Praying to Our Heavenly Father for Daily Needs (Matthew 6:9,11)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
16 August 2020
The corona virus pandemic is causing worldwide anxiety. One area of anxiety revolves around loss of work and income and therefore provision for daily needs.
The Bible in Matthew 6:9,11 gives us encouragement. Here Jesus teaches people to pray and to trust in God our heavenly Father for all our needs.
Consider how Jesus taught us to pray.
“Father”
God is real and Jesus reveals him to be a Father and a caring Father at that. He is not an absent, uninterested Father but he is present and is caring and compassionate. If you see care and compassion in Jesus you see the same in the Father.
“Our Father"
Not just Father, but our Father. There is a relationship between God and us. Through Christ Jesus God becomes our heavenly Father. The Christian faith is a living faith because we have a living heavenly Father.
“In Heaven”
God is in heaven. There is a throne in heaven (Rev. 22:1,2). From the heavenly throne the Father sends forth fruit (food) and healing of the nations.
Our destination is heaven. This world is just a passing destination. We are bound for another place—heaven, our ultimate destination.
“Give Us”
God is a giving God. He gives generously. He has given his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that we might have life and life in abundance. God the Father gave his precious Son. He will not withhold any good thing to those who believe in his Son.
“This Day Our Daily Bread”
He gives what we need day by day. The manna which fell on Israel in the wilderness fell daily. It would not keep overnight. We also are provided for day by day. Do not worry about tomorrow.
To live as Jesus taught in Matthew 6:9,11 is to live by faith. It is a tremendous privilege to live by faith ever trusting in our heavenly Father and experiencing his daily provision.
But this life of faith raises two questions.
First, what about work? Living by faith does not mean we do not work. Note that Israel, though fed by manna for 40 years, when once they entered the promised land had to work. The manna ceased and the Israelites must work to survive. God was with them in the wilderness and in their work.
What about non believers? How do you speak to a non Christian man who has lost his job and has a wife and 3 children to support? What about the thousands of children working as slaves in some parts of the world? How do you relate the life of faith to them? It is not easy. But be assured that the Lord desires to help all peoples.
Jesus's help is seen in the miraculous feeding of the multitudes. On one occasion he fed 5000 by Bethsaida, a Jewish town. On another occasion he fed 4000 by the Sea of Galilee in a Gentile area (the Decapolis). Jesus fed his own people (Israel) and also the world (Gentiles) at large. He is willing. He is able.
Jesus spoke of himself as the bread of life. He is the spiritual manna that came from heaven and gives life to the world (John 6:33). Those who come to him, Jew and Gentile, shall not hunger or thirst.
Believers have responsibilities to the anxious world. One, proclaim the gospel and declare that Jesus is the bread of life. Two, alleviate suffering. Feed the hungry; clothe the poor; help the downcast.
Remember how Jesus taught us to pray — “Our Father in heaven…give us this day our daily bread.” The Father will hear this prayer. He taught us how to pray. He will surely honour what he has taught.