Scripture: Matthew 6 v 9 - 15: "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
This prayer was given to us by Jesus and is the perfect prayer that includes every spiritual and physical need we may have.
We pray this prayer often but we need to understand what we are praying for so that we may do our part in putting God's will into action. We have a covenant with the Father that depends on both parties being in agreement and activating it properly.
This covenant includes the establishment of God's kingdom on this Earth. It's promise is for every human to enjoy the abundance of blessings the Father has for His children. However, there are many billions of people who reject this covenant and replace it with human rulers in whom they place their trust for a better life for all.
Israel did this in the time of Samuel the prophet. 1 Samuel 8 v 6 - 7: "But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them."
The Lord commanded Samuel to tell them how an Earthly king would demand taxes, soldiers of their sons, workers in vineyards, farms and kitchens, and all manner of contributions to run his kingdom. This was what the people wanted. A human leader, a king, to protect them. They rejected the Lord's reign over them.
In many nations this idea has become democratic rule through governments that are meant to serve the people. Our taxes pay their salaries and keep the state functioning so that all should prosper from its resources. Sadly, corruption and greed have overturned these plans and divided people into classes.
The upper class are rich and own much land. The middle class are prosperous through industry. The lower classes, the biggest group by far, suffer the most and have the least. This eventually devolves into protests, anarchy, rebellion and greater hardship.
The greatest prosperity is found in the Kingdom of God on Earth as it opens up the treasures of Heaven to everyone that seeks after truth, righteousness, peace and His presence. Abraham heard His voice and followed Him out of Ur, a city of idolatry, into the Promised Land of Israel, where he had great prosperity spiritually and physically.
Christian prosperity is not the size of your bank account, but the joy of having your needs met, and having fellowship with our Father in Heaven. He answers prayers on every level: finance, healing, deliverance, education, protection, business, trade, church, government, peace, weather, and life.
He may not give us exactly what we ask for, but may change it to bless us in an even better way. He knows every need of ours before we do but He wants us to ask so that when it comes we will remember His love for us.
Deuteronomy 8 v 17 - 18: "And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day."
Never forget that the Lord your God gives you power to get wealth and that when you bless those in need He will bless you abundantly too. When we understand the full impact of our prayer, 'Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be one on Earth as it is in Heaven' we will be shocked out of our complacency.
We are praying to re-establish what Israel had with the Lord before they asked for an Earthly king. We are praying to obey God's will rather than man's will, even our will, and we need to understand what we are really saying.
We need to know the perfect will of God for each one of us every day, every hour of every day, and put His will into action. We have to be conscious of His presence so we correctly discern the nuances of changes He makes and follow them faithfully.
This is the walk of Faith in the Spirit in the light and life of Jesus. No wonder He says in Matthew 7 v 13 - 14: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
So to achieve the walk of faith we must enter by the strait gate, which is narrow but it leads to life. Jesus says only a few find this true pathway. It is not visible to the naked eye but to those who determine to seek for Him and follow Him unashamedly and who do not conform to the standards of this world.
When we know that we cannot have the best of both worlds, that we cannot serve two masters and are committed to living in harmony with Jesus, then we will be fruitful and prosper in all things. There is no greater joy than this.
It may seem to most people that this is a huge leap to take. Remember it starts with one step and as we continue on the path to life, each step becomes a victory and the power of the Holy Spirit is upon us to be witnesses to Jesus of the life He has given us, and the power and the glory of God's Kingdom on Earth.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we choose to do Your will so that Your Kingdom will come and be established here. This will last for a thousand years before there is a new Heaven and a new Earth. You will restore the oceans, planet, animals, air above it back to the way You created it. Pure, without poison, without war, without abuse. You will restore those who love You in truth and righteousness to our "original settings"! We long for it Lord! In Jesus' name. Amen.
