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

DON'T LET US YIELD TO TEMPTATION

Time with Jesus -16 Oct 2013

Hi all,

In 1945, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II composed their hit musical “Carousel”. Then in 1956 a film adaptation of the show was made. 

The 1956 film starred Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones and contains what many critics consider some of Rodgers and Hammerstein's most beautiful songs, as well as what may be the most serious storyline found in their musicals.

I remember going to see Carousel in Port Elizabeth in the late 1950’s. For some reason, I didn’t enjoy the movie, in spite of the unquestioned singing talent of Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae. Perhaps it was something to do with the title? As a child, I’d loved riding on the “Roundabout” in the PE Fair Ground which visited every year over the Christmas season. It went round and round and the horses on the ride went up and down, much to the amusement of young children and their parents. 

Moms and Dads would hold their giggling and occasionally hysterical offspring as the carousel went round. But when you are a teenager, the whole affair is so “tame”. It feels a bit embarrassing to remember how much you had enjoyed it doing the same thing.

There’s another reason why I didn’t enjoy the movie. When you are a teenager, with all life in front of you, (DV) you don’t want to be reminded that death is just around the corner. Furthermore, as an emotional and “star-struck” young man, for the “star” of the film (Gordon MacRae) to die and leave his beautiful young wife (Shirley Jones) behind, was intolerable. 

In those days, young men and young women all believed in their own “indestructability” and “they all lived happily ever after”. It was a period of time during the “growing up” years that all of us went through consciously or unconsciously.

YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE

When you walk through a storm Hold your head up high And don't be afraid of the dark At the end of the storm Is a golden sky And the sweet silver song of the lark Walk on through the wind Walk on through the rain Though your dreams be tossed and blown Walk on walk on with hope in your heart And you'll never walk alone You'll never walk alone

From Carousel (Rogers & Hammerstein)

Three songs remain firm favourites with me in spite of my dislike of the movie. These are, “If I Loved You”, “June Is Bustin' Out All Over” and “You'll Never Walk Alone”. Of the three, my favourite is “You'll Never Walk Alone”.

There are a number of reasons for this. The first is that the song was adopted by the fans of Liverpool Football Club and later by other clubs in the 1960’s. Why Liverpool, I’ve never found out. I vividly remember the fans singing the song during football matches. Incidentally, during the 1960’s, while I was in UK, I considered myself to be a South African though I was originally from UK.

The second and for me, the most important reason, is the significance of the words and the relationship Phyllida and I have with Jesus and each other.

Real life is always very different from what you had thought it might be during your teenage years. It’s always a disappointment, when you find that reality does not correspond with your expectations. We start off with dreams of being the very best at whatever we decide to be. It doesn’t matter what they are, we always think we will be the very best of the bunch. There is no doubt in our mind; we will scale to the highest point on the ladder of life. Getting going is not too bad. We get a qualification, whatever that might be. 

At first, climbing the ladder is not too difficult. In order to do so we have to stand on a couple of our colleagues on our way up while they are on the way down. It’s not too difficult really. The ladder is broad with plenty of space for others in both directions.

Then we notice that the ladder gets a bit narrower. It’s not quite as easy as it used to be. There are delays in both directions. To get higher, means overtaking colleagues and friends who are a bit closer to you. Nevertheless, you continue to climb, even though you realise that you are beginning to fill the shoes of those who have already died.

You also find that there are other up and coming folk, who are quite prepared to kick you out of the way and stand on your fingers in order to get past you. After a couple more years, you realise that you will never get to the top of the ladder. There’s only room for one at the top. The ladder you’ve been on only leads to the top of the muck heap – and who wants to be at the top of a muck heap? You begin to wonder whether it was all worth it. 

Success in this world is merely temporary and empty. Yes, there are bigger houses, more cars, and expensive holidays – if you can find the time to be away from work. Yes, there is a nice bank balance, but stress has taken its toll and medical bills are starting to exceed what you are paying for medical aid. Then there are the children and their children. Hopefully they are not strangers who pass you by in the night. You and the wife will both be running out of steam a little and don’t quite have the energy you once had. Hopefully, you’ve both managed to survive the typical mid-life crisis. If you haven’t quite arrived there, please be aware that when you get to the top of the muck heap, you are still on the top of a muck heap!

Phyllida and I decided to get off the ladder and be servants of the Most High God! Sure the monthly salary was nothing to get excited about. However, there was and is, always more than enough for us to enjoy a moderate lifestyle. We realised that wealth and fame were not nearly as important, as extending His Kingdom and being a blessing to others. This reminds me of a comment made at the funeral of a very wealthy man. “How much did he leave?” was the question asked by several of the “mourners”. “All of it,” was the comment of one of the man’s Christian friends.

We have found that there is nothing in this world more satisfying than serving Jesus. We have seen Him revive the “souls” of those whom we had thought were beyond hope. We are witness of transformation in our own lives and in the lives of others that power and wealth could never compensate. 

Jesus taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation!” He has shown us that when we have met Him and have given our lives to Him, we are never alone. In fact, we’ll “never walk alone”. We have joined Him on the Carousel of life. We may giggle or scream hysterically as the “horses go up and down” and the machine goes round and round. But Jesus is holding us so there is no need to fear. 

One day the carousel will stop and we will be with Him for ever. Then we will hear from His lips the words we desire more than anything else in this world. “Well done, good and faithful servants.”

Shalom

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Well Done, Good and Faithful Servants

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 16 October 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	DON'T LET US YIELD TO TEMPTATION
We are approaching the end of Jesus’ model prayer. Here He refers to temptation. He knew very well what He was facing. He knew He was destined for the cross. He knew He would be tempted, to avoid that which He would have to endure, to the very end. We know that He did. We need to distinguish immediately between a trial and a temptation. Trials in life are inevitable. They are as certain as the fact that until Jesus returns, death will eventually call for us. A trial is almost anything we must endure. For example a music examination. Perhaps a dentist appointment? Perhaps an operation in the hospital? For Christians, it could be being thrown to the lions, or being burned at the stake. This was the trial many had to endure. There may have been an associated temptation. To deny their faith in Jesus Christ. In many cases, if they chose to deny Jesus, they would be set free. That would be an enormous temptation. The book of Hebrews focuses on this. If a Christian was a Jewish convert, by denying Christ publically in the synagogue, he/she would be received back into Judaism and would no longer be persecuted. Some did this. Others did not and suffered accordingly. Certainly the temptation to apostatise was huge. It could mean avoiding persecution for the whole family. Many chose to go through the trial of being persecuted, rather than fall into the temptation of being unfaithful to Jesus. When people ask me what I would have done in those circumstances, I confess that I really don’t know. Part of me wants to pretend to be willing to endure to the end. The other part reminds me, that under these circumstances, I’m still a coward. God alone knows what I would do! Paul in his first letter to Corinth speaks about temptation. He wrote, 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Cor. 10:13 NLT It’s comforting to know that even under such terrible circumstances; the Lord will be faithful to us. I won’t be expected to endure the unendurable. He will show a way out. That way may well be martyrdom. Others have passed through being martyred for their faith. I’m not more special than they were. The same is true for my wife and children. My way out, may be martyrdom. What if it’s martyrdom, not only for me, but for my family? Am I ready for that? It’s a very brave man who can say in advance that he would choose martyrdom. The answer may be easy for me alone. But for wife and children as well? That’s a horse of a different colour. Can I face the prospect of my wife and children being thrown to the lions or burned at the stake? What will I do? What would you do? 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	Temptations come, temptations go; our God is not the cause. Most of them originate within our human flaws. They’re accentuated by the devil and his wiles. If he can deceive you, he’ll wipe away your smile. A prayer about temptation was common among Jews. “Do not lead me into sin”, is what they’d sometime use. “Not into transgression; nor in iniquity. Do not let sin’s power, overshadow me. Such a mighty onslaught perhaps would make me sink; So keep me safe, Almighty God, from what I do or think.” But there are some temptations, we simply can’t avoid. Even though they irritate and make us feel annoyed. Sometimes they are useful and we must overcome. They must not destroy us; or to their power, succumb. There are some temptations which we must all endure. Hard and disagreeable, designed to make us pure. Perhaps in an affliction, the type Job underwent. Where Satan was permitted to test his real intent. God loosed the reins of Satan, to test and try His man; To show that Job was “righteous” was actually God’s plan! He may “withdraw His presence”, to demonstrate His grace, And show that you can overcome the problems which you face. He also lets false prophets arise among His folk, To see if we will tolerate their rough and heavy yolk. But even in these trials, we know that He is near. That we can still depend on Him and there is naught to fear. Such trials are essential. Through all of them we grow, In grace and perseverance, so all of us will know, That we’ll continue faithful and watchful unto prayer. Following the Master, regardless when or where. Then there are temptations Satan often brings; Testing our ability to stay beneath God’s wings. Tempting us with evil and prompting us to lie. Filling us with doubts and fears; to quit and go awry. Putting thoughts of blasphemy and evil in our head. He’ll continue trying this until we are all dead. But if we resist him, we know that he will flee! And through Jesus Christ the Lord we will have victory! Jim Strickland Written 16th Oct 2012
			26 Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. Proverbs 28:26 TNIV
			13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. James 1:13-15 NLT
			17 The Lord says, "Get away from unbelievers. Separate yourselves from them. Have nothing to do with anything unclean. Then I will welcome you." 2 Corinthians 6:17 GW
			10 Then Lot looked in the direction of Zoar as far as he could see. He saw that the whole Jordan Plain was well-watered like the LORD'S garden or like Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 Lot chose the whole Jordan Plain for himself. He moved toward the east. They each went their own way, 13 (The people who lived in Sodom were very wicked. They committed terrible sins against the LORD.) Genesis 13:10-11 & 13 GW
			7 But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. 9 So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. 2 Peter 2:7 & 9 NLT
			4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Romans 14:4 NIV