1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:02,800 Our text this morning is the. Lord's Prayer. 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:07,560 You've heard it a few times already today, and our focus is 3 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:11,240 the. Very simple, but incredibly 4 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:15,280 powerful. Word our Father, your Kingdom. 5 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:19,120 Come on earth as it is in heaven. 6 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:24,040 Do you know when we pray that many times we're not really 7 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,600 clued in to what it is we're really? 8 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:31,470 Asking God. In that moment, I love this 9 00:00:31,790 --> 00:00:34,670 quote from Annie Dillard, who says, you know. 10 00:00:34,670 --> 00:00:38,190 Basically, we're playing with fire when we pray. 11 00:00:38,310 --> 00:00:41,510 This prayer. She says does. 12 00:00:41,550 --> 00:00:44,470 Anyone have the foggiest idea what? 13 00:00:44,470 --> 00:00:50,270 Sort of power were so. Blithely invoke or as I suspect. 14 00:00:50,270 --> 00:00:52,630 Does no one believe a word of it? 15 00:00:53,590 --> 00:00:55,950 The churches are children playing on the. 16 00:00:55,950 --> 00:01:02,060 Floor with their chemistry sets. Mixing A batch of TN T to kill a 17 00:01:02,060 --> 00:01:03,860 Sunday. Morning, She has. 18 00:01:03,860 --> 00:01:08,340 A way with words, doesn't she? It is madness to wear, ladies. 19 00:01:08,340 --> 00:01:10,860 Straw hats and velvet hats to church. 20 00:01:11,140 --> 00:01:15,140 We should all be wearing. Crash helmets usher. 21 00:01:15,140 --> 00:01:18,980 Should issue life preservers and signal flares. 22 00:01:19,220 --> 00:01:26,580 They should lash us to our pews. Our father, your Kingdom come on 23 00:01:26,580 --> 00:01:29,390 earth as it is. In heaven. 24 00:01:30,230 --> 00:01:34,830 That is truly an explosive prayer that Jesus. 25 00:01:34,830 --> 00:01:40,550 Has taught his people. To say every day and to invoke 26 00:01:40,630 --> 00:01:44,110 in their lives and in the lives of others for Jesus. 27 00:01:44,110 --> 00:01:47,030 The Kingdom of heaven had a lot of aspects. 28 00:01:47,030 --> 00:01:51,150 It was his. Most favorite topic, but for 29 00:01:51,150 --> 00:01:52,950 him, there were three things that were true. 30 00:01:52,950 --> 00:01:54,750 Of it. It was at hand. 31 00:01:55,750 --> 00:01:58,240 It's within us. And it will. 32 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:02,920 Come it is at hand, It's. In us. 33 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:08,320 And it will come. Sometimes many of us live 34 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:12,040 unaware. Of perhaps the impact or we have 35 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:15,880 a very small. Vision of what it means to ask. 36 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:21,560 Kingdom of God. Come, God, send your Kingdom. 37 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:27,780 And so I want us to to hear the testimony of an 82 year old who 38 00:02:27,820 --> 00:02:31,540 understood something. Of the Kingdom of heaven. 39 00:02:32,980 --> 00:02:35,100 Should I just go ahead and offer an invitation? 40 00:02:41,100 --> 00:02:38,820 Your Kingdom come. It's really moving right to see 41 00:02:38,820 --> 00:02:46,060 the depth at which that. Had saturated her life and her 42 00:02:46,060 --> 00:02:50,660 thinking. And so when Jesus says to us to 43 00:02:50,660 --> 00:02:56,180 pray heavenly. Our Father, your Kingdom come. 44 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,720 On earth as it is in heaven, he's actually. 45 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,560 Inviting a son into a new reality. 46 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:08,440 Jesus said repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand. 47 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:13,160 Matthew says this was the primary message of Jesus as he 48 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,400 went. Forward at the beginning of His 49 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:18,120 ministry. Repent, for the Kingdom of 50 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,680 heaven is at hand. It's right here. 51 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:25,400 So with the birth of Jesus, something had changed with the 52 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,920 incarnation. Of Jesus the. 53 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:34,120 Something had changed. Something changed when Jesus was 54 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:41,280 born in a Manger in Bethlehem. Something was inaugurated in a 55 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:45,800 new movement of God. And so for us as followers of 56 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:47,600 Jesus, who? Pray our Father. 57 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:51,720 Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven when we read. 58 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:57,240 The Old Testament When we read the scripture of Israel, we. 59 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:02,080 See the hand of God pointing forward to Jesus? 60 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,320 And pointing us forward to Jesus. 61 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:10,760 And so we see. In that history of Israel, 62 00:04:11,610 --> 00:04:14,850 glimpses of the endbreaking of the Kingdom of God. 63 00:04:15,090 --> 00:04:19,010 And the. Promise of a king the. 64 00:04:19,010 --> 00:04:21,930 Promise of a king, one who would come. 65 00:04:24,210 --> 00:04:25,010 So when? When? 66 00:04:25,010 --> 00:04:26,210 We. Pray our Father. 67 00:04:26,210 --> 00:04:28,330 Your Kingdom come on earth. It is in heaven. 68 00:04:28,690 --> 00:04:32,770 I know that I'm praying to the one who is creator of the world, 69 00:04:32,770 --> 00:04:36,130 but who is also very much involved. 70 00:04:36,650 --> 00:04:39,250 He is. Not platonic at all. 71 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:47,040 God our Father is very. Involved in the history and 72 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,360 life. Of humanity now in some ways if 73 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:52,040 we put. God on trial. 74 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:59,160 This would be quite convicting, it seems, for in the history of 75 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:04,120 humanity there is. Great tragedy, great violence, 76 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:11,080 great destruction and so. When we. 77 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,760 Pray our Father. Your Kingdom come and those 78 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:19,040 moments we express. A longing we express a. 79 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:22,920 Longing for a king and his Kingdom to actually be. 80 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,680 And so we have to wrestle with the realities. 81 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:37,680 Of our lives in some ways, then. We're we're like. 82 00:05:39,530 --> 00:05:43,770 Rabinadeth Tagore. His statue is at the. 83 00:05:43,770 --> 00:05:47,810 Asian Center, if you've made your way through those trees and 84 00:05:47,810 --> 00:05:51,090 past those great big. Bell the great big bell that's 85 00:05:51,090 --> 00:05:56,130 there. You've passed his head on a 86 00:05:56,130 --> 00:05:58,610 monument. How many of you have seen? 87 00:05:58,610 --> 00:06:02,650 It and noticed he was a contemporary of Gandhi. 88 00:06:03,050 --> 00:06:06,210 He was a contemporary of Stanley Jones, who was also. 89 00:06:06,250 --> 00:06:11,030 A missionary. To India and in India and in 90 00:06:11,030 --> 00:06:16,830 talking with Doctor Jones, Tagore says Jesus is ideal and. 91 00:06:18,190 --> 00:06:21,390 But you Christians, you are not like him. 92 00:06:23,590 --> 00:06:27,990 Oh Father, you are Kingdom. Come on, Earth as it is. 93 00:06:27,990 --> 00:06:33,070 In heaven we know that. You are involved in the history 94 00:06:33,070 --> 00:06:35,830 of humanity, but so are your people. 95 00:06:36,470 --> 00:06:40,270 And perhaps it is your people. Who have failed? 96 00:06:42,310 --> 00:06:47,670 And so we. Wrestle with this in our reading 97 00:06:47,670 --> 00:06:50,070 for the. For the summer, how many of you 98 00:06:50,070 --> 00:06:52,550 have our recommended book for the summer? 99 00:06:53,230 --> 00:06:56,270 See your hands up there? There's a few of you lucky 100 00:06:56,270 --> 00:06:59,590 people. With a copy, it's getting harder 101 00:06:59,590 --> 00:07:01,790 to get. You know, so you should. 102 00:07:01,830 --> 00:07:07,110 You should go get your copy. Tyler Staton says this. 103 00:07:07,110 --> 00:07:09,470 About prayer and our life together. 104 00:07:09,910 --> 00:07:13,990 He says a life of faith without mercy is a Kingdom the king 105 00:07:13,990 --> 00:07:17,110 doesn't recognize. It's impossible to know God. 106 00:07:17,110 --> 00:07:20,870 Through private prayer without equally participating with. 107 00:07:20,870 --> 00:07:25,070 God in public. Mercy prayer. 108 00:07:25,070 --> 00:07:27,190 And mission fit together hand in glove. 109 00:07:27,830 --> 00:07:31,190 To pray is to be invited to uncomfortable mission. 110 00:07:31,950 --> 00:07:34,150 To pray is to be led by the hand. 111 00:07:35,100 --> 00:07:37,620 To broken places, broken people. And broken. 112 00:07:37,620 --> 00:07:40,940 Parts within yourself. Jesus feels at home in the 113 00:07:40,940 --> 00:07:43,900 company of the Misfits. Marginalized, Oppressed, and 114 00:07:43,900 --> 00:07:45,380 Outcast. So if you. 115 00:07:45,380 --> 00:07:48,180 Spend time in conversation with Jesus. 116 00:07:48,460 --> 00:07:51,620 You better. Believe he'll invite you to come 117 00:07:51,620 --> 00:07:56,020 with him where he's going, NT rights NT. 118 00:07:56,060 --> 00:07:59,540 Right rights the Christian vocation is to be. 119 00:07:59,540 --> 00:08:03,740 In prayer, in the Spirit, at the place the world is in pain. 120 00:08:04,450 --> 00:08:08,970 Proximity to pain leads leads credibility. 121 00:08:09,130 --> 00:08:14,890 And power to our prayers. Do you have an embassy of 122 00:08:14,890 --> 00:08:20,050 heaven? You are the staff of the Embassy 123 00:08:20,050 --> 00:08:22,690 of Heaven when you. Pray her Father. 124 00:08:23,410 --> 00:08:26,010 Your Kingdom. Come on, Earth. 125 00:08:26,010 --> 00:08:27,810 As it is. In heaven. 126 00:08:28,570 --> 00:08:31,330 And so Jesus says something. Has been inaugurated. 127 00:08:31,330 --> 00:08:36,190 In his hand at hand, but we. May not completely see it yet. 128 00:08:37,270 --> 00:08:41,070 In fact. He says in Luke 1721, when. 129 00:08:41,070 --> 00:08:44,510 Asked about this Kingdom, they're like, well, where is it? 130 00:08:44,790 --> 00:08:46,910 He says. The Kingdom of God is something 131 00:08:47,030 --> 00:08:50,990 is not something that can be observed, nor will people say 132 00:08:51,030 --> 00:08:52,910 here it is or. There it is. 133 00:08:53,470 --> 00:08:56,390 Because the Kingdom of God is in your midst. 134 00:08:56,670 --> 00:09:06,310 It is within you. Is it within you the? 135 00:09:06,310 --> 00:09:10,110 Rule and reign. Of God within you, the. 136 00:09:10,110 --> 00:09:14,910 Rule and reign of the King within you to pray this is to. 137 00:09:14,910 --> 00:09:18,510 Open and yield my. Life and my spaces to the. 138 00:09:18,510 --> 00:09:24,700 Possible realities of God. It also is to yield. 139 00:09:24,700 --> 00:09:28,380 My life to the very. Character of God, as we saw last 140 00:09:28,380 --> 00:09:32,020 week in praying. Your name be Hallowed. 141 00:09:33,180 --> 00:09:39,420 Your name be. Hallowed among us and in us, and 142 00:09:39,420 --> 00:09:42,220 now he makes it so. With his rule and his reign, 143 00:09:42,900 --> 00:09:47,820 Jesus then is on the. Throne of My Heart Confession 144 00:09:48,260 --> 00:09:53,100 Repentance becomes a Way of. Life where I agree with God. 145 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:55,880 That I climbed up on the throne again. 146 00:09:56,320 --> 00:10:03,680 This is your. Throne Jesus, we seem to. 147 00:10:03,680 --> 00:10:09,040 All long for Wakanda, don't we, We? 148 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,480 Long for Wakanda. Why is that? 149 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:16,000 We long for a place where. Something seems to have been 150 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:24,760 made right where the people who are there are righteous, where 151 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:30,880 there is joy and peace. In the Holy Spirit we have this 152 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:34,320 longing. Our society, our culture, and 153 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:36,320 our people. Have this longing. 154 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:40,520 Our generation has this longing. So won't you pray? 155 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:45,680 Our father, your. Kingdom come, it is his. 156 00:10:45,680 --> 00:10:50,120 Kingdom that must come. And so Jesus says look. 157 00:10:50,580 --> 00:10:52,900 The Kingdom is at hand. It has been inaugurated. 158 00:10:53,140 --> 00:10:56,740 It is within. You if you are mine, and it will 159 00:10:56,740 --> 00:11:00,940 indeed. Come this idea of a Kingdom that 160 00:11:00,940 --> 00:11:05,180 is already but not yet. Has been expressed. 161 00:11:05,180 --> 00:11:12,940 Throughout the scripture when Jesus was meeting with his. 162 00:11:14,100 --> 00:11:16,460 To break bread. And to share the cup of the 163 00:11:16,460 --> 00:11:22,870 Passover, which he reassigned. As the bread and the cup of his 164 00:11:22,870 --> 00:11:28,310 people, of his Kingdom, he says. This in Luke 21. 165 00:11:28,950 --> 00:11:32,550 I'll tell you, I will not drink again of the vine until the 166 00:11:32,550 --> 00:11:34,830 Kingdom. Of God comes. 167 00:11:35,230 --> 00:11:36,630 Oh, wait a minute, Jesus, I thought. 168 00:11:36,630 --> 00:11:40,670 The Kingdom of God was at hand. I thought the Kingdom of God was 169 00:11:40,670 --> 00:11:43,990 in us, and here he says The Kingdom of. 170 00:11:43,990 --> 00:11:50,200 God will come, so there is a full reality of the. 171 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:52,920 Expression and person of Jesus Christ as King. 172 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:57,840 That we do not yet see, but will when our faith shall be made. 173 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:03,280 As sight Where what's? Described in Zachariah eight 174 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:05,040 that we read. Earlier in the service. 175 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:10,760 But also is described in MICA chapter 4 will be true that he 176 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:14,040 will. Judge between many peacefuls and 177 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:16,640 will settle disputes for strong nations. 178 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:21,430 Far and wide. So when in the Hebrew mindset, 179 00:12:21,590 --> 00:12:24,870 there was a day that one would look forward to, there was a 180 00:12:25,150 --> 00:12:29,150 movement to history. There is a purpose to history 181 00:12:29,310 --> 00:12:32,870 that's moving towards the day of the Lord. 182 00:12:34,230 --> 00:12:37,230 We often speak of that day as a day of. 183 00:12:37,510 --> 00:12:42,910 Judgment, Jesus said of his coming as a child in the flesh, 184 00:12:42,910 --> 00:12:45,630 he says. I did not come to judge. 185 00:12:46,430 --> 00:12:50,680 Or to offer condemnation. For the world already stands 186 00:12:50,680 --> 00:12:54,560 judged. But Micah and other prophets 187 00:12:54,560 --> 00:13:00,160 says there will be a day. In which God will judge with his 188 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:03,200 judge, with his king, with his ruler. 189 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:06,880 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes 190 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:10,160 for strong nations. Far and wide they will beat. 191 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:14,160 Their swords into ploughshares and their Spears into pruning 192 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:17,000 hooks. Nation will not take up sword 193 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:18,560 against. Nation, nor. 194 00:13:18,560 --> 00:13:22,000 Will they train for? War anymore? 195 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:27,120 That's good news, everyone, he goes. 196 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:31,160 On will sit under their own. Vine and. 197 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:37,800 Under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid for 198 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:42,680 the Lord. Almighty has spoken in my 199 00:13:42,680 --> 00:13:45,880 backyard. I have a Grapevine. 200 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:48,320 I have two. Some of you have son back there 201 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:49,680 and. Been like there's. 202 00:13:49,680 --> 00:13:53,560 Grapes there they. Are, but there's also a fig 203 00:13:53,560 --> 00:13:59,640 tree. And so when I sit in my 204 00:13:59,640 --> 00:13:57,480 backyard. There's also a fig. 205 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:08,840 I have a glimpse of what God says he wants for people that 206 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:11,200 they could. Know that they have. 207 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:15,410 Some sustenance on the way. That they know that they have 208 00:14:15,570 --> 00:14:21,090 some shade and some shelter. Remember how proud Jonah was of 209 00:14:21,090 --> 00:14:23,810 that? Vine that provided him shade. 210 00:14:24,690 --> 00:14:27,690 Oh, the fig tree. Provides great shade. 211 00:14:28,170 --> 00:14:33,050 In fact, the fig tree was a a center and place of prayer for 212 00:14:33,050 --> 00:14:35,650 you. Or might remember that Nathaniel 213 00:14:37,610 --> 00:14:41,410 heard Jesus say oh. Nathaniel, I saw you. 214 00:14:42,270 --> 00:14:51,300 You were under the fig tree, you were praying and he. 215 00:14:51,300 --> 00:14:55,340 Goes on there to say. And people will not be afraid. 216 00:14:56,260 --> 00:14:57,620 There will be no. One there to. 217 00:14:57,620 --> 00:15:02,540 Make them afraid. Can you imagine the moment in 218 00:15:02,540 --> 00:15:03,980 your life? Where you have. 219 00:15:03,980 --> 00:15:10,060 Moved from a day with no. Can you imagine a day? 220 00:15:10,060 --> 00:15:14,460 With No Fear. I can hardly imagine such a day 221 00:15:14,460 --> 00:15:16,660 With No Fear. I mean, when there's nothing 222 00:15:16,660 --> 00:15:20,420 there, I dream up things that have fears about. 223 00:15:21,940 --> 00:15:27,180 Oh, Father, send your. Kingdom on earth as it is in 224 00:15:27,180 --> 00:15:35,700 heaven already, but not yet. This is the space. 225 00:15:35,700 --> 00:15:44,530 We live in today in the Kingdom of God in. 226 00:15:44,530 --> 00:15:46,370 Just a moment. We're going to celebrate the 227 00:15:46,370 --> 00:15:50,630 Lord's Supper together. It's an invitation to remember. 228 00:15:50,790 --> 00:15:54,270 Jesus the Incarnate. One who inaugurates the Kingdom 229 00:15:54,270 --> 00:15:57,230 as. King and Philippians too, it 230 00:15:57,230 --> 00:15:59,310 says. Of him that he came to. 231 00:15:59,390 --> 00:16:05,790 Us as a servant, he came to us. Holding the very nature of God, 232 00:16:06,030 --> 00:16:10,070 but did not consider a quality with God something to be used to 233 00:16:10,070 --> 00:16:11,470 his. Own advantage. 234 00:16:11,870 --> 00:16:16,320 Rather, he made himself nothing. By taking the very nature of a 235 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:19,840 servant and being made in human likeness, and being found in 236 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:24,920 appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to 237 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:29,840 death, even death. On a cross, therefore. 238 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:35,200 God exalted him to the highest place, and gave. 239 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:39,920 Him the name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus 240 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:45,110 every knee should. In heaven and on earth and under 241 00:16:45,110 --> 00:16:49,830 the earth and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus. 242 00:16:49,830 --> 00:16:57,470 Christ is Lord to the glory. Of God the Father, oh Father, 243 00:16:58,510 --> 00:17:02,510 your Kingdom come. Let's pray together. 244 00:17:03,310 --> 00:17:05,270 Heavenly Father, we set our lives. 245 00:17:05,270 --> 00:17:08,430 Before you, and we pray that each of us would. 246 00:17:08,430 --> 00:17:13,869 Know like Lumida. And our one unique life, how you 247 00:17:13,869 --> 00:17:16,750 would have us operate as ambassadors? 248 00:17:16,750 --> 00:17:21,190 As emissaries. Of the embassy of Kingdom of 249 00:17:21,190 --> 00:17:24,109 Heaven. That in every space at which we 250 00:17:24,109 --> 00:17:27,230 occupy together. And scattered through this city, 251 00:17:27,630 --> 00:17:30,390 we would become. Your people praying. 252 00:17:30,710 --> 00:17:34,910 But also reflecting the life and character of the king. 253 00:17:35,510 --> 00:17:37,670 Some of us are working in places where. 254 00:17:38,010 --> 00:17:43,090 It seems like the Kingdom of heaven is so far away, and so we 255 00:17:43,090 --> 00:17:45,610 pray and we wait for change. We. 256 00:17:45,610 --> 00:17:48,890 Pray and we wait for change. We try to be the. 257 00:17:48,890 --> 00:17:51,370 Change that we envision with you. 258 00:17:51,530 --> 00:17:54,850 Lord Jesus. But we pray that there would be 259 00:17:54,890 --> 00:17:58,610 a day. A little day of the Lord among 260 00:17:58,610 --> 00:18:01,290 us Where? Something would change. 261 00:18:01,290 --> 00:18:05,650 Suddenly, quickly, it would. Become evident. 262 00:18:06,350 --> 00:18:09,710 But the rule and reign of. God is there in that place. 263 00:18:10,310 --> 00:18:13,270 That there is righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy 264 00:18:13,270 --> 00:18:16,990 Spirit. In that place and in that people 265 00:18:16,990 --> 00:18:27,430 let's stand together, gave thanks for it, and then broke it 266 00:18:27,910 --> 00:18:31,270 and said, this is my body broken for you. 267 00:18:31,830 --> 00:18:54,010 Do this in remembrance of me. Again at the end of the. 268 00:18:54,010 --> 00:18:58,770 Supper Jesus took the cup, and he said this cup is the new. 269 00:18:58,770 --> 00:19:03,890 Covenant in my blood. Do this whenever you drink it in 270 00:19:03,890 --> 00:19:11,970 remembrance of Me. The Scripture says that whenever 271 00:19:11,970 --> 00:19:15,610 you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the 272 00:19:15,610 --> 00:19:18,850 Lord's death. Until he comes, Come, Lord 273 00:19:18,970 --> 00:19:19,850 Jesus, come.