Thy Kingdom Come: Living Prepared for Our Soon Coming King

Thy Kingdom Come

Living Prepared for Our Soon Coming King

Amy Sugawa

ISBN 978-1-68526-201-3 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68526-202-0 (Digital)

Copyright © 2021 Amy Sugawa

All rights reserved

First Edition

All scripture, unless otherwise stated, is taken from the New International Version of the Holy Bible.

Cover design by Allison Nakao

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

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Table of Contents

He Is Coming

Spending Time with the One We Love

Prayer, Part 1

Prayer, Part 2

Heal the Sick

Our Soul

Steps to Heal a Wounded Heart

Enemy of Our Soul, Part 1

Enemy of Our Soul, Part 2

Enemy of Our Soul, Part 3

From Glory to Glory

Faith or Fear, Part 1

Faith or Fear, Part 2

Faith or Fear, Part 3

What Is the Kingdom of God?

My House First

Church Leadership and Conduct

Discipline and Correction

In Christ Alone

On Christ, the Solid Rock

Arise and Build

The Valley of Decision

Dedicated to

those who love God with all their hearts, souls, minds, and strength,

and love others as themselves,

the humble and poor in Spirit,

truth seekers and God-fearers,

genuinely repentant, growing Christians,

Spirit-led Christ followers,

true worshippers who trust in Christ alone,

preachers of the good news of the kingdom of God,

healers of the sick,

true shepherds and marketplace ministers,

intercessory prayer warriors standing in the gap,

faithful watchmen on the wall, and

those who believe all things are possible with God.

If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.

—Mark 13:20

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

—Revelation 3:10

Introduction

The year 2020 brought a record year of devastating natural disasters, such as hurricanes, wildfires, rain and flooding, heat, tornadoes, and drought.¹ The world continues to war against the COVID-19 pandemic with recent reports of 155 million cases and three million deaths. America reports thirty-two million infected with 584 thousand deaths.

Are these the signs of the times Jesus describes in Luke 21 and Matthew 24 before He returns? Are we the generation who will see Him return with power and great glory? We don’t know the day or hour, but we are to be alert to the signs, and we need to be ready. How then shall we live? How do we prepare for His coming? Do we live differently knowing He is coming soon?

When Jesus walked the earth, He proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God, and He healed those who were sick. He instructed His disciples to do the same. He told His disciples some of them would see the kingdom of God on earth before they passed on to their heavenly reward. The Lord’s prayer tells us to pray, Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Jesus is alive and well, and with us today. When He manifests His presence, the kingdom of God is here on earth as it is in heaven. Hearts are changed, the sick are healed, and needs are met.

He said to them, Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power. (Mark 9:1)

[Jesus] said, I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent. (Luke 4:43)

When the Pharisees had demanded of Him when the Kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, "The Kingdom of God cometh not with outward show.

Neither shall they say, ‘Lo, it is here!’ or ‘Lo, it is there!’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20–21 KJ21)

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:1–2)

When ye pray, say: Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in Heaven, so on earth. (Luke 11:2 KJ21)

In His Word, the Lord gives us a road map to give us a life filled with love, peace, joy, and everything we need if we will just follow it. He has given us all the power and authority in His name to heal the sick, mend the brokenhearted, and set captives free. When we live according to His Word, we are living a life prepared for the return of our soon coming King.

All the signs indicate we are in the last days, the last leg of the race before His return. In a relay, the runner chosen for the anchor leg of the race is usually the toughest, most determined, fastest, and most experienced. Are we the last generation chosen to usher in His return?

Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. (Matthew 24:32–34)

Jesus said the latter glory will be greater than the former. We are entering into an unprecedented time of revival, and He is telling us to prepare for His second coming. As God shakes everything that can be shaken, He has our attention. People are anxious and fearful with all the shaking. They need the good news of the kingdom of God.

I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory… The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house. (Haggai 2:7, 9)

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. (Acts 2:17–18)

¹ Andrea Thompson, A Running List of Record-Breaking Natural Disasters in 2020—Scientific American, December 15, 2020. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-running-list-of-record-breaking-natural-

disasters-in-2020/#:~:text.

Chapter 1

He Is Coming

Jesus, Our Soon Coming King

Jesus came in the form of a baby to suffer and die on the cross for our salvation. He came as the Lamb of God to lay down His life for our sins, to bring redemption to mankind, and make a way of salvation for all those who believe in Him. He came to proclaim the kingdom of God and heal the sick.

He is returning to rule and reign over His kingdom on earth. He is returning as the lion of Judah with power and great glory in His appointed time. We can lift up our heads and be assured our redemption is near.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1:8)

In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay. (Hebrews 10:37)

At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. (Luke 21:27–28)

The Lord is also coming to judge the living and the dead. Each of us will have to give an account to Him.

They will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (1 Peter 4:5)

Each person was judged according to what they had done. (Revelation 20:13)

The Lord is coming to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him. (Jude 14-15)

For we know him who said, It is mine to avenge; I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge his people. (Hebrews 10:30)

Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. (Revelation 22:12)

Signs before His Second Coming

In Luke 21, Jesus describes the signs of the times before He returns. There will be a lot of shaking with earthquakes, famines, pestilences, and hurricanes. This is much of what we are experiencing now.

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. (Luke 21:10–11, 25–26)

Jesus is coming soon, but first everything that can be shaken will be shaken in our health, economy, government and politics, business, education, law, relationships, and every aspect of our lives. Those things that cannot be shaken will stand. As believers, we can stand firm when we build our lives on the rock of Jesus Christ.

Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. The words once more indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. (Hebrews 12:26–27)

Parable of the Fig Tree

On the Mount of Olives in Matthew 24, Jesus describes the signs of the end of the age before He returns. There will be wars and rumors of wars, nations rising against nations, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, the tribulation, false messiahs and false prophets, signs in the heavens. The Son of Man will return with power and great glory and gather His elect. He then teaches the lesson about the fig tree. Just as we know, its leaves come out when summer is near; when we see these signs, we know this generation will not pass away until we see His return.

Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. (Matthew 24:32–34)

He goes on to say we don’t know the day or hour, but we must be ready.

But about that day or hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Matthew 24:36, 44)

Birth Pangs for the Latter Glory

While He shakes everything, the glory of the present house will be greater than the glory of the former house. The shaking is likened to birth pangs. God is bringing forth a new birth, a new kingdom, the kingdom of God. With it comes an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a great harvest.

I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory.

The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house. (Haggai 2:7, 9)

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. (Mark 13:8)

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. (Acts 2:17–18)

Are we on the threshold of an unprecedented harvest of souls?

The Harvest Is Ripe

Don’t you have a saying, It’s still four months until harvest? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. (John 4:35)

There are several places around the world in our time where revival has already begun. Reinhard Bonnke was a German charismatic Christian evangelist (1940–2019). He was primarily known for his gospel missions in Africa where there were healing miracles and the dead were resurrected. Multitudes attended his meetings in Africa and received Christ.

Heidi and Rolland Baker served as missionaries in Indonesia, Hong Kong, and London before God called them to Mozambique in 1995. They now watch God provide for over 7,000 children. Through their ministry, the sick are healed, captives are set free, and whole villages in Africa receive Christ.

Back in the 1970s, prophetic words were spoken over Hawaii about a volcano that would spew forth hot molten lava that would ignite the islands and the Pacific rim, and of a lighthouse that would illuminate the islands and the Pacific rim. I believe Hawaii is on the precipice of this outpouring.

To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—that one will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery—just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. (Revelation 2:26–28)

Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, and the ends of the earth your possession. (Psalm 2:8)

Are We Ready for His Return?

In the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25, Jesus warns that not all of us will be ready. The wise virgins had oil in their jars along with their lamps. Their oil was not for sharing. As the parable teaches us, each of us is responsible for our relationship with the Lord. We are to be ready before the door is closed.

Are we among the wise, sincere, genuine, obedient, true Christians who follow Him and live according to His Word? Or are we among the foolish, whose behavior and actions are inconsistent with the Word of God?

At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

At midnight the cry rang out: Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!

Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.

No, they replied, there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.

But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. (Matthew 25:1–10)

Are we ready? Jesus continues with a very sobering warning that the bridegroom will not acknowledge everyone who calls Him, Lord.

Later the others also came. Lord, Lord, they said, open the door for us!

But he replied, Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25:11–13)

Will He acknowledge us as His own? Do we live our lives with Jesus as Lord? Do we do what the Word says? Will He recognize everyone who calls himself a Christian, goes to church, or calls Him Lord? We are to keep watch and be ready. We are to seek, trust, and obey Him before it is too late and the door shuts.

Chapter 2

Spending Time with the One We Love

With life passing us by so quickly, what is most important to God? God’s great commandment is to love Him first and love others.

When we love someone, don’t we want to spend as much time with that person as we can? My husband Gary and I met the summer after high school. Then he went away to college at Michigan State University, and I stayed home in Honolulu to attend the University of Hawaii. We spent a lot of time corresponding with one another. When he came back the first summer, we spent all our free time with one another. By the time he went back for his second year, I knew he was the one.

When it came time for me to transfer for my junior year, I chose one of the best universities in my chosen field of occupational therapy at the University of Wisconsin. We pretty much supported the post office and telephone company (no free e-mail in those days) and looked