Lord Teach Us to Pray: Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

Exodus 16, bread from heaven, John 6, Jesus explains that He is the actual bread that God gave from heaven

Emphasis: Praying for, believing in and receiving God’s life everyday His way

1. God’s baking bread- will we follow the recipe

2. Exodus 16:4-5

4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.”

Exodus 16:20-24 they tested God and did it their way

20 But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. 21 Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted. 22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23 he said to them, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’” 24 So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it.

His instructions had purpose…would they trust His Word daily and specifically? Or would they do it their way, and move outside of His will?

I firmly believe when Jesus said, “Give us this day our daily bread.” that He was talking about both physical and spiritual bread.

2 reasons

1. Exodus, God promised to provide, but would His people be willing to trust Him daily and not work extra on Saturday? Test—obedience to His word—both in action and timing.

• Do it your way and it decays and turns to worms. Do it His way,  and it will last.

• 2. Matthew 4:4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”—So powerful—

• Side note: Sabbath is an important test of faith because Jesus fulfills the Sabbath through His work on the cross—

II. I don’t like this kind-give me the other one?

John 6:25

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”

John 6:26

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

What does this mean? You seek me not because you saw. They saw, they touched, they ate. They were filled physically, but couldn’t see spiritually. It’s like this…

Romans 5:3 KJV And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Romans 5:3 ESV

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance—knowledge, wisdom, understanding

John 6:27-29

27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

John 6:32

Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

John 6:33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

John 6:34

They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

John 6:35

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

John 6:36–piece of bread

But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.

John 6:50-56

50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he  will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”—give us our daily bread—serve Him 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

Once He saw they grumbled He hit it even harder— most of them left on this day, and He didn’t stop there. He turned to His disciples and asked if they were going to leave Him too. Their response was?, where would we go? You alone have the words of eternal life.

Their response wasn’t you have the best vocals, or you can really strum the harp Lord

• It wasn’t, you have the best ideas about children’s programs

• It wasn’t you have the best miracles, as a matter of fact, the miracles were all the crowd wanted and they left but it was the word of truth that Peter desired and made him stay

• But how does a person know that they are being fed words of truth if they’ve never eaten words of truth?

He certainly seems to be making a connection between food and life, but it’s obvious that He is talking about spiritual life, not physical life, so how do we allow His flesh to be our spiritual food?

The answer is the connection between the Spirit’s moving through the word of His [cross]—it comes from the Spirit of the word. :

John 6:63

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

He is the word

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Revelation 19:13

He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.

Just like food is physical and you can see it, touch it, eat it, and it becomes nutritional life to the physical body, Jesus became flesh, and when He, through His word and faith in His word becomes our spiritual diet, we gain spiritual life.

In the Exodus passage they didn’t want to do it God’s way and at one point they didn’t even want God’s bread. In the John passage, they didn’t want the bread of life either. It seems the scriptures keep describing people that are always divided on what they want from God.

Vision: a rolling hill pasture land with green grass filled with a multitude of modern day believers. I knew in the spirit they were believers, and they were running in all different directions, not running away into the horizon. But never really getting anywhere or going anywhere. As they would run in different directions it wouldn’t be long and they would now be running around each other in circles. They were all around each other but disconnected. Different opinions, different directions, chaos and confusion. There was no peace or order. Nothing was being accomplished.

Sheep scattered

Matthew 9:36-38

36 Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He *said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

They need the Shepherd of their souls— His name is Jesus.

1 Peter 2:25 for ye were as sheep going astray, but ye turned back now to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.

Somebody asked me one time… Matt are you a shepherd? Technically, I’m an under shepherd. My job is to lead others to the shepherd of their soul.

People are divided and seperated by their opinions Put us back together Lord— word of prophecy

Yes Lord these bones can live

Put sinew on these bones and put them back together Lord

O Lord Put flesh on these bones

Give them a mouth Lord and let your word go forth

Let your word be declared in the earth

Lord Teach Us to Pray: Your Kingdom Come Pt. 2

Introduction

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven 2: God’s Kingdom The bigger picture

Last week, we focused on God’s will being accomplished on earth as it is in heaven related to individuals. The 3 main points were:

1. True conversions

2. The cross is an ongoing work-believe what the Bible says, new identity

3. He is fashioning a body for His head-Bible reading

The emphasis of this message is Your Kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven Part 2 God’s Kingdom— The bigger picture

Sometimes we say, “I have a lot on my plate.” Let’s try to take a look at God’s plate.

1. God is engaged in spiritual warfare

2. He is looking for believers to grow past self

3. …so they can engage in the war w/ Him-active duty

We cannot see what God is doing without His help

Through Jesus, we’re offered new birth and new life, which frees from the bondage of sin. Jesus explained to Nicodemus that the new birth allowed both entry into and the ability to see the kingdom of God.

Luke 17:20-21

20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and  said, The kingdom of God cometh not with  observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Faith and commitment to God’s kingdom and God’s work on earth w/ pure motives yields an eternal reward:

Releasing the seed of the kingdom that is in you reproduces after its own kind. The reproduction of the image of God on earth was your created purpose. When you accomplish God’s will on earth, through the grace that flows from what Jesus has already accomplished for you on the cross, you receive an eternal reward

Understanding God’s business on earth requires understanding God has an enemy who rebelled before man was ever created. He wants humans to do the same— reject God and His plan.

It’s understandable that most people come to God and church, because they need Him to fix them. I know that I needed God to heal me from a life of sin. It’s an ongoing work, but I am healed, and I am being healed.

But, with time we start to grow spiritually, begin dying to self, and become more focused on God’s will rather than our own.

Luke 10:17-20

The Return of the Seventy-Two

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the  demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

Luke 10:19-20

19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

2 Corinthians 4:1-4

The Light of the Gospel

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

So if we asked for light, and we could see— if the veil was removed and we could see what God sees, what would we see? And once we saw it:

Ephesians 2:1-2 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

Psalms 2:1-3 ESV

1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”

Psalms 2:4-12

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

connection: prince of the power of the air works through the children of disobedience through the rulers of the earth who take counsel together and make a plan to break free from the Lord’s authority.

Katy Perry/ Miley Cyrus I kissed a girl and I liked it. Then they kiss. Both were raised in the church. I am trying to explain to you that this is not accidental.

This is what we are up against? What is going to fix this?

• Voting?

• Joining a political party?

• What about prayer?

Prayer by the saints will affect the nations and the world that we live in

Psalms 149:5-9 ESV

5 Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, 7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples, 8 to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, 9 to execute on them the judgment written! This is honor for all his godly ones.

Praise the LORD!

Revelation 12:1-12

The Woman and the Dragon

1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4  His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

Satan Thrown Down to Earth

7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

Ephesians 6:10-13

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Daniel 10:1-5 ESV

1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision.

2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) 5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.

Daniel 10:12-13

12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,

Daniel 10:14

and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”

Daniel 10:20

Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come.