Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

​Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

​2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

6 And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thy hands:

11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed​: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

​ MEMORY VERSE: God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. —Hebrews 1:1,2

​ CENTRAL THOUGHT: The Almighty God created and rules the heavens and the earth and the heavenly hosts of angels, who are sent to minister to mankind. He sent forth His Son to be our Saviour, to Whom His angels give worship and honor.

WORD DEFINITIONS

​ Hebrews 1:1, “sundry times and in divers manners”: Many various and different ways.

Ver. 2, “made the worlds”: Set in order the ages of time.

Ver. 3, “brightness of his glory”: Beauty of His holiness and power.

Ver. 4, “so much better than the angels”: Stronger and nobler in power and glory, because He was the only begotten Son.

Ver. 9, “above thy fellows”: Superior in strength and power.

Ver. 14, “ministering spirits”: Beneficial beings to help humanity.

LESSON BACKGROUND

In our lesson today we want to continue our study of the Lord’s Prayer, and give some thought to the expression “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” I was inspired with some of the statements brought out in Hebrews chapter 1 about Jesus being made so much better than the angels, because He was the only begotten Son, and being God born in the flesh, sent to be our Savior, obtained a more excellent name than the angels and was worshiped by them.

In the Old Testament we read of several places where God worked through angels to help His people and those in need. Psalm 34:7 states: “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” Then in Psalm 91:11, 12 it states, “For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”

Thus we see the wonderful goodness of God in the ministry of angels He has sent for help and protection. However, even though God sends help through the angels, we know that Jesus has much more power than the angels—the power of salvation from sin.
So when we pray for God’s will to be done in earth, as it is in heaven, we can know that God works in the behalf of those who trust in Him, who hallow His name, and make His kingdom welcome in their hearts and lives. It is a wonderful blessing to know that God still has angels that He can send to help in the lives of His children. Even Jesus experienced the help of the angel while He was in the garden at the mount of Olives in great distress and need, as it says in Luke 22:43, “There appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.”

So the Heavenly Father hears the prayers of His own, and works His will in our behalf here on earth, in and through the ministry of the heavenly hosts of angels above us!

​—Bro. Leslie Busbee

DISCUSSION:

1. Heavenly Help: Think of various times when an angel helped those in need. May we also expect the LORD of Heaven to send us help from angels?

2. The Only Begotten: In what way was Jesus manifested to be superior to the angels in strength, honor and power? To Whom do we look for salvation from sin? Whom do we worship?

3. God’s Will in Us: Seeing how God works His will in the heavenly realm, what should be our aim and desire for His will in our lives?
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​​ COMMENTS AND APPLICATION

When we think of the will of God being done in Heaven we can also consider the wonders of His blessed will as portrayed in the visible heavens. I have been greatly inspired and blessed in my soul with the words of David found in Psalm 19. ”The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” Day after day a message is preached to all the earth. Night after night, knowledge and wise counsel is broadcast to humanity. Their “line” or their doctrine goes out through all the earth. Paul quotes from this in Romans 10:17, 18: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily [beyond a doubt], their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.”

Here is the gospel preached every day and every night. But who among the sons of earth is aware or open minded to this glorious gospel? Oh, how we need to awaken to righteousness and cease from sin and disobedience! The gospel is preached, but poor, blinded and foolish mankind does not recognize or receive it!

Thus we see in today’s lesson how God rules in the visible heavens, commissions and commands His angels to minister to mankind, and sent forth His Son, Who did His Father’s will to save and ransom souls. Heaven is heaven because the will of God is always done there.

​—Bro. Leslie Busbee

REFLECTIONS

I have heard the story of a man musing on how possible would it be to live peaceably with one another in heaven since there are so many differences here on earth: differences of personalities, differences of opinions, differences of ideas in general. He thought perhaps there needed to be a room where each soul would be readied and changed before entering heaven. The Lord answered and said, “There is such a room-it’s called life.”

“. . .and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19). A holy and righteous life on earth will simply be transitioned into that heavenly home. By looking into the word of God we find that there is to be no sin in our lives while here on earth, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). And in Revelations 21:27 it states, “And there shall in no wise enter into it [heaven] any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life”. The laws of holiness and righteousness are to be embraced in our lives while here on earth, just as it will be in heaven.

“Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

—Sis. LaDawna Adams