Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart. Not be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best thought, by day or by night. Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. Be Thou my wisdom and Thou my true word. I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord. Thou my great father, and I thy true son. Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one. Be thou my battle shield, sword for the fight, Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight, Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower. Raise Thou me heavenward, O power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise, Thou mine inheritance, now and always, Thou and Thou only, first in my heart. I, King of Heaven, My treasure Thou art High King of Heaven, my victory won May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heaven's sun Heart of my own heart, whatever befall Still be my vision, O ruler of all. Still be my vision, O ruler of all. It's a great blessing when we don't recite this prayer, but it actually comes from our hearts, inspired by the Spirit of God. All true prayer is inspired by the Spirit of God.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom That's what I've entitled this message, Thy Kingdom Come. Is that in my heart right now? Is that the desire of my heart? Is this what God sees when he looks within my heart? This prayer, Thy Kingdom Come.

When Christ began his public ministry, He began with these words, repent. The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Thy kingdom come. Now, when I pray that prayer, I am saying that It's not here as it one day will be. Thy kingdom come. It's not here as it one day will be. And I think what explains that is his next statement. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Thy will be done on earth. Now, right now.

His will of decree is always done. He's got one decree and that encompasses everything and His will is always done. His will of command is never done here. Yes, His will of decree is always done. His will of command Is never done. I was trying to examine myself to see if I really believe that. Because I do believe his gospel in that sense. We obey his command, but I'm talking about his will of command, the 10 commandments.

Not one of them has ever been kept except by the Lord Jesus Christ here on earth. His will of command is never kept. In heaven, yes, of course, his will of decree is done, but his will of command is done promptly, willingly, joyously. There is no sin in heaven. And that is what we are praying.

Thy kingdom come let your will be done here on earth just like it is in heaven thy kingdom come." Whose kingdom? Thy kingdom come. The same kingdom the thief spoke of when he said, Lord remember me when you come into your kingdom. You're not going to stay on the cross, you're going to come back as a mighty reigning King, all opposition put down. Oh, would you remember me when you return in your kingdom? This is the same kingdom that Peter called the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. I love the thought. This is an everlasting kingdom.

It's a kingdom that never had a beginning. There's no starting date with this kingdom. You know, we're getting ready to celebrate July 4th, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. This kingdom has no starting date. This kingdom has no ending date. It is an eternal kingdom. Now, earthly kingdoms have kings, they have subjects, they have territories, they have boundaries that they rule in.

The United States of America has the border of Canada above us, Mexico below us. Now within our boundary, we consider ourselves a sovereign country. We're not ruled by any other country within our own territory. We do not have the right to go into another country and try to rule them. They are their own sovereign nation.

This kingdom has no boundaries. It has no borders. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein. This kingdom has no borders, no boundaries. And this kingdom has a king who is called the king of kings and the Lord.

Let me show you a passage of scripture in Revelation chapter 17, if you turn there. Verse 14, these shall make war with the Lamb. And what is the only end of that? The Lamb shall overcome them. He's impossible to be defeated. He's the Son of God. He's the sovereign of the universe. He can't be overcome. When people present this battle between good and evil, they've missed it. He is Lord. He controls everything and everyone.

These shall make war with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them for He is Lord. of lords and king of kings. This is the king of this kingdom. He who is Lord of lords and king of kings. And I love this description of his chosen, of his subjects, the subjects of his kingdom.

First of all, they're called. Have I been called? Do you believe the gospel? You've been called. He called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, if he doesn't call you, you won't come. But if he calls, you'll come. He's got an irresistible, invincible call that no one can say no to because it's the power of his spirit that brings them in. Those that are with him are called.

And I love the way they're called. They're chosen. He says of every member of his kingdom, every subject of his kingdom, you've not chosen me, but I have chosen you. Isn't that a humbling thing to think that God of glory chose you? He didn't have to, but he did. And these people who he has called, that's the evidence of being chosen, you're called.

All who are chosen are called. And they are faithful. Every single one of them, without exception, are faithful. They believe. They're children of faith. They really believe the gospel. And they can be believed. They can be believed. They are faithful. Would you turn with me for a moment to Acts chapter 1? Dave Parker wrote this in the back, or read this in the back, Acts chapter one, verse one.

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach. How much could be said about that? All he began to do, all he began to teach. That covers everything, doesn't it? unto the day in which he was taken up after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen to whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs being seen of them 40 days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." Thy kingdom come. Now, everything said in gospel preaching is pertaining to the things of the kingdom of God. This is so big. It covers everything we say.

Turn to Acts chapter 28. You there in Acts? Acts chapter 28, Paul. This is our last record of his life when he was in prison. people came to hear him verse 23 and when they had appointed him a day acts 28 23 and when they had appointed him a day there came many to him into his lodging to whom he expounded and testified what the kingdom of god persuading them that's always going on in true preaching There's some persuasion going on.

It's not just delivering a lecture. Here it is. You have it or not. No, there's some persuasion going on. Persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets from morning till evening. And here we have what always takes place. And some believed the things that were spoken and some believed not. gospel itself is called on numerous times the gospel of the kingdom so that is what we're praying when we pray thy kingdom come is that in my heart right now thy kingdom come the words of christ repent the kingdom of god is at hand listen to this scripture for luke chapter 9 verse 11 and the people when they knew Followed him. You know what you're going to do when you know?

You will follow him. You'll keep your eyes on him. You won't look down at your feet to find assurance of how you're walking. You won't look to the right or to the left about somebody else's doing. You won't look behind you to try to find evidence. You'll look straight ahead and look to him. That's what following him is. It's looking nowhere but him. looking to him only. If you look anywhere else you lose him.

The people when they knew followed him and he received them and spake to them of the kingdom of God. That was his subject. He spake to them of the kingdom of God and he healed them that had need of healing. I'm one of those people. He healed them that had need of healing. Do you have need of his healing? Oh, that's physical. Healing is included in that. I wouldn't take that away. Spiritual healing because of your sinfulness. He healed them that had need of healing. I love his words to Pontius Pilate. Would you turn to John chapter 18? You know, this is so elementary to even the newest believer, the thief on the cross, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. John chapter 18, beginning in verse 33.

Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again and called Jesus and said to him, are thou the king of the Jews? Remember that was his accusation. Remember what was written over his head, the accusation, Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews. Pilate says, are you the king of the Jews? Jesus answered him, sayest thou this thing of thyself? Or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered him, I do? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me. What hast thou done?

Jesus answered, my kingdom is not of this world. It's not. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews. Listen, if my kingdom was of this world, you wouldn't be capturing me. My servants would fight, you'd lose. But now is my kingdom not from hence. It's not an earthly kingdom. It's not of this world. Pilate therefore said unto him, art thou a king then? You're talking about a kingdom, your kingdom. Are you a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I'm King. You said it. That is correct. To this end was I born. And for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that's of the truth, heareth my voice.

Pilate saith unto him, what's truth? What's truth? And he could have meant, is there such a thing as absolute truth? Yes, there is. The Lord said, you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. He could have meant, well, say there is the truth. How can we know it? How can we know for sure that we know the truth? But you know what I really think he meant? Truth. Truth.

Is it worth this? Is it worth you going to the cross for? Is it worth all of this? Yes, there is truth. Yes, you can know it. And yes, it's worth this because Christ Jesus is the truth. He's the truth and the cross manifests that. He's the truth concerning the character of God. He's the truth concerning my character. He's the truth. With regard to how he saves sinners by his grace. Look, you're there in John 19, look in verse 13.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, what saying? Verse 12, And from henceforth Pilate sought to release him. But the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend. Whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth and sat down in the judgment seat in the place that's called the pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

And it was the preparation of the Passover in about the six hour. And he saith unto the Jews, Behold your king. But they cried out, Away with him! Away with him! Crucify! Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered. And how truly they answered in their own mind, We have no king but Caesar.

Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew, Gotha. where they crucified him, two other with him on either side, one and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross.

And the writing was Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. This title then read many of the Jews for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh into the city. And it was written in Hebrew, the language of the religious Greek, the language of the common man, Latin, the language of the educated man, all had the same message, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, write not the King of the Jews, but he said, I'm the King of the Jews. Pilate answered, what I have written, I have written, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. Men don't like this. We'll not have this man reign over us.

That's the universal hiss of humanity. But I love saying this. He's reigning over you right now. You are in his hand and his will is always done. You might not know it. that you are in his hand, he's reigning over you, and you really don't have any choice in the matter. You can't say, we'll not have this man reign over us. He's reigning over you right now, either by way of grace or by way of judgment, but he is reigning.

In Luke chapter 17, verses 20 and 21, the Lord made this statement, the kingdom of God cometh not with observation. And don't miss that. Somebody says, there's the kingdom of God. No, it's not. There is the kingdom of God. No, it's not. Oh, here's the kingdom. No, there's the kingdom. Believe them not.

The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. If anybody points to something and says, This is the kingdom of God that's here on earth. He proves how ignorant and clueless he is. The kingdom of God comes not with observation. It's not something a natural man can see.

Paul says in first Corinthians chapter four, verse 24, the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. words of the kingdom, even the right words, are powerless unless the Spirit of God empowers them to our hearts. We can't hear, we can't understand, we can't see unless God the Holy Spirit empowers the words. I love The verse of Scripture in 1 Thessalonians 1, 4, and 5, when Paul said to the Thessalonians.

And they had only been in church for about three weeks. He'd been there three weeks before, and now he's writing back to them. He had to leave town. And he says to these people, knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. Paul, how do you know? Do you have access to the Lamb's Book of Life? Can you see the names written there? No. But listen to his answer.

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance. You see, when the word does come in power, it's because of the Holy Ghost. And when the word comes in power by the Holy Ghost, you have much assurance that this is the message. This is God's word. This is the gospel. There is no other gospel. That's what you have assurance of. This is the gospel.

The Lord said to his disciples in Matthew, Chapter 13, it's given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom. But to them, it is not given. Now, the Lord says in no uncertain terms, it's given to you. That's why you believe the mysteries of the kingdom. To them, it is not given.

What that tells me is the only way I'll believe the mysteries is if He gives them to me and gives me hearing ears and seeing eyes and a receptive heart. And the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God, the gospel of the kingdom is about mystery. I love the word mystery. Now, a mystery is not I don't know and scratching my head. A mystery is something I could never have known. unless God was pleased to make it known in his word.

The mystery of the Trinity. One God in three distinct persons. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. What a mystery. I believe that. I don't understand it. I can't explain to you how God can be one God in three distinct persons. But He is the mystery of the glory of the Son. Fully 100% God. Fully 100% man. Just as much man as if He were not God at all. Just as much God as if He were not man at all.

And it is only there that He can save me. What a mystery. The mystery of me being eternally united to Christ. Great is the mystery. The two shall be made one flesh. To think that I have always had personality before God, before time began He knew me, before time began He loved me, I've always been one with Christ. No, I don't understand that, but I believe it with all my heart. the mysteries of the gospel. If you know the mysteries of the gospel, it's because he himself has made them known to you. He's been your teacher.

Those who don't believe, it was never given to them. I think the mystery of the kingdom of heaven can be summed up by Romans chapter 14, verse 17. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink. It's not man-made rules and regulations. It's not do this and do not do that. The kingdom of God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

What a mystery this is, that I am righteous. When I know in and of myself, I have some glimpse about how sinful I am, but before God, I am righteous without sin. To think that God is at peace with me, he's pleased with me. And I'm at peace with him. I'm not looking for anything else. In Christ, I'm complete. I'm not stretching out for something else. I'm at peace because of the gospel. And what joy? God has joy in me. I have joy in God.

The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. This is the kingdom that's to be sought first. Seek ye first the kingdom of God. Everything else doesn't count in comparison with this. I don't care what you're going through. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. All these other things will be added to you. You don't need to worry about them. The Lord's going to give you what you need. Your highest child, seek ye first the kingdom of God.

And I tell you, when you're seeking the kingdom of God, when you're seeking to have His righteousness as your only righteousness before God, that's the kingdom of God having His righteousness. There are keys to this kingdom. Turn to Matthew chapter 16. Thy kingdom come. Verse 19, and I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom. Now, what are those keys of the kingdom?

We'll look up in verse 13, when Jesus came into the coast of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples saying, whom do men say that I, the son of man am? Now, here's the issue. Who is Jesus Christ? That is the issue. Everything else pales in comparison to this. Who is Jesus Christ?

Whom do men say that I, the son of man, am? And they said, some say thou art John the Baptist, some Elias, others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. They put you in some pretty high cotton, but not really. To call him a man like that is derogatory to him. It's highly blasphemous to call him a man like Jeremiah, or John the Baptist, or one of the prophets.

He's the son of God. He's the Holy One of Israel. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. That's who he is. He's God's Christ. The Son, the uncreated Son, the only begotten and well-beloved Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah.

Flesh and blood have not revealed it unto thee, but my Father, which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee that thou art Peter and upon this rock, this confession of who I am, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Now what's that mean? Well, Satan's trying to keep his supposed property safe, and he's got his gates up against the battering ram of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But Christ is going to break the doors down and bring in all of his people. The gates of hell are not going to prevail against the gospel of God.

And I'll give unto thee the keys of the kingdom, this confession of he is and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever shalt thou loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Anybody who believes the message you preach, they're going to be set free. Anybody who rejects the message, they will be lost.

Now, how can I be a subject of this glorious kingdom where I'm allowed to be a willing joyous subject of this kingdom, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, where he is my blessed and only potentate, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings. Well, I have to begin here. Somebody think, how can I be a part of this subject? One of his subjects, I have to begin here. He said on judgment day, or he will say on judgment day, come ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

The only way me and you can be in his kingdom is if it was prepared for us by him before the foundation of the world. I got to begin here. God's got to put you into the kingdom. There's nothing you can do to put yourself into the kingdom. It was prepared from the foundation of the world.

Of Him are you in Christ Jesus. How do I get in Christ? Of Him. Of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who God has made into us wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption. I have to have it prepared for me from the foundation of the world. and a translation from one kingdom to the other must take place.

Paul put it this way in Colossians 1.13, who has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear son. To translate means to transpose, to transfer, to remove from one place to another. I have been removed. from the kingdom of darkness. And that's something only he can do. I can't remove myself. I have been removed from the kingdom of darkness and translated into the kingdom of his dear son.

Now in closing, what I want to do is give you five entrance requirements. into the kingdom of heaven. I think the fact that the Lord said it has to be prepared for you from the foundation of the world and you have to be translated lets us know that we can't get in on our own. But let me give you five entrance requirements that the Bible actually gives to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Number one, accept your righteousness, exceed the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, you shall in no case enter the kingdom of heaven. The only way a man can enter the kingdom of heaven is to have the righteousness of Jesus Christ as his personal righteousness before God. And the only way you'll have his righteousness is if you really believe that you don't have any of your own. You really believe that, and you really believe that His righteousness is the only righteousness. You understand what Paul meant when he said, Oh, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God, by faith. For me they are the kingdom of heaven, I'm going to have to have the righteousness of Jesus Christ as my personal righteousness before God.

The Lord said in John chapter three, verses three and five, you must be born again to see the kingdom of heaven. must be born of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom of heaven. You must be born again. You must be born from above. You'll never believe, you'll never see Jesus Christ in His glory, you'll never see your sin, you'll never see your need of Christ, you'll never see the holiness of God unless you're born Again, born from above, the natural man can't see the kingdom of God. You won't enter the kingdom of God except you're born of water.

That's talking about the word of God, the washing of water by the word spoken of in Ephesians chapter 5, of his own will begat he us through the word of truth, the washing of water and the spirit, God the Holy Spirit taking the word, the gospel and creating life within you. to enter the kingdom of heaven, I must be born from above, born again. And then we read in Matthew chapter seven, verse 21, not everyone that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my father, which is in heaven.

These people he's speaking to, they hear this and say, Lord, Lord, they repeated his name. You know us. Why? In your name, we prophesied in your name. In your name, we cast out demons. In your name, we have done many wonderful works. We've done your will. Then shall I say unto them, depart from me, ye that work iniquity, I never knew you.

What is it to do His will? It's to believe on His Son. This is the work of God, that you believe. on him whom he hath sent. You believe the Father sent him? You believe he did what the Father sent him to do? And you're relying only on him. That's doing the will of God. And there is no entrance into the kingdom of heaven apart from doing the will of God.

The Lord spoke to some people you're familiar with. I think it's in Luke 18 The tower of Siloam fell and killed 13 people. And then there was a bunch of people that were offering sacrifices and Herod killed them in the midst of their offering sacrifices. And their blood was mingled with the sacrifices they were trying to offer. And the Lord says, do you think that you're better than them? Do you think somehow you're better off than these people? Do you think that this is some kind of judgment against God that you don't deserve?

I tell you nay, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish. What did the Lord say? Repent, change your mind. All the things you think are wrong. You know, if you believe in salvation by works in any measure, you don't believe one thing right about God or about yourself. Repent. Repent of the high thoughts that you have of yourself and believe what the Bible says. Repent of your wrong thoughts of salvation and believe from the depths of your heart that Jesus Christ is all in salvation.

Except you repent. You shall all likewise perish. And then in Matthew chapter 18 verse 3, I love this, except you be converted and become as little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Who so shall humble himself as this little child, the same is great in the kingdom of heaven.

One of the things that's so beautiful about a little child, they believe what they're told. So simple. They believe what they're told. A little child hears what God says in his word and he believes it. That's what the Lord is talking about, this capacity to believe. I believe what God says. I don't need to understand it. I believe everything he says. Like a little child believing what his heavenly father tells him and trusting him. Thy kingdom come. Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 2.12, What worthy of God who has called you into his eternal kingdom and glory. Let's pray. Lord, truly we pray. Thy kingdom come. We so earnestly look forward to the coming. Of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, back here to Earth. And Lord, our prayers that when he shall come with trumpet sound, oh, may I then in him be found. Lord, we ask that.

You would set up your kingdom in our hearts. so that we are your loyal, loving subjects. And how we thank you for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. And we ask that we might be born from above. We ask that we might be given the righteousness that exceeds. Lord, give us the grace to be little children, believing all you say. Bless us for Christ's sake. Bless His word for Christ's sake, according to your will. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.