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[0:00] Pray then like this. Father in heaven, we are grateful for who you are.

[0:38] We are grateful for your kindness and for the grace that you have shown us in Christ. We are grateful for sending your Holy Spirit. We are grateful for new life.

[0:53] We're grateful for voices and friends. We're grateful to have your word. Thank you for giving us the privilege and the opportunity and the desire and the motivation and the will to be here this morning to gather with your people for a time of worship.

[1:17] We pause for a moment this morning and we consider other churches gathering for worship both in our community and around the world.

[1:27] Thank you for the Hansons and their return to us from the Philippines. Please watch over and bless the church there. Thank you for the privilege that they had of enjoying time with them and a Sunday morning and for Brian having opportunity to give the gospel.

[1:45] Please continue to bless and encourage watch over and protect that gathering of your church. Please help us as we now consider your word.

[1:59] Help us to listen carefully and discerningly. Help us to pay attention and not to be a distraction to others around us.

[2:09] Help us to consider these things that we are about to hear and to evaluate against your word whether these things are true. And help us if we find that they are true to submit to those things to believe and to obey what you have called us to in your word.

[2:27] We ask this for your glory and for our good in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Do you like to play games?

[2:39] I'm not thinking this morning so much about board games. I'm thinking about playground games. Owen, do you like to play games on the playground?

[2:51] What is your favorite playground game? Magic. I couldn't remember what that game was called. Is that the one where you have to stay on all of the equipment?

[3:02] Okay, so it's like freeze tag but on the equipment, right? Kind of how it works. I could not remember that one yesterday when I was trying to think of it. Who else has a favorite playground game? Elam?

[3:15] Ball tag? Is that kind of like a combination of dodgeball and freeze tag? Yep. Okay, so that makes sense. Anybody else over on this side just to make sure that we get an equal distribution?

[3:26] We don't tip one way? No? Okay? Okay, so freeze tag, dodgeball, hide and seek. I thought of the game Capture the Flag.

[3:36] I don't know if you guys are familiar with the game Capture the Flag. You like to play that one? Good. I'm glad. Me too. I think me too. All of these games have some kind of a playing field.

[3:52] They have an area where you are playing. You can't go out of bounds. Now, sometimes that area is more or less defined. Typically for dodgeball, it's a little more well defined.

[4:05] But think of a game like hide and seek. You can still kind of run wherever you want in the area, right? But you can't like go to the next school and hide.

[4:16] You got to stay in the field of play or it would not be fair. Capture the Flag is an interesting game. It's kind of like hide and seek, except in hide and seek, you're waiting for someone to say, ready or not, here I come, right?

[4:33] And then they are going to come and find everybody. Capture the Flag. You are trying to make your way to the other side of the field, the enemy territory, if I can say it that way, and grab some kind of a flag or a cone or whatever and then bring it back.

[4:49] If you play Halo or Call of Duty, right, you probably have played like a Capture the Flag style version. We used to play this at Bible camp. Tim, I'm glad it was your favorite.

[5:00] It was also one of my favorites. You know what happens if you're on the wrong side of the field and you get caught, you go to jail. It probably won't surprise you to know that my favorite part of playing Capture the Flag was not trying to get the flag.

[5:17] I would always just go try to rescue people from jail. One reason is because if you got someone out of jail, if you made it to jail without getting tagged, then you could hold their hand as you made your way back across enemy territory.

[5:36] And Lois was at camp, you know, so it's like, come on. Followers of Jesus who pray, Hallowed be your name.

[5:52] We know that the Father's name is not always hallowed, don't we? That's why we pray that. We know that the Father's name is not always hallowed.

[6:04] The Father's name is not hallowed in much of the music and movies that are in our world. The entertainment industry is not primarily concerned with hallowing God's name.

[6:18] God's name is not often hallowed in our schools. God's name is not often hallowed in our justice system, although some would argue that it is at the core of our justice system.

[6:30] It's still true that injustice happens because the system is run by flawed, sinful people like us, and we participate in juries, and we just don't know everything, right?

[6:45] God's name is not hallowed in politics. This is a freebie. You didn't need me to tell you that this morning. God's name is often not hallowed in our neighborhoods.

[6:57] I saw somebody post on social media about somebody who had moved into a neighborhood and called that person a horrific name, and they don't even know them.

[7:11] I don't need to tell you that God's name is often not hallowed on social media. Sadly, sometimes God's name is also not hallowed in our churches and in our homes.

[7:24] Why is the Father's glory not maximized in all of these different places? Why is the Father's name not hallowed?

[7:38] Well, the answer is because of sin. It is because of sin. We are born into a kingdom of darkness, a kingdom of rebellion, a kingdom of death.

[7:50] This kingdom is not only the opposite of everything that is good and lovely about the Father, but this kingdom is actively opposed to the Father.

[8:06] Jesus describes this other kingdom this way in John 17, 25. He is praying to the Father, and he says this.

[8:16] Just reflect on these words for a moment. The world has not known you. That's the core problem, isn't it?

[8:30] That's the problem. The world, the kingdom that we are in, if I can say it that way, the kingdom that we are born into does not know you, Father.

[8:47] How sad. Next time you read these verses in John 17, don't skip over them so quickly. Pause for a moment and consider them coming from the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ, reflecting on this kingdom that he has been born into, though not a sinner like us, but surrounded by sinners like us.

[9:11] The world has not known you. What a tragedy. And what an opportunity. Hmm? What an opportunity for followers of Jesus to know the world has not known you.

[9:28] We have work to do. We have lives to minister to. We have a gospel to preach. We have love to show to our neighbors and our coworkers.

[9:42] When we pray, hallowed be your name, we pray this from within enemy territory. If I can say it this way, we are from the other team's side of the capture the flag field.

[9:55] And so, knowing that we are in, but not of, this kingdom of darkness and rebellion and death, Jesus teaches us to pray in Matthew chapter 6, your kingdom come.

[10:19] What is the Father's kingdom like? Who are the citizens of this kingdom? Well, in one sense, everyone is a citizen of the kingdom of God.

[10:35] In one sense. Because we read in Psalm chapter 24 and verse 1, and we shared it together during our call to worship, the earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord.

[10:49] So there is a sense in which the Lord is king over everything and everyone and everything that he has made is part of his kingdom.

[11:00] That's true in one sense. But there is another sense and it's the sense in which Jesus uses this word here. It is those who have been rescued from the domain of darkness.

[11:16] In other words, those who have been born again and those who are submitting to the rule of Jesus in their heart. We read about this in Colossians chapter 1.

[11:28] Ryan, do you remember when we taught the kids this in our basement? He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

[11:43] in one sense everyone is part of the kingdom but in the sense of the kingdom as Jesus uses it here it is exclusively those who have been rescued from the domain of darkness.

[11:57] Those who have been born again and trusted in Jesus for the salvation of their souls. Where did this kingdom originate?

[12:07] Where did this kingdom originate? Well, in one sense the kingdom originated at creation. That makes sense, right?

[12:17] Because God created all things. And so in one sense the kingdom originated because God is the creator and he created all things.

[12:28] But in another I think very interesting sense this kingdom originated at the incarnation. first at the creation but second at the incarnation when God became a man when the fullness of time had come and Jesus arrived on the earth when he took on flesh.

[12:51] Listen to Jesus' first recorded words in the gospel of Mark. Mark chapter 1 in verse 15. The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God has come near.

[13:10] You hear that? Has come near. It's me. I'm the kingdom Jesus is saying. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.

[13:25] Later in his ministry Luke records that Jesus exorcised a demon. Hear me carefully. He did not exercise a demon.

[13:36] He exorcised a demon. He threw a demon out. And when Jesus exorcised this demon some people said you only exorcised that demon by the power of the devil.

[13:53] Narrator they didn't care much for Jesus. They are twisting what is good and calling it evil. Serious darkness.

[14:07] So they say to Jesus you're only able to throw out these demons by the power of the devil. And Jesus his response is so so fascinating.

[14:19] I want you to see this Luke chapter 11 and verse number 17. Jesus is speaking. They've already made their accusation. Incidentally this comes just after Luke's recording of the Lord's prayer.

[14:31] Just after that they've made their accusation and Jesus verse 17 knowing their thoughts he Jesus told them every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction and a house divided against itself fails.

[14:48] Do you see Jesus' logic? You say that I throw out the devils by the power of the devil. You realize that makes no sense at all. And then Jesus goes on to say this in verse number 20.

[15:05] If I drive out demons by the finger of God then the kingdom of God has come among you.

[15:18] And notice this. When a strong man, Jesus is talking, when a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure, but when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, he takes from him all of his weapons that he trusted in and divides up his plunder.

[15:42] Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters. Who is the strong man that Jesus describes? It's the devil.

[15:53] Who is the stronger man that Jesus describes? He's talking about himself. I am the stronger man. I have come.

[16:03] The kingdom of God has come among you, and I have dealt with the strong man. He's about to be bound up, and I am plundering his kingdom.

[16:18] What is Jesus talking about? The kingdom originates at creation, the kingdom originates at the incarnation, and the kingdom originates at regeneration.

[16:33] When Jesus is talking about plundering the kingdom of the devil, he's not talking about all of the stuff. He doesn't need all the stuff. Jesus is talking about taking citizens who are part of the domain of darkness and freeing them from the domain of darkness and bringing them into his kingdom of light and life and love.

[16:57] That's the plundering that Jesus is talking about. John chapter 1 and verse 12.

[17:11] Jesus, John records this, he gave the right to be children of God to those who believe in his name who were born not of natural descent or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man but of God.

[17:28] What did Jesus say to Nicodemus in John 3? You must be born again. Why? Because if you're not born again you cannot see the kingdom of God.

[17:41] Where does this kingdom originate creation incarnation and that regeneration when Jesus plunders one more soul from the devil's dark domain and transfers them soul by soul by soul into his kingdom.

[18:01] Everyone who is born again and saved by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus is now a citizen of the father's kingdom and as a result of the spirit's work inside of our hearts we submit to Jesus authority as king now even as I say that I have to just slow my roll a little bit and pause because we don't submit to Jesus authority as king as some sort of a one time thing do we I don't know what your week has been like my week has looked like this whether or not I'm submitting to Jesus authority over my life but let me ask you this are you a citizen of the father's kingdom are you a citizen of the father's kingdom or are you still locked in trapped in the domain of darkness needing to be rescued plundered by

[19:08] Jesus away from the devil look again at Jesus instruction you should pray like this your kingdom come your will be done but I thought you said that Jesus kingdom was already here well I did say that and that is true Jesus did come and he did inaugurate his kingdom of grace and yet we find ourselves living in this time of the already and the not yet already in the sense of the kingdom has burst into the world at the incarnation with Jesus and we have been delivered from the domain of darkness but we are also part of the not yet because Jesus kingdom though inaugurated is not the exclusive kingdom and that's why we pray your kingdom come

[20:18] Jesus is not Jesus kingdom is not yet the only kingdom there is that other kingdom the kingdom that is the opposite of the father the kingdom that is opposed to the father the kingdom of darkness and rebellion and death Jesus kingdom is not yet the only kingdom but just you wait just you wait Jesus will return and he will purge darkness and rebellion and death he will banish sin and satan and selfishness and strife he will end all abuse and injustice do you look forward to that day church if you look forward to that day when everything that is wrong will be made right by Jesus then we should be people who pray your kingdom come but don't pray this insincerely don't just say these words and

[21:36] Jesus helps us guard against that type of praying when you pray your kingdom come you are asking Jesus to increase his rule his kingdom over your heart you see that we are not just waiting for the kingdom to come in the grand plan of redemption when we pray your kingdom come we are also asking Jesus to expand and enlargen and grow his rule over my heart I want more of your kingdom in my life and this brings us to the third request if you're keeping track in this prayer the first request hallowed be your name the second request your kingdom come and now the third request your will be done this is not a request that the events that are going to happen will happen that's not the kind of will that

[22:52] Jesus is talking about here this request is not that we would accept God's will over the events of our lives this request is that we would obey God's will this request is that the citizens of his kingdom and that includes you and me will think and respond and talk and act in accordance with the values of Jesus kingdom this gets to the heart of the matter doesn't it I may want the father's name to be hallowed and I may really want Jesus kingdom to come but I also a lot of times want my will to be done it is hard to be like

[24:03] Jesus Jesus said this in John chapter four his disciples offered him some food and in verse 34 Jesus says this my food is to do the will of him who sent me and finish his work in other words Jesus says I am sustained by obedience obedience is life giving for me it is hard to be like Jesus I am annoyed by obedience not not when people around me do what I want I'm annoyed when

[25:04] I have to obey I am not sustained by obedience like Jesus Jesus found submission to the father's will energizing do you know how we think about submission to someone else's will disadvantaging I'm not sure that's a word we think of it as a disadvantage but not Jesus anybody look forward to eating I think we all do in some way we look forward to eating we plan our lives around when we're going to eat and what we're going to eat I'm going to get this done and then I'm going to have lunch and then after lunch I'm going to do these tasks and then it will be time for dinner when I get up I am!

[25:54] going to have some breakfast we plan our lives this way Jesus looks forward to anticipates obeying in the way that we look forward to and anticipate and plan our lives around eating meals it is hard to be like Jesus and that's why praying your will be done is a declaration of allegiance to the father's kingdom when we pray your will be done we are saying I want to be more and more and more like Jesus more and more and more I want to be sustained by obedience to the father's will I want obedience to God to be what gives me life and joy and energy and so we pray moment by moment by moment throughout each day show me your will in this situation and then help me obey show me your will in that situation and help me obey show me your will for dealing with this difficult co-worker and then help me obey show me your will for dealing with my difficult child and then help me obey show me your will for how

[27:30] I ought to respond to my spouse in this situation that I can't make sense of right now and then show me how to obey moment by moment by moment give me grace to deal with that troublesome person on the playground who always wants his way and doesn't want to get along and then show me how to obey give me the strength and the courage to obey if you have children or if you know children I don't need to illustrate this it is very possible to obey begrudgingly bitterly reluctantly resentfully you you can all picture it on your child's face Jesus knows the weakness of our hearts he knows the power of the flesh that still resides inside of his people and so

[28:34] Jesus adds a crucial phrase at the end of this request look at it Matthew chapter 6 and verse 10 your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven how is God's will done today right now in this moment in heaven does anybody think that the angels obey him reluctantly or bitterly or resentfully begrudgingly of course not in heaven God's will is done promptly consistently constantly willingly enthusiastically wholeheartedly that's how

[29:36] God's will is done in heaven I wonder do you believe God's will is worth doing is it worth doing God's will we shouldn't pray this prayer unless we believe it's worth doing God's will because if we're going to pray this prayer and tack on this phrase and the end that I want to do your will I want your will to be done on earth right now in my heart as it is in heaven then we will not obey!

[30:10] reluctantly! wholeheartedly Jesus believed God's will was worth doing don't we see this repeatedly of course but in particular think for just a moment about those minutes maybe an hour or more in the garden of Gethsemane when Jesus is praying repeatedly under the worst of stressful situations horrible emotional pressure and distress knowing what awaited him at the cross and Jesus repeatedly prays not my will but your will be done think about Jesus at the temptation the devil offers him every kingdom of the world for one little bow and

[31:18] Jesus refused the temptation he would not accept the kingdoms of this world that way not until he had fully submitted to the father's will and gone all the way to the cross and suffered and died and born up under the wrath of God against your and my sin obedience is a declaration of allegiance and Jesus made his declaration loud and clear when he went to the cross there was no doubt where his allegiance lay it was not in the kingdoms of this world it was not in the pleasures and satisfaction and privileges that this world could have offered him it was in complete and humble submission to the father's will brothers and sisters you and

[32:24] I need this kind of single minded devotion to the father's will we should obey like the angels in heaven with joyful consistency why because obedience is a declaration of allegiance it is our privilege and our opportunity to state where our allegiance lies is it in the kingdoms of this world or is it in the kingdom that Jesus inaugurated and the kingdom that will come this declaration of allegiance means that we need more light and life and love in our hearts it means that we need more mercy and compassion and grace it means that we're going to live our lives in accordance with the upside down values of this kingdom that we read about in all of the parables where the last become first and the first become last and you read these parables and you scratch your head and you wonder that doesn't make sense do you know why it doesn't make sense because we're just too used to this kingdom that's why it doesn't make sense to us we need those values we need faith that starts small like a mustard seed and before you know it has flourished into a massive tree that all kinds of birds of the air can build their nests in we need generosity instead of stinginess we need strength to serve others we need wisdom to make choices we need forgiveness that is stronger than bitterness and humility that is greater than our pride and we need to ask for fruitful faithfulness rather than worldly success what happens when we ask for

[34:29] God's will to be done as it is in heaven in my heart start the answer to this prayer in me by God's grace and the spirit's power when you and I do this we take a little bit of heaven and we bring it on earth a little bit of more of those kingdom values of the heavenly kingdom are now on earth heaven on earth is not a piece of chocolate cake come on heaven on earth is when a little bit more!

[35:03] the kingdom of Jesus is present in this kingdom of darkness and rebellion and death like children who play hide and seek let's seek first the kingdom of God because even though we are in enemy territory right now one day Jesus will say ready or not here I come and with this hope in mind when you pray pray like this our father in heaven hallowed be your name your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven by the power of your holy spirit and by all of the sufficient grace that you give us help us to make a declaration of allegiance to the kingdom of light and life and love that has come and is coming and will one day fully be present with us father your word tells us that you have given us everything we need for life and godliness we need that reminder after we think about this text and we think about the urgency of doing your will on earth as it is in heaven we might leave this place feeling horribly bitter bent down and broken down under the weight of it all and yet your word assures us we have everything we need for life and godliness we have your word to guide us we have the holy spirit to fill us we have a community of brothers and sisters to encourage and correct us and we have this great hope that

[37:32]  Jesus will one day return and so until that day help us to be people taking a little bit of heaven and making it a reality on earth we ask this for your glory and our good in the name of our savior the lord jesus christ amen