Praying the Doxology

Have your Bibles with you not turn with me if you would, to Matthew chapter 6 and will be looking at verse 13 Matthew chapter 6 and verse 13 and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory forever.

Amen.

Spray heavenly father we bow in your presence tonight to praise you and thank you that 2000 years ago, the disciples came to you and and asked for a great request. Lord, teach us to pray father that the answer that you gave them his what we are dealing with over these past weeks, the Lord's prayer we thank you Lord for the the things that you've given us. They are to teach us how you would have us to to pray to petition to supplicate to to praise you. We pray tonight Lord as we look at this ending passage that you just give us wisdom and direction and insight that Lord it would fill us with confidence and assurance of who you are in the Lord, our prayers might be more adjusted to be what you would have us to be as prayers got instructors through the passage tonight will give you praise and honor and glory for all you do this in Jesus holy and precious name we pray. Amen.

You may be seated.

Let me start off this message tonight by saying this, I believe that the Bible is the word of God. I do not believe that it just contains the word of God. I believe that it is the word of God. I believe in what is called a plenary verbal inspiration of Scripture that every word and in fact every jot which is the Hebrew word, letter yogurt, which is the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet, and every tittle which is just a small little mark on several of the Hebrew letters is absolutely inerrant and without error. But what version of the Scripture is it that's inspired in the answer to that is, it was in's fired in its original autographs. When Matthew pinned down the gospel of Matthew. It came off his pin exactly as God would have it to be written without any error whatsoever.

When Luke wrote his gospel, it came off his pin exactly as God would have it, when Paul wrote down first Thessalonians.

It was exactly as God would have it now how many of you are using the ESV or CSV tonight. I did it seem a little odd to you when I was reading verse 13 that half of that verse is that I read tonight is not there in your ESV or CSV.

Oh, it's not there all why is it not well the versions that most of you have and the one that I preach from the ESV were translated for manuscripts that come from older or earlier manuscripts and these are the ones that the scholars believe are the ones that we can most trust. So if that's so, then somewhere along the line of ascribe edited doxology that made up a very good ending to this prayer. I don't believe that it was purposely done like that.

I believe the scribe probably made a footnote in the margin and then as it was copied over and over again. It was actually added in, and it was considered to be Scripture because they sought not as a footnote, but as part of the as part of the text itself, but what we have here in this verse 13 B is a great ending for the Lord's prayer.

It completes the prayer. It enhances the prayer. It reiterates much of of what Jesus has said in the prayer and it's very close to a doxology that we see in first Chronicles chapter 29 verse 11 says this yours, our Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor for everything in heaven and earth is yours, yours, our Lord is the kingdom you are exalted as head over all, we rejoin our molar set about Matthew 613 B many Christians who regularly say the Lord's prayer in church services each week, or remember verdict version they memorized as a child, recite concluding words that do not appear in many modern translations. Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. The reason these words are not found in modern translations such as the NIV of ESV is that they probably did not appear in the original copy of Matthew. As a result of studying ancient manuscripts.

Scholars now believe was some certainty that these words were probably allowed a later addition to the Lord's prayer. Since the Lord's prayer seems to end rather abruptly.

Christians in the early church edited doxology to the end of the prayer so as to give God the final word of praise in corporate worship settings. Is it right or wrong to pin the opinion these words to the Lord's prayer. It would certainly be wrong to ignore the textual evidence and assert that these words are scriptural and part of Matthew's gospel.

We should never say something is part of Scripture that the author never intended. At the same time it is not wrong to recite the Lord's prayer with including including doxology or to benefit from this tradition, so long as we understand the words are not themselves. Scripture, the reasons for this are numerous. Having said this, I still love the King James version.

I've I've memorized most my memorization, Scripture comes out of the King James it is poetic it flows and I just love it.

There are no words in the King James that are theologically incorrect. If I get to heaven and the Lord says the King James version was the manuscript that should have been used at what shot me a bit, but when I quote the Lord's prayer. I will always quote the Lord's prayer with the ending that we have here for thine is the kingdom, the power in the glory forever. Amen.

Let me throw this in Eugene and I were talking about this a few weeks ago and and I said you know it seems strange that it that ascribe would have added this into the Scripture. When we have Jesus's warning in Revelation chapter 22 of how dangerous it is to add to Scripture or subtract from Scripture. Eugene said that his professor, one of his professors share this with them that ascribe probably wrote this verse down as a footnote or commentary, not meaning that it would be added to the Scripture. But over time as he got copy down and copy down a copy day on, it became known to the people as Scripture. They believe that it was so was not a purposeful tampering with with Scripture at all.

I believe this probably exactly what happened now. Said all that to assure you that the small fraction of textual differences in the copies of the earlier manuscripts are never ever a doctrinal or theological concern also want you to know that I'm preaching a whole a sermon tonight on the verse that might not be in your Bible as I wanted to kind of explain that to you.

I love this verse. And it is a glorious amen to Jesus prayer.

I love the way the prayer ends because of how the way the prayer begins our father is also keen that's great art Adrian Rogers preach in a a sermon on this passage years ago and he said that when he was getting ready to go to college. His dad called them and sat down with him is that Adrian I want you to know that I'm so proud of you for going to college and he said it it he said I'm happy that you're getting to go but he said also want you know that I can afford to pay for your college tuition. Adrian said that's okay, dad is a God's call me to preach and God will get me through, and God did getting three major and went on to say that his heavenly father has never had to say that tooling he said there's never been a time when his heavenly father said agent or something. I would like to do for you but I just can't do it because I don't have the ability. I don't have the power I don't have the capacity that's true. Our father is the king over all in this great prayer. We have the sympathy of the father and the sovereignty of the king, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. The Lord's prayer begins with praise and it ends with praise and was first question in the Westminster shorter catechism. What is the chief end of man answer, to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

The Lord's prayer is all about that. We give you three more doxologies that like first Chronicles chapter 2911 say pretty much the same thing that the ending of the Lord's prayer say second Timothy 418, the Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.

To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. First Timothy 117 now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen Daniel chapter 4 verse three how great are his signs.

How mighty his wonders. His kingdom is an eternal kingdom's dominion endures from generation to generation.

All good theology should be docs a logical all theology should seek to bring glory to God.

Benediction is different from a doxology that when we give a benediction. It's God giving a blessing to his people.

When there's a doxology it's his people given a blessing to God by praising him. Revelation 16, to whom be glory for ever and ever.

Amen. Ephesians 321 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. But grow a second Peter 318 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen. Revelation 513. To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever. Revelation 710. Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb about the glory pantry that we sing often times here in our church that is based on Matthew 28 a, 19 and 20. Glory be to the father into the sun into the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Thomas Watson, the old Puritan said that the relationship between prayer and praise is much like the relationship between faith and repentance, one deserves the other. If you have real faith and there always will be. Repentance. If you are truly praying there will always be praise there like two wings of a bird by which we flying to heaven praise list. Christians are earthbound Christians and appraisal as part is a diseased heart never for this verse. For thine is the kingdom of the power and the glory forever.

Amen. They were the petitions you member those petitions.

There were three things that we were petitioning God for first for our daily bread, and then for forgiveness and then for protection or help as we are dealing with temptations. This doxology reminds us that God is able to take care of all that. In other words, we are not praying in vain.

God intends to answer from the riches of his resources, God is not mock us by inviting us to pray for something that he has no intention of granting us. Charles Spurgeon said I cannot imagine anyone of you cannibalizing your child bags a exciting and human desire that you do not intend to gratify it were a very ungenerous thing to offer alms to the poor and then will they hold their hand for it to mock their poverty with the denial it were a cruel addition to the miseries of the sick. If they were taken to the hospital and they are left died unattended and uncared for where God leads you to pray he means you to receive. But the doxology starts by saying thine is the kingdom. This is an acknowledgment of God's sovereignty is a proclamation of God's all embracing control over all the universe that if God's kingdom has particular reference to his redemptive work and that's to us.

In other words, God has of people God has a people, a blood vault. See unwashed righteousness of Christ imputed people in the sovereign salvation of God's people God has defeated Satan, and he's established his glory.

But you know it's possible to have authority and not have power. We just get you to imagine this scenario, there was a king who was a very good King these on his deathbed.

This man cared for his constituents. His people love them and was very good to them and wanted the very best for them. He had a staff that cared for him and loving hidden army that was willing to die forming. But now he's on his deathbed, and the heir to the throne is his 18-year-old son is absolutely worthless and this young son is just waiting for his father to die because he knows when his father dies, he's going to get the throne and he's going to have riches like he's never imagined before and he's going to toot to be able to make slaves out of all the people he's gonna use the beautiful women in the kingdom to resign sinful and selfish pleasures.

So his father dies and he immediately comes to the throne in all of a sudden all the rules begin to change everything. The kingdom begins to change it. He doesn't realize it but his staff absolutely hates in the Army is desperate to just take him down, and to do it quickly and so the Army goes to and they rip them off the throne and they throw him in jail to rot in jail and what happened. This king, the new King, the 18-year-old boy had authority but he did not have the power to back it up. That's never so with God.

All authority is given to him. He has it all. But not only does he have the authority he has the power to back it up.

We should praise God every day for his for his goodness. You know that if God were not a good God, what if he were mean-spirited with they were angry with the enjoy just inflicting pain on us and and wreaking havoc in our life. It would be a thing in the world. We could do about it would have no note, no recourse but to just worship him anyway. We need to thank God that not only does he have all power and all authority.

These good gracious and love God has all authority in all power. Joe chapter 42 verse four verse two. Job was brought to his knees and contrition when God ask him a plethora of questions and he couldn't answer one of them got suggestive. Were you there when I made the, the sun, the moon and the stars. No sir we they are Job when I put the stars and made the beautiful constellations. No sir. Job were you there to help me to determine exactly how far the tides all the command on the ocean and in Stockholm at a certain point that they would go this far and no further notes or judge you have the power to take a hook and put it in a dinosaurs nose and walking around. No, sir. Finally, Job humbles himself and says I know that you can do all things, no plan of yours will be thwarted. Mark 1027 Jesus said all things are possible with God not hurt people. So let's not true that the Scripture says that God cannot live. That's something he cannot do the Scriptures teach us that God can't change his character, so that's something he cannot do as her silly answers, but I guess this is a way to deal with it.

We might say it this way, God can do anything that is within his moral and rational nature to do so.

The psalmist said it this way. In Psalm 18 verses one into. I love you oh Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold Psalm 46 one God is our refuge and strength a very present help in time of trouble. Listen, there is no power that can overthrow the rule of God's authority.

First John chapter 3 verse eight whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

So what needs you have the kingdom and power and and and are the Lords to provide for us what sins have you confessed the kingdom and power. The Lords pardon and what temptations threaten to undo you the kingdom and the power of the Lords to protect you.

Smooth on the glory.

What is glory and we talk about the Shekinah glory the brightness of God's glory and all that but it really speaks of God's worth.net we speak about God's glory were talking about is value were talking about half hell. Wonderfully he is and that hell how much worse that he has that he is worth everything in Revelation chapter 4 verse 1011 says this the 24 elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, worthy of you are. Oh Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 35. The Scripture tells us that there are some that are going to receive a better resurrection, and these were the. The martyrs that is referring to Matthew or thought about if you ever wonder.

Happy to be a better resurrection. And if you're going to be resurrected and you can receive a body like the body that Jesus had.

It will be a body that can have as no time or space limitations, a body that can never get sick. They can ever get old, it can never sin that can never die a body that is absolutely perfect in every way. I mean, my goodness, you be with the Lord forever. Hackett it be any better than that. Well, it can be better than that if you died for Christ brief you died for Christ. That day is coming when you'll be able to take the the reward that you get which the Scripture refers to as a martyrs crown, you'll be able to take that martyrs crown and lay it at the feet of Jesus.

An act of pure unadulterated worship. The folks that is a better resurrection, because what is it, what are you saying what when the martyrs do that what what what are they saying they are saying this, Jesus is worth everything Jesus is worth worth at all. I get gave my all for Jesus. I gave my life for Jesus I gave everything that I had take the whole world and give me Jesus that is a better resurrection. Why should I repent and run from sin. Sin that wants to enslave me. What should I do that it is should I do that because it'll make me look good. No, should I do it because it kinda gives me a notch on my belt. No, what should I do it man we should do it because Jesus is worth it. His glory will be magnified in our repentance is Jesus more important than my lust. Yes is Jesus more important in my pride yes is Jesus more important in my bitterness. Yes is Jesus more important in my covetousness yes is Jesus more important in my materialism absolutely yes every one of us here tonight would say that's right yes he is. But do we believe it strongly enough to repent. Derek Thomas waited out beautifully so stick with me here think this is good. Moses asked to see God's glory. Again, but it was only God's back that he was allowed to see the glory of God is beyond our ability to endure glory was how the Israelites thought of God. Ever since Moses asked to glimpse his glory, and God pass buys a bright shining light, which later became known as the Shekinah and ever after, was to be glimpsed only by the high priest in the tabernacle and temple glory was understood is that which defined God's essential being. Thus, when John was to tell us that Jesus is none other than the God of the Old Testament I can find no better way as a Jew than to say we have seen his glory policies to be thinking of all the us when he writes to the Corinthians for God, who said let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. John seems to be saying the same thing when he brings the New Testament to its close with the vision of Christ in the new Jerusalem, the city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp glory then become synonymous with who and what God is. The doxology is, therefore, attributing not only rule and Mike to God kingdom and power but also in a sense, divinity to say that all glory belongs to him is synonymous with saying he is Lord. So how do we give glory to God to share with you for quick ways that we give glory to God.

Number one, we give glory to God.

When we worship him.

Psalm 50 verse 23 says whosoever offers praise glorifies God think a lot of your member Stacy Cox. Stacy was associate pastor and youth director here several years ago when Stacy was in seminary. He contracted a heart disease and it was a disease that just about took his life and he said that as he was suffering through that and just kind of wondering what God is doing. He began to really pray and said the Lord gave him. Psalm 50 verse 23 for whosoever offers praise glorifies me and he said he made a commitment in the decision. He was not going to complain about his situation. He was not in a gripe he was knocked off-line about the situation that he is in, but instead he was an offer praise to God every chance he got. And he said within about a few weeks time.

Something is radically changed in his health. He began to get stronger, he began to get healthier and finally the problem just just about completely dissipated and he said in a said it was he said they dug, he said.

Psalm 50 verse 23 absolutely changed my life. But it helped me to realize that my purpose on earth is not just to serve God is not just to do this or to do that but was to bring glory to his precious name. Secondly, we glorify God by trusting his promises. Romans four verse 20. Speaking of Abraham says the us no one believe made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God as he gave glory to God. His faith strengthened man what a an incentive for us to to glorify God to give him glory when we do our faith is going to grow. Three. We glorify God by confessing Jesus as Lord, and the Philippians chapter 2 Paul said, so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father and the number four we glorify God by our obedience to God's word. Philippians 192 11 and it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

The next word we see in this and this doxology is forever. Forever. Can any human being really can see that truth, I don't think we can.

I have a hard enough time just trying to think about a whole lifetime, but to think about an eternal existence. That's never going to end me that absolutely blows my mind is forever remain like a great many theologians and philosophers suggest that that God is within time, but I think Calvin and Augustine got it right when they said God is outside of time, God is not limited by time. Time is part of the created order of God and he's outside of that he has no yesterday or tomorrow.

He is outside of time that Jesus the Scripture says in Hebrews chapter 13 verse eight that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever is another way of saying that Jesus is outside of time, our relationship with God will never change because God can never change the last word is a man, a man Derek Thomas of the following I'll close with this ever since Paul recorded that the early Christians added amen to prayers to suggest that what they say is true and dependable. Christians have done the same saying Amen to this prayer the Lord's prayer is to assert one's conviction that everything in it is one's own conviction and longing.

This prayer is my prayer. These petitions express the longings of my heart. This is my confession of faith. My record to what is essential and true. He said I want to give reverence to the name of God. I won't God's kingdom to come.

I won't God's will to be done above everything else. And no matter what the cost. I need bread I believe God will supply because he is the creator I need daily forgiveness and the grace to forgive others because God pardons those through Jesus my Lord, I need help against temptation in the tempter and I pray in the confidence that all resources to give me these things are he is because he is the sovereign Lord of glory. I want God to have all the glory.

Just as the shorter catechism expresses it man's chief end is to glorify God all the glory.

I want to grow less and less he might become.

All in all, is this your conviction pray in will take up new life of its own. If it is a spray heavenly father, we thank you for the privilege Lord of study and the prayer that you gave your disciples 2000 years ago and father we ask now that you help us that we might be busy about praying this prayer, not just memorizing it not just quoting it but just taking it piece by piece just subject by subject Lord and and meditating on it every single day father, may we always end with this great glorious doxology for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for ever a man may that be are doxology may it be a doxology Lord that gets us through the week that focuses our hearts upon who God is and his authority in his power. May we love it. May we glorify God that we might experience his presence. Jesus we love you tonight thank you and praise you for your love and goodness to us. Helpless Lord, that we might be the prayers that you called us to be and it's in your precious, holy name we pray. Amen