Wednesday, October 16, 2013

THE KINGDOM, THE POWER AND THE GLORY

Time with Jesus - 17 Oct 2013

Hi all,
For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory, Forever and Ever – Amen. These are the words with which Jesus of Nazareth concluded the model prayer He compiled for the use of His followers; 
men and women who would love Him and follow Him for over two thousand years and more. Standing before and reading them, it’s almost impossible not to fall down before Him in worship. Thomas, one of the 12, said in John’s Gospel, 28 "My Lord and my God!" Thomas exclaimed John 20:28 NLT

What did Jesus mean when He taught these words in His prayer? Was He merely giving us three facts about the Triune God to baffle and amaze us? Was He merely sweeping together portions of information regarding a deep appreciation of His Father’s love for humanity? On the surface, this may seem to be the case. But there is a depth of meaning in this magnificent doxology which staggers our imagination.

So what is a doxology? In Christian religious services, a doxology is a hymn, prayer, or formula of worship in praise of God. It would thus be fitting for Jesus to include such a tribute in His model prayer. To help our perception, I’ve added colour to the three attributes Jesus referred to in the doxology.

Eugene Petersen touches on what I mean in the Message. He translates the verse as 13 Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You're in charge! You can do anything you want! You're ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes. Mat 6:13 MSG
For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory, Forever and ever – Amen. Immediately below is a table in which three of the “attributes” of the Trinity are stated.

Mat 6:13
KJV
For Thine is the Kingdom
For Thine is the Power
For Thine is the Glory
MSG
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Whose
The Kingdom belongs to Father
The Holy Spirit is the “Power of God”
The Glory of The Son
Be aware that because Father Son and Spirit are indivisible and separate, these “attributes” are not separate, but are jointly shared. The distinction referred to is only for the purpose of illustration.
There is little doubt that Jesus came to announce that the Kingdom of God was among us. 
On 206 occasions in the four Gospels, Jesus refers directly to the Kingdom of God. Certainly He brought salvation to sinners. But His primary purpose was to declare that the Kingdom of God was extant in His presence. Bear in mind, the Kingdom of God is where the King reigns. Jesus came to announce this so that the like of you and me could be drawn into His Kingdom.

One of the best known statements of Jesus in the Christianityin the Western World is: 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Mat 6:33 KJV. To seek the Kingdom of God is synonymous with seeking Jesus. He came as His Father’s representative. He is one with the Father so the expression, ‘”Thine is the Kingdom” acknowledges the Father’s place in the Trinity.

The Holy Spirit is often referred to as the power of God. We see this beautifully in the Creation story in Genesis. 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. Gen 1:1-3 NLT. 
Notice how the mind of the Father was expressed through the words of the Son and brought to reality by the Holy Spirit. God was in all three “events”. They are indivisible. Yet at the same time they are uniquely separate. This is one of the most beautiful expressions of the Triune God anywhere in Scripture. Every “component” unique, yet indivisible!

The Gen 1:1-3 creation account is “repeated” in John’s Gospel. In Chapter 18 we read: 4 Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to Him, so He stepped forward to meet them. "Who are you looking for?" He asked. 5 "Jesus the Nazarene," they replied. "I AM He," Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed Him, was standing with them.) 6 As Jesus said "I AM He," they all drew back and fell to the ground! John 18:4-6 NLT 
The power behind the spoken word of God was sufficient to cause all those who came to arrest Him, to fall to the ground. When reading this Scripture, I get the distinct impression that if Jesus had given any command, it would have taken place before their eyes. It was His mercy and deep pity for humanity that Jesus gave no Divine command throughout His arrest, trial, crucifixion and death. A word of command would have been sufficient to “snuff them out”. 

Accordingly for Jesus to state, “Thine is the Power” He was making an indirect reference to the Holy Spirit.
Concerning the glory of the Son of God, John in his gospel stated, 14 So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son. John 1:14 NLT 
John gave further details in his first Epistle. It must have been very difficult for him as he commenced writing this epistle. At the very outset he seeks to describe the glory of the Son of God. I doubt if anyone could have expressed what he was seeking to say any better than he did. 1 We proclaim to you the One who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 2 This One who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen Him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that He is the One who is eternal life. 
He was with the Father, and then He was revealed to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:1-3 NLT How does one describe the glory of God? John tried hard to do so. But it’s an impossible task. Only Jesus can possibly do so. Of course, He is the very glory of God.

As we have seen, His model prayer teaches us to pray, just as it was intended to teach His disciples to pray. But how could He include a reference to the members of the Trinity to Jewish disciples and other followers of those days, in a way that would not be thought to be religiously heretical? He could do so by referring to them obliquely and reverently. No wonder He is God!

By way of a change, this morning’s introduction comes from Frank S Mead’s book, “Who’s Who in the Bible”. It presents Jesus and His mother in a refreshingly differently way that we may well enjoy.
Shalom

Jim & Phyllida Strickland



Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give
Time with Jesus – 17 Oct 2013
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give
©
These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes
©
INTRODUCTION
DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
THE KINGDOM, THE POWER AND THE GLORY
For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory. What did Frank S Mead say about the background of Jesus’ magnificent doxology?
Mary of Nazareth knew the heights of joy and the deepest vale of tears. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was Mary, mother of joy, when she learned He was to come. She sang then the “Magnificat”.-”My soul doth magnify the Lord. . .“ Clutching him in the Bethlehem straw, she listened with closed eyes to the angel’s song, turned his wee face to see the star. When she lost him that day in Jerusalem, she was afraid, lest he be gone forever.
As he grew she believed in him; at the wedding in Cana she bade the servants, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” But afterward, on the edge of a surly crowd, she feared for him, begged him to leave his preaching and come home to her before they killed him. He could not come. It was the parting of the ways.
Still she followed, from afar, anguished, praying, hoping, but never again interfering. At last she saw his arms stretched wide, a brutal Roman soldier driving nails.. .Out of her night, she heard him say to John, “Behold thy mother.”
Some worship her, some adore. The world stands mute before her peaceful, patient face. Mary, mother of Jesus. Mary, mother of Love.
Jesus, son of Mary, was of her but not hers. He was God’s, wholly. The greatest soul of time, He arrived in time’s fullness to breathe into the corpse of a dead humanity a resurrecting, life-restoring Spirit, giving it direction and abundance, to realize its heavenly origin and divine destination. In his person, humanity swept up to a new high-water mark.
He was Teacher, putting to blush Plato and Socrates, for in him was all the prophets’ teaching, all the truth of all religions, and more. He added a rare finale to teaching: he lived it. He prasticed the Sermon on the Mount before He preached it. He was Physician, causing the lame to walk in a new strength, the strength of God; he gave mankind new ears, tuned to hear the whispering voice of God; he struck the scales from men’s blind eyes, brought God walking to them in their darkness, across the sweet wide meadows of hope.
He was Master of Life, glorifying its commonplace setting every common bush along the wayside afire with God. Master of Death, he snapped the terror of death and made it victory, that we might never fear to die.
Men misunderstood him and crucified him. Our world would do the same if He came back. By Frank S Mead - “Who’s Who in the Bible?”
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland
13 And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Matthew 6:13 NLT
This beautiful doxology is not in many texts.
The reason why this is the case, makes many scholars vexed.
Some think these words were added, by a very ancient scribe,
Who thought that these concluding words all people should imbibe.
I’ve known them since my boyhood; and for me to exclude,
These words from Jesus’ model prayer would be unjustly rude.
They focus on the Father and magnify the King.
They speak of God’s ability, to do most anything,
They amplify His glory, which will not ever end.
So I express approval of what the Scribe has penned!
If Jesus didn’t say them, they were surely in His heart.
A tribute to our Holy God, Who has no end or start.
It is the Father’s Kingdom, where Jesus reigns as King.
An everlasting sovereignty, that He will surely bring,
To pass upon this planet, the moment He returns.
A prospect so exciting, my heart inside me burns.
A place where Satan’s presence is banished, so that he,
Can’t deceive the members of all humanity.
A time of glorious power, with Jesus on His throne,
Ruling all the nations, just by His word alone!
An everlasting Kingdom, of righteousness and peace.
Where death has been excluded and love will never cease.
The little word “forever” is appropriately apt.
And where the King’s authority, by no man can be capped.
The Father will be with us in this recreated realm,
With Jesus and His followers securely at the helm.
There’ll be no need for sunshine or moon to light the day.
For He Himself will be our light, in each and every way.
But what is most important, is Jesus will be there.
The saints from all the ages will see their answered prayer!
We will recognise Him and fall down at His feet;
Lost in rapturous, wonder and savouring as sweet,
The knowledge that it’s over. The crown of life is won.
And we will spend eternity with Jesus Christ, God’s Son.
What could be more important? What more could we desire?
Father, Son and Spirit to set our hearts on fire.
Eternity to worship, to glorify and praise
The Faithful God Whom we can love, through endless, ageless days.
Jim Strickland
Written 17th Oct 2012
1 The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. 2 Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.
Psalms 93:1-2 ESV
3 The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet.
Nahum 1:3 TNIV
31 What can we say about all of this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31 GW
17 We might be thrown into the blazing furnace. But the God we serve is able to bring us out of it alive. He will save us from your powerful hand.
Daniel 3:17 NIrV
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.
John 10:29 TNIV
4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4 ESV
1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
Psalms 115:1 ESV
11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is Yours, O LORD, and this is Your kingdom. We adore You as the One who is over all things. 13 "O our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name! 14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to You? Everything we have is from You, and we give You only what You first gave us!
1 Chronicles 29:11, 13-14 NLT