Our Daily Bread

Introduction

Recap Series

Week 1 - Prideful vs Humble Prayer - Matthew 6:5-8

Week 2 - Honoring the Name of God… Our Father in Heaven - Matthew 6:9

Give us today our daily bread.

Week 3 - The Kingdom of God… a picture of it… -

This Week - Our Daily Bread

Give us today our daily bread.

First request that is for ourselves

Breakdown of verse

Give us - didomi - general word for giving… like an allowance

Today - semeron - this day - primary stem word = this today

Daily - epiousios - daily sustenance - for the poor in Jesus’ time, would have been literal

Bread - artos - bread, food

bread in this time…

wheat or barley, barley would have been cheaper, so this was the most used by the poor, though it dod not taste as good.

baked in oven, on a hot rock or pan

some as loaves like we have seen pictures of, come with holes in the middle to place on stick and sell at the market

Temptation for preachers is to rail on congregation about how much we have, and knowing our true needs

not that it is wrong - US is very rich nation, even in the poorest among us, though you feel poor here, you are rich compared to other places.

We know this, but it does not help us, other than to make us feel guilty for a while

my desire today - walk you through living out this prayer…

telling you to feel guilty and do better only leads to failure

Reliance Upon God

And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Give us… this almost sounds like a command

have you ever commanded God to do something?

Trying to move an object that is unmovable…

Jimmy pushing me vs me pushing him

we are not going to make God do anything

When we command God, we sound like an ungrateful toddler

This is not a command, it is a request

a request shows something… submission

by requesting instead of commanding, we acknowledge that we are dependent on Him

this fits right in with where this prayer has been… Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

the first few statements of this prayer has been worship and setting the right order to our thinking

what is a request

Websters Dictionary - an act of asking politely or formally for something

it is asking without demanding the answer you want

But we are requesting something that he has already promised to do

And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

According to his riches…

tells us that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills… meaning, God owns it all

we struggle with this a little

I mean, that checking account is in our name, the car, the house, everything is in our name.

I can change the name on the credit card bills if he would like, if he owns all, doesn’t he get the bills.

The creator, owns his creation… he can pull from anywhere and supply your needs

God is not only rich in stuff, but he is rich in mercy

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!

5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!

He is not just holding onto everything… he is merciful as well.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us,

We can faithfully rely on God, who did not leave us when we needed him most

He made us alive with Christ

Desiring Things of God

Why desire the things of God

God is not your Jeanie in a Bottle

we do not make requests in the right way to get what we want…

This is how so many do religion…

I go to church, I pray like this, I face this direction when I pray, I read my Bible for an entire week and God did not answer my prayer…

This is not a performance based religion

This is why so many people are worn out and tired of religion… they have been taught that if they do things a certain way, God will react in a certain way.

But if your heart is not changed, if you are still desiring things that go against God, or that are not a part of God’s will for your life, you will feel isolated, alone and as if your prayers are unanswered.

“Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

the word for store literally means to hoard...

Treasures on Earth - things that are temporary - things used to glorify you

“Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Treasures in Heaven - things that are eternal - things to glorify God

Maybe what you asking for is not bad…

James said sometimes your motives are wrong…

you are not asking so that He is glorified - go back to the first parts of this prayer

How do we set our hearts toward him, how do we desire the things of God, over the things of our flesh

Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Everyday we deny our flesh, our will, our desire for self gratification and glorification and follow him

19 “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

what is self gratification - what feels good in the moment

what is self glorification - what makes me look good in the moment

Contentment With God

Jesus tells us not to worry about the needs of life

So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

gentiles eagerly seek them… seek = epizeteo - to crave, to search

gentiles here translated from “ethnos” meaning worldly, pagans

this is what nonbelievers do… this will always leave you unsatisfied

we know this because we are programed to always be looking at the next thing

I cannot wait to be a teenager… I cannot wait to drive… I cannot wait to graduate and go to college… I cannot wait to go to graduate college and get a job… I cannot wait to get married… to have kids… Grandkids… I cannot wait to retire…

Farmers are a great illustration… It is too dry, it is too wet, we have to get things planted… we have to get the harvest in!

We are different…

33 But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

We do not have to worry about these things… if we are seeking his kingdom, his glory, his righteousness

I am not saying that we are to sit back and wait for a miracle… as if God does not want us to work.

We must trust him…

This is the attitude that we see in Paul in his letter to the Philippians

31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God,o and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. 12 I know both how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.

11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. 12 I know both how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.

Paul has learned to be content… regardless of if he has a lot, or a little

Why because he is desiring the things of Heaven, not the things of this world

his desire is not to see how much he can accumulate, but to see how much he can advance the kingdom of God

Are you content with what God has given you...

Who’s kingdom are you trying to advance?

Are you trusting in Him, or eagerly seeking the next thing

be comfortable in your own skin… where God has you