DELIVERED ON SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 12, 1850,

BY THE REV. C. G. FINNEY,

OF AMERICA,

AT THE TABERNACLE, MOORFIELDS

“Thy kingdom come.” –MATTHEW vi. 10

You will instantly recognize this petition as being one of those contained in what is generally denominated, “the Lord’s Prayer.” In considering these words I propose briefly to explain,–

1. WHAT IS MEANT BY THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
2. WHAT IS IMPLIED IN AN ACCEPTABLE OFFERING OF THIS PETITION TO GOD.
3. THAT THE STATE OF MIND THAT CAN ACCEPTABLY OFFER THIS PETITION TO GOD, IS UNIVERSALLY BINDING UPON ALL MEN.
4. THAT IT IS ALSO A CONDITION OF SALVATION.

What is meant by the kingdom of God.

In some respects there are two ideas concerning the kingdom of God. One class of divines suppose that the kingdom of God is purely spiritual; others suppose that the Lord Jesus Christ will reign personally upon the earth, that when he comes a second time, it will be to set up his kingdom in this world, and reign here in his visible presence. These two classes, however, agree in this–that his kingdom must be spiritual, whether outward and visible or not; in either case he can reign over man no further then he reigns in their hearts.

A spiritual kingdom must be set up in the soul–the Divine law must be written in the heart. If the Lord Jesus Christ should come and dwell visibly in London, walk in its streets, and mix with its people, and be here as truly as the Lord Mayor is, what would it advantage the people unless they were converted and truth prevailed in their hearts? Unless the laws of his kingdom were written in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, the people of London would be none the better for the Lord Jesus Christ’s living amongst them. Therefore, whether the Lord Jesus Christ come and reign personally or not, his kingdom will be established and his dominion extended by the same means that it is now. When persons pray, therefore, “thy kingdom come,” if they pray sincerely, they pray that there may be universal holiness in the earth–that this kingdom of grace may be set up in all hearts, and that Christ should exercise universal influence over the minds of men. I am to notice–

read more at  THE KINGDOM OF GOD UPON EARTH by Charles G. Finney.