Tag: Kingdom of God

On Prayer: A Theological Treatise

Prayer is often seen as a lifeline, a means to reach out and align with God’s will. In John 17, we glimpse Jesus’ profound final prayer before His arrest, echoing themes that shape how we might deepen our own prayer lives. This passage brings forth reflections on God’s glory, unity among believers, and the ultimate purpose of prayer—seeking the Father’s will in the world. In John 17, we see a natural extension of the foundational principles Jesus taught in the “Lord’s Prayer,” also called the “Our Father,” which provides a template of humility, submission, and reverence. Comparing these two prayers enriches our understanding of Jesus’ theology of prayer, offering profound insights into why and how we, too, should pray.

Glorifying the Father: The Prayer’s Foundation

Both the “Our Father” and John 17 focus immediately on glorifying God. Jesus starts by acknowledging the Father’s glory, teaching us that prayer’s essence is rooted in elevating God’s character, authority, and holiness. The “Our Father” opens with “hallowed be Thy name,” directing the focus away from self and toward God’s sanctity. John 17 expands on this, with Jesus asking, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You” (John 17:1). Here, Jesus models that glorification of the Father is inseparable from the life of obedience and humility. He shows us that through prayer, we align our desires with God’s purposes, leading to His glory as the ultimate goal.

In this light, we are reminded that effective prayer is less about what we want and more about what God desires. Jesus frames prayer as a means of drawing into God’s redemptive work, illustrating that glorifying God is not only a matter of words but also of aligning our lives with His purposes.

“Thy Kingdom Come”: Unity in Purpose and Fellowship

In the “Our Father,” Jesus teaches us to ask, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” This phrase invites believers to submit to God’s authority in every realm. John 17 further illuminates this concept as Jesus prays for unity, asking the Father to protect His followers and make them one as He and the Father are one (John 17:21). This unity is central to God’s kingdom vision—a community living under His reign, reflecting His love and holiness to the world.

Unity, as Jesus prayed for in John 17, isn’t merely harmonious living; it’s the fruit of shared allegiance to the Father’s purposes. He calls believers to unite not in conformity but in shared pursuit of divine will, realizing His kingdom in tangible ways. Unity and alignment with God’s kingdom are keys to effective prayer, fostering a perspective that prays not solely for personal desires but for the advancement of God’s purposes through the Church.

“Deliver Us from Evil”: The World and Sanctification

Jesus’ prayer also addresses protection and sanctification. In the “Our Father,” He asks the Father to “deliver us from evil,” a request mirrored in John 17 as Jesus asks, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). This reveals a key theological stance: our lives are intended to intersect with the world, yet remain distinct from its influence. Jesus doesn’t call for withdrawal from worldly challenges but for perseverance within them, under God’s guidance.

This is a powerful call to engage the world while remaining consecrated to God’s service, highlighting prayer’s role in equipping us to remain faithful amid spiritual challenges. Sanctification, therefore, is not about isolation but about intentional living that embodies God’s truth. Prayer is both our line of defense and our sanctifying strength, rooting us in God’s purposes as we live among those who may oppose our faith.

The Purpose of Prayer: Alignment with God’s Heart

Both prayers embody one overarching purpose: to align us with God’s will, deepening our relationship with Him. The “Our Father” provides the structure, and John 17 provides the heart. As Jesus intercedes for His disciples, He shows that prayer is a means of transformation and connection, rather than simply a way to fulfill personal desires. Prayer shapes our hearts, aligning them with God’s, enabling us to desire His kingdom more deeply than our ambitions.

In closing, the purpose of prayer is not merely the action of requesting but the transformation that occurs as we enter God’s presence and submit to His purposes. It is in this ongoing relationship that our prayers become part of God’s work in the world, uniting us with His mission and character.

Pray, then, as Jesus did—not only to seek answers but to align your heart with the Father’s will, glorify His name, and live in His sanctifying presence. And as we pray, we come closer to fulfilling the Lord’s ultimate vision for His kingdom, empowered by a relationship that seeks Him above all else.

Signs of the Times

In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus presents a sweeping vision of future events, but His primary focus is not the “when” of His return. Instead, He emphasizes how we should live as we wait. With each reference to “wars and rumors of wars” and natural upheavals, Jesus reminds His followers that these are “birth pains”—a hint of what’s to come, not an invitation to speculation or fear.

Jesus’ call is clear: live prepared and purposeful lives, grounded in faith and action, rather than chasing easy answers or living in anxiety. In Matthew 24:42, He warns, “Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” This watchfulness isn’t about decoding every event; rather, it’s about daily faithfulness to the work He has given us—the Great Commission.

Living with “signs of the times” in mind doesn’t mean abandoning our daily work or waiting passively. Jesus calls us to earnestness and perseverance, fully committed to the tasks at hand: sharing the gospel, serving our neighbors, and loving each other sacrificially. Each of these actions builds His Kingdom here on earth, a Kingdom that He promises will withstand any upheaval.

But faithful living also requires discernment. It’s tempting to become preoccupied with “answers” about the end times. Jesus knew this tendency, which is why He warned us against false messiahs and “false prophets” who “will deceive many” (Matthew 24:11). While we are to be wise and watchful, we shouldn’t let sensational claims distract us from Jesus’ clear command to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

If we believe Jesus will return—and He will—then our lives should reflect that hope. It’s a hope that compels us to action, to plant seeds of faith in others, and to nurture our relationship with God. We persevere not because we know the date of His return but because we trust His promise and see the urgency of the gospel.

So how do we wait well? We live ready, open to His call at any moment. We pursue His mission wholeheartedly, not distracted by every new “sign” but anchored in the lasting promise that He is coming. Each day, we choose to love, serve, and share the gospel with those around us, reflecting Jesus’ love in all we do. When we live with this kind of readiness, we not only await the return of our King, but we bring His Kingdom to life in the here and now.

Title: Power vs. Responsibility: Thoughts on Christian Leadership

Christian leadership is fundamentally different from worldly leadership, where authority is often equated with power and influence. Jesus, however, flips this script, embodying and teaching a leadership style built on responsibility and service rather than control. In Mark 10, after James and John ask for places of honor, Jesus clarifies that greatness in His kingdom is marked by servanthood, not status: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” (Mark 10:43-44). In Matthew 20 and Luke 18, Jesus reinforces this servant-first mindset, revealing that real influence in God’s kingdom doesn’t depend on personal gain or ambition but on a commitment to the well-being of others.

Even Jesus Himself, the ultimate leader, demonstrates this humility and submission. Though He has been given “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18), He attributes this authority to the Father’s will. He willingly submits to the Father, revealing that true authority is always accountable to God. This accountability isn’t about restriction but rather about anchoring leadership in divine responsibility. Jesus models that Christian leaders are responsible not only for leading others well but also for living under God’s guidance, accountable for how they steward the trust and responsibilities given to them.

The world measures leadership by power and control, but in God’s kingdom, leadership is defined by humility, service, and self-sacrifice. True Christian leadership is not an exercise in authority but an act of profound responsibility and accountability to God and others. As we seek to influence those around us, may we remember that we’re not called to make our own mark but to humbly serve in a way that reflects Jesus, our ultimate leader.

Prayer 101 with Professor Jesus

Prayer was one of the most profound gifts that Jesus left to His followers, and He didn’t leave us without guidance. In fact, He taught us exactly how to pray in both Matthew and Luke’s Gospels, offering us a template that goes beyond mere words. It shows the heart and posture we should have in our communication with God. But is this prayer meant to be a formula we repeat, or does it highlight the essential attributes our own prayers should reflect?

When Jesus teaches us to pray with the words “Our Father,” He sets the foundation: prayer begins with relationship. God is not some distant deity, but our loving Father. This familial term invites us into a close, intimate space with the Creator of the universe. But it’s not all about us, is it? The phrase continues, “hallowed be Your name.” We are reminded to approach God with reverence, seeking His glory above all else. This balance of intimacy and reverence is crucial—prayer isn’t just casual conversation; it’s communion with the Almighty.

As we move through the Lord’s Prayer, we see a pattern emerge: acknowledge God’s holiness, align ourselves with His kingdom purposes, ask for daily sustenance, and seek forgiveness while extending it to others. This pattern shapes the priorities of prayer. Jesus is showing us that prayer isn’t simply about rattling off requests. It’s about inviting God’s kingdom into our hearts and lives, shaping our desires to match His.

What’s more, Jesus’ teaching on prayer doesn’t stop with the Lord’s Prayer. He goes on to compare God to a neighbor who is initially reluctant to help but finally gives in to persistent knocking (Luke 11:5-8). At first glance, this comparison can seem strange, even irreverent. Why liken God to a reluctant neighbor? Jesus is not saying that God is annoyed by our prayers, but rather highlighting the power of persistence. The point is clear: even a grumpy neighbor eventually responds to persistence. How much more will our loving Father hear us when we come to Him in prayer?

Persistence, reverence, alignment with God’s will, and trust in His provision—these are the marks of prayer that Jesus teaches us. It’s not about mindless repetition, nor is it about manipulating outcomes. Instead, it’s about being deeply rooted in relationship with God, seeking His will, and trusting Him to provide.

When we look at Jesus’ other prayers in the Gospels, such as His prayer in Gethsemane, the same elements are present. Even in His darkest hour, Jesus submits to the Father’s will, trusting in the goodness of God’s plan even when it meant His own suffering. This pattern of trust, surrender, and persistence permeates all of Jesus’ prayers, giving us a clear model for our own.

Ultimately, prayer isn’t about getting what we want. It’s about becoming the kind of people God can use to bring about His kingdom. We pray not to change God’s mind, but to align ourselves with His heart.

Uncredited

The tension between Jesus and the Pharisees is unmistakable in John 7–8. While the Pharisees were preoccupied with protecting their reputation and holding onto their authority, Jesus consistently pointed back to the Father’s glory, not His own. He challenges them — and us — with a radical reorientation: working for the Kingdom requires humility and surrender. It’s not about seeking recognition or credit but about serving God’s greater purpose.

Jesus exemplified this throughout His ministry. Even when performing miracles, He often asked people to keep it quiet, showing that the work of the Kingdom wasn’t about personal fame. His focus remained on fulfilling His mission, regardless of whether He received public acknowledgment. In Luke 9, we see something similar when people who were eager to follow Him were held back by their personal concerns. Jesus’ response was direct: Kingdom work demands total commitment, not partial loyalty based on how much recognition we might get.

This teaching pushes against our modern desire for affirmation and recognition. Whether we serve in ministry, at work, or even in our personal lives, the temptation to crave acknowledgment can be subtle but real. The problem comes when our pursuit of credit eclipses the mission itself. If we work for applause rather than for God’s glory, we miss the essence of what it means to serve in the Kingdom.

Paul’s words to the Corinthians give clarity here: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). It’s a reminder that we’re not here to build our own reputation but to serve the One whose Kingdom is eternal. The challenge for each of us is to ask: Who am I serving, and why? Is my desire to be recognized greater than my desire to glorify God?

At the end of the day, there’s only room for one name on the marquee. Should it be yours or Jesus’?

What Happens When Signs Overshadow the Savior?

In the Gospels, we often see Jesus performing miracles, but what’s strange is that after He heals, delivers, or raises the dead, He frequently instructs those involved to tell no one about it. This pattern, known as the Messianic Secret, raises a compelling question: why would Jesus not want people to spread the news about these incredible works?

One possible reason is timing. Jesus knew that His mission to the cross was central to His work on earth, and drawing too much attention to the miracles could lead to premature confrontation with the authorities. If the crowds focused on Him as merely a miracle worker or political messiah, it might derail the real purpose of His coming—to suffer, die, and be resurrected for our sins.

But beyond the timing issue, there is something deeper. Miracles, as extraordinary as they are, were never meant to be the main event in Jesus’ ministry. Miracles are signs, pointers to something greater: the message of the Kingdom of God. This is where the tension arises. In modern church movements like the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), there’s often an emphasis on signs and wonders. Churches like Bethel in Redding, California, have drawn crowds by emphasizing supernatural manifestations. While these events can be powerful, there’s always the danger of the miracles becoming the focus rather than the deeper spiritual realities to which they point.

Jesus never wanted the works He performed to distract from the real mission. In fact, He consistently framed His miracles within the context of repentance and faith. The people He healed, the demons He cast out, and the dead He raised all pointed to His divine authority to forgive sin and usher in the Kingdom of God. The miracles alone weren’t the point—the real message was the Good News that the Kingdom was breaking in.

Consider how this might apply to us today. Are we more interested in the “show” of Christianity—seeking blessings, miracles, and experiences—or in the substance of the Gospel? Jesus is concerned with transforming hearts, not just with external displays of power. His desire is for us to follow Him, not because He can perform miracles, but because He is the Savior.

So what about us? When we hear stories of healing or deliverance, do we praise the miracle, or do we worship the God behind it? Do we get caught up in the excitement of signs, or are we allowing those signs to lead us deeper into a relationship with Christ? Jesus’ call is clear—seek first His Kingdom. Miracles, signs, and wonders can only take us so far; it’s the Gospel of repentance and faith that changes our hearts and brings eternal life.

In modern Christian culture, there is a subtle danger of becoming spectators, seeking out experiences that make us feel closer to God while avoiding the hard truths of surrender and repentance. The Messianic Secret reminds us that Jesus didn’t come to build a spectacle—He came to save us from sin. And sometimes, that means quietly following Him, not for what He does for us, but for who He is.