The Kingdom of His Will

            

             Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.                Matthew 6:10

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind [deo – forbid] on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [luo – permit] on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."                             Matthew 16:19

Truly [amen – it is a trustworthy statement] I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.   Matthew 18:18

During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spent much time on the subject of prayer. Matthew 6:9-13 is what people recognize as "The Lord's Prayer," but it is more appropriately "The Disciples' Prayer". Jesus did not give this prayer to us to be memorized and recited over and over again (vain repetitions), but rather as a manner or pattern to use in prayer to God and not as a substitute.

Prayer is the honest intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to Him. It presupposes a belief in the character and nature of God and His willingness to enter into discourse with His creation to accomplish and fulfill His divine purposes. It is beseeching the Lord for help, a pouring out of the soul before the Lord, seeking God's answers for particular situations and concerns. Prayer intends to glorify God's name and to ask for help to accomplish His will on earth. Prayer prepares us for the proper use of the answer.

This particular prayer begins with an acknowledgment of who God is: He is Our Father, He resides in heaven, and He is holy, to be hallowed. Once this position is established in the believer’s mind, the emphasis is on God's kingdom and God's will. Robert Law has said, "Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man's will done in heaven, but for getting God's will done in earth." Desiring God’s will over man’s will is the process of allowing God’s kingdom to come, to become a spiritual reality in the believer’s life. 1 John 5:14-15 represents God’s kingdom in operation: This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

God did not create the heavens, the earth, and all they contain to leave them to their own devices, standing back and allowing natural laws to rule the universe. Jesus promised Peter and then the disciples, representing true believers in Christ, the keys of the kingdom. Those keys are available to all who are willing to set aside their own will to make the Lord's will their highest priority, forbidding what God forbids and permitting what God permits. Matthew 18:18 begins with the word "Truly", the Greek amen, meaning “it is a trustworthy statement.”

From the Heart

Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.                             Ephesians 6:5-8

Paul likens the commitment he has in his relationship to God as slavery. He and other church leaders refer to themselves in their letters as bond-servants, the Greek word doulos, meaning servitude to another, his will being consumed by the will of another. Slaves' responsibilities to their masters are outlined here. Slaves were to obey their masters with respect, fear, and sincerity, as a service rendered to Christ, consistently, with inner motivation (of heart, and from your heart), and wholeheartedly. Their reason for this servitude and service to the Lord is the reward for such commitment. Only He can accurately and impartially judge their performance and motivation. It is this heart that creates a true follower, one who fully functions within the kingdom.

An Eternal Kingdom

Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven; Daniel said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding. “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. “To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for You have given me wisdom and power; even now You have made known to me what we requested of You, for You have made known to us the king’s matter.”                Daniel 2:19-23

“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever [alam – a period of time with no limit]. “Inasmuch as you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will take place in the future; so, the dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy."                      Daniel 2:44-45

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and did homage to Daniel, and gave orders to present to him an offering and fragrant incense. The king answered Daniel and said, “Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of [yada – made known] mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.”                  Daniel 2:46-47

In the second year of King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign in Babylon, he received a series of dreams that troubled him greatly, to the point that he had difficulty sleeping. He called for the wise men of his kingdom to interpret the dreams, but he refused to tell them the dream itself, to make sure of the integrity of the interpretation. The wise men pleaded with the king to reveal the details of the dreams, without success. Their response in Daniel 2:10 was “There is not a man on earth who could declare the matter for the king, inasmuch as no great king or ruler has ever asked anything like this of any magician, conjurer or Chaldean.” The king gave orders to destroy all of the wise men of Babylon, including Daniel and his three friends.

Daniel went to the king and requested some time, that he might interpret the dreams. Daniel recruited his friends to pray with him that Daniel might hear clearly from God. He heard from God in a night vision and gave the God of heaven full acknowledgment that “You have given me wisdom and power; even now You have made known to me what we requested of You, for You have made known to us the king’s matter.” The vision revealed a series of kingdoms that would control the world from Daniel’s time until the end. That end would come when the Messiah would establish His eternal kingdom after destroying those who opposed Him. The story of man is a history of man’s kingdoms standing against God and His people until another man-made kingdom would rise up to establish its authority on earth. Ultimately, man’s kingdoms have no standing with the God of heaven; the Messiah’s first coming implemented a spiritual kingdom until He arrives a second time to rule the world from Jerusalem.

This process proved to the king, one of the most powerful men in history, that Daniel's God is all-knowing and all-powerful, and no human could ever hope to change that reality; that God is also a revealer of mysteries to demonstrate care for His creation. Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and did homage to Daniel, thus demonstrating His knowledge and control over human history.

Transformed

Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present [paristano – cause to stand] your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed [metamorphoo – change one’s form, transfigured] by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove [dokimazo – prove by testing] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.                          Romans 12:1-2

The mind controls the body, and the will controls the mind. Many people think they can control their will by "willpower," but they usually fall short. Paul’s confession in Romans 7:15-21 confirms that willpower is not the answer since it is the sin resident in him, a spiritual condition that requires a spiritual solution: the law of the Spirit of life in Christ. It is only when the believer yields his will to God that His power can take over and give him the willpower (and the won't power) needed to be a victorious Christian. It changes the dynamics of the situation through the renewing ministry of the mind by the Holy Spirit. Living under the authority of the King, that is, kingdom life, receives everything needed to walk in victory, in Christ. Once man’s will is made subservient to God’s, the transformation is energized to bring the believer into the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.

Your Sanctification

Finally, then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification [hagiosmos – separated unto God]; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality [porneia – any sexual perversion or sin]; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.                     1 Thessalonians 4:1-7

Paul established the church at Thessalonica on his second missionary journey and had been especially concerned about their welfare. In 1 Thessalonians 3:10, he wrote, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith. As he addresses the subject of the will of God, he is instructing them in matters that he has heard have been particular church matters. The Thessalonians lived in a pagan environment in which sexual looseness was not only practiced openly but was also encouraged. In Greek religion, prostitution was considered a priestly prerogative, and extramarital sex was sometimes an act of worship. 

His first instruction was designed to produce a greater sense of sanctification, and it begins with the churchgoers' walk and attention to abstinence from any sexual immorality. Paul called his readers to avoid it, implying the need for exercising self-discipline, enabled by God's Spirit. Christians are to avoid and abstain from any and every form of sexual practice that lies outside the circle of God's revealed will, namely adultery, premarital and extramarital intercourse, homosexuality, and other perversions. To a Christian, the will of God is clear: holiness and sexual immorality are mutually exclusive. No appeal to Christian liberty can justify fornication. Paul’s letter to the Romans included the following instructions: and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God (Romans 6:13). The kingdom of God is represented by a purity of living.

Living with Purpose

Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose [ennoia – what is in the mind, intent], because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.       1 Peter 4:1-2

For the gospel has for this purpose [touto – cause] been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.  1 Peter 4:6

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.                          Hebrews 10:36

Living with a purpose or for a holy cause provides meaning and clear direction to accept the daily challenges of life in the context of the perfect will of God. The one who has firmly resolved, when called to it, to suffer, even death, rather than deny Christ, has found purpose in suffering. Jesus suffered to the extent of dying, and the Christian who has embraced his divine purpose will willingly suffer, if necessary. Peter’s transition from denial to full acceptance of his holy call invites the spiritual ability to accept suffering without regret. Living in the Spirit creates an endurance and a conviction that the believer will receive all that God has promised. The perfect will of God is on the other side of Christ’s cross. Instead of observing Jesus at the foot of the cross, the believer sees life from the cross, with Jesus crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20), so he is now living the life of Christ as his own. The central point of time is Calvary, when kindness and truth met together, and righteousness and peace kissed each other (Psalm 85:10).

His Kind Intention 

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us [proorizo – determined beforehand] to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention [eudokia – good pleasure] of His will.                          Ephesians 1:4-5

In all wisdom and insight, He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ.                        Ephesians 1:8-10

for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work [energeo – provides enablement] for His good pleasure.                          Philippians 2:13

It is clear from the above verses that Paul understood that the will of God for believers to be adopted sons would be motivated by His kindness and benevolence from before the foundation of the world. Anticipating the fallenness of mankind, God’s plan for him was to create an avenue based on His grace and man’s faith through the solemn work of the Son of God to experience the life of God while still living in time and space. God's grace is given to enable believers to understand His will. 

God gives them wisdom, objective insight into the true nature of God's revelation, and understanding, the subjective apprehension of it. Believers are then able to grasp something of the divine purpose of the ages and to see its relevance in the present time. This is accomplished because God made known to us the mystery of His will. The fullness of the times Paul references is the Millennial Kingdom, when all things will be brought under the authority of Jesus, the Messiah, and the summing up of all things in Christ. God makes His own both willing and desirous to do His work. 

Doing Right 

For such is the will of God, that by doing right [agathopoieo – doing good] you may silence [phimoo – muzzled as an ox] the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-slaves of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.                         1 Peter 2:15-17

Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.                          1 Peter 4:19

When we do something in the will of God and as the servants of God, then we are doing it for the Lord's sake. God has willed that we silence the critics by doing good, not by opposing the authority. To be muzzled refers to the pagan critics who were like a pack of yelping, snapping dogs! Someone may argue, "But, as Christians, are we not free?" Yes, we are free in Christ, but we must never use our freedom for ourselves.

Peter also speaks about those who suffer according to the will of God. The suffering referred to here is not as a consequence for some wrong committed, but suffering because one is a believer. God Himself places believers where they are, and it is God who permits the suffering. Knowing that God is faithful and that as Creator He is in control, believers can entrust their souls to Him and do good and what is right despite the outcome.

 

For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother" (Mark 3:35).