Intro: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed [honored] be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven” (Mat 6:9-10). The Lord’s prayer is a great blessing for believers, because it is an example of how we should praise the Lord and pray for his work in the world, as well as ask him to provide the things we need and for the strength to meet the challenges we face each day.
Lately, I have been praying and asking the Lord to bring his spiritual reign to earth. According to Scripture, God’s kingdom was announced through the covenant the Lord made with Abraham (Luke 13:28-29), the kingdom is present in the heart of every believer (Luke 17:21), and one day God’s kingdom will be complete when all evil is destroyed and God establishes the new heaven and earth (Rev 21:1).
In our passage today, the Apostle Paul reminds us completion comes to the kingdom when the Lord humbles every other earthly government, authority, and power; it all must come to an end, because there is no place for any hostility against Father God or his Word. In the meantime we wait for Jesus to defeat Satan and evil. May it be soon.
1 Corinthians 15:20-28 (TPT)
20 But the truth is, Christ is risen from the dead, as the firstfruit of a great resurrection harvest of those who have died. 21 For since death came through a man, Adam, it is fitting that the resurrection of the dead has also come through a man, Christ. 22 Even as all who are in Adam die, so also all who are in Christ will be made alive. 23 But each one in his proper order: Christ, the firstfruits, then those who belong to Christ in his presence.
24 Then the final stage of completion comes, when he will bring to an end every other rulership, authority, and power, and he will hand over his kingdom to Father God. 25 Until then he is destined to reign as King until all hostility has been subdued and placed under his feet. 26 And the last enemy to be subdued and eliminated is death itself.
27 The Father has placed all things in subjection under the feet of Christ. Yet when it says, “all things,” it is understood that the Father does not include himself, for he is the one who placed all things in subjection to Christ. 28 However, when everything is subdued and in submission to him, then the Son himself will be subject to the Father, who put all things under his feet. This is so that Father God will be everything in everyone!
Prayer: Father, I thank you for bringing all things under the authority of Christ. Every last enemy must go. I pray for your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name. Amen.