May 30, 2016
Lord Teach Us To Pray – Week 11 – Yours is the Glory
In our series Lord Teach us to Pray, this week we look at the last section of the “Disciple’s Prayer” in Matthew 6. For yours is the Kingdom and the power and the Glory. We look at how this simple phrase summarizes all we have learned and how it calls us to give God all the glory in our lives.
Lord, Teach us to Pray – Week 11 – (Doxology) For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Well today we look at the last phrase in the “Disciples Prayer” commonly known as the Lord’s prayer … For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
This phrase is also know as the prayer’s doxology. Interestingly, enough we are not really sure if this was part of the original prayer Jesus taught his disciples or if this was later added by church tradition. The reason for this confusion is there are multiple copies of the Greek New Testaments and some of them have this phrase and others do not. But whether or not it was there originally it still aligns with all of scripture and in some sense it is a summary of the entire prayer.
As we have stressed through out this entire series the purpose of prayer is to draw us closer to God and to know him more fully. We we recognize God of who he is we bring Him the Glory he deserves. As we have learned this prayer we have been amazed at all the ways that God acts as a loving father. He is holy and in His holiness he learn how to live according to His will. He is also a loving King who provides for us who are part of His Kingdom, He is also Sovereign Lord and teaches us how to live according to His will. When we do we find that “His yoke is easy and His burden is light.” We also see Him as a provider who cares about our physical needs. In fact He provides everything we need. He wants us to trust Him for our daily provision so He can show us how much he cares. In fact He cared enough to provide not only for our physical needs but also for our psychological and spiritual needs. He provides forgiveness for our sins. The one thing we have no chance of paying for on our own God instead completely and fully did on our behalf. He sent His Son to pay our debt and and instead gave us His righteousness. And if that where not all enough He doesn’t just leave us to our own devices but instead sent His Holy Spirit to guide us and lead us trough the trial and temptations of life. And He even promises protection from the enemy who is out to kill steal and destroy our relationship with Him.
As I said this doxology is a great summery or this prayer.
For yours is the kingdom.
This phrase brings us right back to the first three petitions we looked at, “Hallowed be your name, Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done”. When we boldly declare “Yours is the kingdom” we are subjecting ourselves to His rule in our lives. I actually think the most important word in this entire phrase is the first one “Yours” in fact it attaches to each of these 3 ideas. It is a declaration of submission. Not mine is the kingdom, but yours is the kingdom. A Kingdom is a actually the formation of two words. It is the Kings-Domain. The place where the King reigns and rules. So when we say yours is the Kingdom, we are relinquishing control of our lives and our domain, and saying Jesus will you rule and reign in my life. Will you be King and may my life be your domain. That is sobering, but remember He is a loving father who has done, and is willing to do so much more in your life if you are willing. This all points directly to Jesus the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
Rev 17:14
They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers.
Your is the power.
This reminds us of the second set of petitions we looked at. Give us today our daily bread, Forgive our debts…. and Lead us … this is all accomplished by the power of God and He then gives us power to live as He calls us to, by the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit
When we receive this power it is given to us for a purpose. It is not given to fro us to live comfortable lives, instead it is given for us to follow Him radically and boldly. To be His missionaries to this world.
Act 1:1-8
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
He does this all so that we might proclaim and live for His Glory.
So when we say yours is the power we are surrendering to His mission knowing that He will provide the power, the resources, the forgiveness, the protection and the boldness to live the like He made us for.
Yours is the Glory
We do this all because that is God’s ultimate purpose in our lives. We have said this is called the Doxology of the prayer.
The word Doxology is actually a compound word Doxa and logia. Doxa means Glory and logia means saying. So Doxology means to declare Glory.
Isaiah 43:1-7
But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Isaiah reminds us that we are created to bring Glory to God. We are created to live lives that honor and point to Him. So many times we are so consumed with the day to day, that we often don’t have time to give Him the glory.
Unfortunately, glorifying God doesn’t happen automatically. Just because we are born in the Spirit doesn’t assure us of being able to walk in the Spirit and reflect Him. Just like experiencing His Love in our lives, the ability to glorify God involves a constant choice: to reflect His Life or to glorify self. (Psalm 115:1; John 8:54; Revelation 18:7; Romans 11:13)
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NKJV) summarizes the choice that is always before us: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches, but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord, which exercise loving-kindness, judgement, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”
When we choose to adhere to and follow what we want, feel and think over what God has told us to do, we quench His Spirit in us and glorify ourselves over Him. (Psalm 81:12)
When we follow God in our lives we do those things that please Him. But many times it requires us to do things that scare us. Things that we don’t believe is possible. Nothing Brings more Glory to God than when His children trust Him. When we step out and do what he calls us to. Hebrew 11 is called the hall of Faith and it tells of Men and Women in the Bible that followed God by faith.
Hebrew 11:1
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
After that chapter it reminds us that Jesus is the one who shows us what faith is.
Hebrew 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
So here is the challenge today!
How are you bringing Glory to God right now? What are you doing right now in your life that requires faith?
If you could do one thing for God and you knew you couldn’t fail what would that be?
Who is telling you you will fail?
What are you willing to change in your life to move toward that.
That is faith! Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
For more on this series check out the rest of the series here.