The disciples’ prayer has the phrase “on earth as it is in heaven.” The Lord was specifically referring to God’s will being done. Most Christians are familiar with these words because they heard them and were taught them at an early stage in life. They are a fundamental part of learning to express ourselves in prayer.
Luke 11:2 NKJV So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Consider those last seven words, “On earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus was referring to the entrance and dominion of the kingdom of God on earth. He wanted believers to desire God’s reign and rule on earth. Much is implied in the words, “On earth as it is in heaven.”
In Luke 10, Jesus told His disciples to go your way into the cities to expand and pronounce the influence of God’s kingdom on earth.
Through His disciples, He was expanding His commission and mission to everyone they came into contact with.
Luke 10:9 NKJV In His directive to them, He said: “And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’”
This was a new kind of life for His followers. They were to enter into places of darkness with His light. They should not fear the darkness, because even the smallest light is greater than the greatest darkness. Wherever they went, God’s will and power would be manifest.
Jesus perfectly revealed and demonstrated this kind of life.
In every action, word, miracle and healing, Jesus perfectly revealed the Father. He was the living testimony of the nature, power and love of the Father. The clearest revelation of the Father is seen in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
One time Philip asked: “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be content.”
In John 14:9-14 Jesus said, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me? ‘If you have seen me you have seen the Father.’
He demonstrated this through His words, authority, and works. He revealed the Father in the way He addressed sinners and handled sickness and disease. He showed God’s authority and power when He faced storms and strong winds. Jesus stood as a living example of the power, authority, nature and character of God.
Many people have ideas about the nature of God that are based on disappointment and trouble, and not on the truth of God’s revelation and word.
None of our questions about God have the authority to cancel what God has revealed about Himself. When we dig deeper into the Word of God, we come to understand what God has shown us in the person and work of Jesus Christ. We must represent and accept Him as He really is. Philip just said: “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be content.”
Now, look at what Jesus said in response to Philip’s statement.
The Lord’s response may take you by surprise.
John 14:12-14 NKJV “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
In order to accomplish this great thing, Jesus promised the entrance of the Holy Spirit. He said, “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of Truth… for He dwells with you and will be in you.”
In response to Jesus’ prayer and action, God the Father sent the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead to quicken and anoint our mortal bodies. The entrance of the Holy Spirit into us has brought us into Christ’s resurrection victory, life and power. At some time after receiving the Holy Spirit, the nature of God will start becoming your nature. Your old nature of weakness, doubt, fear, and unbelief is going to surrender to His nature.
We must believe in our own conversion and what God has done in us.
You have been born again and the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in you. He has done this to bring you into Christ’s victory and life. Pay attention to what the Lord has done.
1 John 5:4 NKJV For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
God wants us to actually rise up and live in the victory that Christ has attained. Remember what Jesus said would happen in us.
In John 14:12 Jesus said: “The works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”
Never in the life and ministry of Christ did He doubt His position, work, or mission. Jesus knew that He was sent to accomplish what the Father had determined for His life. It is important for each of us to consider and agree with the things that God has said about us. The Lord is bringing us into His new life of victory. Philippians 2:5 tells us we must have the same attitude, purpose and mind that was in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit wants to teach us how to think, walk and work. He wants to give us divine perspectives about the things we are facing. He wants to build a culture in and around us where anything can happen at any time.
Our natural tendency is to face the issues of life with old thought processes and attitudes.
God has done something awesome and powerful in you. The Lord’s passion is to see people healed and released out of destructive life patterns. He came to do this dramatic work in us and through us.
Remember what Jesus said about His anointing, ministry and assignment.
In Luke 4:18–19 Jesus said: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
What was it like to be with Jesus as He walked through Judea and Galilee?
What did He do with the sick? What did He do with the troubled, demon oppressed and afflicted? What did He do with what appeared to be impossible situations? How many people did He turn away when they came for a miracle? God wants us to walk in the same victory and anointing that He put upon Christ.
Jesus Christ is perfect theology.
He was a perfect manifestation of the Father. When we watch Christ Jesus, we see the will, power and character of the Father.
Jesus was the model of the normal Christian life for us.
When we see Him, watch His works, and hear His words, we are being shown what He has commissioned believers to do.
Part of the apostolic commission taught them to pray.
“On earth as it is in heaven,” was not intended to just soothe us in troubled times. All of heaven is backing that prayer. It is an obligation to pray it. The absolute center of who you are is in this prayer.
God has plans for this place and for each of us.
When Jesus ascended back to the Father, He said those who believe in Him would do greater things.
Our Father in Heaven has “greater things” planned for His church. We need to let our faith begin to grow.
There was a purpose behind everything Jesus did.
Jesus healed all of their sick, calmed the storms, raised the dead and cast out devils to show us the Father. As He was working, He was showing us what the work of the Spirit is like. Jesus did not peacefully coexist with these things. He was not troubled by the storms of life. When difficulties, sicknesses and evil surfaced, Jesus confronted them and turned them around for good. He healed the sick, calmed the sea, proclaimed liberty and strengthened faith. Everything Jesus did manifested God’s kingdom and power.
Jesus was referring to our assignment when He taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Don’t confuse your destiny with your assignment. There is a place prepared for you in heaven, our destiny is God’s kingdom. Our assignment is to bring the kingdom of heaven to this earth.
How do we do that?
Jesus said, “the work that I do you shall do also.” In ministry, Jesus was never satisfied allowing darkness to find an entrance. His light always won over darkness. Jesus was the Light of the world, but then He said you are the light of the world. The light that is in us must be stronger than the darkness that is around us. The darkness around you cannot resist the light that you have.
What He has put in you works.
It always works and conquers. You don’t have to struggle to make it work. The power of the Holy Spirit is in you.
Do you remember the response of the seventy when they returned to Jesus?
He sent them out with a large assignment. (Luke 10) They were sent out as lambs among wolves. They were not to take money, food or extra supplies. They were to receive whatever was supplied for them on their journey. They were to heal the sick and preach God’s kingdom. When they returned, they seemed shocked at their successful results.
Luke 10:17 NKJV Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
Jesus was not shocked.
In Luke 10:19 He said: “I give you the authority over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Then He said: “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see…and to hear what you hear…” (Luke 10:23-24)
God’s plans for you are life changing in scope and nature. He is connecting the values and power of heaven to the situations and conditions we face on earth. The things of earth must change. There is a power working in you that makes this possible.
