Date of message: 15 February 2003
Subject: The Family Prayer - For Yours Is The Kingdom
Shalom, Boker-tov (good morning),

Over the past few weeks, we have examined the Family Prayer and what each of the clauses or sentences we pray really mean so that we understand what we pray and it will be more meaningful to our spirits what we pray for. This week, we will review what the last sentence in the prayer declares to us and how it can edify our souls. Interestingly enough, this sentence is not found in the earlier manuscripts.
"For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever." This is a declaration that everything belongs to God; all power and all glory goes to God the Father. And why should it not be?
In the beginning, God created everything and we can find the record of His creation work in Genesis chapter 1. Everything on this planet as well as in the whole universe was created by God (Elohim) and they were so good in the eyes of God that He even exclaimed that it was so. And of course, the crown jewel of all His creation was Man (Adam and Eve) and He declared that it was very good (Genesis 1: 31).
Man was created last so that he became the benefactor of God's creation. I am glad God did not create Adam on the first day or even in the middle of His creation plan otherwise we would have boasted that we had a part to play in His overall creation work. Because Man was created last, he was made to enjoy the fruits of God's creation.
God is the Omnipresent One. Wherever we are, you can safely declare that He is there with us, through thick and thin, never to leave us. The Psalmist was so enthralled by this knowledge that He wrote Psalms 139: 7 -12 to magnify His name. Who would be able to be everywhere we are except the Father Who loves us and cannot bear to be away from us, even for a moment?
God is the Omniscient God for He knows us better than we know ourselves (Psalms 139: 13 - 18). He is familiar with every part of our human nature because He is the Creator God. It has been said that no one knows the equipment better than the manufacturer himself. When we have the Manufacturer, we do not need the manual to guide us and tell us how to use each aspect of our body.
Yet God decided that man was in such dire need of a Savior that He chose to come down to Earth and to take our place so that we can be saved from our sin and take His place in heaven. Jesus declared in John 12:45 that "he who sees Me sees the One who sent Me". So if we want to know the character of God the Father, all we need to do is to look at Jesus and His beauty and we will be able to catch a glimpse of the Father.
When Jesus was on the Earth, He spoke to the raging seas and calmed a "perfect" storm (Matthew 8:26). The sea was so violent that the disciples were afraid and they woke Him up from His slumber. Awakened, Jesus commanded the sea to be still and immediately the storm subsided and there was a great calm.
Demons were obedient to Him. He spoke a word "Go" and they left the demon possessed man, all six thousand of them, and entered a herd of swine which then decided that suicide would be more preferable than being possessed for the rest of their animal lives. They collectively jumped off the cliff and drowned in the Sea of Galilee. (Matthew 8: 28-34)
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead by calling forth his name and when Lazarus came forth out of the tomb, He restored him back to his loved ones. None came to Jesus with sicknesses and diseases and left His presence with the symptoms intact. All who came to Him were healed and their bodies restored.
Because of His death on the cross in perfect obedience and love for the Father, Jesus has been given the highest honor and glory in the whole universe. The apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 1: 20- 22 that God raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and dominion and He has put all things under subjection under Jesus' feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church.
And so, when we pray "for Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever", we declare that Jesus is in full authority over everything and nothing is outside His oversight. Nothing is too small or too big for Him. Every part of our lives is important to Him and He is more that able to deliver us when we call upon Him.
Have you believed in Jesus as the One Who had died for you and taken away your sin? The Bible teaches that it is only to those who acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior who will be able to reign with Jesus and to enjoy this victory we have in Jesus. Our blessings come to us because of our position as children of the Most High God and we are able to enter into His awesome Presence and enjoy His blessings to us.
Why not take this opportunity to receive Him and join us as children of the Lord. The Bible tells us that we become children of God the moment we believe in Jesus and welcome Him into our hearts. Read John 1:12 and be comforted. The Lord does not lie. For Him, whatever He speaks comes to pass and He had promised us in the Bible that those who have put their trust in Him will not be condemned but have passed from death into life (Romans 8: 1). Pray this simple prayer of faith and invite Him into your heart and immediately you will experience the peace coming your way.
Our Heavenly Father, thank you that You love us so much You sent us Jesus, Your only beloved Son, into this world to take our place and to die for all our sins.
Lord Jesus, thank you that You came, You obeyed the Father, You died for all on the cross, You conquered death and You rose again on the third day. And now, because of Your death and resurrection, we, who believe in You as our Lord and Savior, will no longer have to die but we receive Your eternal life. Come into my heart, I pray, and make my heart Your home.
Thank you that what You have accomplished for us on the cross has qualified me to become a child of God the Father. Thank you that I am eternally forgiven, greatly blessed, highly favored, deeply loved and completely protected in the Lord and in Your most precious Name, Yeshua Ha' Meshiah, I pray. Amen.
If you have prayed that prayer for the first time, welcome to the Family of the Father (and it is a very large universal family). It is important that you are not alone facing your personal trials but that you can obtain good help wherever you are. Why not take the time to find your own local Christian family (local church) and worship the Father together? You will be greatly encouraged when you meet together to worship the Father, for fellowship and for the study of the Word of Christ.
The Lord blesses you and keeps you,
The Lord makes His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and all your loved ones,
The Lord lifts up His countenance upon you and gives you His shalom peace.
Numbers 6: 24 - 26
Have a blessed week ahead, Shavrou-tov
Shalom,
Andrew L W Lee
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