So we have seen that the Kingdom "coming" is not so much an abstract external event, as it is an internal and progr essive process of the unfolding revelation of Christ (the Kingdom) within a people. Now let us move to the next part of the verse; "...Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."
The word translated as "will" in the phrase "Thy will be done" is thelema in Greek. Its' meanings include- a determination, specifically purpose, decree; abstractly volition. Father already has a WILL, a purpose, a DECREE over everything!"Declaring the END from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I WILL DO all my pleasure:"(Isaiah 46:10) Even the things that Father has not yet brought to pass in this natural realm were DECLARED from the beginning, and from ancient times! Ephesians 1:11 explains further, "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated ACCORDING TO the PURPOSE of Him who worketh ALL THINGS after the counsel of His OWN WILL:" Father is indeed working all things, yes ALL things according to His purpose and will!
And what is His purpose, what is His will?...
Back up one verse and we will see it, "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things IN Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even IN Him:" (Ephesians 1:10) Let us consider this verse closer.
When most of us read the word "dispensation" we tend to think it is a particular measure of time, i.e. the "dispensation of grace", etc. This is an unfortunate assumption, because that is not really what the word means. The word translated as "dispensation" is oikonomia in Greek. We get our english word economy from oikonomia. Its' meanings include- administration (of a household or estate); specifically a religious economy: - dispensation, stewardship. Thayer's gives it this definition- the management of a household or of household affairs. Rather than a particular measure of time, it is more the idea of management, economy, stewarding of a household. As you read the word "economy" don't think just of money either. Here are a couple more definitions of the word "economy" from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary- the arrangement or mode of operation of something, a SYSTEM especially of INTERACTION and exchange. An economy encompasses all areas of life. Once again, this souds like Father working ALL things according to His purpose and will! Keep this definition of economy in mind as we move to define "the fulness of times."
The word translated as "fulness" is pleroma in Greek, its' meanings include- that which is or has been filled, repletion or COMPLETION. It is from the Greek word pleroo, which means to make replete, that is, literally to CRAM as a net. The word translated as "of times" is kairos in Greek, its' meanings include- set or proper time, the appointed time, a fixed and definite time, the time when things are brought to crisis, the decisive EPOCH waited for.
So, let's put all this together and answer the question, What is His purpose, what is His will?...
It is the operation and working of all interaction in every area of life to bring to completion the decisive epoch waited for! So much for living a hum-drum mediocre life! Christianity is not meant to be boring. Father does NOT call us to mediocrity! Don't get me wrong, this does not always mean glitz, glamor, signs, wonders and miracles either. Raising your kids or working at the factory or office may not be very glamorous, but it can be filled and crammed with kairos- appointed times. We must shift from a "chronos" natural time mentality and understand that we are living in "kairos" appointed time, epoch time, and it is pregnant with Father's purpose and will.
This working of all interaction in every area of life to bring to completion the decisive epoch waited for is in order that "He might gather together in one all things IN Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even IN Him:" It is ALL working towards a "convergence" of heaven and earth! Do I live as if ALL things are IN Christ?... or is it only my so-called "spiritual life" that is IN Christ?
With an understanding of what His will is, we can move on in the verse; "...be done in earth, as it is in heaven." The word translated as "be done" is ginomai in Greek, its' meanings include- to cause to be, it is the "gen" in the English word generate, to become or come into being, be brought (to pass), be fulfilled. As we pray, Thy will be done, it is a creative declaration that reaches into the spiritual realm and serves as a catalyst for His will to be "gen" -erated, a spiritual genesis established in earth, thus causing it to be manifested in the natural realm. It is much more than just wishful thinking! It is a creative genesis!
Now we move on to a fascinating paradigm shift in our thinking; "...in earth, as it is in heaven." You would think that in translation where you have two different words in the same sentence you would translate them as different words. Here you have two uses of the English word "in" in the same sentence, however they are two different words in Greek. The word translated as "in" in the phrase "in earth" is epi in Greek. This is not the usual word for "in" that we find in Greek. The word translated as "in" in the phrase "in heaven" is en in Greek. The Greek word epi is a primary preposition properly meaning SUPERIMPOSITION of time, place, order, etc.
So when we decree, Thy will be done IN earth, what we are really declaring is this- Thy will be gen-erated, creating a new genesis in this natural realm and SUPERIMPOSED upon the earth. When I look at it in this light it makes me think of overshadowing; "While He yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.... And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw NO MAN, save Jesus ONLY." (Matthew 17:5, 8) The result of this overshadowing was this- they saw NO MAN, they saw Jesus ONLY! Father, our prayer is that we might see a complete OVERSHADOWING of heaven in earth, that in ALL things Christ, and Christ alone would be seen!
I have always seen the EARTH in the phrase, "in earth as it is in heaven", to mean the "earth" of these earthen vessels that we are; "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." (2 Corinthians 4:7) in other words, His will being done in US as earthen vessels. I still believe it can certainly be applied to us as earthen vessels, however it behooves us to look at the the real meaning of the word.
The word translated as "earth" is ge (pronounced ghay) in Greek. It means soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application): - country, ground, land, world. When I pray, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.", I am decreeing that His will be superimposed upon the literal earth, that His will be superimposed upon the natural realm! Yes, His will is a spiritual thing but it must ultimately be manifested in this natural realm. The Church has mostly been preoccupied with trying to get people of the earth ready to go to heavenThe Church has mostly been preoccupied with trying to get people of the earth ready to go to heaven, when Father's will is rather to bring heaven to the people of the earth!
Now on to the next phrase, "...as it is in heaven." First, we must recognize that the words "it is" have been added and are not in the original text. It should read, "...as in heaven." The word translated as "as" is hos in Greek. It means- which how, that is, in that manner, according as, even as, like (as, unto). The word translated as "in" is en in Greek. It is a primary preposition denoting FIXED POSITION (in place, time or state), a relation of REST. Let's put that all together and we come up with this declaration- His will be superimposed upon the natural realm, in the SAME MANNER as His will IS a FIXED POSITION in heaven, a relation of REST because it was FINISHED from the foundation of the world! "For we which have believed do enter into REST... although the works were FINISHED from the foundation of the world." (Hebrews 4:3)
What an all inclusive, all encompassing decree that Jesus Himself has given us, "writing, I believe those are some of the most potent words in all of Scripture. May Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) As I said from the outset of this ot be just words, however. May "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" characterize the very essence of our lives! May we BECOME the fulfillment of this prayer, as we continue to press toward the mark of the high calling in Christ!
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