Introduction

THE BIG IDEA – God is the perfect provider

Matthew 6

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

10 Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread,

12 and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,

The first thing that we should notice is, God is our provider.

Exodus 13

21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

19 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, 20 coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night[a] without one coming near the other all night.

Deuteronomy 29

2 And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 3 the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders.4 But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. 5 I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet.

Manna represents our physical and spiritual needs.

trespassing is the idea that I have stepped into God‘s territory and I’m now making decisions that God should be making.

Matthew 5

23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Forgiveness is not tolerance.

Forgiveness is not optional.

Walk it Out

Make a list of your Physical & Spiritual needs. Meditate on the ways that God has met those needs in the past.

Unconfessed sin is one of the biggest barriers in our relationship with God. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Finally, ask God to help you see how you may have hurt someone. Ask God to help you restore your relationship.

Discussion Questions

Prayer Requests:

Group Discussion: How much of your life do you trust with God? Are there areas in your life where you don’t want to give God control?

Read aloud: Matthew 6:9-10

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

God provides perfectly for all our needs.

Finish the sentences:

I have no problems relying on God for _____________________________________

I find that I tend to rely more on myself than God with ________________________________

Why do you think that is? Is it culture, lack of faith, lack of maturity, experience…

What practices can we implement in our lives to grow in this area?

In what ways can we learn to appreciate all the God has provided?

Often God provides in ways that we do not realize, can you think of an example?

Pastor Mark said, “Forgiveness is at the heart of relationships” – do you agree? Why, why not

In what ways do you typically trespass into God’s domain?

How can we get out of the habit of praying “fix them”??

Mark mentioned an “attitude of Gratitude”, what does that mean to you?