What Would the Kingdom Look Like?

By Asher Intrater

The most famous phrase of the most famous prayer in history is simply: "Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" – Matthew 6:10.  This is also our highest priority and the most basic definition of the kingdom of God.  Do we really mean what we say when we pray this prayer?

• The kingdom has an origin: Heaven.
• The kingdom has a direction: Come.
• The kingdom has a destination: Earth.
• The kingdom has a partnership: God and Man.
• The kingdom has a harmony: Heaven and Earth.

Main Factor

There is only one variable factor in this equation: The Human Will.  If we are praying for God's will to be done, it is apparent that much of the time, His will is NOT being done. 

Therefore, the prayer for God's kingdom demands a specific action: Each one of us must change (repent).  We submit our will to God's will (which is always good and benevolent).
Yeshua gave us the perfect example in His own prayer at Gethsemane: "Not my will but Your will be done" – Matthew 26:39. This involves a rather unpleasant aspect: denying ourselves.  "He who desires to come after Me must deny himself…" – Matthew 16:24. Our selfish desires are more inclined to "indulge" than "deny."

Do we believe that Yeshua's prayer for the coming of the kingdom of God will ever really take place; that God's will would be done on planet earth? If so, what would it look like?

Foundational Vision

Isaiah 2:2-4 – In the latter days the mountain of the house of YHVH will become the head of mountains… and all the nations will flow to it.  Many peoples will say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of YHVH…  He will teach us of His ways; and we will walk in His paths."  For the law will go out from Zion and the word of YHVH from Jerusalem.  And He will judge between the nations and rebuke many peoples.  They will beat their swords into shovels and their spears into pruning hooks.   Nation will not lift up sword against nation; neither will they learn war any more.

This is the foundational vision of the Israelite prophets for God's kingdom on earth. The final words of Isaiah's vision here are written on the wall of the United Nations (with the omission of the parts about God and Jerusalem !! ).  We believe in world peace; we have a plan for world peace.  Isaiah's vision is the first and foremost vision for world peace for all mankind. 

Every kingdom has a king (Isaiah 9:6); every government has a capital (Isaiah 2:3; 62:1, 7).  The king of God's kingdom will be Yeshua; the capital city will be Jerusalem (Psalm 2:2-6). There will be an international society of peace and prosperity (Micah 4:1-4).  Social justice will prevail (Isaiah 1:26; Amos 5:24).  Total harmony will exist between God, man and nature (Isaiah 35:1-2).  Even the animals will live in peace (Isaiah 11:6-7; 65:25).

In what seems to be a significant step forward for democratic values in the Middle East, the Kurdish party in Turkey (which also supports rights for Christians, Jews and other minorities) won enough votes in this week's election to earn minimum party representation in the Turkish parliament.  President Erdogan's party received just under 50% of the vote, which will prevent him from taking more dictatorial control over the government.  Pray for the formation of the new government to be done in a way which will maintain basic freedoms for the minority groups in the country.  

By Rachel and Gilad

Fourteen years ago I met a young man (E.) on the street in Jerusalem who had a free weekend from prison but had nowhere to go.  I told him that God had sent him to me and invited him to stay at our house in Jerusalem. I gave him a phone card so that we could continue to talk each day. After a month, I went to the prison to visit him and gave him a video about Yeshua. The prison warden said that he had to see it first. To my surprise, he not only approved it, he showed it to ALL of the inmates.  

After a few more months, E was released from prison and I saw him once more.  He was on drugs and literally fell on the street in front of me. Not long after he ended up back in jail. I did not see him again until three weeks ago. He had stopped with the drugs but was miserable. I invited him to Revive Israel, and there he accepted the Lord. Pray for E to walk in the fullness of faith, healing and holiness.  Pray for the many people who are hearing about his testimony. 

Worship from Shavuot

"Everything That Has Breath" by Yishai during the last watch of the all night worship and prayer event for Shavuot 2015 hosted by Revive Israel. To watch, click HERE!

The Call to Humility

In this message Todd (Leader of El Shaddai congregation), speaks about the necessity of humility in a believer’s life. "If we are to be conformed to His image, it starts with us saying - I will be humble as He was humble. I'm in this for Him, for His name and for His glory. And as I walk this life of faith I will continue to live a lifestyle of humility."To watch in English, click HERE!