Hegemony, it refers to the complete dominance and control exerted by one power over others. For example in ancient history, Rome had hegemony over the Mediterranean. For a while the Mongols had hegemony in their vast empire.
The idea of complete domination in any realm can send alarm bells ringing in our head, whether it be monopolistic businesses or governments or those who aspire to global control.
Our rebellious streak vies to break free from any stricture placed upon us, but it is worth remembering that there are advantages to hegemony, for instance the civil law and order in countries like ours. Infrastructure, social services and peace are benefits of power and control being given to someone. Defensive deterrents like armies and air forces are results of the dominance of one government.
The trouble with all earthly dominions is that they involve people, sinful people. No matter who has the power, whether it be a Caesar, Khan, King, Parliament or a tech-billionaire, all of them are sinners with terrible flaws. We invent systems to help overcome our weaknesses like democracies with term limits and separation of powers. But in the end, sinful people are still involved.
It could be that you have a virtuous leader, like a King David who will rule for a time, exercising his authority with wisdom and helping the people prosper (for the most part). You would want them to take all the reins to bring good order. But what happens when they die? Who's to say the next one can be trusted? Or that they will be filled with the Spirit of God?
There is a need for hegemony over the human race; we are in dire need of world-wide rescue and restoration. Left to ourselves we are quick to make a right hash of things, but under the right leadership and boundaries we thrive.
We need the right one to take control over all: The LORD God.
He's the only one who can be trusted with complete control over all.
He's the only one who could bring in a complete reign that perfectly personifies justice and mercy.
He's the only one who can be trusted to be completely beneficent and loving in all his laws.
He's the only one who could be trusted to perfectly defend from all threats foreign and domestic.
We need his reign. We need His dominion. So we pray:
This prayer is a call for God to bring in His hegemony. To bring in his dominion over everything and everyone.
While it is true that God already has power and authority over every square millimetre of the universe, a lot of that creation is in rebellion to Him. We, have tried to establish breakaway states and separatist movements that throw off His benevolent rule.
But we acknowledge the need for all those rebellions to be put down, not because God is a bully, but because He is good. We are created to thrive and prosper in the world that God has made.
Pull a fish out of water and it will survive for a few minutes, you could even say it is "living" out of water. But, eventually it will die. It was not designed to live out of water.
We're not designed to live outside God's kingdom. We may "live" for a time, but eventually we will die because we are cut-off from the source of Life. So we pray that the life-giving reign would be extended over all things.
Thankfully God has promised to do that, and he chose to do it through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus came and heralded the Kingdom of Heaven. Then Jesus secured the right to be our king, paid our debts, defeated death and now he directs the retaking of the kingdom on the Father's behalf.
This reclamation project starts in our hearts, praying that God would exercise His dominion there, and from there flow out in our families, churches, communities and eventually the whole world.
So, pray. Pray it loudly and sincerely "May your kingdom come."
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go..." (Mt 28:18–19).
"Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet" (1 Co 15:24–25).
"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, o coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed" (Da 7:13–14).
Your Kingdom Come
Hegemony, it refers to the complete dominance and control exerted by one power over others. For example in ancient history, Rome had hegemony over the Mediterranean. For a while the Mongols had hegemony in their vast empire.
The idea of complete domination in any realm can send alarm bells ringing in our head, whether it be monopolistic businesses or governments or those who aspire to global control.
Our rebellious streak vies to break free from any stricture placed upon us, but it is worth remembering that there are advantages to hegemony, for instance the civil law and order in countries like ours. Infrastructure, social services and peace are benefits of power and control being given to someone. Defensive deterrents like armies and air forces are results of the dominance of one government.
The trouble with all earthly dominions is that they involve people, sinful people. No matter who has the power, whether it be a Caesar, Khan, King, Parliament or a tech-billionaire, all of them are sinners with terrible flaws. We invent systems to help overcome our weaknesses like democracies with term limits and separation of powers. But in the end, sinful people are still involved.
It could be that you have a virtuous leader, like a King David who will rule for a time, exercising his authority with wisdom and helping the people prosper (for the most part). You would want them to take all the reins to bring good order. But what happens when they die? Who's to say the next one can be trusted? Or that they will be filled with the Spirit of God?
There is a need for hegemony over the human race; we are in dire need of world-wide rescue and restoration. Left to ourselves we are quick to make a right hash of things, but under the right leadership and boundaries we thrive.
We need the right one to take control over all: The LORD God.
He's the only one who can be trusted with complete control over all.
He's the only one who could bring in a complete reign that perfectly personifies justice and mercy.
He's the only one who can be trusted to be completely beneficent and loving in all his laws.
He's the only one who could be trusted to perfectly defend from all threats foreign and domestic.
We need his reign. We need His dominion. So we pray:
"Your kingdom come..." (Mat 6:10, Lu 11:2).
This prayer is a call for God to bring in His hegemony. To bring in his dominion over everything and everyone.
While it is true that God already has power and authority over every square millimetre of the universe, a lot of that creation is in rebellion to Him. We, have tried to establish breakaway states and separatist movements that throw off His benevolent rule.
But we acknowledge the need for all those rebellions to be put down, not because God is a bully, but because He is good. We are created to thrive and prosper in the world that God has made.
Pull a fish out of water and it will survive for a few minutes, you could even say it is "living" out of water. But, eventually it will die. It was not designed to live out of water.
We're not designed to live outside God's kingdom. We may "live" for a time, but eventually we will die because we are cut-off from the source of Life. So we pray that the life-giving reign would be extended over all things.
Thankfully God has promised to do that, and he chose to do it through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus came and heralded the Kingdom of Heaven. Then Jesus secured the right to be our king, paid our debts, defeated death and now he directs the retaking of the kingdom on the Father's behalf.
This reclamation project starts in our hearts, praying that God would exercise His dominion there, and from there flow out in our families, churches, communities and eventually the whole world.
So, pray. Pray it loudly and sincerely "May your kingdom come."
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go..." (Mt 28:18–19).
"Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet" (1 Co 15:24–25).
"In love a throne will be established;
in faithfulness a man will sit on it—
one from the house of David—
one who in judging seeks justice
and speeds the cause of righteousness" (Is 16:5).
"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, o coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed" (Da 7:13–14).
Samuel Lindsay