience that we had in the Church in the past. The ones who looked like they could do it were the ones who undid everything that was done.

We've got to have all this ready. The generation that is coming, they're not going to have to research, go to the library. As long as their cell phones are working and the Internet is working, they'll have access to a lot of things. But they are not given to study, to learn, to memorize, to prepare, to be ready. We have to give them the tools so that they can. We likewise cannot be thinking of our selves.

• Do we love our neighbors that we've never seen that are going to come? Yes!
• Can we help provide for them with the things that we're doing here? Yes!
• Has God provided the means to do it? Yes!
• What does He expect us to do? That very thing!

"…and to whom much has been committed, from him they will demand the more. I came to cast a fire into the earth, and what will I, if it already be kindled?" (vs 48-49). Of course, those are the trials and difficulties that come.

There again study the New Testament and the Bible and the Psalms in relationship to loving God and loving your neighbor; then loving the brethren and loving your enemies, all the way through.

Luke 10:25: "Now, a certain doctor of the law suddenly stood up, tempting Him and saying, 'Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?' And He said to him, 'What is written in the law? How do you read it?' Then he answered and said, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself'" (vs 25-27).

Notice how we're to be occupied in serving God first. Always the allegiance, love, dedication, service and focus is to God the Father. That's why we say, 'Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your will be done, Your Kingdom come' in all of our lives, with the brethren, with what you're doing, the return of Christ, all together is included in that phrase.

Jesus answered back to the doctor of the law, v 28: "And He said to him, 'You have answered correctly. Do this, and you shall live.' But he desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, 'And who is my neighbor?' And taking it up, Jesus said, 'A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho…'" (vs 28-30). That was a pretty steep road going down the mountains. Jericho is below sea level and Jerusalem is 2500 feet above sea level.

"…and was encircled by thieves; and after they had stripped him of his goods and inflicted him with wounds, they went away, leaving him half dead. Now, by coincidence, a certain priest went down that road…" (vs 30-31). What is a priest supposed to do? What is his job? To teach people to love God and love neighbor! Is he not responsible for the moral standing in the community? Yes, he is!

"…and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side" (v 31). Would not even go over there. He didn't want to become unclean by touching someone who had been wounded. 'Ooh, it's better that he die Then I might make myself unclean.' No, God says forget that. You love your neighbor as yourself.

Verse 32: "And in like manner also, a Levite… [Levite was the one to help with the offerings and so forth.] …when he was at the place, came and saw him, and passed by on the opposite side. But a certain Samaritan…" (vs 32-33). Remember the friction between the Jews and Samaritans. They hated each other. Jesus was saying a Samaritan for a very important thing, to show that the one that the Jews normally hate did what was right; therefore fulfilling the Law of God to love his neighbor greater than the priest and the Levite.

"…as he was journeying, came to him; and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. And he went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he put him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And when he left on the next day, he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him, and whatever you may expend above this, I will repay you when I come back'" (vs 33-35).

So, Jesus then asked the question, v 36: "'Therefore, which if these three seems to you to have been a neighbor of him who fell among the thieves?' And he said, 'The one who showed compassion toward him… [He knew better. Remember, a doctor of the law is right up there with the priest.] …Then Jesus said to him, 'You go and do likewise'" (vs 36-37). We have here this model prayer based upon:

• Loving God, He comes first!
• Loving your neighbor, because it's not just for 'me'; it's us!

That's the really big important thing to understand.

Matthew 6:11: "Give us this day our daily bread." Today we're in a situation that we do not know how to live without a grocery store and supermarket. All of us have things in our refrigerators and freezers—whether partially full or jam-packed—we open the door of the refrigerator and say, 'What am I going to eat,' and you have a choice of all of this and that and the other thing.

Quite different where you have to go plant it, cultivate it, watch it grow, harvest it, prepare it. I was thinking this the other day when I was watching the special on the History Channel, Alaska the Last Frontier. Quite something! They have to prepare everything. About the only thing that they have if they're close to town is some electricity. They have to do everything. They have to take care of their cattle. If they want any meat they have to shoot the elk and the deer. They have to go fishing, get in the boat, go out on the ocean, fish. When the salmon are running, it's really quite a good thing.

They take this big round net and as they're going downstream, they just have the net and they scoop up these big salmon coming up. So they get out there and they get a couple hundred pounds of fish. All right, you've got the fish, what are you going to do? You have to cut them up. How do you do that? Then you've got to strip them, strip the meat. Then you have to know how to make the thing for smoking it. Then you smoke it and dry it. That which is not dried they can. So, you have to know how to can.

We did that when we up in Salt Lake, we'd can every year. I remember one year we got the golden red peaches. They were something! We had peaches for two or three years off that. Dolores was back there doing all the things. You have to take the skin off, all the things that are done with it.

But today, people don't do that. They go into the grocery store, they can buy lettuce or they can buy salad already cut or they can buy a meal ready to go, fresh or frozen. You can run on down to Colonel Sanders and you can chicken in any kind you want. You can go to a taco place and get tacos anytime you want. Where would we be if we had to make taco shells? Or make bread?

When they said, "Give us this day our daily bread," it included everything from planting, cultivating, harvesting, processing, get it ready. They probably had better bread than we do today because they would grind it fresh by having their stone grinder that they worked by hand. Not only would they get exercise, but it would be very nourishing. Today you eat what we have that's all ground up for us and who knows what degree of poison it is to the system today. It is so processed and it is so genetically modified that you don't know.

Verse 12: "Forgive us our debts…" That doesn't mean what you owe someone. That means your sins! There's a parallel account with this. We're going to see there's a little difference in the prayer:

Luke 11:1: "Now it came to pass that as He was praying in a certain place, when He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, 'Lord, teach us how to pray…'" Prayer is something you have to learn. That's why we have the Psalms. If you go through and analyze the Psalms you will see that they are structured very much like what is called the Lord's Prayer there in Matt. 6. Always honoring God first!

Verse 2: "And He said to them, 'When you pray, say, "Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name; Your kingdom come; Your sill be done, as in heaven, so also upon the earth. Give us our bread as needed day by day; and forgive us our sins, as we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one"'" (vs 2-4).

Now just compare that with Matthew 6:13: "And lead us not into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one…." We already covered that. God is the only one Who can take you out of the darkness of this world, open the spiritual eyes,

• give you understanding of His Word
• give you a desire to come to God
• give you a desire to have your sins forgiven
• give you a desire to want to know what life is all about and where we're going and what we're doing

God has to do that for you. So when you respond and come back to God, He is taking you out from underneath the evil one and the darkness of this world. Now notice, this is what is not in Luke 11:

Matthew 6:13: "For Yours is the kingdom… [you come back to the Kingdom again] …and the power and the glory forever. Amen" When we finish our prayers we realize that we attribute everything to God, not to what we want, not to the things that we desire.

Let's see something here in Ephesians 3, which is very important concerning some prayers. Then we'll go back to some of the Psalms and look at the attitude that we need to have toward God and how we can have this understanding. Let me just say this concerning prayer. If there is something that is a need that needs to be prayed about, you pray about it until you have the answer. That is not a vain repetition. That's a needed repetition. Paul said, 'I pray for you continually. I pray for you daily.'

• Do all the brethren need our prayers daily? Yes!
• Do we need God to intervene for them? Yes!
• Do people need healing daily? Yes!

Those things you can include every day. That is not a vain repetition. That is needed because that puts you in a position of being persistent in prayer.

Ephesians 3:20: "Now to Him Who is able… [This is how God is able to do it for us.] …to do exceeding abundantly… [That stretches clear out to the resurrection and the Kingdom of God, as well as in this life.] …above all that we ask or think… [Have you ever had just kind of a fleeting thought and said, 'Oh, God, this would be nice.' Somewhere down the road it happened? God kept that in mind] …according to the power that is working in us."

Notice how this ends here, almost like the prayer that Jesus gave as the model prayer, v 21: "To Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all generations, even into the ages of eternity. Amen"

If you've done something you know isn't right and you feel bad and your conscience is hurting you, many times you don't feel like praying. You think, 'I'll get myself squared around and then I'll pray.' But the only way you can get yourself squared around is go pray. Maybe you have to start out and say, 'God, I'm really not in a good attitude. Forgive me.' Does God know that? Yes, He does!

Hebrews 4:12: "For the Word of God… [That means the Scriptures, everything that God has said.] …is living… [active all the time] …and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of both soul and spirit, and of both the joints and the marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart." When we come to God, God knows everything. We can thank Him for that. We can ask forgiveness.

Verse 13: "And there is not a created thing that is not manifest in His sight; but all things are naked and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account." Because we're all going to give an account to God. Doesn't it say that? Yes, it does! We don't have to be afraid of this, because

• God is love
• God is mercy
• God is grace
• God is forgiving

Verse 14: "Having, therefore, a great High Priest… [Christ Who is interceding for us.] …Who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, we should hold fast the confession of our faith. For we do not have a high priest who cannot empathize with our weaknesses, but one Who was tempted in all things according to the likeness of our own temptations; yet He was without sin" (vs 14-15).

• Yes, forgiveness is there
• Yes, mercy is there
• Yes, grace is there

Verse 16: "Therefore, we should come with boldness to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Let's look at a couple Psalms that will help us stir up our attitude. Paul wrote to Timothy to 'stir up the gift of God that is in you by the laying on of my hands.' That's the Holy Spirit. How do you stir up the Holy Spirit within you? By your attitude and your approach and coming to God! Let's see how David came to God here. If you have a problem of being lukewarm and Laodicean, here is the formula for you.

Psalm 42:1: "As the hart pants after the water brooks…" Ever seen the documentaries of the deer and the antelope and things like that in Africa where it's hot? When they get to the water, they really start drinking.

"…so my soul pants after You, O God" (v 1). You have great desire of God's way. If you're thirsty, haven't had anything to drink, you want something to drink, what do you drink in from God? His Holy Spirit! It's likened to water.

Verse 2: "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?" That's all a part of where we're going, the Kingdom of God.

Verse 3: "My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day, 'Where is your God?' I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me; for I used to go along with the multitude; I led them to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping the feast. Why are you cast down, O my soul…" (vs 3-5).

We get downcast; we get depressed. Yes! What do you do? Just go mope about? No, go take it to God! How do you pray to God? You come to God and get on your knees and say, 'Lord, I'm depressed! I need Your help.'

Open up the Bible, start reading some of these Psalms. Ask God to help you have the attitude that we're covering here in Psa. 42 and the other Psalms we'll cover here in just a minute. "…Hope in God…" (v 5).

• Can God take care of all human problems? Yes!
• Can He forgive the difficulty and problems? Yes!
• Can He help you overcome it? Yes!
• Can He help you change your mind? Yes!
• Can He you get control of your emotions? Yes!

Right there!

"…for I shall yet praise Him for the salvation of His countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me… [yes, you admit it to God] …I will remember You from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermons from mount Mizar. Deep calls unto deep the noise of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and Your billows have gone over me" (vs 5-7). He felt like he was really steam-rolled as it were with all the waves and problems.

Verse 8: "The LORD will command His loving-kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, even a prayer to the God of my life. I will say to God my Rock, 'Why have You forgotten me?.… [No, God hasn't forgotten anyone. It's our attitude toward God.] …Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?'" (vs 8-9). Ask God to intervene and help and heal.

Verse 10: "As with a crushing in my bones, my enemies taunt me while they say to me all day long, 'Where is your God?' Why are you cast down, O my soul?.… [you're really depressed; you're really down] …And why do you moan within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, the salvation of my countenance, and my God" (vs 10-11).

Psalm 62 is one of my favorite Psalms. This is one of these Psalms that helps get you in a right attitude, and one of those Psalms that helps you overcome the difficulty of the things you're experiencing in life and the unfairness of life that you perceive. A lot of the things we go through are the perceptions of how we look at it.

Psalm 62:1: "Only for God does my soul wait in silence; from Him comes my salvation." That's why we say in the prayer Your Kingdom come, because there's no salvation unless the Kingdom comes—right?

Verse 2: "He only is my Rock and my salvation…" See what you're doing with this? You're putting the thoughts of all your troubles and depression behind you!

"…He is my fortress; I shall not be greatly moved. How long will you imagine mischief against a man? You shall be slain, all of you…" (vs 2-3). God's going to take care of all the enemy. Sooner or later He's going to do it.

"…you shall be like a bowing wall and as a tottering fence…. [All of a sudden—POOF!—crashes down.] …They only consult to cast him down from great height; they delight in lies; they bless with their mouth, but inwardly they curse. Selah." (vs 3-4). You're going to come across situations where it's going to be like that.

Here's how to handle it, v 5: "My soul, wait in silence for God alone; for from Him comes my hope." If you're really, really down say, 'Oh, God,

• I need Your help
• I need Your hope
• help me to understand it
• help me to trust in You
• help me to see my way out of this thing.
• lead me and guide me

Verse 6: "He only is my Rock and my salvation; He is my strong tower; I shall not be moved." Notice the complete change in attitude right here by just coming to God and praying.

Verse 7: "In God is my salvation and my glory, the Rock of my strength; my refuse is in God." This brings about the solution that we need. This is why sometimes we go through the things that we do.

Verse 8: "Trust in Him… [Whenever you're in trouble? No!] …at all times, you people… [Complain to God and accuse Him and ask Him why He's doing these unfair things. No!] …pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah."

You look out there and you look at the world. Verse 9 tells us how to understand it: "Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie… [Just remember that when you're watching the politics on television.] …when weighed in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity."

Remember this, if you're watching the news and you get all upset with these politicians, remember they are in Washington, D.L.C. (District of Liars and Corruption), and there is a veil and pall of lies hanging over that whole city! Think of it this way, what they're doing, some of them may have some things that are right, but only God has the solution and He has called us to be part of that solution. We are going to take over the governments of this world. That's why we need to stay close to God. That's why we need to pray, 'Your Kingdom come.' That's why we need to pray, 'Your will be done!'

"…when weighed in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity… [Remember what God said about all the nations of the world? A drop in a bucket!] …Trust not in oppression, and do not take pride in stolen goods; if riches increase, do not set your heart upon them. God has spoken once; twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God. Also to You, O LORD, belongs mercy; for You give to every man according to his work" (vs 9-12).

What is the greatest thing that God can give you? The help and strength of His Spirit to develop His character in your mind! To help you overcome your anger, your hatred, your bitterness, whatever it may be. Every one of us has a burden of human nature to overcome. I do and you do and everybody else does. God is there to help us overcome it.

Now let's see the attitude; Psalm 63:1: "O God, You are my God, earnestly I will seek You!.… [Good remedy for Laodiceanism—right? Jesus said, 'Repent and be zealous.' There it is!] …My soul thirsts for You. My flesh longs for You, as in a dry and thirsty land where no water is."

The next time you watch a special concerning the desert and think about what they go through out there, ask yourself: What would it be like if I lived there? I think about that.

What did he want to do? Verse 2: "To see Your power and Your glory… [That's what we want to see and we are going to see it. It tells us in Rev. 22 we are going to see God face-to-face.] …as I have seen You in the sanctuary. Because Your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips When I remember You upon my bed and meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice" (vs 2-7). How does that change the attitude?

Verse 9: "My soul follows hard after You; Your right hand upholds me. But those who seek my life to destroy it shall go into the depths of the earth" (vs 8-9)—etc.

This is why that model prayer is written the way that it is. There's much more that can be learned from it. I hope at a future time I can bring out some other things concerning the model prayer. But when we pray 'Your Kingdom come,' we're first asking for

• God's rule
• His laws
• His love
• His commandments

in our lives; we're asking that for all the brethren as well.

• we're asking that Christ be in us
• we are putting ourselves under the jurisdiction of the Father
• we're asking His will

not that we go out and be self-willed and do our thing. That we do God's will.

• We ask God to lead us with His Spirit
  • to help us
  • to intervene with us.

All of those things are all involved. I hope whoever misunderstood what it means, Your Kingdom come, even though we can have an approximation when Jesus is going to return, we really don't know!

We really don't know how long we're going to live. So, that's why we have all of these things the way that we do.

Scriptural References:

• Matthew 6:9-10
• Acts 20:18-25
• Matthew 11:25-27
• Ephesians 2:11-19
• Matthew 6:9-10
• Mark 1:14-15
• Colossians 1:1-6, 9-14, 26-27
• Colossians 3:12-17
• Matthew 6:9-12, 14-15, 11
• Luke 10:22-24
• Luke 12:42-49
• Luke 10:25-37
• Matthew 6:11-12
• Luke 11:1-4
• Matthew 6:13
• Ephesians 3:20-21
• Hebrews 4:12-16
• Psalm 42:1-11
• Psalm 62:1-12
• Psalm 63:1-9

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Daniel 7
• John 6
• Revelation 22

Also referenced: Book:
The Appointed Times of Jesus the Messiah
by Fred R. Coulter

FRC:lp
Transcribed: 1-9-13
Formatted: 1-10-13

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