Have you ever thought about the Kingdom of God? Today we discuss this and intentionally avoid pitfalls on either side. We use the Larger Catechism as our guide. We reference Q/A 190-192. We spend time on Q/A 191. Here is the text:
"Q. 191. What do we pray for in the second petition?
A. In the second petition (which is, Thy kingdom come), acknowledging ourselves and all mankind to be by nature under the dominion of sin and Satan, we pray, that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be destroyed, the gospel propagated throughout the world, the Jews called, the fullness of the Gentiles brought in; the church furnished with all gospel officers and ordinances, purged from corruption, countenanced and maintained by the civil magistrate; that the ordinances of Christ may be purely dispensed, and made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in their sins, and the confirming, comforting, and building up of those that are already converted: that Christ would rule in our hearts here, and hasten the time of his second coming, and our reigning with him forever: and that he would be pleased so to exercise the kingdom of his power in all the world, as may best conduce to these ends." God's Kingdom is not just a future blessed state. We see that Christ is building his kingdom in history as we move toward the eschaton. Christ must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. That means increasingly, the gospel of Christ spreads, and changes the hearts of mankind and in turn, mankind reflects his Redeemer in how he lives, building things that glorify the Lord, or as we could say, Christian civilization. It's not perfect, but is a taste of what is to come. We look at the Larger Catechism, praying it back to God in our own words. It would go something like this: "“Our Heavenly Father, we…

Pray that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be destroyed.
Pray for the gospel to be propagated throughout the world.
Pray for the Jews to be called.
Pray for the fullness of the Gentiles to be brought in.
Pray that the church be furnished with all gospel officers and ordinances.
Pray for the church to be purged from corruption.
Pray that the church be countenanced and maintained by the civil magistrate.
Pray that the ordinances of Christ may be purely dispensed.
Pray for the ordinances to be made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in their sins.
Pray that the ordinances be used for the confirming, comforting, and building up of those that are already converted.
Pray that Christ would rule in our hearts here.
Pray that Christ would hasten the time of his second coming and our reigning with him forever.
Pray that You would be pleased so to exercise the kingdom of Your power in all the world, as may best conduce to these ends.

In Jesus’ Name, AMEN."

Participants: Rev. Bill Shishko, Dan Elmendorf