Pg 44 - "We mere human beings are given the privilege of inviting in God's glorious future. We are given the privilege of asking heaven to invade and occupy the earth."
Occupy Earth is our prayer! "Lord your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven!"
Ok, now I am confused. My whole upbringing in the western church has taught me the exact opposite of what Jesus teaches us to pray. I was raised in a non-denominational church - then spent some time in a charismatic church - worked in a Baptist, Covenant, Presbyterian, Lutheran and non-denom. church all through high school and college as a janitor. One teaching/outlook all these denominations had in common......."To Hell with the earth, it is all about getting out of here (earth) and getting to Heaven!"
Sadly, my posture and attitude reflect the crass quote above. At times I don't want Jesus' Kingdom to invade the earth. I want out of here! I want a place of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control! And so does Jesus! So He teaches us to pray, "Father OCCUPY EARTH like you OCCUPY HEAVEN! Father bring heaven down to earth so that the nations might be saved! Father invade the earth with your Kingdom so that the inhabitants might know love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control!
We need teachers, parents, and mentors praying this prayer that Jesus taught us to pray. We need the Father to invade and occupy Jim Elliot Christian School. Our focus in mentoring students shouldn't be, "How do we prepare them for the world out there," but rather, "How do we prepare them for God's ongoing invasion of the earth with His kingdom!"
Jesus taught us to pray this way - "Father your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven!"
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