Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10 NIV).
The word ‘kingdom’ means to ‘reign’ and this is exactly what John the Baptist meant when he proclaimed that the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matt. 3:2). God already rules over the world but the moral and spiritual rule under the Messiah's reign was shortly to be revealed.
The coming of the kingdom of God was seen dramatically when the Holy Spirit was outpoured on the day of Pentecost. Jesus had already breathed the Spirit into His disciples (John 20:22). In a similar fashion everyone who converts receives the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but Jesus promised His disciples more. In the Lord’s prayer He had taught them to pray for more – to receive the invasion of heaven into their very beings so that God would reign over every part of their lives.
Jesus put us in right relationship with God but the Holy Spirit works within us empowering us to be more like Him. Paul portrayed the receipt of the Holy Spirit as being in the kingdom of God: “For the kingdom of God is ….righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14.17 NIV).
Inviting the baptism of the Holy Spirit with a heart open and trusting will lead to a profound encounter with the reality of Jesus’ kingdom alive within us. The Holy Spirit fills us with power and the wherewithal to live lives that present Jesus to the world. The promise of God sending the Holy Spirit is a “promise .. for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:29 NIV).
Father God, I thank You for Your provision in every area of my life. I now come before You to ask You for the gift of the Holy Spirit as You promised (Luke 11:13).
Please baptize me with Your fire. Fill me to overflowing with Your holy presence. Guide me into all righteousness, peace and joy. I ask You to give me power to speak the Word of God with all confidence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.