SERMON: “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done”
Matthew 6:10
When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He placed this petition at the very heart of the Lord’s Prayer. Before asking for daily bread, forgiveness, or protection, He commands us to pray first for God’s rule and God’s will. These words are short, but their meaning touches every part of a believer’s life. They show us how a Christian should think, hope, desire, surrender, and live.
Let us break down the meaning.
1. “Thy Kingdom Come” — A Cry for God’s Rule to Increase
The “Kingdom of God” is not merely a place, but God’s reign. When Jesus says, “Thy Kingdom come,” He is teaching us to desire:
A. The Kingdom in our hearts
Before God’s Kingdom conquers the world, it must conquer me.
It means:
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“Lord, rule over my desires.”
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“Let Your righteousness replace my sin.”
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“Let Your Word decide how I live, not my emotions or the world’s pressure.”
The Kingdom comes when:
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the proud become humble,
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the sinful repent,
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the stubborn yield,
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and the self-willed surrender.
Praying “Thy Kingdom come” is first a personal submission:
“Be the King of my life.”
B. The Kingdom in the world
When we pray this, we are asking:
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That Christ be known
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That souls be saved
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That darkness be pushed back
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That righteousness prevails
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That truth reigns over lies
It is a missionary prayer. “Thy Kingdom come” is asking God to extend His rule in families, schools, nations, governments, and communities.
C. The Kingdom in its final glory
We are also longing for the Second Coming of Christ, when:
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evil is destroyed,
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justice is established,
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and Jesus reigns forever.
This prayer says:
“Lord, come quickly. Finish Your work. Let all creation see Your glory.”
Thus, “Thy Kingdom come” is both a present prayer—“Rule in me now”—and a future hope—“Return and reign forever.”
2. “Thy Will Be Done” — The Surrender of All We Are
After praying for God’s rule, Jesus teaches us to pray for God’s will. This means:
A. “Not my will, but Yours.”
It echoes the prayer of Christ in Gethsemane.
A true Christian does not ask God to bless his plan; he asks God to replace his plan with God’s plan.
Praying “Thy will be done” means:
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“Even when I disagree, Your will is right.”
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“Even when I don’t understand, Your plan is good.”
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“Even when it hurts, You are still perfect.”
This is the hardest prayer for the flesh to pray, but the most powerful prayer for the spirit to surrender.
B. “On earth as it is in heaven”
How is God’s will done in heaven?
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Perfectly
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Joyfully
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Immediately
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Without complaint
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Without resistance
So Jesus is saying:
“Father, let me obey You the way angels obey You—fully, joyfully, immediately.”
This removes:
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half-hearted obedience
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delayed obedience
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selective obedience
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conditional obedience
It calls us into whole-hearted obedience, the obedience of heaven.
C. God’s will over my feelings
We often pray guided by fear, desire, or pressure.
“Thy will be done” realigns us.
It means:
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If God opens a door → walk through it.
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If God shuts a door → trust Him.
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If God delays → wait on Him.
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If God redirects → follow Him.
It means: “My feelings do not rule me; Your will does.”
3. The Prayer That Changes Everything
These two phrases reshape the entire Christian life.
A. They destroy selfishness
Most prayers are “my will, my desire, my plan.”
Jesus flips it:
Start with God, not you.
B. They align us with God’s mission
When we pray this way, we are not trying to bend heaven to earth; we are asking heaven to come down and transform earth.
C. They bring peace
Why?
Because when we want God’s will, we will never be disappointed.
God never fails His own plan.
D. They produce holiness
When a person sincerely prays:
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“Your Kingdom come,”
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“Your will be done,”
sin loses its power, pride melts, worldly desires fade, and obedience becomes sweet.
4. Personal Application
A. In trials
“Thy will be done” means God has a purpose even in my pain.
B. In decisions
I don’t choose based on convenience, fear, or opportunity.
I choose based on God’s direction.
C. In conflicts
Not my pride, not my ego, not my anger—
Your will be done.
D. In spiritual battles
We submit to God and resist the devil.
When His Kingdom comes in us, darkness cannot stay.
5. A Final Picture
When we pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done,” we are placing the crown on God’s head instead of our own.
We are stepping off the throne of our lives and inviting the true King to sit where He belongs.
It is not a small prayer; it is a total surrender.
And when God’s Kingdom governs your heart, and God’s will controls your steps, then your life becomes an instrument of heaven on earth.
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