The Kingdom, The Power, And The Glory

The Kingdom, The Power, and the Glory – by Eliezer Gonzalez

Jun 17, 2015 5504

Here are three facts that should change the way you pray forever.

They don’t come from me. You will find then in Matthew 6:13:

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

You may recognise these as the traditional ending to the Lord’s prayer. You won’t find these words in almost any modern translation of the Bible, because most scholars don’t believe that Jesus actually said them. But I tend to disagree with them. They do appear as the ending to the Lord’s Prayer in the Didache, dating to possibly as early as the late first century.

But it doesn’t really matter, because even if Jesus did not say these words, they are certainly Scriptural in what they convey. And we know that the early Christian church used them at the end of the Lord’s prayer.

Here are the three facts:

1. The Kingdom belongs to God – He is in Charge

And Jesus describes God’s Kingdom in fascinating ways. He says, “In God’s Kingdom, the first are last and the last are first.” And this is exactly opposite of what we see in this world. He says that in God’s Kingdom, children play an important role … they inherit the Kingdom.

What Jesus teaches is that, “the poor in spirit; the peacemakers; and the meek; and the lowly inherit the Kingdom. He says, “The Kingdom of God is like a party that the King throws and he invites everyone to come, though many spurn the invitation.” He said, “The Kingdom of God is like a father who waits for his wayward child to come home and when he does, he runs to greet them and throws a party.” The Kingdom of God is exemplified by Jesus, who ate with sinners, tax- collectors and prostitutes.

So don’t be surprised if the Kingdom is not working out exactly how you thought it should. The kingdom belongs to God. When you acknowledge that the Kingdom belongs to totally to him, you are accepting that he is totally in charge, and that is the right way to approach God.

2. The Power Belongs to God – He Can Do It

Because the kingdom belongs to God, you must accept that all of the power is his. Together with that goes the reality that you are powerless without him.

Knowing that the One who breathes out universes with his word, and that the one who has overcome all sin and evil at the Cross, who has risen from the dead, and who has worked out your complete victory in himself, has to change the way you pray!

When you pray, you are speaking with the repository of all power. There is no power apart from him. Accept it. Receive it.

3. All the Glory Belongs to Him – He is Already Famous For Doing It

The glory of God was poured into human flesh in Jesus Christ (John 1:14.) And also in John’s Gospel (ch. 17), do you remember when Jesus is glorified? It’s when he hangs on the cross. Jesus displays the glory of God on the cross, because on the cross Jesus displayed the sacrificial love of God for all people who had rebelled against him. The glory of God was revealed as Jesus laid down his life for us, so that we might have life.

He is already famous for providing everything that his children need. You cannot add to his fame, but you can get excited about it and share it with others!

As we confess that God is in charge, we admit that we’re not. As we proclaim that God has power and can do what God wants, we admit that we need God’s power for living. And as we give God all the glory, we admit that there is no one else like him, however he may choose to work in our lives.

Next time you pray, remember why. It will change the way you pray for ever.

– Eliezer Gonzalez

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