Ken Blue Ministries

PRAYER AND THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. ⁶ But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. ⁷ But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. ⁸ Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 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. ¹¹  Give us this day our daily bread. ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. ¹⁴ For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: ¹⁵ But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:5-15.

The subject is prayer. The scope is the Kingdom of Heaven. The structure suggest the time is just preceding, or within the Tribulation prior to the Second Advent.  

Prayer should not be a public spectacle. Jesus is fully aware that those who make the most noise about pray, aren’t really communing with God, but are seeking the attention and admiration of men. So, don’t play at prayer to appear spiritual.

Most prayer should be secret and private. It is interesting that we prefer to have a “prayer partner,” or a prayer group. If one is conscious of the difference between group prayer, and private prayer, he will find that private prayer is most difficult. The seductive reason, is that in private prayer, there is no one to impress. You will be transparent, because it is just God and you. Private and secret prayer is the most pleasing to God, and gets the greater reward.

Prayer should not be repetitious. There is nothing as pathetic and absurd as the Roman Catholic Rosary. The playing beads, and the repetition goes completely against Scripture. Jesus said, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do…”  This kind of praying is a sign of heathenism. It is against the teachings of Jesus, and is insane. The very idea that the more “hail Mary’s” one says, the less time he will spend in Purgatory, is a doctrine of devils. The doctrine of Purgatory is also a doctrine of devils.

Prayers need not be long. If you need to have long prayers, have it in your closet.  Some churches think there is special merit in having “all night prayer meetings,” and then making sure everyone in the church knows about it. If you really believe in the value of all night prayer, how many time have you done it alone? My guess is, none, and if you have, by all means, don’t tell anyone. We get a little wary of those pastors and evangelist who must tell us how many chapters they read today, and how many hours they prayed. My advice is SHUT UP, and save your rewards.

Prayer is not a reminder to God. If we would keep in mind that God knows our needs better than any of us. He knows what is best for us, and He knows that we need to go through the testing for obedience. So, don’t try to remind God of your situation. He knows. Thank Him, and ask Him to help you avail yourself of the grace He has already provided. The truth is, we don’t know what is best for us; God does.

A model prayer. This prayer is an example of what He has been teaching on prayer. It shows a simple, and intelligent prayer. The first point is that the prayer should be directed to a holy God whose throne is in heaven. There is not mention of Mary, the Saints, or the use of idols. They are to go directly to their Father who is in heaven.

The next request is for the Kingdom of Heaven to come. This is one more proof that this prayer is not for the church, or any church that might think itself to be the Kingdom.  The church is not seeking the Kingdom of Heaven, it is waiting the sound of the trumpet, and the rapture.

 When the Kingdom does come, God’s will, will be done on earth as it is in heaven. There is no doubt, as I have said previously, this entire text is for the Jewish remnant within the Tribulation, or just prior to it. This is not a matter of thanking God for bread, they will be in such tribulation, that it will be necessary to pray for it daily. Many Jews will die of starvation, as well as by the sword.

There is the request for God to forgive them of their debts, as they forgive those who were indebted to them. The Jewish nation, as a whole, had become very wicked and selfish. They robbed and extorted from their brethren in every way possible. There is no record in Scripture where they ever observed the Year of jubilee. (Leviticus 25.). One condition of their forgiveness is that the release others of their debts.

The request in verse 31 is a prayer to be delivered from the wrath of their enemies. The evil, may be the Beast, or Antichrist. The word “temptation,” has to do with testing. Israel’s time in the wilderness was call “temptation.” “Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:” Psalm 95:8. The testing of Abraham was called a “temptation.” (Genes 22:1.) Whatever the temptation may be, they are requesting that God deliver them. No doubt is will include the mark coming mark of the Beast. None are able to buy or sell except that which has his mark (Rev 13:17). Daily bread must be miraculously “given,” if those who use this prayer are to be kept alive.

The conclusion of the prayer is as its beginning. God is given glory and praise. The kingdom is His, the power is His and the glory is His, and He will shortly regain it all.

Thus, this model prayer, shows the correct method of prayer. It is not a prayer intended for the Christian to pray, but there is some application for all time.

It is interesting that the command in verse 14-15 have to do with forgiving others. If they wanted forgiveness, they must first forgive others their trespasses. The difference for the Christian is that he is to forgive because he has been forgiven. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32.

THE TREATMENT OF ENEMIES IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

³⁸ Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: ³⁹ But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰ And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. ⁴¹ And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. ⁴² Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. ⁴³ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; ⁴⁵ That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? ⁴⁷ And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? ⁴⁸ Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:38-48.

I believe the scene here is for the Jews in the Tribulation, the prelude to the Kingdome of Heaven. We must also rid ourselves of the belief that everyone on earth will love the King and the Jews in the Kingdom. Many within the Kingdom will have wicked hearts, and hate the theocratic rule of the King. Keep in mind that He and His disciples must rule with a “rod of iron.” (Psa.2; Rev. 2:27; 19:15). Although most of the above text is dealing with the tribulation period, some of it will exist on earth during the time of the Kingdom. It is those circumstances the Lord is instructing them how to deal with their enemies.

Under the Old Testament Law, one was to pay for his crime according his own actions. But Jesus is above the law, and makes changes for that future time spoken of above. He did a similar example at His first advent in the case of the woman taken is adultery. The Law demanded that she die.

The Lord is instructing those who will be in the Tribulation and the Kingdom not to take personal revenge. They are to be passive under personal insults, and go the extra mile. They are to overcome evil with kindness and hospitality. He is the Law giver, and He has the power to alter, or modify as He pleases.

The disciples are to demonstrate love, not just to their Jewish brothers, but to all peoples. God demonstrates His goodness every day. They are be like their Father in heaven. If they follow the above example, they are demonstrating the attributes of their Heavenly Father. 

THE LAW OF SWEARING IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

 “Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” Matthew 5:33-37.

We can see immediately that to swear is the same as making an oath. Jews felt that it was a disgrace, and dishonor to break an oath. In fact, God held one accountable who made an oath. Moses said, “If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.” Numbers 30:2.

 There are many examples in Scripture, but perhaps the story of Jephthah will serve us best. “And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, ³¹ Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering…And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances…³⁵ And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, …I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back. …her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,” Judges 11:30-39. This story is just one example of how serious the Israelites were about all vows. Jews held a person responsible for their vows. The Lord is warning the Jews to not swear under any circumstances. Their word, if true, should consist of a “yes,” or “no.” Nothing more was wise or necessary.

Jews would swear by God, the temple, the altar, and heaven. However, they had no control over events, or circumstances that might arise, where it would be better to not obey their vow. However, those who vowed were trapped by their on lips, as was Jephthah.  

This is good advice for one in any dispensation. You don’t need to swear by the stars, on your mother’s grave, on the Bible, by heaven, or by anything else. A safe answer is “yes” or “no.” It appears that the law of oaths will be stricter in the Kingdom of Heaven.