Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
Years ago, my husband was praying about being filled with the Spirit of God. He was teaching a Sunday school class at the time, and felt that the men in the class could benefit from what the Word says.
The Lord showed him Song of Solomon 3:6 “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?”
This seemed an odd verse,(he was thinking Ephesians 5:18, which is a command…but does not say how.)…
….then the Lord showed him….Joel 2:28-30 (this was quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost Acts 2:16-19) “…in those days will I pour out my Spirit. And I will show wonder in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.”
Pillars of smoke….weak in itself, but a pillar because of the filling (out pouring) of His Spirit.
This is what being filled with the Holy Spirit is about. We are weak, and unable….in ourselves. But He is abundant, strong and more than able….in us, and through us.
And we are filled….continually filled with His Spirit, as we are emptied of self….as we deny ourselves…so He can work through us.
The Lord showed him, that as he lifts his hands up to receive these blessings (and they need to be emptied of all the other things we naturally hang on to)…..they come down in him, and through him….by “Thy kingdom come”….by the rule and reign of Christ Jesus, through the Holy Spirit in Him….for it is, “Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.”
And the Lord showed him that He has everything we need to do every task, say every word, and be victorious in our lives….
…and it is summed up in “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth…”
And what is the provision that God has made for us…in Christ?
Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”
Hath blessed us. All…all spiritual blessings. That is a Mighty Promise.
But you say….yes, but it is in heavenly places in Christ….not in me.
Yes,….but we are in Christ. In fact, the Lord showed my husband another verse which said this very thing:
Ephesians 2:6 ” Who hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
We are in Christ (not with, but in)…..as He is in heaven. And He is in us, as we are here on earth. The power and blessings which are in Christ…in the heavenly places (and what power that is)…is at our disposal….for we are in Christ…and He in us!
The means of getting that power that we have in Christ in our everyday circumstances….is Matthew 6:10.
We are seated in the heavenlies….in Christ. And we get what we have in Him in the heavenlies…in us down here…by having His kingdom come. His Will be done in earth (in me), as it is in heaven.
And His kingdom comes to us, by His Will being done by us.
The power of His authoritive reign within us….is like a pebble in a pond….with ripples going outward.
It is first in me that we feel the most power…to bring us and our life under HIs authority. Our obedience to Him influences others wherever we are. What a blessing it is to yield to the Holy Spirit…in spirit, soul and body.
And then in ever widening circles in the rest of my life’s circumstances….my church, my home, my job,…in the world to the sphere of my influence…under the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
And how is it done in heaven?
Willingly, joyfully,…completely.
But also with fulness of power. And He has it for us….in the rule and reign of His kingdom within us.
All spiritual blessings. What a promise! What do we need? Peace, strength, comfort, joy? He has all for us….in Him.
How much of Him do you have? or rather….how much of you does He have?
Are we yielding to His coming to us with the blessings He has for us……are we raising our hands, by faith and obedience, to receive all He wants to give?
Is His power working against the hurt and bitterness….but still we fail in anger or hasty words?
Are we quick to speak….”yes, Lord”…..but slow to do?
The unity, which is our true life, has been broken by sin….but Christ died to save us from sin….and to give us the fullness of His life within.
A life which is so full of goodness…it make us honest and good.
A life which is so full of peace…it keeps us through storm and sunshine.
A life which is so full of forgiveness for us….it works that forgiveness to others within us.
A life which is so full of tireless energy to do us good….it gives us love for others….and strength to do the good works He has called us to do.(Ephesians 2:10)
His life, by His Spirit dwells within us….but are we being filled with His Spirit and power,…as we yield….. to do and be what He has purposed and planned for us?
“I am weak but Thou art strong;
Jesus keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it Jesus is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.”
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 