Kingdom People

As Christians, we follow Jesus in the midst of a world that is lost and broken.  This is often incredibly challenging, particularly in this ‘cultural moment,’ given the current global, political, economic, relational, and social realities that surround us. I want to take a moment to lead us in prayer as a church.  

Before we pray, let me say a few things as your priest:

In a world where things like injustice, conflict, and hostility prevail, we need to remember that we are FOLLOWERS OF JESUS

As we consider this cultural moment:

• • The events of the past few weeks south of the border (the murder of Charlie Kirk, school shootings, increasing violence)…. 
  • Prepare for ‘Truth and Reconciliation Day’ this Tuesday… 
  • Navigate political and Economic pressures here in our own country
  • Give Witness to wars and Injustice across the Earth

Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 6 are incredibly significant:

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ... ³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6.25; 32-33

In places of Anxiety - Jesus calls us to: Be anxious for nothing, but to seek first the Kingdom of God.  As we strive to walk as followers of Jesus in this world, I encourage you to remember three things:

1. Never Forget - As followers of Jesus, you are Kingdom people

We are, as the Bible puts it, a Kingdom of Priests - Exodus 19.6, Isaiah 61.6; 1 Peter 2.9; Revelation 1.6

When asked about the Kingdom, King Jesus said this:

³⁶ “…My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” ³⁷ Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Central to any Kingdom is the King.  We can confidently rest in the unshakable fact that our King is sovereign and has all authority.  Jesus rules an unshakable kingdom with justice and truth, and at the very foundation of his rule is LOVE.

2. Never Forget - LOVE is always the way of the Kingdom:

Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ says:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.   Matthew 22:37-40

As followers of Jesus, LOVE is to be at the core of everything we are.

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13

There is nowhere, and to no one, to whom this commandment does not apply!!

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  Matthew 5.43-45

3. Never Forget - To Abide in Love

If we are to walk in Love, we MUST Abide in Love.

⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁹ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” John 15

Where are you abiding? If you spend more time with media and social media than you do in the word and in prayer, that will not end well for you.

This is the way of the Kingdom…

“⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4

I commend especially to you the Book of Common Prayer and the practice of morning and evening prayer.  As I have prayed with the Lord over the past few weeks, the scripture readings and prayers have formed and shaped my heart in an incredibly grounding and beautiful way.  However you go about it, I admonish you to PRAY about everything!

The Way of the Kingdom is:

First, to Pray!

Praise, worship, give thanks, bring your petitions, and lift your intercessions.  When you pray, don't just pray 'to' God, but pray 'WITH' God, always making space to listen.

Second, to Pray!

Having prayed with God, respond to His voice with faithfulness and obedience.  Love the world around you courageously, generously, and wholeheartedly! 

Finally, to Pray!

"Come, Lord Jesus!"  When we pray this, we join our hearts with all of heaven and earth, recognizing our absolute and acute need for Jesus.  May we always remember that what has been needed from the beginning, is needed now, and will be needed forever, is the rule of Jesus. 

Now, Let us pray

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name,

Take some time here to worship! Exalt the Lord over your life, over the lives of your friends and family.  Lift him high above every circumstance, and glorify his name in our city, our nation, and this world.

thy kingdom come,

Ask God to bring his Kingdom, and to excersise his rule as King.  Ask him to form us as a Kingdom people who pledge allegiance to Him.  With the Psalmist let us pray: “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” Psalm 115.1

thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

This is a prayer of humility! Ask God to shape our hearts and to place in us the mind of Christ.  Ask him to have his way in our families, our city, our nation, and beyond. 

Give us this day our daily bread.

Here, take time to lift to God the things that are on your heart and the hearts of those around you.  What do you hunger for?  Pray! 

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.  Forgive us, Lord, for our failure to 'love our neighbour as ourselves... for our inability to listen well... for our failure to extend grace and mercy.  Teach us to walk in love, and help us to forgive.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Here, let us pray for God's protection over us and those we love.  Pray that he would move in power in our world, particularly where the enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy.  Take a moment to commit your life and all that weighs on your heart into the hands of God.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.