Power, Glory, Forever.

If I've never mentioned it before, which I doubt, as I'm fully aware that I have a tendency to repeat myself...often. Anyways, I'm a big fan of the movie/musical 'Jesus Christ Superstar'. As creatively adventurous as some portions are, I still find myself reeled in with enough Biblical truth to foster my fondness of it.

Case in point; there's a point in the movie where Simon the Zealot is trying to rally the people and coerce Jesus to establish 'The Kingdom' post haste and alleviate the Jews from the oppressive Roman occupation. He tells(well, sings) to Christ, trying to hype Him up on the idea that He will receive power and glory.

Christ's response bewilders Simon and I think that where he was is still exactly where most of us are today - Jesus replies with "None of you understand what power is, understand what glory is....understand at all".

In my many years of living, the one thing that I'm most certain of is that ALL that I know is but a small drop in a large ocean of all there is to know. And that limited knowledge pertains exclusively to the earthly realm. The heavenly realm remains wholly unfathomable and is only given in brief, yet bright glimpses through God's revelation in Scripture. I imagine that it will absolutely require a new body and mind to even stand in the presence of the full expression of these concepts: True power, true glory and real eternity - let alone try and make sense of them.

This is where the marked difference between the head and the heart shows itself most prominently. I believe our mental capacity can learn and become very adept at making sense of what we see and experience but the heart is where faith sits. Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. This is where the intangible becomes as real as everything we already take for granted: A high view of God, an unexplainable trust in His Word and an unyielding desire to humbly follow hard after Him. These things can't be negotiated as sensibly in the head and are resolved to be issues that do a transformative work on the heart. The actions of love can be deduced logically in the head, but the reality of true love is a heart matter.

Looking again at Power, Glory and Forever; these concepts culminate the Disciples prayer. Remember from last week - it's God's kingdom and He alone is the Source of all power which by extension means He's the Object and Recipient of all glory - as it's always been, so shall it always be.

Here's The Word;
Job 36:22 - Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

Psalm 150:1 - Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.

Romans 5:2 - By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Philippians 2:11 - And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Romans 11:36 - For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

I pray that this journey through the disciple's prayer has given you an increased depth to the words we commonly recite - that you would love God and draw closer to Him.

In Him,
Cros