For our Scripture reading, I invite you to turn with me to Titus chapter 2. Titus 2. We'll read together the entire chapter, the 15 verses, not just 11 through 15 as I had originally indicated in the bulletin. Titus 2 as we give our attention to the reading of the Word of God. You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the Word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything, set them an example by doing what is good. In your teachings, show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age while we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you. And if you would please turn in the back of the Psalter hymnal to page 61 where we find the second listed on the page, Lord's Day 49. Lord's Day 49, question and answer 124 dealing with that third request or petition of the Lord's Prayer. Page 61, Lord's Day 49, as we confess together what we believe by reciting this answer. Question 124 asks, what does the third request mean? Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven means, Help us and all men to reject our own wills and to obey your will without any backtalk. Your will alone is good. Help everyone carry out the work he is called to as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven. Dear congregation, beloved of our Lord Jesus Christ, when our Lord taught His disciples as well as all believers the Lord's Prayer, He gave the petitions in a way that is far from meaningless. These petitions are not placed in simply some random order so that they have no connection with one another. They flow as to build upon each other. For example, God's name is honored more and more as His kingdom comes and as His kingdom rule, which we talked about a couple of weeks ago, is recognized more and more. As well, the more His kingdom comes, the more His will is done. In many respects, these first three petitions of the prayer which talk about God make one overarching request, And that is, Heavenly Father, finish your gracious work of applying redemption. In other words, may your kingdom be established with new obedience, which brings glory to your name. You see, congregation, God's kingdom rule, which we pray to come, is characterized by His will. But this is where it might become a little bit difficult for us. After all, you see, we don't mind being ruled just so long as it fits with our wants and our desires and just so long as it goes according to our plan. Yet now with this petition, Thy will be done, we get into our desires versus God's demands. And we know, of course, that this life can be a battle of the wills. There are hardly two people alive whose wills completely match with each other. We see that in our children. Our children don't always see things in the same light as their parents. And as parents, we certainly don't always see things in the same way that our teenage children see them. Our wills express our wishes and our desires. And if we exercise or carry out our wills, then we do what we want or we will to do. But when it comes to the Kingdom of God, it's not our will that counts, but God's will. As the Catechism rightly says, His will alone is good. In other words, His will is perfect. It's for our eternal well-being. It's necessary for us. And it's for that reason, beloved, that we are called to grateful living as servants of God's will. Here again, by nature, we don't mind, we don't want to be the servant, we want to be the sovereign. We want to be the one who is served. We don't like to take orders, but instead we would rather give orders. But this is a prayer that God's orders would be carried out. We are called to be servants of the Most High God in service to His will. And first of all, our confession in this petition then includes the declaration of submission. We declare something in this petition. And what is that declaration? Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Even though it's a petition, even though it's a request, we declare, it's a declaration, that God's will is being done already in heaven. And there it is being done, as the catechism says, willingly and faithfully by the angels in heaven. We'll talk more in a few moments about the character of angel obedience. But heavenly obedience, beloved, is to be the pattern for earthly obedience. Did you hear that? Heavenly obedience is to be the pattern for earthly obedience. It's not the other way around, so that earthly obedience is the pattern for heavenly obedience. and that obedience is characterized by submission. To submit means to place oneself under the rule and the authority of another. As Christians, we pray this declaration that we might be in submission under the rule and the authority of the will of God. That's the meaning of the words that we say, Thy will be done. That's the meaning of the words. But is it also our heart's desire? Well, what is God's will? The Bible speaks of God's will in two ways. One is often called God's hidden will, or more accurately, His will of decree. What God has decreed, God's will of decree, deals with His plan for all things, including His plan for you and for me. He determined this will or this plan before the foundation of the world, and He carries it out in time and throughout history. It is hidden or secret in the sense that we don't know what it is until it comes to be. Yet we do know that what God has decreed will take place perfectly. We see that already in Scripture, don't we? The Old Testament is filled with prophecies about the coming of the Messiah. In the New Testament we find the fulfillment of many Old Testament prophecies. Isaiah 46 verses 9 and 10 tells us, For I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure. Indeed, I have spoken it. I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it. I will also do it. And then there's also what is called God's revealed will. Now the Bible speaks of both of these in Deuteronomy 29, verse 29, where it says, The secret things belong to the Lord our God. But those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. What is God's revealed will? It's His law. We think first of all the Ten Commandments, which are a summary of all that God has given to us in His Word. You see, God executes or carries out His will of decree, but His people are called to perform His revealed will. God's will of decree will be done. His revealed will may or may not be done. Not that it is optional, beloved, but it is often neglected. And through His commandments, God reveals to us what and how we are to think and will and desire and act so that we are in harmony with the righteousness of God, so that we will be the objects of His favor and His delight. Well, what is this petition talking about? Thy will be done. His decreed will or His revealed will. Well, we would say that since God's will of decree is being perfectly fulfilled and will be perfectly fulfilled, that this is talking about His revealed will. Again, we don't perform His will and decree, His plan. Oh, we are involved, to be sure, as His plan unfolds. Yet we are called to perform His revealed will. But there is a point where the two cannot be separated. Again, our lives are lived under the direction of God's will and decree. He has a plan for each one of us. And as that plan comes to light, as it unfolds in our lives, we are then called to walk in obedience and submission to that, guided by His revealed will. Now the Catechism speaks of the work that we are called to do. The older version of the Catechism says it this way, as it speaks of the duties of our office and calling. Our office as believers, our calling in this world to whatever task God has called us. And these are referring, you see, to our station in life, whatever situation God has placed us in with regard to our family or work or financial status or talents or society or church or whatever it may be. And then, of course, how we are to live in that station in life. Wherever God has placed us and whatever He has decreed shall come to pass, whether that include joyful surprises or sad difficulties, we are called to walk in obedience to God. God's will of command is to be obeyed in the context of His will of decree. For example, students, if you find that you have the opportunity to cheat on the test with a guarantee of not getting caught, you are called to be obedient to God and not cheat. And we could talk together about many, many of life's situations that face us, whether good or bad, and how we are to be obedient in the midst of those situations. But always, as Romans 12, verse 2 says, we are to work to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Congregation Scripture gives us many examples of obedience as well as of disobedience. But the greatest example of obedience was our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. As He was already tasting death and as He was suffering under the thought of death in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed that He might be obedient to the will of His Father to the very end. Jesus prayed in Matthew 26, verse 39, O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will. God had decreed salvation by way of the cross, and Jesus was obedient to the call to lay down His life on that cross. And as Paul says in Titus 2, verse 14 of Jesus, that He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good. You see, we are not saved because of our obedience. But our salvation comes because of Christ's obedience. However, once we are redeemed, once we enjoy new life by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are called to obey the will of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the duties required in being a servant of God's will. That's the second thing we want to consider, the duties required. What does the third request mean? Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven means help us and all men to reject our own wills and to obey your will without any backtalk. Your will alone is good. Help everyone carry out the work he is called to as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven. Reject our own wills. Obey your will as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven. You see, as servants of God's will, these are now our duties. Of each one of us who claims the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. God has revealed His will to us to love Him above all and our neighbor as ourself and to do this by being faithful to His commandments. Our problem, you see, is often not with knowing God's will. We know it well enough. Many of us especially who have grown up with the law being read from Lord's Day to Lord's Day. So our problem so often is not with knowing God's will. But our problem is with doing God's will. Our primary goal is to do God's will. But our primary temptation is to not do God's will. As the Catechism says, this petition is a prayer that we and all men may reject our own wills. By nature, man's will is in complete opposition to God's will. And this then is a prayer that revolution against God on this planet may end. And that all of God's children may be united in doing the will of their Father because His will alone is good. Only His will brings peace and life because the foundation of His will is holiness. Our prayer congregation is that God would give us the attitude and the desire to want to do His will over our will. Something Derek and Marcia and all of us as parents must teach our children. That God's will alone is good. That it is more important and better for us than our own will. that they too, along with us, may see that it alone is for our eternal good. The writer of Proverbs says, There is a way that seems right to man, but its end is the way of death. So often, when we don't get our way with something, we might be forced to give in to what someone else wants, but we don't make it easy for them, do we? And boys and girls, you know exactly what I'm talking about. We all do, I think. When you don't get your way, sometimes it's easy to sulk and complain and even talk back. But in the end, you will do whatever the other person wanted to do, probably because you don't have a choice, but you won't make it easy on them. And you won't do it willingly. But that's not the kind of obedience that God requires. With this petition, we pray that God will not only make us able to be obedient to Him, but that He would make us willing to be obedient. Oh Lord, make us want to obey You. Work in us through Your Spirit that we would indeed give to You willing and faithful obedience as the angels in heaven. Again, this is how our Lord obeyed His Father. Jesus told the Samaritan woman, My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work. Then to the scribes and Pharisees He said, I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. He said the same thing to his disciples. For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will, but again the will of him who sent me. Paul says in verses 11 and 12 of Titus 2, For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age. You notice there the motivation for what Paul says? For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared. The motivation is salvation. Not earning salvation, but having received that gift of salvation. Beloved, the proper covenantal response in our everyday lives, in our office and calling in our work, is obedience because of the gracious salvation of God. The whole of our life, every bit of it, is to be for the glory of God and the benefit of our neighbor. You see, doing God's will covers the whole of human activity. For the believer, there is no distinction in this life, as some would have us believe, so that part of it is sacred and part of it is secular. There is no divide like that. Throughout our office and calling, the entirety of it, believers are called to walk as children of light. And again, our obedience is to be modeled after the obedience of the angels in heaven. What is that like? Boys and girls, can you imagine what angel obedience is like? The angels of God obey Him willingly and faithfully without any backtalk. They always do the will of God. They're always ready to do His will. Psalm 103 says of angels, Bless the Lord, you His angels, mighty in strength, who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, you who serve Him doing His will. Angel obedience, first of all, is willing obedience. It is without any complaints, without any backtalk. How many of us can say that? Angel obedience is faithful obedience. It's without any alterations. They don't question God and say, well, you know, I might have an idea on a better way. Angel obedience is instant obedience. It is without any postponement. Nothing gets in the way. They don't say, well, you know, Mom or Dad, let me finish what I'm doing here first, and then I'll get to what you want. Angel obedience is constant. There's never a moment when they're not doing God's will. And angel obedience is joyful, done out of love for God and for His glory. Beloved, this is to characterize the obedience of servants of God. How do you measure up? Boys and girls and young people, this is the obedience that you are to give to God's representatives in your life. The authority He places over you, beginning with your parents. How are you doing? Should we list them again? Willing. Faithful. Instant. Constant. Joyful. How are you doing? You see, this is so important because your obedience in the Christian home toward your parents is the training ground for and is to be a reflection of your obedience to the will of God. How's your reflection going? In our office and calling as Christians, we are talking about the church in her everyday clothes. And therefore, when we as servants of God's will serve Him with angel-like obedience, then no matter what our station and situation in life, it's a joy. Then housework isn't a drudgery. Then our factory work isn't a necessary evil. Then schoolwork isn't boring. Then our clients and our customers are more than just financial prey. Then the patients that we see in the office are more than just statistics. And when angel-like obedience fills our heart, then our work that any one of us is called to do It isn't only to make a living, but it is first of all a means to glorify God. Beloved, with angel-like obedience, our will never looks better or more profitable than God's will. How is this possible? Only when the humble mind of Christ Jesus is in us, as Paul says in Philippians 2 verse 5. He exhibited angel-like obedience, which isn't a surprise because He ordained angel-like obedience and He receives it Himself from the angels. But in order to demonstrate even the beginning of this new obedience, one must be grafted into Jesus Christ by true faith. He is the vine. Believers are the branches. And only when that branch is drawing that life-giving nourishment from the vine will it be filled with life. and those who draw life from Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit, are called to bear the fruit of His life of righteousness and obedience. Praise God for His grace in our lives, for rescuing us out of darkness and delivering us into His marvelous light, from taking us who could give no obedience and filling us with His grace and Spirit to desire and to give new obedience. As well as in the last place, God has given to His people the desire for complete fulfillment. We must confess that we are still imperfect. That's no surprise. We still struggle with sin and disobedience to God. But angelic obedience to which we are called for, which we pray, is perfect obedience. You see, beloved, this petition is a prayer for the perfection of our obedience. that the Holy Spirit would continue His precious work, perfecting us until the day of Christ Jesus. But not only perfecting that in us, but also in all men. This petition longs for final perfection when God's kingdom is completely here and His will is perfectly done in that kingdom and when His name is honored above all by all. This is a prayer that all stubbornness and endless rebellion of God be removed forever and be replaced with gentle submission and a desire to do only that which pleases God, this is a prayer for Christ's return. When all His enemies shall be put under His feet and a new heaven and new earth shall be ushered in and all will do God's will and perfectly obey Him. This petition, beloved, looks forward to the day when every knee shall bow before Him and every tongue will confess Him. Those who truly pray this petition declare that they hate and they regret everything that is contrary to the will of God. And they desire not to participate in anything that excludes God or is against His will. And therefore, this petition presupposes, it presupposes that we have a desire in our heart to do God's will. Because it's impossible, it's impossible to truly pray this petition and at the same time to love sin and deliberately walk in sin or to participate in anything that is against God's will. This petition also presupposes that we hate our own sins and our own carnal nature and with the Spirit's guidance we strive to put off the old man more and more and to put on the new man more and more. This petition also presupposes that we long for the grace of God, apart from which we can do nothing. You see, if we consider this petition without the spectacles of God's grace, we are lost. Because apart from the grace of God, our will is the only important will. And that's got to be a terribly frightening thought, because Jesus said in Matthew 7.21, Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. This petition presupposes being a child of God only by His grace. Our comfort congregation is only in the Lord Jesus Christ. He walked the pathway of obedience for His people in the place of His people. And His obedience replaces our disobedience. His righteousness and obedience was freely imputed, credited to His people, to the account of His people. and our disobedience and our unrighteousness was laid upon His shoulders. To those who reject the Savior and live as a law unto themselves, His word is clear, I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness. But those who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and turn to Him in repentance and faith, He says to them, Follow My lead. If you love me, keep my commandments. God's will, beloved, is the believer's handbook for grateful Christian living. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven is a request that God would make His will more fully known to us, more fully worked in us, and more fully performed by us. Remember, congregation, hell is the place where God's will is ignored in the most strict sense. But heaven is the place where His will is obeyed, honored, and respected in the most strict sense. Where would you feel the most at home? Shall we pray? Father, as we bow before You, having heard Your Word, having been reminded of Your call to be obedient to Your will which You have revealed unto us, may it indeed be our prayer. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We confess, Father, that sometimes in the stubbornness of our hearts we don't want to follow Your will. We don't want to place Your will first, but we want our will to be first. and we want to somehow mold Your will in shape with ours. But may that never be. Father, may we never allow us to do that in this life. Bring us always in submission with Your will, which alone is good. Your will, which characterizes how Your people are to walk before Your face and before the eyes of this world. Thank You, Father, for Your gift of salvation. And thank you for showing us the way we are to live and walk as you lead us ever closer to that glorious day when we enjoy that salvation and the glory of heaven. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray these things. Amen.