Dependence on God

In the eleventh chapter of Luke we see Jesus teaching the disciples to pray.  "Give us this day our daily bread."

The request is for what we need, not for a surfeit.  Also, "bread" is so much more than meeting the physical need, for God meets our spiritual needs as well.  Jesus is the "Bread of Life."

In the Old Testament we see the children of Israel enslaved in Egypt.  God sent plagues in Egypt to break the bondage.  Then the people are wandering in the wilderness, soon begin to murmur and complain.  "Did God lead us out of Egypt to let us die here in the wilderness?"  *Aside:  "Someone could have made a fortune had they started the "Kill the Fatted Cafe."  --J.B.*

Then the Lord provided manna with the directive that sufficient supply should be gathered for the day, not a surplus.  Those who attempted to gather to save ahead soon found themselves with a smelly mess on their hands.

God was reminding them (1) You must be completely dependent on Me, and (2) I am always faithful to You.

Dependence upon God is a daily requirement.

Read Luke 12:22-31 in which Jesus tells us not to worry;  tells us to seek first the kingdom of Heaven and the needs will be provided.

1.  It is impossible to depend upon God when you are consumed with worry.

Worry is a tool of the devil to distract you from dependence upon God.  [God is faithful!]

 2.  It is impossible to depend upon God when you are consumed with want.

The contented heart knows that God will provide the needs of the day.

TO BE DEPENDENT ON GOD

1.  Be thankful for all things great and small, good or bad.

2.  Hand over worry entirely to Jesus.

3.  Remember the times of His faithfulness. 

Pastor Johnnie Blair

Sunday morning

Multiply that

Multiple vehicles piled up in a crash on the Interstate this morning.  Multiple people were injured and transported to multiple hospitals.  Multiple law enforcement officers interviewed multiple witnesses who provided multiple stories varying in multiple details.

Multiple hospital spokespersons confirmed the treatment of multiple people for a multiple variety of injuries.

Newspeople:  Get a thesaurus, or count something, or something.

I never again want to hear "multiple" other than in a construction such as "35 is a multiple of seven."  And even there, just for variety, one might on occasion say "seven is a factor of 35."

Kingdom Alignment

Continuing the study of prayer, Luke 11 and other passages.
In Matthew 6:33 we read, " But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

"First" in this directive of the Master is not equivalent to priority.  "First" indicates that if we seek first his kingdom and his righteousness there will be nothing more to seek because we have submitted our will to His.  It is Jesus only, nothing more, nothing less.

We cannot allow our desires to supersede the will of God.  This is not an option, it is a matter of obedience.  Sacrifice is not enough; obedience is key.  "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."  --James 1:22 (NIV)
The Lord's prayer is a prayer of surrender.  "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven."

It is clear that it is God's will
     1. that you be saved.  (John 3:16)
     2. that you be sanctified. (I Thessalonians 4:3)
     3. that you pray continually. (I Thessalonians 5:17)
     4. that you do good deeds.  (I Peter 2:15)

Take delight in the Lord,  and he will give you the desires of your heart. --Psalm 37:4
Which is to say that  if we delight in the Lord our desires will be His will, not our own.

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.  --Proverbs 3:5,6

How would your life be different if knowing and following God's will were your highest priority?

Pastor Johnnie Blair

Sunday morning

Ready?

"No!"  Tildy stomped her foot when she said it.

"No what?" responded Herkimer.

"No, you cannot go out wearing that shirt with those slacks."

"I love this shirt.  What's the matter with it?"

"It does not go with those trousers.  The mix-and-match style is fine, but why must you persist in mix-and-mismatch?"

Herk has not been "ready" on his first attempt more than twice in eighteen years of marriage to Tildy.

A Warm Embrace

Lesson from Luke, chapter 11

1.  God is our nourisher.
     He knows our needs before we ask.

2.  God is our protector.      
     The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. --Psalm 18:2

3.  God is our upholder (sustainer).
     He upholds all things by the Word of His power.  See Hebrewss 1:3

Johnnie Blair

Sunday morning

Bwaa-ha-ha-ha!

The Missus and I were sitting on the porch enjoying the breeze and the sunshine while playing dominoes.  Her phone rang.  She opened, had it on speaker phone.  ". . ."  "This is she."  "Hello, I am calling to thank you for watching Sean Hannity."

I broke up in laughter.  Uproarious laughter.  Which the caller clearly heard, for he hung up with no by your leave or good day.

Teach Us to Pray

The lesson is from Luke 11 in which the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray.  His response tells us to use the words we have come to know as The Lord's Prayer.

Are you confident in your prayer life?  If the concept of prayer overwhelms you, it is okay.

1.  Prayer must be understood in its corporate nature.
     Even if you are alone in prayer you are praying this prayer with Christians everywhere.  The conversation began long before us and it will continue long after we are gone.

Jesus invited us to participate in this conversation with God.

2,  Prayer must be an outflow of the intimacy you have with God.

     Jesus made a way for us all to sit at the big kids table.  We are His and He has asked us into a relationship with the Triune God.

3.  Prayer must be entered into humbly and with boldness.

     Though we call him Father, His ways are far above our ways.  We are humble before Him, yet he has invited us to enter boldly before His throne!

"The power of prayer is in the One who hears it, not in the one who says it." --Max Lucado

Pastor Johnnie Blair

Sunday morning

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