What is God’s kingdom? God’s kingdom upends everything we humans think is important. It is in stark contrast to the world around it. Matthew 5 teaches God’s kingdom grows out of our acknowledgement of the incredible need we have for our Father God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
It gives blessing for those who mourn. Its values are gentleness, lowliness, justice, mercy, purity of heart and peace. In it we expect persecution just as our Savior and the ancient prophets did.
Matthew 6:10 says, “May your kingdom come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven” (NLT). From prayer we receive our kingdom mission orders.
Prayer is genuine and intentional conversation between God and us. Jesus spent a great deal of time in prayer both privately and publicly. His teachings are full of the truth that God knows what we need and wants to give it to us even before we ask.
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus acknowledges God’s glory, then reveals his great desire for God’s kingdom to come soon and, yes, even be done now on earth as it is in heaven. He is welcoming the instructions Father God has for him with a willing heart to engage wherever he is instructed to do his will now in order to bring about glimpses of that kingdom on earth before its full arrival.
Through Jesus’ example we begin to understand how we can ask God to show us his glory and where he is at work. As we meditate on who God is in Scripture, we begin to see he is already at work all around us. Based on what the Holy Spirit reveals within and around us, we then ask Jesus to help us bring glimpses of his kingdom now through us. As we submit our lives to his lordship, God is faithful to use them to bring people closer to himself. We join with him doing his will now on earth each day just as the hosts of heaven continuously submit to him in heaven.
We pray for God’s kingdom not just in our personal prayers but also praying publicly, united with a community of believers. When we come together, intentionally praying based on the truths in Scripture, the Holy Spirit keeps us in unity, working for the spread of the gospel as Jesus’ body. As churches we need to come together intentionally, praying for direction and submission to our part of the kingship of Lord Jesus and the expansion of the kingdom of heaven around us. As we do his will, we know God will not only take care of our needs but show glimpses of his kingdom here on earth just as it is in heaven.
Michele Fiester is an elder at Renewal MB Church, a USMB church plant in Rapid City, S.D. Fiester, a registered nurse, and her husband, Jon, planted Renewal in 2018. They have two daughters.
