Sermon Tone Analysis

*Progression so far in the Lord’s Prayer:*

* *

*Our Father in heaven…..*

* *

*Hallowed  be your name ….*

* *

*Your Kingdom come your will be done …..*

* *

*Today:*

*                                          *

Matthew 6. 11  /Give us this day our daily bread./

I like food.

It is one of the pleasures and necessities of life.

Initially, God gave to man all that was needed to support and sustain his life, without working for it.

But after the first couple deliberately defied God’s instructions and ate of the wrong food, this arrangement of a free lunch was altered.

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Genesis Ch. 3:19

/19  By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."/

If God told us that we would have to earn our bread by the sweat of our brow, how come He wants us now to pray for it?

Elsewhere the Bible says that if a man wont work he shouldn’t eat.

The principle is, that the natural resources of the earth are supplied for us by our Heavenly Father.

They are more than adequate to meet our basic needs.

But just as God supplies for the wild birds and animals /they still have to go out and find it/.

God doesn’t just drop the food into their mouths.

And He doesn’t give handouts to lazy people to sit in the shade and do nothing.

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James Ch. 1:17

17  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

God gives to us life and health, soil and sunshine, plants and animals, the air, trace elements, whatever is necessary for the production of food has its origins with our Heavenly Father.

There is enough to feed and care for this whole planet except we selfishly waste much of it.

God has made bread available if we do our part.

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Matthew Ch. 6:33

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

/(This includes bread.)

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Psalm 37:25

*I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.*

If we put God first, He promises to provide for us the other things necessary for life.

*We’re talking about God’s answer to anxiety*.

What do you worry abut the most?

Finances?

Your job?  School?

Kids?

Your weight?

Your schedule?

This is the age of anxiety.

People seem to be uptight about everything.

The Bible says in Proverbs, */"The anxiety in a heart brings a man down/*/"/ -- it weighs a heart down.

The old English word for "*worry*" literally means /to choke, to strangle/.

That's what worry does to us.

Worry does not work.

It produces a lot of energy but it never gives any progress.

It's like a rocking chair -- back and forth.

It just doesn't work.

It's useless.

*Research* has shown that 40% of all your worries are about the future and they never happen; 30% of your worries are about the past and they can't be changed; 12% are needless worries about our health; 10% are petty worries, not worth worrying about; 8% are legitimate concerns.

Is there an antidote to anxiety?  Yes.

Philippians Ch. 4:6 (LB) / /

*/"Don't worry about anything, instead pray about everything, tell God your needs."/**

*

That's the message in a sentence.

God says, “Don't worry, pray!” 

 Jesus gives *three keys* in how to overcome worry in that one little sentence of the Lord’s Prayer.

*1.

REMEMBER TO ASK GOD FOR HELP.*

Ask for God's assistance.

/"Give us..."/  Rather than worry, you ask God to help you out.

Worry is an attempt to control the uncontrollable.

When you feel like you're helpless then you start worrying.

But how much is out of God's control?

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

What does God say to do? 

James 4:2 /"*You do not have because you do not ask God*!"/

If we prayed as much as we worried, we'd have a lot less to worry about.

Over 20 times in the New Testament, God says, “Ask.”

He wants you to ask.

He's waiting for you.

The things you're worrying about -- don't worry about them.

Instead, ask Me for assistance because nothing is out of My control.

Numbers Ch. 16:32 */"God is the source of all life/*/."/

God wants you to see Him as your source for all your needs.

* When I don't know what to do, God is my wisdom.

* When I run out of energy, God is my source of strength.

* When I feel like everything is caving in and depressing me, God is the source of my happiness.

* Source of hope when things look hopeless.

* When life becomes stressed out, God is my source of peace.

* When I'm irritated and about to blow up, God's my source of patience.

* When I'm overwhelmed with guilt, God is my source of salvation.

* When I feel like giving up, God is my source of encouragement.

Don't we have a great God?  He's the source of all these things.

I was tempted to call the sermon today, "May the Source Be With You."  He's says, "Look to Me"  God is waiting for you to ask.

Ask for assistance.

*2.

REMEMBER TO TRUST GOD’S TIMING.*

When you pray and you remember this is no problem for God, you trust Him for His time as to when He answers.

/"Give *us today*/ /our daily bread."/

This is often the most difficult part in overcoming worry.

How many of you have discovered that God's timing is not the same as yours?

It's way off a lot of the time.

I'm always in a hurry -- "God, I need it now!"

God says, "No, you don't.

You need it when I say you need it."

God's timing is perfect.

He wants us to trust Him daily.

Moment by moment.

*/"Give us this day our daily bread/*/..."/

Not weekly, not monthly, not annually.

/Daily bread/.

It's a statement of trust.

He wants you to trust for the crust.