Series: “Connecting with God” - Part 8
"The Prayer of Fulfillment"
Pastor Jerry
Romans 11:33 & 36
------------------------------------- Message Synopsis -------------------------------------
Today we end our series
“Connecting with God” on the Lord’s Prayer. We come to the final phrase of the prayer which is the prayer of Fulfillment:
“For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.” Each phrase of the prayer teaches us that we’ve all got choices to make as we pray the prayer.
I can’t think of three more important words you need to understand than those in this last phrase.
“…the kingdom, and the power, and the glory...” Listen closely because I’m going to explain to you the reason for everything in the past, in the future, the reason for the universe, the reason why you are alive. These three words
kingdom, power and
glory, are the reason.
First, the kingdom of God is his PLAN. God existed before time, He exist now in time, and he will exist after time.
Second, the power of God is his PROGRAM. It is how God accomplishes his plan.
Third, God’s glory is his PURPOSE. Everything God does he does to reveal what he’s like. That’s his glory. He wants us to understand what he’s like.
You will never understand God or life until you understand God’s kingdom, power and glory.
You were made by God and you were made for God. Until you understand that, life’s not going to make sense. That’s why you’re alive. God made you for himself. The Bible tells us that
God is love. It is the essence of his character. And
God made you to love you. He made you so you could live in his kingdom, to show you his power and to bring him glory.
Some people think that the kingdom of God is something to come.
But the truth is the kingdom of God is wherever God is king. If he’s king in heaven then the kingdom of God is in heaven. If He is king on earth then the kingdom of God is on earth. If he’s king inside you, ruling in your heart then the kingdom of God is in you.
And Jesus said God’s kingdom is in all three of these places. It’s wherever God is king.
When Jesus sent his followers out to do good in the world he said
this is the demonstration of the kingdom. That’s why after people fill up their lives with their pursuit of happiness, they turn around and ask,
“Why am I so unfulfilled?” It’s because you were made for more than things. You weren’t made to live for that.
You will never find fulfillment in life, until you get connected spiritually with God, and begin to live
in God’s kingdom,
by God’s power,
for God’s glory.
So, how do that? How do I live in God’s kingdom, live by God’s power and live for God’s glory? How do I live a fulfilled life? Let’s look at the three keys to living a fulfilled life.
- Real fulfillment comes through living in God’s kingdom.
The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians
: “You should live in a way that proves that you belong to the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” What does it mean to live in God’s kingdom?
It means that you care about what God cares about in life. You make God’s will your will. Jesus said,
“God will give you all you need from day to day if [here’s the condition]
you live for him and you make the kingdom of God your primary concern.”
If you are surrendered, if you are submitted to the will of God, and place Him first in your life as that which is most important, you find life. The Bible says,
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God,” that means above everything else. So live in God’s kingdom by making Him first in all that you do. The Bible says the second way to live a fulfilled life is to …
- Live by God’s power.
The Bible tells us
“For the kingdom of God is not just fancy talk. It is living by God’s power.” Did you know God does not bless self-reliant people?
He blesses people who are dependent upon him. The problem with a self made man is he thinks
“I did this all by my own hand!” God says
I bless people who expect me to help. Jesus said,
“According to your faith it will be done unto you.”
What are you expecting God to do in your life? I can tell you exactly what God’s doing in your life.
He’s doing what you expect him to do. No more, no less. Because if you study the scriptures you find that every time God came from heaven and moved on earth and did a miracle it is because somebody believed. Somebody prayed! Somebody expected God to act. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 3
“By his mighty power at work within us he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.” God says I’m able to do more than you can ever imagine. God can make more changes and do more work in one week if he’s doing it, than you can accomplish in your entire lifetime.
How do I get God’s power in my life? Three ways: (1) By
praying. (2) By
taking risks to obey God. (3) By
not giving up.
I live for God’s kingdom. I live by God’s power. The third thing you’ve got to do if you’re going to live a fulfilled life.
- I must live for God’s glory.
The Bible says this
“Jesus died to defeat sin and now he lives for the glory of God so you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus.” Whose glory are you living for? God didn’t put you here on the earth to fulfill the desires of anybody else.
God says I want you to live for my glory. God says there’s only one thing worth living for: the glory of God. Don’t waste your life living for the wrong thing:
God made you, he loves you, he has a plan for your life. He is worthy to be glorified.
How do I live for the glory of God? Let me just give you three real quick. (
1) The first way to live for the glory of God is show love to everybody. Did you know that every time you show love it gives glory to God?
Because God is love. Scripture tells us,
“Warmly welcome each other into the church just as Christ has warmly welcomed you. Then God will be glorified.” It shows what God is like. God says,
“I want you to be like me.” I want you to learn to love people the way I love people. Being loving brings glory to God. Here’s a second way you could bring glory to God.
(2) Use your abilities to serve everybody. The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:10-11
“God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other.” When you use your abilities to help each other God is glorified. God didn’t give your talents to you for your benefit.
Your talents are for the benefit of other people. When I use my talent, my talent is not for me.
My talent is for you. It’s to help you. You’ve got talent too.
When you use your talents for me they bless me. God is glorified when you use your abilities to serve others.
(3) The third way you can show God glory: share the good news with everyone. The Bible says
“As God’s grace brings more and more people to Christ, God will receive more and more glory.” Every time you share your faith you bring glory to God.
Every time you bring somebody to hear the good news you bring glory to God. The Bible says
there’s a special place for people who help others get to know God.
So
, do you want God’s blessing on your life? Do you want to live a fulfilled life? Each morning when you start your day you need to pray,
“Father today I’ll live in your kingdom (by putting you first in my life)
, I’ll live by your power (by trusting You for everything)
, I’ll live for your glory (by showing love to everybody)
. And God, because of Jesus,
I’m going to live in You forever.” 
