Jesus Said To Pray Like This – Part 7 of 7
A Deeper Look At The Lord’s Prayer
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
In this post of the series, we will look at what is referred to as the Doxology of the Lord’s Prayer, which is a statement of praise.
(v. 13) …For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
An Interesting fact about this part of the Lord’s Prayer is that it doesn’t appear in many modern translations and the reason is that many modern translations use older texts as the source which did not contain these few words. So it would seem that these words were added to the text which begs the question as to why I would include this post in the series on the Lord’s Prayer. The reason is because, the truth of this statement is found throughout scripture.
A good example of this truth comes from 1 Chronicles 29:10-11
Therefore David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.
This wonderful end to this prayer supplies us with the very reason we can be confident that our prayers will be answered and can even be answered.
Why can we be confident in our prayers?
Because His is the Kingdom
What is God the King of? What is His Kingdom?
The entire chapter of Daniel 4 is a prime example of God as sovereign King as His rule over all things including the will of King Nebuchadnezzar.
Hebrews 12:28
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
So what does this do to ensure us that God hears and answers our prayers?
Because our King is our Father, and He is the ruler of all things and all things are under His control.
Why can we be confident in our prayers?
Because His Is The Power
What good is being the King if you have no power? This is not the case with God, He is all powerful.
There are some who teach that God is not all-powerful and that’s why there are so many bad things in the world, but that is not what the bible teaches.
After the twin towers were destroyed on 9/11/2001 this question was asked.
After hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans this question was asked.
Every time there is a natural or man-made disaster people ask the question, is God in control?
Does God have control over all wicked evil things?
Consider the most wicked thing that ever happened, the murder of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 53 teaches us that everything that happened to our Lord Jesus was the will of God.
Isaiah 53:10
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
If God had power over the most wicked of all things than we can be sure that he is in control of absolutely all things.
This should not worry us but instead, bring us a lot of comfort. What comfort would it be to pray to a God who had no power to do anything about it?
Do you know why I don’t worry too much about who the president is?
Proverbs 21:1
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
Things will never be right in the White House unless there first made right in my own house. Because that is where the righteousness of the United States begins, in our own homes.
That is not to say we should not voice our opinions and vote, but we need to recognize that these things are also in the hands of our God.
Why can we be confident in our prayers?
Because His Is The Glory
Psalm 57:11
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
Psalm 72:19
Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!
God deserves all the Glory for all things because all things are working toward his plan.
Romans 8:26-28
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Have you ever thought about how the very act of prayer brings glory to God? It is an act of worship !
You are saying that you realize your helplessness and His ability and power over all things, and when we acknowledge that by praymg we are honoring God and glorifring Him.
However, the thing that gives the most glory to the Father is the worship of Jesus
Philippians 2:5-11
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Why can we be confident in our prayers?
It Will Be Forever
Exodus 15:18
The LORD will reign forever and ever.”
Psalm 41:13
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.
Our Father not only rules and has power but will so forever.
Amen
This word Amen in the Old Testament was a way of confirming a covenant between man and God, but in the New Testament we see it as a way of confirming truth by proclaiming “So be it”. It’s a way of saying “I believe it and agree with it”
This word becomes our very statement of faith that we believe.
Why can we pray with confidence?
Because the one we are praying to is King of All, Has Power over All, and will receive Glory for All for an eternity.
And He has called himself our loving Father and has promised to hear us.
Matthew 7:8-11
For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Can you say Amen to your prayers?
Do you believe that the Kingdom belongs to God, that all power is His, and that He deserves all the Glory?
Can you call God your Father?
John 14:6-7
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Romans 10:9-10
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.