Sermon Tone Analysis

Our theme for this New Year has been Seeking God’s Presence.

We have talked about how important it is that God’s Presence must be in what we are doing or it will not work.

So we have been Seeking His Presence to hear His voice so that we can be moved by His heart to do His will for this community.

We know that Jesus gave us His authority and we are told in Acts 1:8 that after the Holy Spirit comes upon us we will be given His power to be witnesses, yet many Christians live a life that seems to be missing the power of God.

Even after spending a week in prayer and fasting, we may still feel like we don’t have the power to do God’s will in our lives.

So today I’d like to address the question of why it seems we do not have God’s power in our lives.

I asked the Lord many years ago “Why does it seem there is no power in my life?”

He gave me this simple truth which as I have learned to apply it has changed my life and has helped me to have His power to live a victorious life.

So the key to having power in our lives is that we must develop a *DAILY* dependence on the Lord!!   Now you know the key, but let’s see how this works in practical living.

¨     Matt 6:11 (KJV) “Give us this day (today NIV) our *daily* bread.”

Jesus taught us, in what we call the Lord’s Prayer, to ask the Father for our *DAILY* bread.

Have you ever thought about why?

The word “*daily*” implies what is needful, necessary, and adequate for today.

Not what is necessary for yesterday, or tomorrow, but what is necessary for today.

In the Old Testament there are 2 practical examples that God gave to show the importance of this *DAILY* dependence upon Him:

1.     God provided manna *DAILY*/ /while the children of Israel were in the wilderness (except on the Sabbath):/ /

¨     Ex 16:4-5, 21, 35 (NIV) 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you.

The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. . . . 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” . . .

21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as he needed, . . .

35 The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.

So everyday of those 40 years that they were in the wilderness, God provided just what they needed for that day.

In fact, He provided twice as much on the 6th day so they did not have to gather any food on the 7th day (or Sabbath) and could rest.

I believe that promise is still true for us today that if we work 6 days and rest on the 7th day God will multiply our labor and provide for our needs from the 6 days of work.

Then, instead of working and wearing ourselves out, we are free to come to church on Sunday to worship God.

2.     Israel made *DAILY* sacrifices:  

¨     Exodus 29:38 (NIV) “This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old.”

God told them to offer these sacrifices twice a day, every day, one in the morning and the other in the evening.

The way that God worked in the Old Testament was often a type of how He wants us to live today.

So there is a principle of *DAILY* dependence upon the Lord in the Old Testament.

But how does that help us in having God’s power in our lives today in 21st century America?

Let’s go back to what God shared with me:

*/Power/*

*/Presence/*

*/DAILY/**/             Prayer/*

                        */Praise/*

*/                                                          Provision/*

*/Promise/*

*/DAILY PROMISE/*/:/

I read somewhere that the famous preacher F.F. Bosworth said,

“Most Christians feed their bodies three hot meals a day, their spirits one cold snack a week and then they wonder why they are so weak in faith.”

The Word of God must become our *DAILY* food just as the manna was to the children of Israel.

As we *DAILY* feed on the Word of God it will be refreshing to our souls and bring brightness to our eyes.

¨     Psa 19:7-11 (NIV) 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.

The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

This is why we have /The Upper Room/ magazine on the back table and encourage you to use it.

Each day as you read the scriptures and meditate on the devotions you are feeding on the promises of God.

The key to having God’s power in our lives is to *DAILY* feed our spirits some of God’s promises from His Word.

*DAILY PROVISION*:

Seeing God as our */DAILY/ PROVIDER *because of His */DAILY/ PROMISE* helps us see God at work in our lives *every day* rather than just when we need Him.

This keeps our eyes focused on God as our provider, not on our own provisions (e.g.

ourselves, jobs, parents, credit cards, loans, etc.).

Bill Gothard says that as Americans we may see God as our provider on a monthly basis or as a need arises (e.g. when car note or rent is due), but we don’t see God as our */DAILY/* PROVIDER.

¨     Prov 30:8 (NIV) “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my *daily* bread.

Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” 

 

Jesus taught us not to worry about our needs (for today) because our Father knows what we need.

¨     Matt 6:25, 31-33 (NIV) 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.

Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? . . .

32 your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

You may say to me, “Oh pastor it is easy for you to say don’t worry about our needs, but you don’t know my situation.”

And I will agree that this is easier to say than it is to do.

I will also agree that I may not understand your situation; however, I will tell you that I have found that if you will apply what I am telling you today to your life you will have the power you need to live victoriously in any situation.

Each Sunday in our Prayer and Praise time we share how God has blessed us and how He has answered our prayers.

This helps us to see that God is working in our lives every day in many different ways and helps us to trust Him more for the *DAILY PROVISION* that we need.

*DAILY PRAISE*:

Recognizing God’s *DAILY PROVISION* based on His *DAILY PROMISE* will cause us to give Him *DAILY PRAISE.*

¨     Num 11:1-5 (NIV) 1 Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when He heard them His anger was aroused. . . .

*4* The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! *5* We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.

*6* But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”

Israel didn’t praise God for His *DAILY PROVISION* instead they murmured and complained (vs.

6 “we have nothing to look at except this manna (i.e.

God’s provision)”).

Can you imagine complaining like that—“God we don’t have anything except what you have provided for us today!”

Oh friends, when we complain about our jobs are we not doing the same thing?

The Bible says that promotion comes from the Lord (Psalm 75:5).

When we complain that we don’t have anything to wear, are we not guilty of the same attitude that the Israelites had?

When we complain that we don’t have a nice house, a nice car, etc, are we not saying that God’s provision isn’t good enough for us?

(Say AMEN or OH ME!)

As we learn to see God’s *DAILY PROVISION* in our lives it will increase our love and respect for God, if we keep the right attitude—that is, if we don’t take His *DAILY PROVISION* for granted or treat it as worthless like Israel did.

I heard, the contemporary Christian group, Phillips, Craig, & Dean once say that God’s mercies are new every morning just like the sun coming up.

So if the sun came up today, which it did even if it is cloudy outside, then His mercies have been renewed in our lives!!

That means we don’t have to live off old, stale mercy and grace left over from yesterday, but we are given new, fresh mercies and grace for just what we need today!

¨     Lam 3:22-23 (KJV) 22”It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.”

We sang the song earlier based on this verse, “Great is thy faithfulness . . .

All I have needed Thy hand has provided, great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.”

But do we truly give God/ /*DAILY* *PRAISE *for His mercies and grace and His great faithfulness or do we complain daily because of what don’t have?

\\ The key to having God’s power in our lives is *DAILY* *PRAISE*, not just in the church, but whenever or wherever God blesses us each and everyday.

*DAILY PRAYER*:

Acknowledging God’s *DAILY PROVISION* based on His *DAILY PROMISE* will cause us to give Him *DAILY PRAISE* and then because we see God’s goodness to us we will be encouraged to have *DAILY PRAYER.*

Communication is vital to any human relationship, and is just as vital in our relationship with God.

If we never talk to our spouse or partner, our relationship will be weak and will be in danger of damage.