February 23, 2025 – The Bread for the Week – The Power of Prayer: Embracing the Kingdom’s Government

Good afternoon again, MKBA family,

This is Part 2 in our series, following last week’s recording.
I hope that throughout the week, the Holy Spirit has made sense of what I shared with you. I want to continue in that same vein.
I will be reading from my notes, and at the end, I will give you something—a puzzle. This is not to confuse you, but to help you put something together. Sometimes, when we teach about certain things, it can strip away their uniqueness and create preconceived notions. For that reason, I don’t want to share just my personal interpretation, but instead, I want to share the structure of it, and let the Holy Spirit breathe life into it with you.
I want to start with a statement the Lord shared with me:
“We are to take the Lord’s precept and pattern of prayer. This is our support and comfort, knowing that we have the Spirit, which provides our instruction, direction, strength, and success. All of this is obtained through prayer.”
I believe this is significant because it sets the standard both personally and in the marketplace. Everything we receive comes through prayer. This is something we see throughout many scriptures in the Bible. While it may not be a new revelation, it is an important reminder that the government of the Kingdom of God operates through prayer—this is why the Lord taught us to pray. I encourage you to go back and study the Lord’s Prayer, whether in Matthew or Luke. Take it apart and examine its components. It truly outlines everything we need.
In Matthew 6, we see themes of trust and dependence on God. It tells us not to worry about what we will wear or what we will do. It encourages us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and everything we need will be added to us. It reminds us not to worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will take care of itself.
I recently learned an important lesson from Rick about Matthew 6:34, and how he approaches business. We are all striving to be conformed to the image of Christ, but there are people among us who are walking at a higher level of faith and obedience than we are. We should take notice of this because God speaks to us through the testimonies of others. These people don’t have to be well-known ministers or leaders—they can be anyone who has been intimate with the Lord and seeking Him diligently.
When we talk about the government of the Kingdom, Jesus lays it out in John 14: “Whatever you ask in my name, my Father will do it for you.” This leads into John 17, where we see a unified position—not just between us and Christ, but between us and the Father.
Jesus prays, “Do not take them out of the world, but protect them from the evil one.” This shows that we activate the Kingdom through prayer, petition, and supplication.
The greatest intimacy we are given through the words of Christ is found in His prayer: “Father, make them one, just as You and I are one. Listen to the will they display of You and grant their requests.” Jesus prays this, not for our personal gain, but for the glory of God and the advancement of His Kingdom.
When we truly understand this, our perspective shifts. We may wonder—if everything is received through prayer, why do we need to earn money or work? The answer lies in relational functionality. Christ’s presence in the world connects us on a level deeper than anything else. Today, making a living is one of the strongest connections in society. While we hope the church will fully embrace this role, for now, the marketplace plays a major part.
So, how do we live out John 14? We seek the Father in Christ’s name. The scriptures outline this clearly. We are to come to God as His children.
God desires to be our Father. The Kingdom operates through love—He so loved the world that He sent His Son. He loves us so much that He chose us in spite of our flaws. This abounding love is the foundation of the Kingdom’s government.
Coming to God as His children is not merely a suggestion but a profound reality. Regardless of our age or whether we are on earth or in eternity, we will always be His children.
We come to Christ as our mediator, understanding that He represents us before the Father—much like an advocate represents a client. Being strongly influenced by Matthew Henry’s teaching about Christ as our Advocate, I’ve come to appreciate the depth of this truth. Many of you know I have a deep connection to Henry’s work. While I value other theologians, the Lord has particularly used his insights to shape my understanding of prayer and God’s provision.
When we pray, we’re not asking for something that hasn’t already been secured. It’s like placing an order for groceries online—you’ve already paid for them, and now you’re simply picking them up to use and enjoy.
This is what’s known as the Treasury of Heaven—a storehouse of provision already made available to us. Everything we need for our God-given assignment has already been purchased through Christ. Our role is simply to ask and receive. Instead of waiting in line for a physical exchange, we pray, and He supplies all that we need.
It’s truly mind-blowing to consider this: when we present our petitions in prayer in His name, we are simply laying claim to what is already ours through Him. This is the essence of our petition—declaring what Christ has secured for us. And in Him, the answer is always yes and amen (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Praying in His name is not just a formality; it is the highest honor. Scripture reveals that when we pray in His name, we do so as priests, following the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:17). We are not just petitioners—we are priests, kings, and prophets, commissioned to intercede, to reign, and to proclaim His truth.
I came across this in a commentary, and it brought a lot of clarity to me. In the business world, we often operate with a mindset of kingly authority, even when engaging in kingdom matters. But let me be clear: when it comes to approaching the Father—whether in prayer, petition, or receiving from Him—it is not done in a kingly manner, but in a priestly one. This is the position the Lord Himself holds.
The role of a priest is governmental—it is the foundation of our relationship with God. The role of a king is one of dominion, where we heal, cast out demons, and establish authority. The prophet, on the other hand, is given insight into the purity and holiness of the Lord, bringing His revelation to earth and proclaiming what is to come.
When we consider priest, king, and prophet, the focus today is on our priestly role before the Lord.
One of the most significant aspects of this is the principle: ask and you will receive. But what does it truly mean to receive? It means taking in the comfort and the benefit of God’s Word. However, it’s not enough to merely hear it—you must have a heart to consume it, to internalize it, and as you do, your joy will be made full.
In this divine exchange, there is not only glory for God, but also a transformation within us. However, I don’t want to present this as a rigid structure or rule of law, because ultimately, it’s about how God reads your heart and how you position yourself in prayer—just as the Lord does. That’s what He is saying: “Pray as I am teaching you to pray, and you will receive comfort and great benefit. It will give you the heart to take it in.”
Just as Ezekiel was told to eat the scroll (Ezekiel 3:1-3), prayer positions us to internalize the things of God. It nourishes our spirit, leading to the fullness of joy. The blessed effect of prayer—of living by faith—fills us with a desire and an ability to pray without ceasing. And when the answer comes, it brings peace, which in turn increases and completes our joy.
Now you can begin to see why Nehemiah 8:10 declares, “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” God has been weaving many things together in this season, leading us into a time of fruitfulness.
Let me take a moment to see what else I want to share before I close.
You’ve heard it said, “Peace and confidence in all things, all trials and tribulations, distress and frustrations—have good cheer. The Lord said, because I’ve overcome the world.” I’ve found great solace in this, especially in this season of my life.
But here’s a puzzle for you to consider. There are four key verses in Scripture that echo the truth of “I can do all things through Christ.” They are:
•    Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
•    Mark 9:23 – “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
•    Matthew 19:26 – “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
•    Luke 1:37 – “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
Each of these verses carries a profound truth about God’s power at work in us. What do you see when you put them together?
Now, here’s the other part of the puzzle—the “box of belief” I spoke about at the conference. It is found in John 14:13, John 15:16, John 16:23, and John 16:24. I encourage you to search these verses out, take a deep look at them. I believe you’ll find no borders or boundaries in what they reveal. Instead, they produce liberty.
As 2 Corinthians 3:17 declares, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” When you take these truths—everything we’ve discussed in this episode and the one before—and put them together, they create a secure and trustworthy pathway in your mind. It becomes your default, an instinctual place of faith.
This is not something you will have to force. It will become involuntary, led by the Spirit. This is the revelation God has shown me, and I want to release it to you today. I bless you and prophesy that you will be led by the Spirit in ways beyond what you have imagined.
You will pray without ceasing. You will petition the Lord for what Jesus has already paid for. The treasures of heaven will be open to you, and you will receive what you need—for your assignment, for your family, for your God, and for your nation.
You will bear fruit, and those around you will eat from the abundance of your life. It will be a blessing, pleasing to your Father.
That is your nugget for today. Bon appétit.