A great multitude of people followed Jesus from all of the area surrounding Jerusalem. They came from Galilee and Decapolis and from beyond Jordan on foot to hear God in the person of Jesus teach them. Jesus went up into a mountain and He spoke to the assembled, teaching them and us, how to live a blessed life.
We know the beginning of his teaching as ” The Beatitudes”. You have heard these in Church. They begin… ” Blessed are the poor in spirit ( those whose egos are contained well enough to make them teachable) for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus is teaching as the voice of God the Father come to earth in the flesh to tell us how we should live. In this teaching reported by Matthew beginning in the 5th chapter, there are contained many of the best known and most frequently quoted, teachings of Jesus.
While he is directing us in the various areas of life, Jesus explains how we are to communicate with Him in prayer. We find this teaching beginning in the 6th chapter of Matthew and the 7th verse.
“But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as do the heathens ( those who worship other Gods ) do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them; FOR YOUR FATHER KNOWETH WHAT THINGS YE HAVE NEED OF BEFORE YE ASK HIM.
After this manner therefore pray ye;
Our Father which art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth,
As it is in heaven.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD !
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;
For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory,
forever. Amen.”
How many times have we prayed this prayer? It is prayed at civic group meetings, in churches, in AA and all 12 step related meetings and in homes all around the world everyday. Most people can quote this the “Lord’s Prayer” verbatim.
How many times have we blown right past this simple line that is the essence of our communication with God? Remember that the teacher is Jesus acting as God in the flesh come to earth to teach us how to communicate with him in prayer.
Jesus teaches us to ask our Heavenly Father the one who created us and all things to……….
“Give us this day our daily bread!’
Please note that Jesus did not teach us to pray saying :
Give us this day our daily bread… In your time.
Give us this day our daily bread…When we pass the test.
Give us this day our daily bread…Unless we are planning to consume it on our own lusts.
Give us this day our daily bread…When we complete the process that you are taking us through to prepare us to receive the bread.
Give us this day our daily bread…If it be thy will.
Give us this day our daily bread…unless it will harm us.
Give us this day our daily bread…If we have first prayed for everyone else.
Give us this day our daily bread…If we are in right standing with you.
Give us this day our daily bread… if you are not upset with us about what we did yesterday.
Please note that Jesus is teaching us to believe that we receive when we pray:
“GIVE US THIS DAY, OUR DAILY BREAD” !
Jesus confirmed this teaching as reported by Mark in the 11th Chapter and the 24th verse.
“Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, BELIEVE that you receive them and you shall have them.”
I frequently ask for a show of hands when I preach, of those who are believing God “FOR” things. This is a common mis-teaching in the church today. We have been taught to believe, “FOR” things. This belief is usually stated as…”I am believing God for that big deal that I’ve been standing in faith for.” ” I know that God is going to…so and so and so and so.” “I am believing God for my healing.”
This incorrect belief permanently postpones our blessings. If you believe “FOR” something you are postponing that thing. This belief system originates with unbelief, fear or ignorance of the teachings of Jesus. It is a way of explaining away why you did not receive a thing that you prayed for. The question would be stated, “Pastor, I prayed for the big deal/healing/ money etc. and I did not get it. Please explain.”
The correct answer is that you received what ever you requested when you prayed and asked for it. It was given to you at the moment you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You may not see it with your natural eye, but we do not fix our eyes on the things that are seen, but the things that are unseen, for the seen is temporal and subject to change; but the unseen is eternal. We receive when we believe without seeing and live in this present moment with joyful expectation that we have already been given all things that pertain to life and Godliness.
If you are confused, don’t feel alone. The wisdom of God is foolishness to man and the wisdom of man is foolishness to God. Many teachers are also confused. That is why they try to explain away the truth by making up excuses for God. Such as…” You don’t have enough faith”. This is a very common mis-teaching. The truth is that at the moment you accepted Jesus as your Lord you got His faith…the full measure of faith. You will never get more faith than, The Faith of The Son of God.” (Romans 12:3, Ephesians 2:8 and 9, Ephesians 2:20)
Jesus came to earth and gave us a simple and effective prescription for joy, peace and abundance in this life and in the life to come. Consider again His commandment from Matthew chapter 6 verse 34…
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. “
Jesus is asking us to ask today for our daily bread and believe that when we pray, we receive, whether or not we see. Try his prescription you have been blessed.
With love to you all, your brother in Jesus, Pastor Allen.
