We’ve moved on from the harrowing ideas and concepts of Father, Heaven, Holy and Name in the first line of the Lord’s prayer. Tonight we start moving beyond what we could argue as establishing the cosmic pecking order of the universe and moving into the realm of petitioning, asking God for stuff.

It would be wrong for us to not allow for this very important aspect of prayer to take place when in fact much of the Lord’s prayer is about Asking God for things.

But this particular line, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” is an extraordinary prayer request simply because it doesn’t yield simple answers to our basic questions. Why? What? How?

We’ll try and unpack this line using these as a framework.

Why would we pray this in the first place? Why would God expect us to pray this? This is a very interesting question to be throwing at God.

In Christian terms we hold a belief that there will be an end to this world and it’s dis-ease. We look forward to a time when the lion will lie down with the lamb, when there will be no more suffering and no more tears. We look forward to a new period in history where evil is vanquished and we return to the utopian state that was the Garden of Eden. But it’s not just a dream that Christians hold. It’s a dream shared by everyone. Everyone connects with the idea that life can be better than what it is. Everyone pursues happiness like it’s something that lasts. Everyone has this idea that we are improving somehow and heading towards something better.

This is one of the basic tenets of hope. That there can be an improvement to this existence. This is why lotto is so successful. This is why gambling works. Sure there’s the thrill of playing the game, but that thrill comes about only because of the possibilities you’ve entertained should you win. The anticipation is inspiring. It’s like a drug for some people.

Technologists are still telling us that one day we will be superhuman, augmented by technology with all sorts of implants. That the human race is destined to either, colonising another planet, or inhabiting a network of wires and computer chips. Downloading our consciousness to the internet for the rest of actual eternity.

These dreams of a better world fuel the idea of cryogenics : a number of people have had their bodies frozen should there be the technology in the future to revive them.

So as Christians we see beyond that, beyond the physical reality and limitations of this world and say that perfection comes at the end of earth. Jesus comes again, and depending on where you sit on the theological spectrum, everything sorts itself out eventually.

The day will come when the lamb lies down with the lion.

And that is how we view God’s kingdom. That is what we are often hoping when we ask God for his kingdom to come. And we could leave the why question alone if that’s all that this first line had in it. “thy kingdom come.” We would be happy about this end times hope, this idea that Jesus will return and all we are doing in asking this is actually just buying into while vocalising that hope. And that would be the reason why we would pray that.

But, to complicate things, the second part of the petition clarifies what it is exactly that we are asking.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

If the prayer was about heaven replacing earth in a supercataclysmic end times scenario, then what is the point of saying this second part? The second part is actually talking about the present. The now. It’s a prayer about how things not only ought to be, but can be. It’s tying God’s kingdom with reality now.

Indeed there is a verse in Matthew: From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.

[Matthew 11;12]

As things are done in heaven, so should they be done on earth. You can take it to mean, however things are done up there, we want the same attitude and outcomes down here.

This is the kingdom we pray would come. Why prya this? Because it’s really possible that this can happen here and now. This is the actual possibility.

God’s will as described in this passage has less to do with a divine plan and blueprint and more to do with a divine mode of living. God’s will was not that Jesus go mechanically to the cross, but that he would go obediently, of his choosing to the cross. God’s will is not mechanical, it’s actually volitional, it’s our choice. It’s something we actively participate in. it’s all about doing things, whatever it is and that’s our choice, for the glory of God. This is how it is in heaven. Beings, glorifying God, singing Holy Holy Holy, not because it’s a worship song, but because they can do nothing else. Giving glory to God is not meaningless repetition “Glory to you God,” but when done in response to grace, is actually something that transforms us, makes us, gives us meaning. It is in giving glory to God that we find meaning in this life.

This is the will being done on this earth as it is in heaven. God oriented action, at all times, dedicated and painful, faithful and suffering, that God be given glory, not for his ego, but for the meaning of life.

So we’ve started to intrude into the second question of what. What is the purpose and outcome of this part of the prayer?

It’s purpose is not to bring about the second coming. It’s purpose is to engage us in the reality of our role on this planet to participate in God’s will. The kingdom of heaven is like this, said Jesus: Matthew 13:45–52

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad.

So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.”

And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

Now these are extraordinary statements. So let’s talk about them.

Now, that is the what. That is the reason for us to pray for this. Because the kingdom of heaven is all about the response to the good news of Jesus. Repent and be baptised is how John the Baptist said it:

7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”

11 In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.”

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”

13 He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.”

14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,

what a staggering set up words. And it is here that we get yet another perspective of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of Heaven demands that we treat people with kingdom values. Giving dignity, life and wealth to those who have none of them.

This is the prayer that we are praying. That we actually are the ones that participate in this. The next two lines reflect this reality. Give us this day our daily bread AND forgive us our debts as we forgive those who are in debt to us. Lead us not into tempation but deliver us from evil. They’re all tied together into this kingdom values.

We automatically assume sin when we talk about debt, but there is good reason to believe that this is not the only way of reading it, that this also includes the very real financial debt forgiveness. Is it possible then to be a Christian banker?

The reality of what we are praying in the kingdom petition is that we are aligning ourselves with it’s values.

That’s the what.

Now for the how.

WE’ve all got the point of this I suppose. But how will this happen? How are we going to move into praying this petition with integrity? How are we going to at the same time as asking, be doing it?

It’s a big question. It’s a real big question. And it’s only something you can answer.

What are you going to do?

Let’s wait upon God to hear his voice. Let’s let the Spirit do the talking.

Amen.