Day by Day: The Only Way

Day by Day: The Only Way: God is calling us to restore our daily dependence on him

Luke 11:1–13 (KJV 1900)

1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

It is not recorded that His disciples ever said to Him, “Lord, teach us how to preach,” but at least one of them was so struck with His prayers that he said, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

A Sermon For A Winter’s Evening, Volume 56, Sermon #3181 - John 18:18

Charles Spurgeon

Jesus never taught His disciples how to preach, only how to pray. He did not speak much of what was needed to preach well, but much of praying well. To know how to speak to God is more than knowing how to speak to man. Not power with men, but power with God is the first thing. Jesus loves to teach us how to pray.

Andrew Murray

The disciples studied Jesus

It was something altogether different about him

Even his prayer made the disciples believe they themselves did not even no the first thing about prayer

Jesus prayer was spirit filled and relationship driven.

Jesus relationship with the father was in prayer

2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

Jesus delighted to give them answers

How often do you ask God questions? Do you just assume that you know?

These devout Jews asked Jesus how to pray

God is our Father: We must understand the relationship Dynamic

How we perceive God determines how we interact with him

How do you think about God? Do you see him as a geenie? or a task master in the sky?

Often, we perceive God through our human interaction with authority figures.

We think God will punish us or take his love from us when we fall short

We think God will leave us when times get hard

We think God will take advantage of us and misuse us.

We think God as a father is neglectful and does not know what is best.

We think God is envious of us and does not want us to be happy

What is preventing us from putting our trust in God in a daily manner?

Keep God’s name Holy

There can be no mixture

No allegiance to God and Baal

No allegiance to God and withcraft

No allegiance to God and culture

3 Give us day by day our daily bread.

4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Sometimes it feels like you don’t have enough strength to sustain you

You feel so day to day

Each day is a new challenge. Each day you have to fight. Each day you have to decide

So sometimes what we do is give up on the day to day grind because we get tired, frustrated, and discouraged.

Sometimes it feels like the enemy won’t get off your back

Some of us are fighting depression on a daily basis. We are trying to hold it back from overtaking us.

Some of us are fighting each day against bitterness and anger of what was done to us.

Some of us are fighting each day to ward off sadness. You can feel it creeping up on you each day.

You feel like you cannot go on much longer so you surrender to it.

Some of us choose to self-medicate. Some of us lose our faith secretly and resign our hope.

Obedience means marching right on whether we feel like it or not. Many times we go against our feelings. Faith is one thing, feeling is another.

Dwight L. Moody

We must draw from God through relationship every day. We need God for provision, forgiveness, and Victory

These things belong to us but they are in him

Some of us want victory without dependence

Some of us want forgiveness without commitment

Some us want to be free but don’t want to be bound to one spouse: Jesus: We want to be free to be spiritually promiscuous

But victory is in Jesus

Forgiveness is in Jesus

Provision is in Jesus

Just a closer walk with thee granted Jesus if you please. Daily walking close to thee let it be dear lord let it be

One day at a time sweet Jesus that's all im asking from you

There are three principles we can utilize starting today to respond to this Word:

1. Slow down you life to walk at God’s pace

We walk so fast. We are self-sufficient. We do not want to wait

We do not even ask God. We do it ourselves and we make a mess

We medicate then we pray

We make decisions then we include God

But a daily walk requires submission

Do not leave the presence of God to meet your needs. But say Lord today here I am again, empower me by your spirit.

2. Ask God daily for what you need in the spirit.

“Lord give me grace today to manage stress on my job. Lord help me to believe today that you are looking out for me” “Lord give me the courage today to face discomfort without self medication.” “ Lord help me to forgive my brother or sister again today. Lord help me to walk in love and not lust this day. Lord give me victory over depression today.

3. "Reckon” every request through God’s word by faith.

Jesus gives no doubts are exceptions

When you ask you receive. When you seek you find. When you knock, the door opens. No exceptions or qualifiers.

Why does this not seem true?

Faith is not in principle, it is in application

Faith is a daily walk, it is a submitting to God

Faith without appropriation is a theory

We must learn to Reckon

Reckon: To calculate, consider, credit, to ponder, to regard, to count.

Reckon is what you do when you count up what is in your bank account and apply it to the bills you have

The Problem is we are not reckoning. We are not counting it true what God has said concerning us and his word.

We must ask God daily to count his truth into our reality.

This is how we count it all joy.

We must calculate the weight of God’s word on our situation, emotions, feelings, and challenges

Luke 11:10 (KJV 1900)

10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Many of us are under the constant belief that we are inadequate and God has not provided to us what we need. God has somehow missed us. We were not worthy to get what others have. But God says we have everything we need in him.

2 Peter 1:3 KJV 1900

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Many of us stop walking with God daily because we feel separated. The blood of Jesus has placed a mark upon us. We belong to God. Our mark is permanent. Stand in his presence and say here I am as I am. I am yours not because of my actions but because you said it and now I reckon it, I count it as true by faith. So i am not going anywhere.

Romans 8:38–39 KJV 1900

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Do not disqualify yourself. Do not wait to feel it. Do not wait for a sign. Just count it. Credit it to your account by faith. It is not about you it is about the faithfulness of God’s word.

Do this today. And do it tomorrow. Stay in relationship day by day. Do not ever think you can have this power without relationship: a day by day dependence on God. Do not deceive yourselves.

Stop each day to walk at God’s pace. Be still when he is still. Ask him each day to be filled with the spirit. This is your daily bread. Reckon what God has said to your account regardless of how you feel. And you will realize you are rich.

The riches are in Christ.

There is a hidden abundance

This is the promise God has made if we go to him daily:

1 Kings 17:15–16 KJV 1900

15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. 16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.