The Power of Daily Devotions.
Part 12 – “Give Us…Our Daily Bread” I
Welcome to Part 12 of our small group sessions. The last time we met, our subject was “More on The Holy Spirit III.” We discussed the fact that the Holy Spirit is distributable. He gives us gifts, spiritual abilities, and resources to share with others. It is God’s will that we be witnesses for Him. A witness is a person who bears a record validating the claim of another. In this case, as followers of Jesus, we are witnesses and effective ones so to speak if we have living proof of His work in our lives.
Today we will venture into an expansion of the prayer request “Give us our daily bread” as Jesus taught us. This prayer request goes further in-depth than material food such as potatoes, beef, chicken, or any other food. To be spiritually consistent with scripture Jesus was talking about the bread that comes down from heaven. He was talking about Himself.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
John 6:51 NKJV
Your devotional time with God and His Son Jesus Christ will guarantee that you get a portion of Christ’s grace growing in you. A consistent habit of meeting the Lord daily for spiritual food from His word as we have maintained in these studies and discussions is essential. We must be healthy!
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV
How can we be a fragrance if we have not eaten the food He has to offer?
Scripture Memory (Re-read and Recognize)
Please take a few minutes to reread the Memory Verses from previous sessions. Which ones are you most familiar with? A new one is John 6:35. Try it!
Mark 1:35, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, 1 John 2:6, Acts 17:30, Luke 11:13, Galatians 5:22-23, Acts 10:38, Romans 14:17, John 6:35
Guided Discussions.
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
The Father is more concerned about our spiritual condition. The opposite is the case for us. As human beings, we are often more concerned about our physical realities than our spiritual condition.
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:31-34
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Philippians 3:1-4 NKJV
Read and discuss what you see in the Holy Scriptures.
John 6:22-40, John 6:41-70, Deuteronomy 8:1-5, Matthew 4:1-4, Psalm 1:1-3, Joshua 1:8
- What do you see in the verses read? Did anything stand out to you?
- What did Jesus say the people were looking for in John 6 verses 26-27?
- As a follower of Jesus, what are you looking for? Do you want only what He can do for you? Do you care for how He wants to make you?
- What will a steady diet of the bread of heaven do for us?
- How do we eat the bread of heaven here on earth?
Part 12 Summary and Conclusion
Having been born again by the Spirit of God we are children of God and therefore cannot live survive or thrive without being fed by our Father in Heaven. Even when we grow up to maturity we continue to learn. In this case, we never graduate and leave home to become adults as it is in our natural biological relationship with our parents. This one continues to be one where we depend on Him until we see Him face to face to bask in His glory forever. When we eat God’s word Which is Christ we will not be malnourished. Plan to eat from the word daily. Next time we will investigate divine downloads, what they are, and how to position ourselves for them.
Prayer Time
- Any Praise Reports or Prayer Requests to share?
- Pray for a hunger for the bread of heaven (the word) in each of us.
- Pray that we “Go Deeper With Jesus” in 2024 and beyond.
- Pray for one another as needed.
Announcements
- The Next Small Group is on Wednesday, April 10
- Prayer Summit Saturday, April 6, 2024, Noon – 3 pm. Plan to be there and come fasting