Word for Word
A Kingdom Life Byte to Meditate On
by Pastor Steve Oden
When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, Jesus gave them a model prayer, a framework for our prayers called the Lord’s Prayer. In this prayer, the Lord teaches us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” I’m sure many reading this have prayed this phrase often, but what does it really mean, and how do we, in answer to this prayer, bring about His will and Kingdom into the earth?
To get an understanding of what Jesus was saying, we need to go back to the beginning. God’s earliest and original plan, His original intent for man was firmly established in the beginning, and this is found in the book of “beginnings,” the book of Genesis in the Bible in the first chapter. “On the sixth day God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created them, male and female He created them. So God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.’”
God intended man to have dominion on the earth and subdue it in legitimate stewardship (not worship it). That was man’s only job description. Man was not directed to have dominion over other people, yet most problems in society stem from man trying to have dominion over another man. Where do wars, oppression and murders come from? Or closer to home, many divorces? These are examples of “illegitimate ” dominion.
But, God’s original job description for man, the first Adam, was stolen and lost. That’s what thieves do; the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy. The devil, in hatred for God, cunningly usurped this great privilege from man, and God’s plan and intent became corrupted. With this sinful abdication of responsibility, things did not go well for man and ultimately creation. But the Good News is that God had a wonderful plan of restoration.
Fast forward now four thousand years. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” A father brought his son to the disciples, but they could not set him free from his infirmities. Later the disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t get it done. Jesus told them that it was because of their unbelief. There are only two reasons Jesus ever gave for failure to the accomplishing of God’s will- unbelief and traditions of men. Jesus said that the traditions of men “make the Word of God of no effect through your traditions which you have handed down, and many such things you do.”
Jesus, the second or last Adam, exemplified the legitimate dominion and authority that man was originally to walk in. Through Jesus’ birth, life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension, all that was lost and stolen in the beginning was reinstated. This is Good News! Jesus emptied Himself of everything that was God and became a man, a human being. Jesus was able to do the things He did because He was a man anointed by the Holy Spirit, not because He was God. Therefore, Jesus could confidently make the claim that the same works He did, we could and would do also- even greater things because He would go to the Father.
As our example, Jesus walked upon this earth as a man exhibiting Kingdom dominion and authority. A few examples of this would be as follows: dominion over the weather/elements (spoke to and calmed the storm), turned water into wine, walked on water (Peter did too), raised the dead, cast out demons (dominion over dark forces), healed all sickness and disease (dominion over germs and bugs/creeping things), cursed/spoke to a fig tree and it withered in 24 hours (dominion over living things), recreated body parts (the high priest’s servant’s ear), multiplied a few fish to feed thousands, commanded fish to gather for a net-breaking, boat-sinking catch (dominion over the fish of the sea), exercised dominion over sin (He was sinless), and had authority to forgive sin. “And you know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and power, Who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him.” Acts 10:38 Jesus never dominated over another man’s will, but He never compromised the truth either.
For us to now walk in God’s plan of Kingdom dominion and authority, those of us who call ourselves followers of Christ and sons of God in the earth must know, believe and act upon what God has said about us in His Word. “Forever O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven.” God’s Word is settled in Heaven, but we must settle it on earth. This desire to walk in dominion is in our hearts; it was put there by God Himself when He created us. God knew you before the foundations of the world; He knew you before you were conceived in your mother’s womb. His DNA is in you. When we walk like Jesus and do the works He did, His Kingdom is advanced and His will is done on earth as it is in heaven. This results in righteousness, peace, joy, life and blessing; Christianity is good for the world.
Be blessed as another season shifts in color.
