Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Sept/72

Contributor - Marg Van Eck,

Title - For Thine is the Power and the Glory

Topic - Glory

The catechismus says about the ending of this prayer: - For Thine is the power and the glory - We pray from You, because You have the power to give us all goods; and this, not that we, but Your holy name be praised eternally.

Power and glory, how do we wish at times we had more of it. Christ had both in such a way, no human being has ever had it or will ever have such. There have through the ages been men that had tremendous power. And because of this power they received glory. Willingly Jesus ga up this glory when he became man, but the power remained with him. In Gethsemane he says that twelve armies of angels were ready to fight for him, if he so wished. Satan and his demons knew of this power Jesus possessed. They were afraid of it. The legion of devils that were in the two men that lived in the burial caves, asked Jesus not to use this power to send them back to hell, but to send them into the herd of pigs that were on the hillside.

Jesus did not use this power for himself. He used it to create the world. He used it for our benefit. He used this power to defeat the evil one. He used it to rise from the death. And then he sent us this power on Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came down on us. And through the Holy Spirit we received power. Power to fight the evil one; power to resist temptations; power to heal the sick; power to perform miracles. Only through faith can we receive this power. Only through faith in Christ, who is the source of this power.

And with this power we are able to bring glory to God. For this power is not given to us to make urself a name, to receive glory. We live and have our being, only to glorify God. That is why we were created. That is why Christ created the earth, using the power received from God, to glorify God,

In His prayer for His disciples, Jesus asks the Father: "Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your Son, that the Son may give glory to you. For you gave him authority over all men, so that he might give eternal life to all those you gave him - I showed your glory on earth; I finished the work you gave me to do. 0 Father' Give me glory in your presence now, the same glory I had with you before the world was made."

Jesus showed God's glory on earth. And how was this glory shown ? John 15 : 8 gives this answer: "This is how my Father's glory is shown: by your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become my disciples." And again in His prayer, He says: - and my glory is shown through them. Them, that are we, his followers. Jesus gave his glory up, willingly. After his redemptive work is finished, He asks the Father to give him back the glory He had before the world was made. Here we can see when Christ's redemptive work started: when the world was made! The Spirit came, after Jesus had been raised to glory. (John 7 : 39 b). Jesus said about the Spirit: "He will give me glory."

The ruler of this world came, but he had no power ovetr Jesus. He came to take Jesus' glory away, but Jesus had no glory, when He came to earth and gave up His life for us. He took back His life, when He 'rose from the death, and received back his glory He had before the world was made. The power and glory are all His.

For Thine is the power and the glory,

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

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