Matthew 6:13b For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen.
I Chronicles 29:11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
Psalm 62:11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Jude 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
I Corinthians 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
MEMORY VERSE: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever. Amen. —Revelation 7:12
CENTRAL THOUGHT: As we began our prayer with worship and glory to the Father’s Name, we end our petition with acknowledgement and praise. We lift Him up as the source of our life, all power, salvation, wisdom, and blessing. For all that is felt, done, or accomplished in prayer, it is through Him and to Him and all to His glory.
WORD DEFINITIONS
Matthew 6:13b “glory”: splendor; the kingly majesty which belongs to God as supreme ruler.
I Chronicles 29:11 “power”: strength and might. “glory”: beauty. “victory”: eminence, enduring, everlastingness, perpetuity. “majesty”: splendor, vigor.
LESSON BACKGROUND
This part of the Lord’s prayer is originally missing in most ancient manuscripts, and was not a part of Luke’s rendering (Luke 11:4), but was most likely a doxology which was used in many Jewish prayers. The principle of it we may still value, however, because to ascribe all glory and honor to God as we pray is very important.
The backdrop for David’s doxology was the dedication of all the offerings that had been given for the building of the temple. David, having given out of his own store gold and silver and other items for the house of God, stood and blessed the Lord, as the people, who had so willingly offered their treasures to God, rejoiced with him. Although David was not the one who actually built the temple, he rejoiced in the dream of it. He ascribed to God all the power and ability to acquire wealth, recognizing that we can only give God what He Himself has given us.
Both Paul and Jude included similar doxologies at the end of their epistles.
The apostles Paul and John wrote of the glorious scene when Christ, having received the everlasting kingdom—souls of men and women who have been redeemed of all ages and nations—then triumphantly delivers it to His Father. In the original text of the prayer, Christ may or may not have said these actual words, but as we read of this majestic scene, we realize that Jesus truly did glorify and honor His Father, did His Father’s Will, offered up Himself and suffered and died to bring mankind to the bosom of the Father.
—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck
DISCUSSION:
- Giving Glory to God: Explain how Jesus was the supreme example of humility and meekness. Cite other instances where He gave the honor to His Father.
- Following His Example: How important is it that we, instead of quickly ending our requests and heading on to the duties of life, spend time in blessing, honoring and praising the Father?
- Looking Ahead: In Jesus’s prayer to His Father (John 17:24), He desires that the glory He shared with His Father would be shared also with us. What descriptions are given in Scripture of the splendor and glory of that eternal world?
COMMENTS AND APPLICATION
We began our prayer with recognition and deep gratitude for our Father. We learned to draw close to Him by praising and honoring His Name, welcoming, concerning ourselves with and desiring His Kingdom, and yearning for His Will to be completely done in and around us. We recognized in deep faith and trust His control and care over our daily needs. We lamented our inability to fulfill our debts to Him and learned compassion for those who, in such small ways compared to our great debt to Him, owed us. We realized that we needed His ever-guiding Spirit to lead us and deliver us from the temptations of the evil one.
Now we are led back to the overwhelming knowledge of His greatness, His power and might, and His majesty. We realize that He RULES. Nothing can come into our lives without His notice and control. Praise and adoration fills us as we seek to glorify Him and point souls to Him. This takes the haste and rush out of our spirits as we rest in a holy awe. What a wonderful way to begin, live, and end a day!
—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck
REFLECTIONS
In meditating on Eph. 3:20-21, I can but stand in awe of the great plan of salvation conceived in the mind of God – a plan whereby He is willing to share the power and glory of His everlasting kingdom with fallen man! Rom. 14:17 tells us “the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
By turning away from sin and coming to Christ we are “born of the Spirit” (John 3:3-8). Thereby we enter God’s kingdom and become partakers of all His kingdom benefits, even “joint-heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17). This primary entrance into the kingdom is the grace of regeneration. But this is not the only benefit! If we “go on unto perfection” (Heb. 6:1), and present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God (Rom. 12:1), we will receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit. In this sanctifying grace, the kingdom comes into us with power (Mark 9:1). Paul says, “… God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ “(2 Thes. 2:13-14). It is through the Holy Spirit that Christ now shares with the church a measure of the power and glory of God’s eternal kingdom. The Spirit is the “earnest of our inheritance” (Eph. 1:13-14). Therefore the more we live and walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:25), the more kingdom benefits we will experience here and now. We will experience them “according to the power that worketh in us” through the Spirit. However, the best is yet to come!
In Rom. 8:18, Paul says, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Read also how the Spirit helps our present infirmities, verses 19-27.) As we continue to be led by the Holy Spirit (verse 14), we can sing with glorious anticipation: “What a pleasure in life it is bringing! What assurance and hope ever bright! Oh, what rapture and bliss are awaiting, When our faith shall be lost in the sight!” —Evening Light Songs #32.
—Bro. Harlan Sorrell
I was impressed with the definition of glory in this lesson. I have never used beauty in the place of glory. Here at Christmas we see that word often and I have mused over this word glory and how we are striving to beautify the way of the Lord with our lives.