Print version: TWR-SA article of 11-3-2010

The last chord of this model prayer brings us to the very mountain peak of praise

It’s amazing, when we look at the Lord’s Prayer we see how the Lord Jesus led by example; in his master-class, he shows us how best to do it – and if we follow his advice, by the time we come to the last few words, we will have gone full circle. The prayer ends as it began.

We started with ‘hallowed be your name’ and we end with ‘yours is the glory’; we began with ‘your kingdom come’ and we finish with ‘yours is the kingdom’; we commenced with ‘your will be done’ and we conclude with ‘yours is the power’; we began with ‘on earth as it is in heaven’ and we end with ‘for ever’.

The last chord of this model prayer brings us to the very mountain peak of praise – this is the Everest of intercession; the pattern Jesus has set for us focuses our hearts and minds on the greatness and awesome majesty of God. If we fail to end here, we’ll be left with more of a sense of our problems than with a hope to their solution. That’s why this superb benediction is so important.

In order to prevent us from getting stuck in the mud of life, Jesus taught us a kind of ‘psychology of prayer’: he shows us the right place to begin – by honouring the name of God; he also showed us the proper way to end – by praising God for his sovereignty and glory. That means God is central in the prayer sandwich.

If we look at it carefully, we’ll notice that the doxology of the Lord’s Prayer presents four major truths about God. Why these four? Our Lord could have chosen many others, but the more I study this prayer, the more I am convinced that these are the ones we desperately need to remember as we live and pray in a fallen world. He encourages us to think big thoughts about God.

Number one, God is sovereign for Jesus prayed: ‘yours is the kingdom’. The greatest exhibition of God’s sovereignty is his anointing of his own Son to be king of this world. All over the Bible there are dozens of reminders that Jesus Christ is king. He is King of heaven in Daniel 4:27; he is King of the Jews in Matthew 2:2; he is King of Israel in John 1:49; he is King of the ages in 1 Timothy 1:17; he is King of glory in Psalm 24:7; he is King of the saints in Revelation 15:3 [KJV]; he is King of kings in 1 Timothy 6:15; he is the Prince of the kings of the earth in Revelation 1:5 [KJV].

Jesus is king and, as such, he runs the entire show from start to finish, he rules the world, he reigns on high – he is the Sovereign Lord of heaven and earth. He has his finger on the pulse of global affairs – the living Lord is in charge! He sits on the throne and there’s no chance of him ever abdicating.

Number two, God is powerful for Jesus prayed: ‘yours is the power’. Our God is a hands-on God. Someone who is at the controls, he is actively involved every day in energising this world and keeping it working. He knows everything – the front from the back, the middle to the outside. He knows all that is going on and he never makes a mistake. No errors of judgment with him, no momentary lapses of concentration either.

He is the only one who can make something beautiful out of nothing – he is the great Creator. God is supremely powerful – he can do whatever he determines to do for nothing is too difficult for him. He said a word and the worlds were made. He spoke and the moon and stars were flung into space. He is an awesome, almighty God. He is the God of infinite and incalculable power – the one Paul refers to in Ephesians 3:20, a God who does more than we ask or even imagine. And that is especially true in relation to answered prayer. The song says: ‘You are coming to a king, Large petitions you can bring, For his grace and power are such, None can ever ask too much!’

And, wonder of wonders, my prayer links me to him … talk about power! Stupendous power. It’s a matter of you and I being connected! You don’t have to psych yourself up for it, you just have to plug in!

Number three, God is majestic for Jesus prayed: ‘yours is the glory’. Ever wondered, what is glory? Glory is beauty, it is magnificence, it is a sparkling splendour – it’s all that is worthy of praise and honour and shouts of great joy. Our God is a God of dazzling glory, a God of astonishing brilliance, a God of unapproachable light, a God of resplendent majesty. We look forward to a day when such glory will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea – we know in heaven itself that the glory of God lights up the entire vista.

Number four, God is eternal for Jesus prayed: ‘forever’ – he is the Lord who inhabits eternity. There never was a time when he was not, there never will be a time when he ceases to be – he is eternal. We’re here today, maybe we’re gone tomorrow, but he lives on! No wonder the hymn writer prayed: ‘Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see: O Thou, who changest not, abide with me.’ You see, that one word ‘forever’ is the perfect end to this perfect prayer. But what good is this to us?

It helps us realise that with God, every day is today – he is eternal. God doesn’t sit up in heaven, wringing his hands in despair over what might happen to you tomorrow or the next day. God sees the end from the beginning – we have nothing to fear from the future, for every day with God is today and he can be trusted. We know that because of his unblemished history of faithfulness. What a phenomenal legacy! We have echoes of that truth in Hebrews 13:8. God is never in a bad mood; no day is any better than today for you to ask him your question; he won’t change his mind tomorrow – you can bring anything to God at this precise moment for he lives in the eternal now. I often think of him as the God of the now!

We can look at it like this – when we finish praying the doxology of the Lord’s Prayer, we’re ready for the road. We don’t have to worry about what’s going to happen today because God is in control – yours is the kingdom. We don’t have to press the panic button with how we’re going to get through a particularly tough challenge because God says: ‘I can do it! Just trust me. Mine is the power.’ All we need to remember is who he is and what he promises – mine is the glory. And then we can relax and trust in his gracious provision because he is a God who never changes – he is the same God ‘forever’.

I think you’ll agree with me, this is a marvel of a prayer, it’s chock full of deep theology, divine wisdom, and immense encouragement. If we follow this prayer, phrase by phrase, it will surely revolutionise our prayer lives – it will take us back to basics, but it will never lead us far from God. It’s like a ladder that leads us from earth to heaven – as we step on each rung we are reminded of how wonderful God is, of how needy we are, and then back again to seeing something of the reality of God’s big heart – a heart that beats for ordinary people like you and I. Prayer gives way to praise and, by the time we come to the end of it, we are lost in wonder, love, and praise – we’re enraptured with Jesus, the exalted one. These words are a song of the heart – they are satisfying to the soul.

Augustine referred to this prayer as a ‘precious jewel’ – that’s exactly what it is, it seems to me that we do well to treasure it. These words find an echo in the prayer that David offered when God’s people gave their offerings for building the temple: ‘Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all’ (1 Chronicles 29:11).  

When we say a fulsome ‘amen’ at the end of the prayer, we’re really saying: ‘yes, Lord, we mean it with all our hearts!’ In the same breath, we’re saying ‘amen’ to Jesus! That’s what the Lord’s Prayer is all about – it’s doing prayer the Jesus way!

Let me close with one quote: it’s by William Law, he was right on cue when he said: ‘He who has learned to pray has learned the greatest secret of a holy and a happy life.’ You see, it’s all about making prayer your second language.

Prayer is not bothering God, it is not bargaining with God, it is not borrowing from God, it is not burdening God. True prayer is blessing God … ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name!’ And, don’t forget, he’s only a prayer away! And he’s never too busy to take your call! Thankfully, he doesn’t keep office hours!

Charles Wesley took these last few words and turned them into verse: ‘Yea, Amen! Let all adore thee, High on thine eternal throne; Saviour, take the power and glory: Claim the kingdom for thine own: O come quickly! Alleluia! Come, Lord, come!’

Sam Gordon has authored a number of books with Ambassador. Originally from Bangor, he and his wife Lois make their home in the heart of England. He is the Bible teacher on TWR-United Kingdom’s daily programme, Truth for Today, heard online at www.twr.org.uk.

This site is best viewed in Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher

Copyright ©2001-2010 • Trans World Radio-SA • All rights reserved.

For comments or suggestions please contact the webmaster