Matthew 6:10 (NKJV) Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
Sin is self-centredness. Therefore, we can be self-centred, self-absorbed, and filled with what we want and what this world has in store for us. However, being self-centred and doing things our way often get us into trouble. We are our own kingdom—the “Me, myself, and I”. There will be friction between our will and God’s will for our lives when we refuse to submit to Him. When we are self–centred, we will not want God to have a say in our lifestyle, behaviour, and the plan for our lives, and we will want to make all our decisions without regard for anyone, particularly God. The work of the flesh is the desire to live independently of God. Therefore, as believers, we will have to deal with the flesh and make it submit to the Lordship of Christ daily. It is a lifelong process, but it gets easier when we make it a daily decision to submit to Him in all we do.
As believers, we need to acknowledge God’s sovereignty, omniscience, and overall life plan. Because He is the Lord of our lives, He gets to make the call. He knows best. Our minds are too minute and finite, so we cannot compare with God’s wisdom, thoughts, and ways. It is wise to be open to God’s will and timing for everything. Through this part of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us the posture and attitude we should adopt when approaching God. It reminds us to live a life bigger than ourselves, a life of a greater purpose—God’s purpose, because we want to honour God.
Jesus lived a life of submission to God’s will when He walked on earth even though He is the second person of the Godhead. Jesus was 100% man and 100% God. Jesus modelled for us what a life of submission looks like. He did not seek His agenda, comfort, or convenience. Instead, He came intentionally to do the will of God. Even though there was a moment in the Garden of Gethsemane when He struggled with the thought of being crucified, He submitted to the will of God after He had prayed the prayer of consecration.
There is always a tussle between our desires and God’s will. However, when we are humble before God, we will seek His wisdom and will in a particular situation, period in our lives, and His calling for us. God knows best what is good for us. He has a will for us in heaven, which is a good plan. This is why we want what He has in mind, planned out in heaven, and to be done for us on earth!
Sermon Series: Lord, Teach Us How To Pray (Part1)
谦卑自己并寻求上帝的旨意
马太福音6:10 愿你的国降临。愿你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。
罪是以自我为中心的。因此，我们可能变得以自我为中心、自我沉溺，充满对自己想要的东西以及这个世界为我们准备的诱惑。然而，以自我为中心并按照自己的方式行事，常常使我们陷入困境。我们建立了属于自己的“王国”——“我的、我自己，和我”。当我们拒绝顺服上帝时，我们的意志与上帝对我们生活的旨意之间就会产生冲突。当我们以自我为中心时，我们不希望上帝对我们的生活方式、行为和生活计划有任何发言权，我们会希望所有的决定都由自己做，完全不考虑他人，尤其是上帝。肉体的作为就是渴望过一种不依赖上帝的生活。因此，作为信徒，我们必须处理肉体的问题，让它每日顺服基督的主权。这是一个终生的过程，但当我们每天都选择在一切事上顺服祂时，这个过程会变得更加容易。
作为信徒，我们需要承认上帝的主权、全知和对我们生命的整体计划。因为祂是我们生命的主宰，所以祂有权做出决定。祂最清楚什么是最好的。我们的思想太过渺小和有限，无法与上帝的智慧、思想和方式相比。保持对上帝的旨意和时机敞开的态度是明智的。通过主祷文的这一部分，耶稣教导了我们在亲近上帝时应该采取的姿态和态度。这提醒我们要过一种超越自我、具有更大目的的生活——上帝的旨意，因为我们要荣耀上帝。
耶稣活出了对神旨意的顺服生活，即使他在地上行走时是神的第二位格。耶稣是完全的人，也是完全的神。耶稣为我们展示了什么是顺服的生活。祂没有寻求自己的计划、舒适或方便，而是有意地来成就上帝的旨意。即使在客西马尼园，祂曾一度挣扎于被钉十字架的想法，但在分别为圣的祷告后，祂顺服了上帝的旨意
我们的欲望和神的旨意之间总是有冲突。然而，当我们在他面前谦卑时，我们寻求他对我们生活中特殊情况和时期的智慧和旨意时，他会呼召我们。神知道对我们有益的是什么，他对我们的生命有一个旨意，他的旨意是好的。因此，无论他在心中有什么计划，我们都可以在神的爱中找到安息。
讲章系列： 主，教我们如何祷告 （第一部份）
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