SERIES: The Greatest Prayer Ever Prayed #6
TITLE: Give Us Bread
TEXT: Matthew 6:1-11
INTRO: The first part of the Lord's prayer is about God: “Thy Name...”, “Thy kingdom...”, and “Thy will...”
Today we begin with the second part, where we turn from praying for God's glory to praying for our needs: “give us this day our daily bread”
# A basketball in my hands is worth about $19
A basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands is worth about $33 million
It depends whose hands it’s in
A baseball in my hands is worth about $6
A baseball in Mark McGuire’s hands is worth $19 million
It depends whose hands it’s in
A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal
A rod in Moses’ hands will part the mighty sea
It depends whose hands it’s in
A sling shot in my hands is a kid’s toy
A sling shot in David’s hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it’s in
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands
is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God’s
hands will feed thousands It depends whose hands it’s in
Let's look in again on our Praying Saint:
"Look, Lord, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does. Give us this day, our daily bread."
"You need to cut out the bread. You're overweight as it is."
"Hey, wait a minute! What is this ... 'Criticize me day?' Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups."
"Praying is a dangerous thing. You could wind up changed, you know. That's what I'm trying to get across to you. You called me, and here I am. It's too late to stop now. Keep praying. I'm interested in the next part of your prayer.
In Bible times bread was a whole-grain staple of life. It was baked fresh every day and was an essential part of life.
Jesus is telling us to ask the Father for what we needed to live for the day.
Bread is a symbol for everything necessary for life and well-being-to include food, good health, shelter, clothing, a means of income, peace, safety, friends and family.
I. THE PRAYER FOR GOD’S PROVISION
(Prov.30:8-9) Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
A. Bread Stands for the Things We Need in Life
1. Physical needs: shelter, food and clothing.
2. Emotional needs: stability, confidence and self esteem
3. Spiritual needs: Which can only be satisfied in Jesus Christ.
B. We Are Dependent on God for Everything
1. God made us with needs so that we would have to
look to Him to supply them
2. He is able to answer our prayers and to meet our needs
C. Our Needs are Met One Day at a Time
1. When God provided manna in the wilderness for the
Israelites...could only gather enough food for each day
2. We can't live on past blessings, we need a new supply
every day
D. We Are Not to Worry, but Trust in the Father's Provision
-Just after giving the Lord's Prayer, Jesus said:
"Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, With what shall we be clothed? For the nations seek after all these things. For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." (Mat.6:31-33 MKJV)
II. PRINCIPLES FOR RECEIVING GOD’S PROVISION
A. Obedience
1. In our Fellowship with Christ.
Jesus has told us, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." (Joh.15:7 NKJV)
2. In our Relationship to the Church
(Heb.10:24-25 NKJV) “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another... (exhort = encourage)
3. In Diligent work habits
Paul told the people at Thessalonica “…aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.” (1 The.4:11-12 NKJV)
B. Faith
(Heb 11:6) "Without faith it is impossible to please God".
-Everything that we receive from God is through faith
III. THE PERFECTION OF GOD’S PROVISION
A. God Always Provides for His People
1. Israel in the Wilderness -
water, manna, quail. And their clothes didn't wear out.
2. The poor widow of Zarephath, who was told by Elijah,
"For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth." (1 Kings 17:14)
3. At one time, Jesus fed 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish
B. He Provides it When We Need it Most
C. He Provides What We Really Need
1. People of the world are looking for the wrong things
"Why do you spend money on what is not food, and your wages on what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and you will enjoy the choicest of foods." (Isa.55:2 HCSB)
2. God provides the best
For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. (Psa.107:9)
CONCL: The Ultimate Bread is Jesus Christ Himself:
“I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” (Joh.6:51 NKJV)
Amen
