Be Kingdom-Minded, Not Religious
Luke 11:1-6
1 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."2 So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."
Many people refer to this passage as the Lord's Prayer, but it is more accurately the Lord's teaching on prayer. The disciples did not ask Jesus to pray for them; they asked Him to teach them how to pray.
The Lord Jesus prayed in John 17:1–3. “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: 'Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 "as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
Jesus’ instructions regarding prayer were:
From His teaching, Jesus gave six important principles of prayer:
Honor and worship God by acknowledging His holiness and greatness - Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Pray for God's Kingdom to come and for His rule to be established on earth. Heaven is the believer's eternal reward after faithfully fulfilling God's purpose on earth. - Your kingdom come.
Pray that God's will be done on earth just as it is in Heaven, so that our lives, families, communities, and nations reflect His divine order. - Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Depend on God daily for every need, trusting Him as our Provider - Give us day by day our daily bread.
Forgive others so that we may also receive God's forgiveness. - And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone indebted to us.
Ask for God's protection from temptation and deliverance from the evil one. - And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Jesus consistently preached the message of the Kingdom of God. His mission was not to establish another religion but to restore God's reign in the hearts and lives of people.
This truth is also reflected in the events surrounding His crucifixion. While Pilate, representing the Roman government, sought to release Jesus, the chief priests and religious leaders demanded His execution. The political authorities found no fault worthy of death, yet the religious establishment rejected the very One whom God had sent.
John 19:4 “Pilate then went out again, and said to them, "Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him."”
John 19:6 “Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him."”
From the beginning, God's purpose has been the establishment of His Kingdom on earth. The first Adam was created to exercise dominion over the earth under God's authority (Genesis 1:26–28). When Adam fell, that dominion was corrupted. The last Adam, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:45), came to restore what was lost by reestablishing the Kingdom of God and reconciling humanity to the Father. Through Christ, believers are once again called to live as citizens and representatives of God's Kingdom on the earth.
Luke 8:1 “Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him,”
Matthew 24:14 “"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
Dr Lawi Mshana, +255712924234, Tanzania
