Lent March 11th – 17th, 2020
The Second Petition
Thy kingdom come.
What does this mean?
The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.
How does God’s kingdom come?
God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.
THE SECOND PETITION
Thy kingdom come.
49] As we prayed in the First Petition concerning the honor and name of God that He would prevent the world from adorning its lies and wickedness with it, but cause it to be esteemed sublime and holy both in doctrine and life, so that He may be praised and magnified in us, so here we pray that His kingdom also may come. 50] But just as the name of God is in itself holy, and we pray nevertheless that it be holy among us, so also His kingdom comes of itself, without our prayer, yet we pray nevertheless that it may come to us, that is, prevail among us and with us, so that we may be a part of those among whom His name is hallowed and His kingdom prospers. 51] But what is the kingdom of God? Answer: Nothing else than what we learned in the Creed, that God sent His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, into the world to redeem and deliver us from the power of the devil, and to bring us to Himself, and to govern us as a King of righteousness, life, and salvation against sin, death, and an evil conscience, for which end He has also bestowed His Holy Ghost, who is to bring these things home to us by His holy Word, and to illumine and strengthen us in the faith by His power.
52] Therefore we pray here in the first place that this may become effective with us, and that His name be so praised through the holy Word of God and a Christian life that both we who have accepted it may abide and daily grow therein, and that it may gain approbation and adherence among other people and proceed with power throughout the world, that many may find entrance into the Kingdom of Grace, be made partakers of redemption, being led thereto by the Holy Ghost, in order that thus we may all together remain forever in the one kingdom now begun.
This first section of the Large Catechism takes up the question “But what is God’s Kingdom?” King and Kingdom often for us to think of person and land area they rule over. A better way to think about the Second petition is using the term reign instead of Kingdom
What does it mean to reign over something?
How does Reign differ from Kingdom?
What areas of my life am I refusing to let God reign over?
God’s reign over us will destroy us if we refuse to repent. When we stop resisting His reign, we see the complete Gospel nature of His love. John 3:17 is the picture of Jesus Gospel reign.
Today I am praying for:
Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer
The Second Petition
Thy kingdom come.
What does this mean?
The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.
How does God’s kingdom come?
God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.
53] For the coming of God’s Kingdom to us occurs in two ways; first, here in time through the Word and faith; and secondly, in eternity forever through revelation. Now we pray for both these things, that it may come to those who are not yet in it, and, by daily increase, to us who have received the same, and hereafter in eternal life. 54] All this is nothing else than saying: Dear Father, we pray, give us first Thy Word, that the Gospel be preached properly throughout the world; and secondly, that it be received in faith, and work and live in us, so that through the Word and the power of the Holy Ghost Thy kingdom may prevail among us, and the kingdom of the devil be put down, that he may have no right or power over us, until at last it shall be utterly destroyed, and sin, death, and hell shall be exterminated, that we may live forever in perfect righteousness and blessedness. 55] From this you perceive that we pray here not for a crust of bread or a temporal, perishable good, but for an eternal inestimable treasure and everything that God Himself possesses; which is far too great for any human heart to think of desiring if He had not Himself commanded us to pray for the same. 56] But because He is God, He also claims the honor of giving much more and more abundantly than anyone can comprehend,-like an eternal, unfailing fountain, which, the more it pours forth and overflows, the more it continues to give,-and He desires nothing more earnestly of us than that we ask much and great things of Him, and again is angry if we do not ask and pray confidently. 57] For just as when the richest and most mighty emperor would bid a poor beggar ask whatever he might desire, and were ready to give great imperial presents, and the fool would beg only for a dish of gruel, he would be rightly considered a rogue and a scoundrel, who treated the command of his imperial majesty as a jest and sport, and was not worthy of coming into his presence: so also it is a great reproach and dishonor to God if we, to whom He offers and pledges so many unspeakable treasures, despise the same, or have not the confidence to receive them, but scarcely venture to pray for a piece of bread.
58] All this is the fault of the shameful unbelief which does not look to God for as much good as will satisfy the stomach, much less expects, without doubt, such eternal treasures of God. Therefore we must strengthen ourselves against it, and let this be our first prayer; then, indeed, we shall have all else in abundance, as Christ teaches [ Matt. 6:33 ]: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. For how could He allow us to suffer want and to be straightened in temporal things when He promises that which is eternal and imperishable?
One of the realities of faith is that we recognize two things. We live in the now, today, and if we are blessed, in to future a bit. We also recognize when this life is over there is eternity, with or without God. We talk about that concept we use the term “the now and the not yet”. Luther uses two slightly different terms.
#53 What are they
#56 Once again Luther confronts us with our lack of faith and timidness in praying. He writes, “He (God) is angry if we do not ask and pray confidently.”
Why don’t we ask God for “much and great things”?
#57-58 Luther impresses upon us the importance of seeing the bigger picture of Salvation. We know God’s desire is to save all. We know that He hears and answers our prayers. Why is it such a shame when a beggar only asks for a dish of gruel from the richest and most mighty emperor?
How do prayers that only affect me and my loved ones reflect a weak or immature faith and a small God?
Today I am praying boldly and confidently for:
Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer
The Second Petition
Thy kingdom come.
What does this mean?
The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.
How does God’s kingdom come?
God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.
God’s Kingdom of Power Mark 5:1-13
When we consider “thy Kingdom (Reign) come” Mark helps us understand the magnitude of what God’s Power looks like.
How did the demons address Jesus?
A Roman legion contained 4000 to 6000 military men. Nothing could resist a Roman legion. With demonic power and strength in numbers these demons quickly bowed to Jesus power. What did they beg Jesus to do?
For reasons we do not understand Jesus had mercy even on the demons. He did not cast them into hell. Jesus reign and His power extends from heaven to earth and even those under the earth, the demons.
What are the powerful implications for our world when we pray “thy Kingdom Come”?
Today I am praying for:
Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer
The Second Petition
Thy kingdom come.
What does this mean?
The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.
How does God’s kingdom come?
God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.
God’s Kingdom of Grace John 8:1-11
Grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve. The woman in this Gospel account was caught. She was stepping out on her husband. The law of Moses gave the scribes and Pharisees the right to kill her for her offense. As the crowd “tested” Jesus He said this. “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then he started writing on the ground with His finger. What Jesus wrote has always intrigued me. Did He write out the private sins of the Pharisees? If Jesus wrote your private sins on the ground in front of your friends what would you do? I know I would sneak away as quietly as I could. When our sins confront us, either through our conscience or by the preaching of God’s Word our response is to run, hide, and blame. Even there in our justifying ourselves “Thy Kingdom comes”. God’s Kingdom, His reign over sin and death and hell comes to us in Jesus. It comes to us in Grace.
Perhaps Jesus wrote GRACE on the ground in front of the Pharisees? Remember grace is God through Jesus giving us what we don’t deserve. The Pharisees who only wanted punishment for the woman would not have been able to stand such power, reigning over her in love.
God’s Kingdom, His reign over you comes through His Grace. Instead of destroying you for your sins, God gives that death to Jesus who willingly takes it, so you are forgiven. That is God’s reign, His power, His Kingdom coming to you!
Today I am praying for:
Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer
Today I heard God’s Word taught and I learned:
Today I am praying boldly and confidently for:
Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer
The Second Petition
Thy kingdom come.
What does this mean?
The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.
How does God’s kingdom come?
God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.
The Kingdom of God Glory. Revelation 7:9-17
What is heaven like? When people ask that question what they are really asking is “what does Thy Kingdom of God’s Glory look like? St. John in his revelation of Jesus Christ gives us a glimpse. Everyone is dressed in white, like a wedding dress as the Church, the bride, meets her Groom. The bride is perfect, spotless, sinless and holy. The result of the Kingdom of God’s glory coming to us results in salvation.
One day when we see the fullness of God’s Glory, we will see Him as He is. Moses was only able to see God as He walked away. The fullness of God’s Glory would have destroyed a sinful Moses. In a vision Isaiah was taken into the throne room of heaven and He saw God’s glory. The room was filled with smoke. His robe filled the temple!
What a sight that will be! When thy Kingdom comes to us, when the Kingdom of God’s Glory is entirely manifest in our lives and in our world, this will be the result “Behold, the dwelling place[a] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,[b] and God himself will be with them as their God.[c] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Thy Kingdom comes, in Glory, and it will be sinless, and fearless. We will stand before God our Father and see Him as He is. Even here on earth, right now we see Thy Kingdom Come in Glory, although not in its fullness. God’s Glory breaks into our broken world when Jesus in His Glorified state stood in front of the Women at His tomb. God’s Glory in the risen Jesus appeared before the disciples. The Kingdom of God’s Glory also is held up before you in the Lord’s Supper. The pastor holds up Jesus, in His Body and Blood and says, “The peace of the Lord be with you all”.
One day when Jesus comes to take you home, or He comes again in Glory we will see Him in His fullness. Today in His Word and Sacraments we see Him dimly, but still triumphant. Muted but still graciously forgiving our sins.
Today I am praying boldly and confidently for:
Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer
The Second Petition
Thy kingdom come.
What does this mean?
The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.
How does God’s kingdom come?
God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.
Thy Kingdom Comes in Power Grace and Glory.
Jesus commands us to pray, Thy Kingdom come, and it does. The Kingdom of God’s Grace, Glory and Power breaks into our world to wrestle us out of the devil’s grasp and remove his claim to us through our sin. Thy Kingdom comes to us at Jesus Crucifixion death and resurrection.
The Kingdom of Power is shown in restraint. When Jesus was on the cross, He did not destroy those who sought to destroy Him. As Isaiah says “He was silent”. God’s Kingdom of Power in Jesus comes to destroy only enemies of Jesus and His Cross. Jesus, God’s Kingdom come to earth destroyed death, destroyed sins condemnation of you.
The Kingdom of Grace is spoken to the thief on the cross. “Today you will be with me in paradise”! It is spoken to you and me as we get what we do not deserve. Jesus Grace poured out for all when He said “IT IS FINISHED” and gave up His Spirit.
The Kingdom of Glory breaks into our world when Jesus descended into hell and declared Victory in deaths defeated domain. Kingdom of Heaven Glory breaks into our world on the third day. Jesus the first born of the dead! God’s Power, Grace and Glory, wrapped up in Jesus for you.
Today I am praying boldly and confidently for:
Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer
