Text:
Matthew 6:9-10:
9 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.
Theme:
I Never Knew
Introduction:
- The text comes from the book of Matthew.
- The Gospel according to St. Matthew, is the first book of the New Testament and of the Gospels of Jesus, the Christ, and the 40th book of the Holy Bible as a whole.
- Matthew, the disciple of Christ, wrote in more detail of the life of Christ and His ministry than any other Gospel writer even though the book was written over 5-10 years later than the rest of the Gospels.
- Our text itself reminds me of being a little boy saying my prayers before going to bed what we called “The Lord’s Prayer” but is truly “The Model Prayer”, John 17 is really “The Lord’s Prayer”
- We recited the prayer out of obedience and not out of understanding…We did not know what it truly meant.
- Knowing vs. Not Knowing
- The reward of knowing and acting on it
- Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
- The tragedy of knowing and not acting on it
- Revelations 3:16, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
- The hope in not knowing and not acting on it
- 2Peter 2:21, “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.”
- Even if we were Not Knowing and Not Acting, we cannot settle for Not Knowing
- 1Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
- However, when coming into Christ, we all find ourselves looking over our lives and saying, “I Never Knew”
- You shouldn’t have known
- Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”
- Salvation awarded you the opportunity to know
- Mark 4:11, “And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:”
- As the hymn says, “I once was blind but now I see!”
- But, remember the comment à “If I only knew then what I know now…”
- I NEVER KNEW!!!
- You shouldn’t have known
- The reward of knowing and acting on it
Body:
- We are often guilty of not taking advantage of OR not appreciating OR not receiving God’s gifts to us!
- In our text it shows how we often pray for what we don’t even receive when it is provided!
“Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”
- God’s Kingdom is to be established in Heaven à the Kingdom of Heaven
- Jesus said in John 14:2-4:
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.”
- If Jesus is there with the Father and in the presence of the Holy Spirit, then we know some characteristics of Heaven.
- Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
- Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
- God’s Kingdom is to be established TODAY on earth à the Kingdom of God
- The Kingdom of God is God’s entire rule in EARTH and in heaven
- It’s already available!
- John the Baptist said in Mark 1:15:
“And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel”
- The Apostle John said in 1John 5:20:
“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
- GOD FIXED IT so that we can become a part of Him TODAY and enjoy benefits today!
- When I started my job, there was process to sign up for benefits. However, I was COVERED by the plan the day that I began working!
- 1John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
- His Will is DONE on EARTH as it is in Heaven.
- The problem is that we NOT are doing the Will of God that has already been prepared for us!
- Romans 10:1-3 give the dilemma of our world today!
- The problem is that we NOT are doing the Will of God that has already been prepared for us!
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant (NEVER KNEW) of God’s righteousness (Kingdom of God), and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”
- That’s why we don’t know, and NEVER KNEW, the truth of the Kingdom of God
- Those who decide to live FOR GOD must at some point realize:
- I NEVER KNEW…the Kingdom of God has requirements for membership
- John 3:5-7, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
- Mark 10:14, “But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”
- I NEVER KNEW …the Kingdom of God is so exclusive
- Titus 3:7 gives the background, “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
- Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
- I NEVER KNEW …the Kingdom of God is an unveiled mystery
- Mark 4:11, “And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables”
- I NEVER KNEW …the Kingdom of God is the reward for salvation NOW
- Luke 17:20-21 explains, “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
- I NEVER KNEW …the Kingdom of God is the reward of salvation NOW
- Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”
- Luke 6:20, “And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.”
- I NEVER KNEW …the Kingdom of God is guarantees Suffering
- 2Timothy 1:5 says, “Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:”
- I NEVER KNEW …the Kingdom of God changes my life NOW
- I NEVER KNEW…the Kingdom of God has requirements for membership
§ A True, Immediate Change
· Mark 9:24 shows, “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”
- “Straightway” – It’s Immediate!
¨ Salvation is a process that lasts for a lifetime until the END of our FAITH. But we are placed within the glorious process immediately!
Conclusion:
- Even now I am amazed at how God works!
- When I think about the goodness and God and all that He has done for me, my soul cries out “Hallelujah”!
You see, I NEVER KNEW…
-
- I could have FAITH, HOPE and LOVE
- I NEVER KNEW…
- I could have PEACE, LONGSUFFERING and GENTLENESS
- I NEVER KNEW…
- I could have MEEKNESS, GOODNESS and TEMPERANCE
- I NEVER KNEW…
- I could have POWER, BOLDNESS and STRENGTH
- I NEVER KNEW…
- I could have JOY!!!!!!
#196
