THY WILL BE DONE
THY WILL BE DONE
Jesus taught His disciples to pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10 KJV).
In the final analysis there are only two kinds of people in the world. First, those who do the will of God and second those who do their own will. First, those who say to God “Thy will be done” and the second those to whom God says “Thy will be done”. The first seek to serve God. The second seek to serve themselves. The first will be eternally saved. The second will be eternally lost.
Remember! Jesus leads the first group and Satan leads the other.
m Satan is the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4) He didn’t submit to God and he doesn’t want anyone else to (Is. 14:12-15; Ez. 28:14-17).
™ God has permitted satan to be temporarily in charge of the kingdoms of this world, and God has temporarily permitted him to give them to anyone he wants to (Lk. 4:6)
m John expressed it clearly: “The whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 Jn. 5:19).
John also wrote clearly about Jesus: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 Jn. 3:8). Originally there was no rebellion, only God. With creation came rebellion. In the end all who rebel will be destroyed and God will again be “all in all” (1 Cor. 15:24- 28).
m While earthly kingdoms are temporal, God's kingdom is eternal and will never be destroyed (Dan. 2:44). Jesus is the King of that Eternal Kingdom (Jn. 18:37).
m John the Baptist said was sent by God to prepare the way for this kingdom. Both John and Jesus preached: “repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand”(Matt. 3:2; 4:17).
m Jesus spoke often about this kingdom. Among many other teachings, Jesus promised this Kingdom to the poor in spirit and the persecuted (Matt. 5:3,10). Obviously His kingdom is not of this world (Jn. 18:36).
m Jesus promised that some of those who heard Him would not die until they saw the Kingdom of God come with power (Mk. 9:1)
m This kingdom did come and believers are a part of it (Col. 1:13).
mM It is obvious that those in a kingdom obey the king. No one can call Jesus Lord and not do what He commands (Lk. 6:46).
As we have said, the kingdom did come 2,000 years ago. Those who surrendered to King Jesus
were delivered from the dominion of darkness and brought into the Kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Col. 1:13). As we have also said, in the end of the world when Jesus has destroyed all dominion,
authority, and power, then there will be no rebellion and His Kingdom will encompass everything and everyone in heaven and on earth (1 Cor. 15:24-28).
Pilate asked Jesus if He was a king? Jesus answered that of course He was a king. This was why He was born and why He came into the world, but as we have said, His Kingdom was not of this world, that’s why the followers of Jesus didn’t fight to deliver Him (Jn. 18:37). Believers in Jesus can therefore have a dual citizenship. We can be a citizen of an earthly kingdom while at the same time
also be a citizen of heaven (Phil. 3:20). Our submission to King Jesus, however, always take precedence over our allegiance to any earthly authority. We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).
THE ORIGINAL SIN
The original sin was in heaven. It was there that Lucifer rebelled against God. That's why he was cast down to earth. Isaiah described it like this:
“How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart,“I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.” (Is. 14:12-15)
Since the wicked one was cast down to earth he has been quite successful for: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). That is, at some point, all have made the same choice that satan did to do our own will and not the will of God.
Adam and Eve were the first humans to make this choice. They could freely eat of every tree in the garden except one. There was only one prohibition in all the earth. In the midst of the garden was a tree known as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God said that they could eat of every other tree in the garden, but not this one. That's when they decided to do their own will and disregard the will of God. That single tree and that single act symbolize all sin. Sin is “I want, what I want, when I want it”. This is precisely the way that Satan thinks! This is precisely the way that Adam and Eve acted.
This poem by Ruby E. Zeafla was in the April “96 monthly newsletter of the Voice of the Martyrs”
You cannot pray the Lord’s Prayer and even once say "I." You cannot prayer the Lord’s Prayer and even once say "my." Nor can you pray the Lord’s Prayer and not pray for one another. And when you ask for daily bread you must include your brother. For others are included . . . in each and every plea. From the beginning to the end of it, it does not once say "me." THE PRODICAL SON Perhaps the most popular parable told by Jesus is the parable of the Prodical Son (Lk.15:11-32).
His journey away from his father began with the desire to run his own life. As we have said, this is the precisely the way that Satan thinks. To avoid any possible influence from his father this selfish son
went to live in a far country. There he wasted his money in riotous living. When a famine arose in that land he hired himself to a citizen of that country to take care of some pigs. Just think of it. The son who wanted to run his own life was now taking orders from a total stranger. Adding insult to injury, his job was to take care of pigs. This was the most despicable job a Jewish boy could imagine. Further, the penniless lad was so hungry that he actually longed to eat the same food the pigs did.
Then he “came to his senses”. It was like he had awakened from a bad dream. It finally dawned upon him that the wicked one had tricked him. Enslaved and starving he realized that his father’s hired servants were better off than he was. In this lucid moment he resolved to go back home. Note the change in his attitude. When he left home he said “give me”. When he returned home he said “make me”. How beautiful!
The story has a happy ending. After the long journey home the father saw him while he was still a long way off. Obviously the father was watching for his return. Then the father “ran” to his “son” and threw his arms around him and kissed him. After hearing his sons confession he called for his servants to quickly bring the best robe for his son to wear. Then he ordered that a ring be put on his finger and shoes on his feet. Then they killed the fattened calf and had a feast of celebration.
No wonder this parable is so popular! SELF DENIAL
As you know, there is not room for two people to be on the throne at the same time. Either God is on the throne, or you are on the throne. Self denial is an inescapable requisite for following Jesus. Jesus said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Lk. 9:23).
Note that taking up our cross is a “daily” experience. Like weeds in a garden “self” has a way of showing up every day. After the Ten Commandments were given the Lord gave to Moses a special warning against “self” (See Ex. 20:22-26). Note that in association with the prohibition against idolatry, worshipers of God were forbidden to make an altar made of “dressed stones”. Using a tool to decorate or shape an altar defiles it. Why? Perhaps it is because if a worshiper shaped the stones he might admire his own works rather than focusing on God. God is a Jealous God and nothing in our worship is to detract from Him!
This prohibition against self worship is relevant in every generation. Consider our own generation, for example. “We” often come to worship concerned about how “we” look and what others will think about “us”. “We” sit like spectators and judge what “we” see by how it appeals to “us”. Did “we” like the music? Did “we” think the church was friendly? Did “we” think the Bible lesson was interesting? Wouldn’t it be better to ask what God thought about it?
Listen to what Isaiah had to say about worship: “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Is. 6:1-3)
After seeing the Sovereign of the Universe on his throne Isaiah said: “Woe to me!” After seeing the majesty of God he came to the bitter realization that he was a man of unclean lips, dwelling among people of unclean lips. The fact that Isaiah’s sinfulness is associated with his lips is significant. Remember! “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34). What we “say” reveals what is in our heart! We need to be careful what we “say” about everything, especially the church.
JESUS TAUGHT US HOW TO PRAY
Jesus did not teach His disciples “a prayer”, He taught them “how to pray”. The hypocrites shaped their prayers to please men (Matt. 6:5-9). We are not to not be like them. We are to mentally withdraw from the world around us and focus on God. Or as Jesus said: “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen”. When we blot out those around us and pray “Thy will be done” we are acknowledging that what God wants takes precedence over our selfish desires. As we have already pointed out, the words “I”, “my”, and “mine” are not in the Lord’s Prayer. To pray as Jesus taught us to pray requires that we enter into a new dimension of thought.
Karl Marx composed the following poem. Note how similar it is to the words of Lucifer.
“Words I teach all mixed up into a devilish muddle. Thus, anyone may think just what he chooses to think With disdain I will throw my gauntlet full in the face of the world, and see the collapse of this pygmy giant whose fall will not stifle my ardor. Then will I wander godlike and victorious through the ruins of the world and giving my words
an active force, I will feel equal to the Creator.”
Marx’s self worship resulted in the deaths of over 100 million people. Wikipedia quotes from R. J. Rummel's book Death by Government (1994), and estimates that 110 million people were killed by Communists from 1900 to 1987. Jesus was correct that the devil has been a murderer and a liar from the beginning (Jn. 8:44). Unfortunately, Karl Marx was like his master.
The model prayer is also found in Luke’s Gospel (Lk. 11:1-4). In this passage we are told that after the disciples saw Jesus pray, they came to him saying: “Lord, teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples”.
It is interesting to note that while the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, they never asked Him to teach them to preach.
INVITE JESUS INTO YOUR HEART Someone has correctly observed that I cannot by my own will overcome my own will. We need divine help to accomplish this mission. Paul said it like this: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).
The cure for self worship is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). Christ loves you and actually wants to be invited into your heart. He said: “Here I am! I stand at the door and
knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Rev. 3:20).
CHRIST IS KNOCKING AT YOUR HEART, PLEASE LET HIM IN! THEN YOU WILL FIND IT EASY TO PRAY “THY WILL BE DONE”!
This lesson was prepared by Boyce Mouton. No rights are reserved. You are free to use this material in whole or in part for the glorification of Christ and the advancement of His Kingdom.