Sermon Tone Analysis

February 8, 2015

*Intro* – An old Scottish woman sang in the choir of a church where a young pastor tended to pray long with hard theological words that few could understand.

One day, she tapped him on the shoulder and said, “A word of advice on your prayers, Pastor.

Just call Him Father and ask Him for something.”

Well, that’s pretty good advice, and it squares with Jesus response to the request, “Teach us to pray.”

God is addressed as Father, there are no long words, the prayer is short and consists of 5 petitions.

*I.

Needs Related to God* – Petitions 1 & 2. They orient us.

Our life is meant to be lived by His will and to His glory.

We are made for Him, not the other way around.

Prayer is about aligning me with God’s will, not Him with mine.

That’s the first 2 petitions.

*II.

Needs Related to Us*

This should greatly encourage us.

Within the greater framework of God’s will, He has concern for our personal needs.

We can’t be the center of our universe, but God is very interested in what happens on our planet as it orbits His sun.

We can bring our everyday requests – a coat, a car, books, a vacation, a bicycle.

God meets us where we are.

He cares about us personally.

*A.

Give Us Each Day Our Daily Bread*

Simple request.

Enough food for one day, and by extension provision for all our physical needs.

We are invited to pray for them.

But in this simple phrase, some eye-opening lessons are implied when it comes to our physical needs.

*1.

It teaches us to be thankful*

I have long thought it interesting that the Lord’s prayer doesn’t include thanksgiving.

But in re-studying this passage, I think it is there hidden in plain sight.

The verb here is “Give.”

Implies gift!

Give what?

Our daily physical needs.

Of course, God already knows what we need.

We’re not giving Him new info.

So why ask?

I think as an act of humility.

It recognizes the truth of James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”

By asking for what I need, tho He already knows, I acknowledge Him as the source of all good things, and my asking is at once an act of humility and an act of thanksgiving.

Meeting my needs is His gift – hence something to be thankful for.

I ask; He gives.

The only appropriate response is gratitude.

Jesus exemplifies this.

There He stands one evening before 10-12,000 tired, hungry people.

Andrew has scrounged up one little lunch – 5 barley loaves (small) and 2 fish (sardine type).

What would you have done?

On my best day – my best day, I’d have been praying desperately for a better solution.

On my best day!

What did Jesus do?

John 6:11, “Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated.”

He gave thanks?

For 5 rolls and 2 sardines?

Yes.

Why?

He trusted the Father.

What a lesson for us.

Gratitude for whatever we have is the first step to unleashing God’s power.

That’s the attitude suggested in, “Give us each day our daily bread.”

*2.

It teaches us to be dependent*

No one wants to be dependent.

It is un-American!

But think about this.

The one physical need Jesus urges us to pray for is what?

Bread, right?

Daily bread.

That’s as basic as it gets.

And the fact that Jesus urges us to pray for it implies what?

It implies we can’t do it on our own.

This implies that we are inadequate for our most basic need.

Wow! Are you ready for that?

We say, “Wait a minute.

I work hard to provide for my family.

So now I’m supposed to give that up and just pray bread onto the table?

Is that the plan?”

No! Jesus isn’t suggesting we give up our day job!

If we ask God to do His part, we need to do our part.

That’s why Paul instructs in II Thess 3:10-12, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.

12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.”

So keep working, right?

But why ask God for daily bread if I’m already earning it?

Because, Beloved, altho we are doing our part, God needs us to see we need Him.

Who put us in America, the land of opportunity?

He did.

Who gave us the skills to do our job?

He did.

Who protects our health?

It’s a gift from God that can be gone in a moment.

Who brings success of our company?

Sure people are working at that, but there are a thousand things that could take it all away tomorrow – a downturn in the economy, new technology that makes the product obsolete, a new employee who is better – a thousand things.

Listen – you and I are as dependent as newborn babies.

Do you see?

And that’s just where God wants us.

Acts 17:28 reminds us that it is “in Him that we live and move and have our being.”

Without Him we are nothing, Beloved.

This is intended to remind us of that.

Turn to Exod 16.

Two million Israelites have escaped Egypt due to God’s mighty intervention.

But now they have no food.

So look at God’s provision.