Red Letters #12

made with Proclaim

Greg Kasler

BeaconNaz

Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago • Presented 4 years ago • 26:01

Matthew 6:13

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The Praise of Jesus

As we continue our deep dive into the Sermon on the Mount, we have arrived this morning to the final words of the Prayer of Jesus that we know as the Lord’s Prayer. In fact, we arrive this morning to words that are omitted in many of the modern translations of the bible. It is believed that these words were added later because they are not included in the earliest manuscripts. Whether it is an addition or not is not really a concern for me this morning. I would like for us, to rather look at the meaning of these words that have been used to end the Lord’s Prayer for many centuries. Certainly, the words contain strong claims and are good theology. The four elements of this text are not just a summary. They are introduced by the Greek word hoti - meaning because. So, in effect, we are saying that all of these things we have prayed…all of these petitions that we have brought, we have been able to do so because “His is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.”

A woman entered a Haagen-Dasz store on the Kansas City Plaza for an ice-cream cone. After making her selection, she turned and found herself face to face with Paul Newman, who was in town filming a movie. He smiled and said hello. Newman’s blue eyes caused her knees to shake.

She managed to pay for her cone, then left the shop, heart pounding. When she gained her composure, she realized she didn’t have her ice cream. She started back into the store to get it and met Newman at the door.

“Are you looking for your ice cream?” he asked. She nodded, unable to speak. “You put it in your purse with your change.” (Leadership Magazine Illustration)

When was the last time the presence of God, the majesty, the power, the glory, the faithfulness of God quickened our pulse and caused us to forget about ourselves?

Jurgen Moltman has said: “The hymn of praise to God’s glory is not sung today in a world without God, but rather in a world where people and powers make gods out of themselves. ‘Mine is the kingdom, and mine is the power, and the glory belongs to no one but me.’ That is the rough, discordant tone we hear in our world today.”

Yet, this doxology—this closing to the Lord’s prayer reminds us that His is the kingdom—His is the power—and His is the glory, forever!

1. His is the kingdom

Jesus is King! After Napoleon Bonaparte was for the last time toppled from his European empire and forced to spend his last days in exile on the island of St. Helena, he wrote these moving words:

“I die before my time and my body shall be given back to the earth and devoured by worms. What an abysmal gulf between my deep miseries and the eternal kingdom of Christ! I marvel that whereas the ambitious dreams of myself and Alexander and Caesar should have vanished into thin air. A Judean peasant, Jesus, should be able to stretch his hands across the centuries, and control the destinies of men and nations.” (quoted in David Robinson, “Is Anyone in Charge?” Command, Fall 1992, vol. 41, No. 3, 7, cited in Jeremiah, Op cit 175.)

Jesus is King and a day is soon coming when he will be the Christos Victor and cast Satan into the lake of burning sulfur Where he…will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Rev. 20:10) What a great day that will be because that will be the day of the New Jerusalem, the day when God will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Rev. 21:4-5)

We praise Him because we know He is the King over His Kingdom. And we need to recognize that He is king and we are not. It is His kingdom, not ours. We are here for Him. He is not here for us. We serve Him because He is worthy - because He is the Lord God our King.

We are also reminded, however, that we have been made partakers of this kingdom. Jesus said in

Luke 12:32 NRSV

32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

By the sovereign choice and grace of God,

Colossians 1:13 NRSV

13 He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son,

Sp while we acknowledge and glorify the Lord as King, we affirm our place as servants and citizens of His Kingdom.

2. His is the Power

The Greek word dunamos was the most explosive, powerful word available in the Greek language. When the English language was forming, the word was borrowed to describe what was then the most powerful force known to man “dynamite.” He has the power to work His will.

God powerful beyond our imaginations! It is not without reason that Paul wrote of our Lord:

Ephesians 3:20–21 NRSV

20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

It is His Kingdom, not ours, in which we serve, and it is His power, not ours, which we so desperately need. We cannot succeed as Christians in our own strength. We simply do not have enough strength or the right kind of strength. The problem is that we do not draw on the power of God. We do not really understand that power. As a result, we settle for so much less than God has for us.

We are like the old man who bought himself a brand new Cadillac convertible and was seen a few days later proudly riding into town, top down, being drawn by a team of horses. Someone should have told him that there was horsepower under the hood. All the power to move the car was already there - indeed, more power than he could have ever imagined. Like him, we are sometimes guilty of hitching our Christianity up to the power of flesh and blood instead of drawing on the power of God. Why do we continue to do this?

It is said that just before takeoff on an airplane, a flight attendant reminded Muhammud Ali to fasten his seat belt. “Superman don’t need no seatbelt,” replied Ali. The flight attendant looked down and said, “Superman don’t need no plane, either.” We have the power of God working in us!

3. His is the glory

With the abuses of marketing in our day, the English language has lost much of its power to communicate the concept of the Greek word doxa. Years ago, Volvo had a slogan that made the claim that their automobile “saves the soul.” Now, Volvo makes a fine automobile but their advertising far overstated its power to claim it “saves the soul.” Doxa means literally, glory.

What is the glory that Jesus prayed about?

In their book, Do Not Lose Heart, Dave and Jan Dravecky wrote:

“Glory is what you see when you peer out of an airplane at thirty thousand feet and are swept away by the bright glow of an orange and pink and red and purple sunset flaming its brilliance behind the snow-capped peaks of a majestic mountain range. Glory is beauty. Glory is splendor. Glory is magnificence. Glory is all that is worthy of praise and honor and shouts of great joy.”

God is a God of glory. The Greek Word translated glory - doxa - is also translated as “splendor, honor, brilliance, or majesty.” God is a God of glory, of majesty, of splendor, of beauty and honor and astonishing brilliance.

So bright is His divine illumination that the Bible tells us when we’re in heaven,

Revelation 21:23 NRSV

23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

The Lord Jesus will illuminate the whole universe!

It is His glory, not ours, we seek to exalt and reflect by our lives. As servants of Christ, we should never seek to exalt ourselves, rather, we should always point to Christ. We should exalt the Lord. We should glory in Him.

We are called to seek God’s kingdom, to pray for His power, and to desire His glory to be made known. As we declare in praise that these things are true about God, we not only speak the truth, but we also reinforce that truth to our minds and hearts. And we may find that we experience his power and presence in a very real tangible way.

4. He is forever

How big is eternity? This, of course, is impossible to grasp but the Lord gives us a little picture of how time in the here and now compares to time in eternity. Turn to Psalm 90:4 where the scripture says:

Psalm 90:4 NRSV

4 For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a watch in the night.

A thousand years are like a watch in the night; a watch in the night was 4 hours. Using this as a literal formula, when we enter our eternal home in heaven, this life of 70 years will feel like it lasted 16.8 minutes. Has it been a long 10 years? —a little less that 2 and 1/2 minutes. Tough year? — 15 seconds. Hard week? - less than 1/3 of a second. Long day? - 4/100 of a second. This has seemed like a long sermon? - 1.41/1000’s of a second.

2 Corinthians 4:16–17 NRSV

16 So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. 17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure,

How big is eternity? As far back as you can think, and then further back than you can imagine, and then further back than imagination has any potential to dream. Eternity is forever. There never was a time when it was not. And how far into the future does it reach? On and on and on…There never will be a time when it ceases to be. Our God is eternal. That’s what Jesus meant when he attributed this little word “forever” to God. Where ever you are…God will be there. No matter what happens tomorrow…God will be there. No matter how terrible…God will be there.

Hebrews 13:8 NRSV

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Revelation 1:8 NRSV

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

This is not just pop-psychology, wishy-washy positive thinking. This is reality…for thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” This is the reality of life for the child of God, not just pop-psychology.

What are you facing right now? What is the impossible that can’t be done?

You say: It’s impossible

God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: I’m too tired

God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28)

You say: I can’t go on

God says: My grace is sufficient for you (2 Cor. 12:9

You say: I can’t figure out which way to go

God says: I will direct your steps (Prov. 3:5-6)

You say: I’m not smart enough

God says: I will give you a generous supply of wisdom (James 1:5)

You say I can’t manage

God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

You say: I’m so worried

God says: Cast all your cares upon me for I care for you (1 Peter 5:7)

You say: I’m afraid

God says: Fear not..I did not give you a spirit of fear, but of discipline and love and power (2 Timothy 1:7)

You say: I can’t do it

God says: You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength (Phil. 4:13)

Of course you can’t do it…that is by design so that no one can boast before Him (1 Cor. 1:29)

God bypasses the number one draft choices when he selects his team.

Jeremiah was too young and emotionally unstable. Moses couldn’t speak. Gideon was a chicken. Sarah was too old. Hosea didn’t have the education. Isaiah was sinful. Josiah was just an 8 year old kid. David was too young. Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. So was Rahab. Mary was a virgin. Peter wan an obnoxious, stinking fisherman. About the only one to have it all together was … JUDAS!

The entire Disciples’ Prayer must be something that flows out of a truly committed heart. It ought to be a definition of your spirit, your attitude toward God, what is inside you.

I have used this several times throughout our time in the Lord’s Prayer, but one last time, an unknown author put it this way:

I cannot say “our” if I live only for myself.

I cannot say “Father” if I do not endeavor each day to act like His child.

I cannot say “who art in heaven” if I am laying up no treasure there.

I cannot say “hallowed be Thy name” if I am not striving for holiness.

I cannot say “Thy kingdom come” if I am not doing all in my power to hasten that wonderful event.

I cannot say “Thy will be done” if I am disobedient to His Word.

I cannot say “in earth as it is in heaven” if I’ll not serve Him here and now.

I cannot say “give us this day our daily bread” if I am dishonest or seeking things by subterfuge.

I cannot say “forgive us our debts” if I harbor a grudge against anyone

I cannot say “lead us not into temptation” if I deliberately place myself in its path.

I cannot say “deliver us from evil” if I do not put on the whole armor of God.

I cannot say “Thine is the kingdom” if I do not give the King the loyalty due Him from a faithful subject.

I cannot ascribe to Him “The glory” if I’m seeking honor only for myself and I cannot say “forever” if the horizon of my life is bounded completely by time.