Our Provider God

The Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 6:5-15

 

Everything we need is .  

 

“‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come,

your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

    but deliver us from the evil one.”

 

Unless we are certain that God is our Loving Father and our King we will never be able to pray, “.”

 

“In speaking of our daily bread, we do not bid farewell to God’s glory, but we ask only what is expedient for Him.  We come with our needs, expecting a positive response, but we do so, changed by our satisfaction in Him and our trust of Him.  Because of that, we do not come arrogantly and anxiously telling Him what has to happen.  Many things we would have otherwise agonized over, we can now ask for without desperation.”

-John Calvin

 

The first three of six requests (focusing on hallowing His name, His Kingdom and His will) are all God-centered.  These come first because to focus on them heals our heart of the self-centeredness that distorts our vision. The goal is to reframe our thoughts by His greatness, so that we can turn our attention to our own needs and those of the world.  This petition reminds us of our dependence on God. 

 

ACTS OF PRAYER

 

Adoration – The more we grow in our discipline the more time we spend worshiping  God.  (Psalm 48:1)

 

Confession – As we come into God’s presence, we see who we are, how short we are of His holiness, and our great need for His forgiveness. (1 John 1:9)

 

Thanksgiving – “In everything give thanks . . .” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

 

Supplication  – Our own needs and the needs of others. (Philippians 4:6, 7)

“It is certain that man never achieves a clear knowledge of himself unless he has first looked upon God’s face, and then descends from contemplating him to scrutinize himself.”                                                                                         -John Calvin

 

1. The God

 

“Every good and perfect gift comes from . . . the Father of Lights.”

James 1:17

 

Deuteronomy 8:17, 18

 

1 Timothy 5:8

 

 

2. God is concerned about our .

 

1 Timothy 6:6-8

 

 

3. Our invitation is to live in full

 

Proverbs 30:7-9

 

Revelation 3

 

Is God just a pleasant acquaintance or is He the very breath of your daily existence?

 

 

4. Trusting God

 

A simple prayer asking God to supply me with what I need

 

It’s assumed that we use the strength gained from our daily bread to .

 

James 4:2, 3

 

Psalm 84:11

 

Luke 11:13

“Thou art coming to a King,

Large petitions with thee bring;

For his grace and power are such,

None can ever ask too much;

None can ever ask too much.” -John Newton

 

5. AN OLD TESTAMENT ILLUSTRATION

 

Exodus 16

 

God’s instructions were for the Children of Israel to pick up just enough . 

 

Matthew 6:25-34

 

God always gives you what you would have asked for if you knew .

 

“Prayer will make a man cease from sin, and sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.”

-John Bunyan

 

6. Bread comes

 

God designed physical needs to point to our

 

John 6:35 

 

Daily Meditations

 

Memory verse: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’”                                                                Matthew 6:9-13

 

Monday

Read Matthew 6:5-15.  Summarize the three previous requests and their meaning?

Why does this request fall where it does?

 

 

Tuesday

Read Matthew 6:25-34.  What does it mean to be content?

 

 

Why does the Bible identify contentment and godliness so closely? See 1 Timothy 6:6-8.

 

 

 

Wednesday

Read Matthew 6:1-15.  How does your life change when you are truly content?

 

 

Is it wrong to have more than we need to survive?

 

 

 

Thursday

Read Matthew 6:1-15.  How can having more than we need potentially lessen our dependence on God?

 

 

Why does God often not give you everything that you ask him for?

 

 

Friday

Read Matthew 6:1-15.  How has this created tension in your life?

 

Can you enjoy nice things and still find contentment in God?

 

 

 

Saturday

Read John 6:35.  Would you say that God has been faithful to give you daily bread?

 

 

How has prayer helped you to place your finances in the right perspective?