PRAYING ABOUT THE KINGDOM

Sunday Morning:  February 15, 2004

Text: Matthew 25:34  "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:"

WARNING

Matthew 7:21  "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

ENTRANCE DENIED

1 Corinthians 6:9-10  "Know ye not that the unrighteous [unjust] shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither (you can be unjust and not be a) fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

SEEK THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Luke 12:31-32  "But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

SEEK THE KINGDOM FIRST

Matthew 6:33  "But seek [present tense] ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

PRAY FOR THE KINGDOM TO COME

Matthew 6:9-10  "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

PRAY AND DON’T FAINT

 Luke 18:1  "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint [weary];"

LOVE GROWS COLD

Matthew 24:12-13  "And because iniquity [lawlessness] shall abound, the love of [the] many (called unto his kingdom and glory) shall wax cold. 13. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved (delivered)."

FERVENT PRAYER

James 5:16  ". . . The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

RENEWED BY PRAYER

2 Corinthians 4:16  "For which cause (the glory of God, v.15) we faint [weary] not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day."

DON’T FAINT

Galatians 6:8-9  "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the (Abba) Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting [age, (life in the kingdom age)]. 9. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

JESUS, OUR EXAMPLE

Hebrews 12:3  "For consider him (Jesus) that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds [souls]."

ACCORDING TO HIS WILL

Matthew 26:39-42  "And he (Jesus) went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. 40. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 42. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."

 

LET US NOT SLEEP

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8  "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."

WATCH AND PRAY

Luke 21:29-36  "And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree (nation of Israel), and all the trees (many nations); 30. When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 32. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 34. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things (verse 34) that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."

GLORIFIES THE FATHER

John 14:13-14  "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

ASK WHAT YE WILL

John 15:7-8  "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples."

ASK IN MY NAME

John 15:16  "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."

PRAY IN JESUS NAME

John 16:23-24  "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."

HIS NAME

Revelation 19:13  ". . . his name is called The Word of God."

THE WORD OF GOD

Luke 8:10-11  "And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God (sown seed): . . . 11. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God."

THE JOY OF THY LORD

Matthew 25:23  "His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL

Romans 8:26-27  "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

GOD’S WILL FOR US

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  "Rejoice always; 17. pray without ceasing; 18. in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."