When we recite the Lord’s Prayer “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. ” – KJV I suspect most of us feel that we are requesting a future event associated with Christ’s millennial reign and/or the New Jerusalem of Revelation where God dwells with his people. However, Jesus gave us this model prayer early in his ministry in the context of a series of instructions on how to live differently than the self-righteous religious leaders. It was part of his teaching on how to live in the kingdom of heaven. He had just begun his ministry by calling “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – KJV  In other words, “Get ready, here it comes.”

Throughout his ministry Jesus instructed his disciples on how they should live, demonstrating his message by his actions. They were to spread the good news about the coming of the kingdom of heaven and in the process they were to demonstrate it by healing the sick, cleansing lepers, raising the dead and casting out demons. Later, after informing his closest disciples that he would suffer and die, then rise up alive after three days, he warned them that if they wanted to follow him they would have to do it his way even when they didn’t understand it. They would suffer as he would, but the rewards would be great. “This isn’t pie in the sky by and by. Some of you who are standing here are going to see it happen, see the kingdom of God arrive in full force.” – The Message As the time of his arrest, trial and crucifixion drew near, he said “The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it.” – The Message 

Jesus had promised them that his leaving would be to their benefit because when he returned to the Father he would send the Holy Spirit to instruct and empower them. When he appeared to them after his resurrection, he said “What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you’re equipped with power from on high.” – The Message  Then, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and they were empowered to carry out the work Jesus had entrusted to them. The kingdom of God had arrived in full force.

So we are living in the midst of the kingdom of God today. As Jesus said, “The kingdom of God doesn’t come by counting the days on the calendar.  Nor when someone says, ‘Look here!’ or, ‘There it is!’ And why? Because God’s kingdom is already among you.” – The Message So spread the good news that the kingdom of God is here and demonstrate how to live in it as Jesus has called us to  do.