Sermon
Pastor Jacob Miles*
Matther 6:10
“your
will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
*Not his real name. Name changed for security
reasons.
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Introduction
On a day when Hell seemed closer than heaven, on a day when the darkness of night seemed to stretch into the day, On that day we needed to be reminded that God’s plans are real and unstoppable.
The day I am speaking of is September 11, 2001. The reminder came as we all hear that on flight 93 a struggle had taken place, But before the struggle-Todd Beamer was on the phone from the plane with his wife Lisa, and in his last conversation with her they together recited the Lord’s Prayer. What appeared to be the supreme work of the evil one was defied by the fact that there is a God in control, and Heaven is near.
In this section of the Lord’s prayer, Christ transports us out of our grounded setting and celestialfies us. He reminds us of the current dwelling place of God. Heaven- and how the expansion of God’s will on earth is becoming more like his rule in heaven.
Now this man from heaven draws us into God’s realm. A place where the name of God is hollowed, where his kingdom is in full operation and a place where His will is done.
By looking at the Lord’s will through the eyes of heaven we will better pray like this model prayer. By spending a few minutes near heaven we will better approach the king of heaven.
As Jesus desires the will of God being done on earth, he compares it to the will of God being done in heaven.
I. The comparison of heaven and earth is not strained or extreme
A. There is an element of sameness
1.We are both Humans and angels called into being by the same creator
Rev 4:
11 “Worthy are you,
our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
2. We are both heaven and earth, sustained by the same sustainer.
3. We will both have the same end and the same recreator. Someday the thorns and thistles will pass away.
4. Both heaven and earth are governed from the same throne.
5. Same inhabitants The redeemed and the redeemer are in both places.
Heaven Up there they are with Christ and here he is with us. The church on earth is in a room of the great house of faith, and the partition that separates us from the church above is a paper thin veil.
In scripture the leadership of earth is not relinquished to the devil while leaving heaven in the hands of God.
If God is ruler of all created, shouldn’t every part of the creator’s handiwork become equally radiant with his glory? Should there be a disparity between the will of God performed in heaven and in earth?
B. The comparison of heaven and earth by Christ is not strained. Because he knows the similarity of our histories.
So this prayer is a call to return to the old times and ancient patterns. Before the gate of Eden was shut and the way blocked and guarded-
The God of heaven walked with Adam
It was the garden of the Lord
I Cor 13:
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.
With similar histories, Jesus is calling us to entreat the God of heaven to make happen here what Jesus knows is happening there.
C. The comparisons of heaven and earth by Christ is not strained because he is keenly aware of the futures we share.
New doesn’t mean fundamentally different, but vastly superior- like a new car.
Romans 8:19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
D. Jesus is not straining in comparing the two, because the two are truly similar. We use earth-borrowed language to describe heaven.
-Heaven is a kingdom with Thrones, crowns,
Heaven is a city with Mansions, dwelling places, It’s architect is Jesus himself
Heaven is a wedding feast and a banqueting hall with saints eating at the marriage supper of the Lamb, while we do the same here today.
Point I conclusion
The partition between earth and heaven is thin, our home country is much closer than we think. Heaven is our adopted fathers home. It is near. Jesus names heaven two times in this short prayer, so that we begin to think of it as a near reality. Jesus is exposing the thinness of the veil between the two places.
When Jesus prays and when we pray, “your
will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.” We are asking-Let all the
children of the one father be alike in doing his will. Bring about a
consistency throughout your realms by all, everywhere doing your will.
The idea of comparing heaven and earth seemed Good to Jesus and I hope now we see why. It has a 1. Sameness-creation 2. Similar History-Fall, Creation 3. Similar futures- Recreation, 4. And so similar that we have to use the same language to describe them.
How is that comparison now, helpful in informing our prayer?
I. Jesus gives us this comparison because it is vitally instructive.
When speaking of heaven is it common to have the conversation shut down by the quoting of this verse.
I Cor 2:9 But, as it is written,
“What
no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
However, the passage opens the door wide to consider the subject of the Christians future.
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
So let us look at our future by looking at the present of those who have died in Christ. This is a comparison of two Places.
On one side we have Heaven the dwelling place of God, and on the other we have earth- the focal point of God’s redemptive attention. How is it instructive?
I am not moving to a discussion of how do I know the will of God, but how is doing the will of God informed by what we know of Heaven?
A. God’s will is DONE in heaven.
How awesome would God be if there were individuals, both angels and humans spending time in God’s presence and not doing anything he desired?
So Jesus lets us know that, “In heaven”, God’s will is DONE.
In heaven God’s will is daily work.
What then, exactly, is being done?
Eating Luke 14: 15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”
Working without toilsome labor
Worshipping and encouraging others to worship Re 22:3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.
Reigning with Christ II Tim 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
Rule the world and the angels I Cor 6:2-3
Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!
Serve God Rev 7:15 “Therefore they are before the throne of
God,
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
The doing of God’s will is like doing something for the president, by those who work for the president.
Here is a picture of the president’s helicopter.
When this helicopter Lands either here or on foreign soil it signifies that the leader of the united states has arrived. As that helicopter is landing everyone clears away from the landing point, except one individual. Amidst the wash of the rotors from the most powerful helicopter stands a lone marine. Waiting for the chopper to land and to open the door for the president. One of those men is Matthew Crombie. He is part of the Marine detachment assigned to the presidential helicopter division. I wanted a glimpse into his world and called him.
Each morning two other marines double check every part of his uniform. He awakes at 5:00 am and performs 12 hour shifts. Along with the Secret Service, He is assigned to protect the president.
Imagine Matthew Crombie knowing that the president was coming to Washington from a foreign visit and Matthew saying, “Gee, I am so tired, can we just let the president open his own helicopter door today and worry about the door some other day.
Now transport yourself into heaven where we have visions like Isaiah and Ezekiel. The improbability of those around the throne not doing the will of God is minor compared to Matthew Crombie not performing his job.
We are in the presence of the creator of all 200 nations, of all billion galaxies, of all trillions of stars of all centillion planets. In His heaven, His will is done.
Transition Gods will is done in Heaven
B. God’s will is done in heaven with a passionate desire and an undivided heart.
Those In heaven around the throne are described as wearing fine linen, Washed garments, white robes. All signifying a righteousness that is not natural. They are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Their righteousness clothing symbolizes the inward transformation as well as a declaration by God. They have the righteousness of Christ. They are able to be in God’s presence.
The idea that Heaven is boring is a misunderstanding of God and righteousness, and is a lie perpetuated by Satan. God is infinitely rich in pleasure giving.
Hell is the most boring of places and the sin that lands a person in Hell is enslaving and dull. Sin is not that which is exciting, but that which robs us of excitement.
All that was conceived perfectly finds its source in one creator.
We were created for a life of righteous living and we were created to perfectly love God, and we were created to bring Him glory and joy. As people capable of righteousness in heaven God’s will is their delight.
Heaven is God’s home, the dwelling place of the one who is infinite in creativity, goodness, knowledge, beauty and power. How could a home with Him be anything less than thrilling?
There is no thinking that we will do this for God and then we will get onto better things. The saints in heaven live fully aware of their relationship with God and desire to please him only.
C. God’s will is done in heaven flowing out of an adoption relationship.
This last week Carol* and I turned in our application to adopt another child from China. With it we did another gut check- will we accept another child to love-no matter how that child acts, looks, changes, complains, cops and attitude.
Last December our family went to the adoption agency to receive a picture and answer a question. We sat at a table and they plopped a folder in front of us with two pictures of Karilyn. After a few moments of awkward conversation, the director of the orphanage came over and said, She’s a Tinker” Carol* looked at me and said, ”She sure is a thinker” At that moment she was not a thinker, but my daughter.
God looks past more than looks-He had to die for the sin that made us a ugly.
Again God did not choose those presently in heaven based on anything they had done, rather on his desire to meet their needs.
Paul several times speaks of the adoption relationship we have with God.
Ephesians 1:5-6 In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
Romans 8:14-17 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Carol* and I received Karilyn when she was 13 months old. She needed to spend time with us and needed to trust us. Recently, I have been working at directing her mobility, and she has been working at acting two. These seem to be at odds. Interestingly, she responds the same way our natural born children did at this stage. Her 13 months away from us did not program her to not want to come when called, it is her will that is at odds with mine, not her adoption. I cannot, nor do I want to erase her will. I want her will in tact as she obeys my instructions.
God’s adoption of us is not about us needing a new parent, but needing a new life. We must be born again. Karilyn will need to be adopted by God, not because we are bad parents, but because she needs a new heart.
In heaven, saints gladly do the bidding of God, because like us they have a new heart, and beyond us they no longer have the world, the flesh and the devil to contend with on a daily basis.
I liken our time on earth to the waiting period of those six weeks between getting our match of Karilyn and the moment we were in her presence.
As God’s adopted children we can do God’s will, but it is in the context of a battle against the world, the flesh and the devil. Many times these blur the clear reality that we are the adopted children of God. BUT WE ARE!
D. God’s will is done in heaven constantly and without failure.
The man from heaven, Jesus, said in John 4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
We are also informed by heaven that the will of God is not put off.
Here is a contrast of the man from heaven, Jesus, and the men from earth, his disciples.
Matthew 26:36-46 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
Do you see the contrast?
The men from earth are so easily tired and not keeping their focus on the will of God. In this case Jesus asking them to pray for themselves.
While all along God is praying for his work on our behalf.
Paul writes In the context of death and a future heaven I Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
I find it difficult to keep going. To string two solid hours of prayer together for me seems like an impossibility. I heaven God’s will is never put of nor is there any tiring of doing that will.
E. Gods will is done in heaven universally, without selecting any particular part of his will for obedience or neglect.
I have said this to my children many times, “Partial obedience to is disobedience.”
Now said with our passage in mind. Partial obedience to God’s will is disobedience”
Down deep inside I really want God to let my will be done.
God, I will get to your will later, and I will only do the part I want to do.
Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’
If it is the Lord’s will then the decision has already been Made---By God.
Eph 1:11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
This requires knowledge of the whole council of God.
This requires knowing the book where the will of God is revealed.
This word of God reveals his will—his redemptive plan and it has not yet been translated into the majority of languages in the world.
1 billion people will fall into be without the ability to hear about Jesus.
F. God’s will is done in heaven joyfully and without weariness
Close your eyes and imagine the place where this kind of joy is possible.
Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Isaiah 65: 17-19
“For behold, I create new heavens
and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
and her people to be a gladness.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and be glad in my people;
no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping
and the cry of distress.
A saint transported into God’s presence who lived near to God here, will not be astonished, but pleasantly enraptured by seeing God’s glory more clearly.
This comparison of heaven and earth is instructive because:
It is constantly being Done---With passionate, undivided hearts---in the context of an adoption relationship, to the great delight of those doing His will.
III. The comparison is only a valid comparison if it is being accomplished.
It must both be deepening and Expanding. Deepening in the quantity of the Lord’s will we know and do. Expanding in the number of people doing his will.
Some say, “Heaven is A place of perfect service.”
I say on Earth we have greater opportunity to actually do more that has more effect for the King.
We have Jungles with unreached peoples-There aren’t any in heaven.We have slums with unclothed image-bearing individuals. In heaven all are clothed and fed.
To pray this prayer is biblical, to live willing to have the God of this prayer use you in doing his will that is supernatural. It requires a vision of the God of heaven. It requires a new heart WILLING to follow the God of heaven.
Suppose Todd Beamer in this room. If he were to come to church next Sunday, I would want him to preach. I would want to sit with him at the church picnic. I would want him to come home with me and tell me of my God. I would want him to tell me where this paycheck could best be used. I would want him to drive me to the place where they think the Hollowing of God’s name is not yet happening and then watch him lift up God’s name.
I
would want to pray with him “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Charles Wesley took the Lord’s Prayer and made this verse. And it is a fitting conclusion to this morning’s time together.
Yea, Amen! Let all adore thee,
High on thine eternal throne;
Savior, take the power and the glory:
Claim the kingdom for thine own:
O Come Quickly!
Alleluia! Come Lord come!