Matthew 6:9-16
New Living Translation (NLT)
9 Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,
12 and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.
New Living Translation (NLT)
9 Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,
12 and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.
May Your Kingdom Come Soon
Luke 17:21 (NLT) says: You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you. Here a lot translations use 'For the Kingdom of God is within you.' But it has to be pointed out that Jesus spoke this statement in response to the question the pharisees raised and therefore would not have used within you; else it would assert their own so called righteousness. Further, the greek word used was there was entos which translates to the midst of and not within you. So the NLT gives a very closely accurate translation of this verse. This then though opens up an interesting point - where is the Kingdom of God? What did Jesus mean when He said the Kingdom is already in the midst of you or among you?
From the Jewish perspective, they awaited the Kingdom of God with eagerness and longing. But it was primarily in order to liberate them from the tyranny of them being conquered. Their notion of the Kingdom of God was a physical Kingdom where Israel would rule into eternity. So Jesus' statement would have been startling to the audience He spoke to; especially because he starts with telling them that they will not be able to say of the Kingdom of God that it was established in Israel or any other geographical location. Instead He told them that the Kingdom was already in their midst or among them. A startling claim for anybody to make in that day and now!
The Kingdom of God is already among you - How can we understand this? If the Kingdom of God is already among us, why is there still pain, suffering, evil rampant at work? Is the Kingdom truly here? The Bible tells us it is. 'But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.' (Mt. 12: 28; Lk. 11:20 - NLT). Jesus even confirms to John the Baptist' disciples that the Kingdom has arrived as a result of which many signs and wonders were being performed; also the good news was being preached (Mt. 11: 2 - 6). The Kingdom is definitely here; that we cannot doubt. It is here and the proof is in the exorcisms, sign, miracles, healing and the gospel being preached. The power of the Kingdom of God is invading the domain of evil, expelling the powers of evil.
Satan still exerts some influence, but he has been defeated, and 'the ruler of this world has already been judged.' (John 16:11, NLT). He has been partially restrained — tied up (Mark 3:27). Jesus overcame Satan’s world (John 16:33), and with God’s help we are overcoming it, too (1 John 5:4). But not everyone does. In this age, the kingdom contains both good and bad, both wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, 47-50; 24:45-51; 25:1-12, 14-30). Satan still has influence; we still look forward to a world and a time in which God’s will is done perfectly rather than partially.
Jesus Christ is in the church today, too, and just as the kingdom was present in the ministry of Jesus, it is present in the ministry of his church. The King is among us; his spiritual power is in us, even though the kingdom is not yet operating in its full power. We have already been brought into God’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13). We are already receiving a kingdom, and our proper response is reverence and awe (Hebrews 12:28). Christ “has made us [past tense] to be a kingdom” (Revelation 1:6). We are a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9)—already and currently a holy kingdom—but it does not yet appear what we shall be. God has rescued us from the dominion of sin and transferred us into his kingdom, under his ruling authority.
God is already ruling, and we should be sharing in the divine life right now, living in his domain, in which his will is done. We don’t yet possess a territory, but we do come under the reign of God. The kingdom does not force itself upon us – we have to voluntarily come under its influence. Understanding that the kingdom already exists can help us give greater attention to the way the world is right now. We do not forget that the completion of the kingdom is still future. If our only hope is in this age, we don’t have much hope (1 Corinthians 15:19). We do not harbor illusions about bringing the kingdom with human efforts. Nevertheless, even though we cannot transform this earth into a heavenly paradise, doing good is still good. We can still try to make the world a better place for at least a few people. [1]
And herein lies the significance of praying May Your Kingdom come soon. We started the Lord's prayer with May Your Name be kept holy. In continuation to asking the Lord to make His Name known through all the earth, we are praying that everybody would accept the influence of His Kingdom into their own hearts and lives. We are also praying that His Kingdom would not be just within us, but also all around us. That the day shall come soon when the ruler of this world is vanquished for all eternity and we are able live our lives in His presence.
What then does this mean to us in our everyday prayers by praying in the manner of May Your Kingdom come soon?
1. A Kingdom Perspective: We are asking the Lord to give us a Kingdom perspective; where everything that drives us is with the ultimate vision of how it would / wouldn't help His Kingdom. That every suffering, every pain, every trial we might bear while on this earth for His Name sake but most importantly because we know His Kingdom is here and coming soon; and therefore everything we face is just temporal. When we ask for and receive this big picture perspective, everything we go through becomes minuscule. We quit cribbing, complaning and being anxious - for we are part of His Kingdom. As a result of this, life becomes joyous and we are victorious.
2. His Kingdom be victorious today: We are also asking the Lord to bring under control the powers of darkness and their work in our lives and that we might live in a way which shows who we are - the royal sons and daughters of the most High King (Rom. 8: 14 - 17). That for us, to live might be gain and to die (in this world) might be Christ (Phil. 1: 21).
3. His Kingdom extend into all areas of our lives: As we seek His Kingdom in to encompass all, we also seek that He truly transforms us as we strive towards perfection. That every area of our lives would be under His dominion in the days to come. That there would be no thought, word or deed not held captive to Him and His cause (2 Cor. 10:5).
May Your Kingdom come soon Lord!
