The Lord’s Prayer: Yours is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory FOREVER | Pastor Michael Mattis

Mar 24, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Surrendering to God's Kingdom, Power, and Glory

To pray "For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever" is to surrender your life, pledging obedience and allegiance to God as the true King. This act of prayer is not just reciting words, but a declaration that all authority, all might, and all honor belong to Him—not to us. It is a call to step out of our infatuation with the here and now, and to live with kingdom eyes, recognizing what truly matters in light of eternity. As you pray these words, you are invited to throw yourself by faith into the loving arms of Yahweh, acknowledging your own futility and His supreme rule over all things. [16:57]

Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)
“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
[For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are still holding on to your own control or glory? How can you actively surrender this to God today in prayer and action?

Day 2: Everything Belongs to God—A Heart of Humility

King David, nearing the end of his life, recognized that all he had—his resources, his legacy, his very life—came from God and belonged to God. In his final prayer, David humbly acknowledged that even what he gave back to God was only what God had first given him. This humility is the posture God desires: to see ourselves as small before His greatness, to give freely and wholeheartedly, and to remember that our days are like a shadow, passing quickly. When we grasp that everything is from Him, we are freed from pride and self-importance, and we can joyfully offer our lives back to Him. [30:56]

1 Chronicles 29:10-14 (NIV)
David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,
“Praise be to you, Lord,
the God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Yours, 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, Lord, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.
But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”

Reflection: In what practical way can you acknowledge God’s ownership of your resources, time, or talents this week by giving back to Him or to others?

Day 3: Life Is a Shadow—Living with Eternity in View

David’s words remind us that our lives on earth are like a shadow—brief and fleeting compared to eternity. The things we often worry about or chase after lose their significance when we view them through the lens of eternity. Jesus invites us to step out of our obsession with the temporary and to become infatuated with what is eternal. This perspective helps us declutter our hearts and schedules, focusing on what truly matters: loving God, loving others, and living in the presence of the King. Don’t blink—life goes faster than you think. [14:02]

1 Chronicles 29:15 (NIV)
“We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.”

Reflection: What is one way you can shift your focus from temporary worries to eternal priorities today? How might this change your interactions or decisions?

Day 4: God Delights in Integrity of Heart

God is not impressed by our perfect behavior or outward achievements, but by the integrity and honesty of our hearts before Him. David, despite his many failures, was called a man after God’s own heart because he continually returned to God in humility and repentance. God tests our hearts and is pleased with integrity—when we give willingly, with honest intent, and keep our hearts loyal to Him. This is the posture that invites God’s presence and favor into our lives. [33:42]

1 Chronicles 29:17-18 (NIV)
“I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. Lord, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.”

Reflection: Is there an area where you have been more focused on outward performance than inward honesty before God? What would it look like to bring your true heart to Him today?

Day 5: The Presence of God Now Dwells in You

Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, the curtain of the temple was torn, and God’s presence no longer dwells in buildings made by human hands, but in the hearts of those who welcome Him. You are now the temple of the Holy Spirit, invited to experience the fullness of God’s kingdom, power, and glory within you. This reality calls you to live as His hands, feet, and face in the world, carrying His presence wherever you go. The degree to which you humble yourself and offer your life back to Him is the degree to which His kingdom, power, and glory will be operative through you. [24:13]

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

Reflection: How can you intentionally welcome and honor God’s presence in your life today, allowing Him to work through you to impact those around you?

Sermon Summary

As we gather in the midst of Lent, we are reminded of the invitation to lay something down and pick something up, just as Jesus laid down his majesty to take on our likeness. This season is a call to step away from the distractions and infatuations of the world and to become more present to the reality of God’s kingdom, power, and glory. Today, we reach the final words of the Lord’s Prayer: “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.” These words, whether spoken by Jesus or echoed by the early church, encapsulate the heart of Scripture and the very essence of Christ’s life and teaching.

This doxology is not just a conclusion to a prayer, but a declaration of surrender, obedience, and allegiance to God. It is a recognition that all authority, all power, and all glory belong to Him alone. The phrase draws us back to King David’s prayer in 1 Chronicles 29, where, at the end of his life, David’s perspective shifts from earthly concerns to eternal realities. Nearing the end, David gives everything for the construction of the temple, recognizing that all he has comes from God and that his life is but a shadow—a brief mist in the light of eternity.

Jesus, in teaching us to pray this way, invites us to step out of our obsession with the here and now and to live with kingdom eyes. We are called to see ourselves, our families, and our world through the lens of eternity, recognizing that our lives, our resources, and our very breath are gifts from God. The power we declare is not our own, but the dynamic, explosive power of God—His ability to act, to intervene, and to call us deeper into His purposes. The glory we acknowledge is not the fleeting fame of human achievement, but the divine splendor that belongs to God alone.

With the coming of Jesus, the temple is no longer a building, but the very lives of those who welcome Him. The curtain is torn, and the presence of God now dwells in us. Our response, like David’s, is to give joyfully and wholeheartedly, knowing that everything we offer is already His. We are invited to humility, to integrity of heart, and to a life of joyful surrender, trusting that God Himself will keep our hearts loyal to Him. In the end, it is not about our name, our legacy, or our achievements, but about the King of Glory dwelling within us and working through us for His kingdom, power, and glory—forever and ever.

Key Takeaways

1. Surrender and Allegiance to God’s Kingdom Declaring “yours is the kingdom” is an act of surrender, pledging obedience and allegiance to God’s rule and authority. It is a conscious step away from self-reliance and the pursuit of our own kingdoms, inviting us to live under the reign of Christ. This surrender is not passive, but a daily, intentional offering of our lives to the King who alone is worthy. [16:57]
2. Life’s Brevity and Eternal Perspective Our lives are but a shadow, a brief mist in the light of eternity. Recognizing this truth shifts our focus from temporary anxieties and ambitions to what truly matters—knowing God and living for His purposes. This perspective frees us from the tyranny of the urgent and invites us to invest in what lasts forever. [14:02]
3. Integrity of Heart Over Perfection God tests the heart and is pleased not with flawless behavior, but with integrity and honest intent. The story of David reminds us that even with failures and imperfections, a humble and contrite heart before God is what He desires. True spiritual maturity is marked by authenticity and a willingness to return to God again and again. [33:42]
4. God’s Power and Presence Now Dwelling in Us With the tearing of the temple curtain, God’s presence is no longer confined to buildings but dwells within those who trust in Christ. This reality calls us to live with a continual awareness of His nearness and to allow His dynamic power to work in and through us. We are now the temple, invited to experience and reflect His glory in every aspect of life. [24:13]
5. Joyful Generosity Flows from Encountering God’s Glory Those who have truly encountered the glory of God respond with joyful, wholehearted giving—of time, resources, and self. Generosity is not a duty but a natural overflow of awe and gratitude, recognizing that all we have is from Him and for Him. This posture of open-handedness is both a privilege and a mark of genuine worship. [28:34]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:54] - Introduction to Lent and Lord’s Prayer
[04:39] - The Doxology: Textual Background
[07:49] - 1 Chronicles 29: David’s Prayer
[10:59] - Nearing Home: Living with Eternity in View
[14:02] - The Brevity of Life: “Don’t Blink”
[16:57] - Surrender and Allegiance: “Yours is the Kingdom”
[19:11] - The Power and Glory of God
[22:01] - The New Temple: God’s Presence in Us
[24:13] - Access to the Holy of Holies
[25:51] - David’s Generosity and the Call to Consecration
[28:34] - Joyful Giving and Worship
[30:56] - Humility and the Greatness of God
[32:04] - It’s Not My Kingdom or Glory
[33:42] - Integrity of Heart: What Pleases God
[35:01] - David’s Prophetic Vision and Jesus the True Temple
[38:00] - Application: Five Life Lessons
[40:33] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV)
> Pray then like this:
> “Our Father in heaven,
> hallowed be your name.
> Your kingdom come,
> your will be done,
> on earth as it is in heaven.
> Give us this day our daily bread,
> and forgive us our debts,
> as we also have forgiven our debtors.
> And lead us not into temptation,
> but deliver us from evil.
> [For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.]”

1 Chronicles 29:10-14 (ESV)
> Therefore David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever.
> Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.
> Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.
> And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.
> But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.”

Observation Questions

In 1 Chronicles 29, what is David’s attitude as he prays at the end of his life? What does he recognize about his own life and resources? [25:51]
According to the sermon, what does the phrase “Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory” mean in the context of the Lord’s Prayer? [16:57]
What changes when Jesus says the temple is no longer a building, but that God’s presence now dwells in us? [24:13]
How do the people respond after David’s example of giving and his prayer in 1 Chronicles 29? [28:34]

Interpretation Questions

Why does David, at the end of his life, focus on God’s greatness and not his own achievements or legacy? What does this reveal about his understanding of life and eternity? [10:59]
The sermon says that declaring “Yours is the kingdom” is an act of surrender and allegiance. What does it look like to truly surrender to God’s rule in everyday life? [16:57]
The tearing of the temple curtain is described as God’s presence moving from a building to people. How does this change the way believers should view themselves and their daily lives? [24:13]
The sermon highlights that God is pleased with “integrity of heart” rather than perfection. Why is this distinction important for our spiritual growth? [33:42]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to “lay something down and pick something up” during Lent, just as Jesus laid down his majesty. Is there something in your life you sense God inviting you to lay down or pick up in this season? What would it look like to take a practical step this week? [01:54]
David recognized that all he had came from God and that his life was “but a shadow.” How does remembering the brevity of life affect your priorities, your anxieties, or the way you spend your time? Is there a specific area where you want to shift your focus from temporary things to eternal ones? [14:02]
The sermon says that surrendering to God’s kingdom is not passive, but a daily, intentional offering of our lives. What is one area where you struggle to let go of control or self-reliance? How could you practice surrender in that area this week? [16:57]
Since God’s presence now dwells in us, how can you become more aware of His nearness in your everyday routines? Is there a habit or practice you could start (or stop) to help you remember that you are God’s temple? [24:13]
The message describes joyful generosity as a natural response to encountering God’s glory. When was the last time you gave joyfully—of your time, resources, or self? Is there a way you feel prompted to give this week, not out of duty, but out of gratitude? [28:34]
The sermon says God is pleased with integrity and honest intent, not flawless behavior. Is there an area where you’ve been striving for perfection instead of coming to God with honesty? How can you bring more authenticity into your relationship with God and others? [33:42]
The pastor mentioned that God Himself keeps our hearts loyal to Him. How does this truth affect the way you approach your spiritual journey, especially in seasons when you feel weak or inconsistent? [35:01]

Sermon Clips

“If you could encapsulate the entirety of Scripture and the theology of Christ Jesus into one place, that this is it. I mean, this prayer covers from Genesis all the way to Revelation. So I'm going to read it again. We've now sung it. We've declared it. I'm going to read it in Matthew 6. And then it's really verse 13 that we're going to focus on this morning. So here we go. This then is how you should pray. Our Father in heaven, hallowed or holy is your name. Your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

“Whether Jesus actually said these words, whether they were exactly part of this initial thing, the essence of what Christ Jesus is communicating here, I think, is absolutely plain. And it is, yours is the kingdom, yours is the power, yours is the glory forever and ever. Amen. So, is it, was it an addition by the early church that they would repeat it back at the end of the prayer? Perhaps. Did Jesus have it in the original prayer? Perhaps. I don't think it changes the essence. No doubt that is what Jesus is communicating in, in this whole text.”

“When someone nears home, okay, let me back up the train a minute. Where is home? If you're in Jesus and Jesus is in you, I assure you, you're 50 or 70 or 90 or 105 or whatever years that you are allotted or given, this is not your home, okay? We are citizens of heaven. We are citizens of eternity. And every one of us, whether you like it or not, are nearing home. Billy Graham, I think, wrote a book called Nearing Home. He's talking about the finish of his journey.”

“All of the sudden, like all the stuff that we spend most of our lives worrying about does not matter. It doesn't matter. The things you carried in here, the anxieties, the frustrations, the worries, oh my roommate, oh my professor, oh my spouse, oh my kids, oh my job, oh these finances. You fill in the blank. Whatever it is, as you begin to near home, and if you sit with someone who is, I'm making this kind of like this shroud, but with someone who is approaching eternity, all of the sudden there is a reverence of the glory of God and the eternity of God.”

“Jesus, in the words of the Lord's prayer here, is inviting us to step out or separate ourselves from this, like, infatuation with the here and now so that we can become infatuated with eternity. Make sense? So let's, like, go here one step further. Jesus is, he's inviting you to step from what matters into what matters. He's inviting you to step out in faith. So this little tiny prayer, we just said it. It's like a few little sentences ending with, yours is the kingdom, yours is the power, yours is the glory forever. Amen.”

“What Jesus is now inviting you into, and when he goes, for yours is the kingdom, and yours is the power, and yours is the glory, is he's bringing you to this doorstep of eternity. It's the crossroads of where the here and now meets the crossroads of eternity, and he's inviting you to step across it, and begin to live with kingdom eyes, recognizing what matters, acknowledging who he is, and forsaking the world, if you will. Does that make sense? So let's just take this a little bit deeper.”

“I am beginning to even recognize that I have to discipline myself, declutter my mind, declutter my heart and emotions, declutter my schedule, so that I can do what's most valuable, which is engage with the King of Kings, first and foremost, my wife and my children and a few people around me, because life is going so fast. Make sense? Okay, so let's open this up before we fully unpack 1 Chronicles 29 and look at the last prayer and the last words of King David as he's about to die.”

“When in this text, when Jesus says yours is the kingdom, he's actually talking about the rule or the extent of God's royal power. It is God's right to exercise his power and his authority as the king. So the part of the prayer where you say, your kingdom, for yours is the kingdom, for yours is the power, and for yours is the glory forever and ever. Amen. That part is both an act of surrender. It's a pledging of obedience and it's a pledging of allegiance. Does that make sense? Like that's what makes this prayer so powerful.”

“The power in this like statement that Jesus loves little me. It's the same thing that Jesus is saying in this prayer when he says, for yours, Yahweh is the kingdom and yours, Yahweh is the glory and yours, Yahweh is the power forever and ever. Amen. In other words, the power is not Michael's or yours. The glory is not mine or yours. The kingdom is not mine or yours. And you are recognizing and acknowledging your own futility, if you will. And you're throwing yourself into his loving arms. Make sense? That's why this is so powerful.”

“If you can begin to let the things of this world and you're even infatuation with this world, grow dim and begin to see with kingdom eyes, there is transformative revelation available to you and me. Okay. Yours is the kingdom. Yours is the power. Just quickly, this is from a Greek word, dunamis, from which the English words, there's two words, dynamic and dynamite come. Yours is the power. Dynamite explodes. Powerful, right? It's reminding ourselves of the dynamic power of God.”

“It's reminding us of the kindness and the love of God to know us, to listen to us, to listen to you. It's the power of God to intervene and act on our behalf. It's the power of God at points to call us from this life into eternity. It's the power of God that he created. He stands outside of time. He loves us. And then you're declaring that in his sort of goodness, he's going to be true to his character. He will answer you, even if you don't like the way he answers, and he will call you deeper and further into the kingdom. Make sense?”

“Properly, glory belongs to God alone. Properly, glory is his alone. It's divine glory. It's the presence of the divine God. And we're reminding ourselves that we're called to live our lives in the reverence of his divine splendor, his glory. Make sense? So there's this invitation to step out of where we're currently living and grasp the larger kingdom reality that is happening here.”

“So Jesus, and when Jesus resurrects from death, you can go cross-reference all this if you want, but the curtain in the Holy of Holies tears. This big, thick, huge curtain, like 60 feet high, it tears. And the tear is symbolic of the presence of God, departing buildings made by human hands. In other words, God no longer dwells in buildings made by human hands. Jesus is the new temple. Now, when you and I come to Christ, Jesus comes and dwells where? In us. So you and I become the temple of the Holy Spirit or the temple of the Holy God.”

“What I am saying is that God is not primarily dwelling in any building anywhere and you've become the temple and I've become the temple and we now have the ability to access the person in the presence of God. Does that make sense? Okay. Now, let's just think geographically for just a second. If I was able to take you to the old temple mount, where, we're about to read in 1 Chronicles 29, where David commissioned Solomon or God commissioned Solomon to build this temple. Do you know what there is there right now? A mosque.”

“We become, we are the body of Christ. The body of Christ ascended, the presence or spirit of Jesus called the Holy Spirit descended to fill us, and we then become his hands and his feet and his face on the earth. It's amazing, actually. Okay. I think that was now fourthly, the curtain is now torn. We are all, not just is the presence of Yahweh God departed from the temple or departed from the Holy of Holies. You are now welcomed to have the Holy of Holies inside of you.”

“What I love about David is as he's nearing home, he is recognizing. It isn't about his kingdom. It isn't about his legacy. It isn't about who knows his name. It isn't about what he's done. He is giving everything for the construction of the temple where the presence of the holy God will dwell. Make sense? You and I, New Testament believers, same thing. Jesus became the temple. Jesus lives, dies, resurrects to life, ascends back to heaven. He now is offering to all of us as humans. He wants to live inside of you, and if he lives inside of you, the temple is now in you.”

“That's why I even started with the Lent thing, because it's like Lent is this time where you could give up sweets or chocolate or meat, or you can give up any number of things, but it's this tiny little outward demonstration of something that God is doing inside of you. Okay, so verse six. The leaders of families, the offices and tribes of Israel, the commanders of the thousands, and the commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king's work gave willingly. So what did the people do? They gave.”

“It is imperative that we not think of ourselves more highly than we ought. It is imperative that when we stand before a holy God, both now and in eternity, we grasp that we are little. I say things all the time, like our little church and I offend people. I'm not trying to offend anyone. I'm just saying the body of Christ is those who have already gone on and been with him. Those who are still alive. There's billions of people in the body of Christ. I assure you that if we're the biggest church on the planet, we're still, you hear it? I mean, it's beautiful.”

“It's an invitation into the reverence, awe, and fear of God where you go, God, yours is the kingdom and yours is the glory and yours is the power, which means it's not my kingdom. It's not my glory. It's not my power. I am a humble little me. And now the king of glory comes and dwells inside of me and Yahweh God departs the temple built by human hands and enters into those of us young or old or anywhere in between who welcome him. That's the power of the gospel.”

“God tests the heart and God is pleased with integrity. Is he pleased with what you amass? Is he pleased with whether you followed all the rules? I mean, we could go on and on down the line. What he is pleased with is integrity of heart. We can even look at the life of King David who made more egregious and ugly, sinful mistakes than a lot of the Old Testament kings. Not all of them, but certainly he made a lot. And still what he has is integrity of heart where at the end of it, he's coming back and bowing before the king going, yours is the kingdom.”

“Who keeps your heart loyal to God? It actually says he keeps. Verse 19. And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes, and decrees to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided. David is prophetically talking about not just the temple in Jerusalem that used to be on the Temple Mount. You can go see the Western Wall, which is part of the Davidic or Solomon's Temple. You can actually touch it. It's amazing. I recommend it.”

“He's not just talking about that. He's prophetically looking into the future. He doesn't even fully know it. But he's foretelling about the unseen kingdom power and glory of King Jesus that is going to come and establish his kingdom on the earth. And it's this unseen kingdom that is so much bigger than Rome or Herod or America or any country, any place, because all of us are nearing home and all of us are going to come closer and closer to that place where we cross over the shroud into eternity, just like King David, just like Bob Johnson.”

“And we have David who four miles from the town of Bethlehem is dedicating this piece of land on which Solomon is going to build the temple. And some multiple hundreds of years later, you have King Jesus coming into the scene and he is establishing that the new temple, the kingdom of God is not a beautiful palace made of gold or silver, but it's rather a person, him, Jesus. And he goes to a cross, he's crucified, he's resurrected, he ascends back to the Father, he sends his Holy Spirit to come and fill us.”

“And then the invitation is that you and I would experience the fullness of him that even as we pray this prayer, we would pledge our obedience, our surrender, and our allegiance to him. Remembering his dynamic power, trusting in his goodness, believing that he will answer our prayers, remembering his divine glory, that we would be a people on our knees before him. Yours, oh Lord, is the kingdom. Yours, oh Lord, is the power. Yours, oh Lord, is the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

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