Matt 6:9-13
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. -KJV
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-“Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread”
Now this is the part we have all waited for—its time to pray for everything we need daily—the stuff we usually like to ask God for:
Greek Text:
ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον· (arton hēmōn ton epiousion dos hēmin sēmeron):
“Bread of us daily grant us today”
Some have translated it: “The Bread of us for the next day give us today”
I believe that this goes beyond just our physical needs for food, clothes, and shelter -but includes every aspect of our lives. Including everything we need for our:
-Body
-Soul- (Including our Mind & Emotions)
and
-Spirit
–Philippians 4:19:
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. –ESV
—Matthew 4:4:
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every ‘word’ that comes from the mouth of God.’”-ESV
‘Word’ in this passage is: rhema –a personal word from God. Which is all about maintaining a relationship with God and listening to what his Holy Spirit says daily. When we choose to ignore the Holy Spirit—we choose to have a bad day. Why live without the Holy Spirit? Why choose to live in this fallen world alone without the Holy Spirit?
Remember the context of the Lord’s Prayer is the Sermon on the Mount—Matthew 5-7—read it all if you really want to know what Jesus taught about how to live our daily lives– how to act and think and how to include God in our lives. His plan is far different than what is considered important in our currant culture and world.
Jesus says to not worry about food, clothes, shelter, and riches; that we will receive everything we need in our daily lives if we seek his Kingdom:
–Matt 6:33:
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. –ESV
Again it is all about walking in the Kingdom of God (living under God’s rule) –and we will be blessed with everything we need in this life and the one to come.
We also need to live a life of giving to others and giving back to God:
–Luke 6:38:
38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”-ESV
If we choose to live our life walking constantly with the Holy Spirit in our daily life, seeking Father God’s rule and Kingdom in all we do. We will have an abundant life.
–John 10:10b:
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.-ESV
If we ignore the Holy Spirit and God’s Rule (Kingdom) and live like everyone else in this fallen culture, then we will be subject to the dominion of our enemy the devil.
–John 10:10a:
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have a choice. We can live and walk in God’s Kingdom under his authority OR by default under the dominion of Satan and the fallen world. Hope in this life and the life to come only comes through faith in Jesus and by intention seeking the Lord and his Kingdom in all we do.
The ‘Good News’ is that we have a choice. We can live according to the Kingdom ‘rule’ of Father God and our prayer for ‘daily bread’ will be honored and we will receive everything we actually need daily for our body, mind, and spirit. The abundant daily life in the Kingdom of God also includes hope, peace, and joy which the world cannot provide.
Prayer—Romans 15:13:
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. -ESV
Next Lesson #8- Forgive Us Our Debts: -8. Victory in ‘Living’ The Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive Us Our Debts, As We Forgive Our Debtors”