February 22

THY KINGDOM COME
by Ray Prinzing

"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."                                                         (Matthew 6:9-10).

The negative forces would daily affirm that this cannot be, and with the constant crisis and turmoil in the world, the present rule of corruption and evil, until "he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey,"  (Isaiah 59:15), it does seem to be an almost impossible dream.  But Jesus clearly taught that when the situation was so bad that men's hearts would fail coming on the earth," then we are to take courage.  "For when these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand." (Luke 21:26,28,31).

But even before the full kingdom age is manifested, the scriptures also teach that there are those who "have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the world (age) to come."  (Hebrews 6:5).  Surely even now the firstfruits are tasting of this power, authority of the age to come, and they are learning to bow in submission, to pray from their innermost being, "not my will, but Thine, be done."  And HIS KINGDOM is beginning to reign in the hearts of men.

Surely "the kingdom of God cometh not with observation," (Luke 17:20), so that men may say,  "Lo, here; or, Lo, there."  For His kingdom is among us, yes, within us, as daily we learn to submit to His sovereign rule.  The Son, Jesus Christ, must rule until all enemies - all self-will, rebellion, lust, strife, within has been brought in His control.  Then will He deliver the kingdom up to the Father, that God might be all in all.  It is an everlasting kingdom, but in ascending degrees its glory expands.  When all is delivered up, given over to the Father, it is that greater revelations might be realized than those confined to the "Son realm," for the lesser is swallowed up into the greater, and the "in part" into the whole, glorious kingdom of God!