For Thine Is The Kingdom

This coming Sabbath we will conclude our teaching on the Lord's Prayer at Fernvale Community Church. "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever," are the final words of instruction from Christ to His disciples regarding prayer. (Matt. 6:13) As we examine the Lord's Prayer from the beginning to end, we discover that it opens and closes with praise,  beginning with "Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy name"...and concluding with "For Thine is the Kingdom, and power and the glory forever". Praise is the most dynamic commandment in God's Word and it is evidence here in the model prayer of our Lord.

In the Old Testament, seven levels of praise are expressed by seven Hebrew words.

Todah - "to extend hands in thanksgiving."
Yadah - "to worship with extended hands, to throw out the hands, enjoying God."
Hallal - "to be vigorously excited, to laud, boast, rave, celebrate."
Zamar - "to pluck the strings of an instrument, to praise with song."
Barak - "to bless, to declare God the origin of power for success, prosperity, and fertility, to be still."
Tehillah - "singing in the Spirit" or "singing psalms".
Shabach - "to commend, to address in a loud tone, to shout."

Praise has always been a mark of the people of God. Clearly, there are many acceptable ways to express our love, gratitude, and worship of God.

In His teaching on prayer, Jesus instructs us to return to praise after we have brought our petitions before the Father. But there is also significance in the words he uses: "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and glory forever."

Jesus said, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom," (Lk. 12:32).  The Apostle Paul encourages us in Colossians 1:13-14, that God our Father has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has brought us into the Kingdom of His Son. When we pray, "For thine is the Kingdom," we should praise God because he has invited us to be participants in His Kingdom. We can declare: "The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his Heavenly Kingdom," ( II Tim. 4:18)

The Lord has also made us participants in His power. He gives power to the faint. (Isaiah 40:29)  He gives us power to attain wealth. ( Deut. 8:18) We are kept by the power of God. (I Pet. 1:5) He will raise us up by His mighty power. (I Cor. 6:14)

 Jesus promised:
"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:and nothing shall by any means hurt you, " (Lk. 10:19)

"But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me," (Acts 1:8)

We can praise God because He has invited us to be participants in His power. Jesus also taught us to pray, "For Thine is....the glory." God's glory is the manifested perfection of His character, especially His righteousness. All men fall short of God's glory, but Jesus, through His suffering for the sins of mankind, brought many sons unto glory. (See Romans 3:23 and Hebrews 2:9-10)

As believers behold the glory of the Lord -- the character and ways of God exhibited through Christ--they are changed into His image, and the character and ways of the Father and Son are formed within them.  (II Cor. 3:18) Is it any wonder that Apostle Paul charges believers to "walk worthy of God, who hath called you into His Kingdom and Glory"? (I Th. 2:12) We should also praise God because He has invited us to be participants in His glory.

The Kingdom, power, and glory all belong to our Father. They're all His, yet He shares them with us, because of the provision of His Son. The lifeblood of Jesus has made all blessings possible. May we never enter or leave the Lord's presence without humbly bowing before Him and offering a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.