Heaven on Earth?

WE EASILY RECOGNIZE THESE WORDS as part of the Lord’s Prayer, “Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10. At this point in the prayer, however, we leave the pronouncement and enter the petition.  God’s Kingdom is not yet fully established in this earth.  This is a tacit admission of the world’s wickedness and sin.  The turmoil, death, disease, conflict, wars, rebellion and blasphemy that convulse this world demonstrate that the Kingdom of God has not yet overtaken the world. 

God’s will is peace, holiness, truth, wholeness, and agreement with God.  But, realists don’t pretend that the will of God in the world is reality.  Yet, we read, “Your will be done in earth.”  Jesus qualifies this by adding “…as it is in heaven.” Wait a minute.  As it is in heaven?  Who knows what is going on in heaven?  Why should we pray that the will of God should be done down here just like it is done up there?  Good question … simple answer!  The One who was speaking on earth was the Lord from heaven!  Who knows better what is going on in heaven, than Jesus!  So now, the question is, “What is going on in heaven?” Once we understand that, we can pray with greater assurance, greater confidence and greater expectation about what we want to happen down here.  So, the question is, why should we pray down heaven?  Three things: 

First, the absolute sovereignty of God reigns in heaven.  We see an unprecedented display of demonic opposition in these endtimes.  The attack on the church leadership has the fingerprints of the devil all over it.  But, when you understand what heaven is all about, you can rise up with an anointing and prayer that God would recreate the condition on earth that is the status quo in heaven! To illustrate, the sixteen territories and possessions of the US fall under the jurisdiction of our government.  Any vessel sailing under the Stars and Stripes is under the jurisdiction of the United States.  Ever see the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima?  It was a sign that a new authority just took over.  Likewise, when you raise the blood-stained banner of the Cross over your life, you vacate Satan’s authority over you! 

Second, the Word of God has supreme authority in heaven. On earth, some people hate the authority of the Bible. Maligned, ridiculed and profaned, the Word of God nevertheless survives and thrives!  In the book of Acts, we find numerous accounts that say the Word of God triumphed.  Acts 6:7, “And the word of God increased.” (Also, Acts 12:24 and 19:20).  In the end, the Word of God wins!  Paul said, “Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.” 2 Timothy 2:9. The Word of God is not bound to man; the Word of God is not bound by man.  The Word must triumph in your life now!  Pray to that end.  Pray, “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven!” 

Last, worship of the Lamb pervades heaven! All of heaven’s attention is focused on God Himself! Isaiah 6:1-3 paints the scene for us. This was not a momentary event.  It had been going on since before the creation of the earth.  Worship has been the status quo for many millennia since the time of Isaiah’s vision! It is still happening today!  Worship, therefore, needs to dominate your personal relationship to God. Corporate services need to be filled with worship. 

God’s sovereignty, the Word’s authority and the Lamb’s worship overflows in heaven!  Pray down heaven on earth!