This is how this prayer changes the world.

The Kingdom of God Is Opposed

There are two kingdoms at work in the world.

Paul wrote, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12).

Lucifer is said to be the ruler of this world. We are not saying that Christ is not King of kings and Lord of lords or that His sovereignty is in any way diminished. We are only admitting that there is another kingdom. In The City of God, St. Augustine wrote that there are two cities — the city of God and the city of man — and they are at war with each other. Ever since Lucifer brought his diabolical schemes into humanity, it has been evident that there is a struggle.

In Noah’s day, there were two kingdoms, and God called Noah to build an Ark that would float the kingdom of God through the judgment on the kingdom of Satan. Noah preached righteousness, but the whole race of mankind desired the kingdom of Satan over the kingdom of God and was judged. Sodom and Gomorrah represented the city of man. God called Lot and his family to leave the judged city and run to the sacred city, Zoar, for safety.

There is a struggle in your heart; there is territory unclaimed by Christ even in the lives of His people. Though Satan cannot have your soul, he seeks that one territory to hold. But Jesus is the bondage breaker. The kingdom of God is greater than the kingdom of Satan. Christ calls each of you to see the seducing city of man, the kingdom of Satan, in your own life and to turn from it and run to Him.

This is how this prayer changes the very course of the world.

The Kingdom of God Is Missional

The kingdom of God comes to destroy the kingdom of Satan.

Paul believed the gospel was at work in the world destroying Satan’s kingdom.

"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet…” (Rom. 16:20).

The Bible also tells us, “…The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).

In Matt. 12:22-29 Jesus was attacked by religious leaders for casting out demons. It was charged that He had a demon. Jesus shows the absurdity of such a claim by saying that a kingdom divided cannot stand. But then Jesus goes on to talk about one who enters a house, binds a strong man (Satan) and plunders the house. In this, clearly, Jesus is the one entering the kingdom of Satan, binding Satan at the cross, and plundering his kingdom.

Jesus is saying this is what He is doing in His healing ministry.

Before Christ, Satan was loose upon the earth and the earth was held in darkness. When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, the church was unleashed into the world with the gospel, and Satan was bound. Today there is no place, no man and no situation that is a lost cause because Satan, the strong man, is bound and Christ is loosed in Satan’s former kingdom, gloriously plundering it by setting men free!

Each time Jesus healed a demoniac, liberated a soul enslaved to Satan, or encouraged a saint to go on and share the gospel in this world, He was plundering Satan’s house. Today, every time a woman is shown God’s grace and she receives forgiveness of sins, the kingdom comes. Every time a child, nourished in the gospel in his own home, comes to see that this gospel is not just Mom and Dad’s salvation but his salvation, the kingdom comes.