100:00:00,320 –> 00:00:02,880Give us this day200:00:03,680 –> 00:00:09,260Our daily Bred, I think about that word daily,300:00:10,400 –> 00:00:15,920it reminds us that God has a track record of faithfulness.400:00:16,799 –> 00:00:21,840Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick, glad you could be with500:00:21,840 –> 00:00:26,080us today and Colin that’s a great reason to come to God daily with this prayer.600:00:26,160 –> 00:00:28,700It reminds us of God’s faithfulness,700:00:29,280 –> 00:00:33,439yeah and I think that’s why the word remember is so important in the Bible,800:00:33,439 –> 00:00:39,680you find it all through the old testament, and God’s people are to call to mind what he did900:00:39,680 –> 00:00:44,799in the past, you know remember how he brought you out of Egypt in the exodus and you crossed1000:00:44,799 –> 00:00:50,639the Red Sea and so forth. Remember remember, remember, why? Because God has been faithful.1100:00:51,119 –> 00:00:57,840Now that’s true for us as well we are to remember the faithfulness of God we are to look back,1200:00:57,840 –> 00:01:04,000as it were, on the ways in which he’s guarded us and kept us and provided for us day by day1300:01:04,559 –> 00:01:10,080because the recollection of what God has done in the past strengthens our faith that the same God1400:01:10,080 –> 00:01:14,720will provide for us in all the days that lie ahead as we look to the future,1500:01:15,279 –> 00:01:20,559Lie ahead as we look to the future. And I think that’s why the theme of Thanksgiving is so1600:01:20,559 –> 00:01:27,360important as part of our prayers were to call to mind the goodness of God that never fails so1700:01:27,360 –> 00:01:34,000join us if you can in Matthew Chapter 6 today as we continue the message God’s provision. Here’s1800:01:34,000 –> 00:01:41,680Colin. Now Numbers in chapter 11 and this has come to me with great force again this week.1900:01:41,760 –> 00:01:48,559Numbers Chapter 11 tells us the story of how God’s people complained2000:01:49,599 –> 00:01:55,120about the food that he provided for them. God gave them manna2100:01:56,800 –> 00:02:01,680but they were not satisfied with what God had given they wanted more.2200:02:01,680 –> 00:02:14,080We read in Numbers 11 in verse 4, the rabble that was among them had a strong craving2300:02:15,360 –> 00:02:21,600and the people of Israel also wept again and said oh that we had meat yet bread. They2400:02:21,600 –> 00:02:30,320had the manna but they said that we had meat to eat. I want you to notice this that there2500:02:30,320 –> 00:02:37,839was a rabble among God’s people, a group in other words among God’s people who were never satisfied2600:02:39,199 –> 00:02:46,080and these people had a strong craving. Instead of being thankful for what God gave them the manna,2700:02:46,080 –> 00:02:51,279instead of being grateful for what they did have, they got angry. They got frustrated2800:02:51,279 –> 00:02:57,279because of what they didn’t have and the great difference you see between the2900:02:57,279 –> 00:03:04,479rabble and the redeemed, is that the rabble blamed God for everything and thank Him for nothing3000:03:05,360 –> 00:03:08,800whereas the redeemed thank God for everything and blame Him for nothing.3100:03:09,600 –> 00:03:18,160Well this rabble they stirred up others among God’s people and their complaints began to spread3200:03:18,160 –> 00:03:27,839throughout the whole camp. The people of Israel wept again and said oh that we had meat to eat,3300:03:28,880 –> 00:03:41,679God gave them bread, they wanted meat, then they said now our strength is dried up3400:03:42,399 –> 00:03:58,559and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at. They despised what God had given them3500:03:59,460 –> 00:04:11,979from heaven. Not good enough! We want more. Now, I want you to notice what comes next3600:04:11,979 –> 00:04:22,160in this extraordinary story, and it is really important for all of us today. Numbers, chapter3700:04:22,380 –> 00:04:27,39911 and verse 10, Moses heard the people weeping throughout their clands,3800:04:27,399 –> 00:04:42,399everyone at the door of his tent, and the anger of the Lord blazed hotly. Blazed hotly.3900:04:42,399 –> 00:04:49,760So, here are God’s people, and God is providing what they need in the desert.4000:04:50,040 –> 00:04:57,179But they want more. They are constantly complaining, and this provokes4100:04:57,179 –> 00:05:06,380the anger of God that blazes hotly. Now, I want to pause here for a moment,4200:05:06,380 –> 00:05:17,220because it seems to me that one of the greatest dangers that we face at this moment4300:05:17,339 –> 00:05:24,660in time is that we become angry, frustrated,4400:05:24,660 –> 00:05:33,279dissatisfied with what God at this time has given. And here’s what I want to say4500:05:33,279 –> 00:05:44,700from the heart to you today. Don’t despise the manna! The manna may not be4600:05:45,059 –> 00:05:54,279all that we want, but the manna is a gift from God. And when God’s people despise4700:05:54,279 –> 00:06:05,480the manna, the anger of God burned hotly against them. Now what happened then when4800:06:05,480 –> 00:06:13,380God’s anger blazed? Well let me tell you the rest of the story. And here’s the4900:06:13,380 –> 00:06:19,839extraordinary thing. When God’s anger blazed against them He gave them what5000:06:19,839 –> 00:06:26,040they asked for. You have that stated twice in the Psalm. Psalm 106 and Psalm 785100:06:26,040 –> 00:06:30,619and you have it of course in the story in Numbers. God gave these dissatisfied5200:06:30,619 –> 00:06:36,880people what they asked for. He gave them the meat that they craved. So in Numbers5300:06:36,880 –> 00:06:40,619chapter 11 in verse 31.5400:06:58,320 –> 00:07:05,640Now two cubits is about three feet, so here are these birds. They had5500:07:05,640 –> 00:07:10,739flown a long way and perhaps for that very reason, as seems to be the case they5600:07:10,739 –> 00:07:16,640were down at a low level in their flying in the providence of God, they were waist5700:07:16,640 –> 00:07:21,980high, perfect height for catching birds, and they were everywhere on all sides of5800:07:21,980 –> 00:07:25,600the camp, so God’s people simply had to go out they were able to bag a bird5900:07:25,600 –> 00:07:34,459catch it at waist high. Now you may say how in the world is that an expression6000:07:34,459 –> 00:07:42,600of God’s anger? I mean God gave them what they wanted, an abundance of meat. But6100:07:42,600 –> 00:07:52,820here’s the thing, verse 33. While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it6200:07:52,820 –> 00:07:59,660was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people and the Lord6300:08:00,040 –> 00:08:12,339struck down the people with a very great plague. Before it was consumed. Now that6400:08:12,339 –> 00:08:20,179probably means before it was all consumed, in which case the meat that6500:08:20,179 –> 00:08:27,820God’s people craved was what made them sick. The meat brought a very great6600:08:27,820 –> 00:08:38,900plague. Never despise what God has given. Be thankful every day for what He has6700:08:38,900 –> 00:08:45,299provided, and especially when you find in your heart as we all do today, that you6800:08:45,380 –> 00:08:53,260want more. This story then is a solemn warning about the dangers of becoming6900:08:53,260 –> 00:08:58,820dissatisfied with what God has given to us, and it has really helped me this7000:08:58,820 –> 00:09:03,219week, and I hope that it will be helpful to you. We all know what it is to be7100:09:03,219 –> 00:09:09,380frustrated. We all know what it is at times to get angry. We all know what it7200:09:09,380 –> 00:09:19,119is to want more, and the answer to that craving is to be thankful for what God7300:09:19,119 –> 00:09:28,700has given. Thank God for the manna. Thank God for what you have. Thank God for what7400:09:28,700 –> 00:09:36,500He has given. Now this prayer, you see, it’s really going to change us, when it7500:09:36,539 –> 00:09:42,140gets into us. It’s going to bring us to a place where we really do acknowledge our7600:09:42,140 –> 00:09:47,859dependence upon God and feel it. It’s going to bring us to a place where we7700:09:47,859 –> 00:09:54,659grow in gratitude, thankfulness, for what God has given rather than complaint7800:09:54,659 –> 00:10:01,299about what He has withheld. And then two more things, more briefly, that are so7900:10:01,400 –> 00:10:05,599important. Thirdly, it will deepen our8000:10:05,599 –> 00:10:16,900compassion. Give us this day our daily bread. Notice the significant plural.8100:10:16,900 –> 00:10:27,820It’s not give me my daily bread, it’s give us our daily bread. And the us and8200:10:27,880 –> 00:10:34,760the or of course run all the way through the Lord’s Prayer. It’s our Father in8300:10:34,760 –> 00:10:46,140heaven. It’s our daily bread we ask of him. Forgive us our debts as we have8400:10:46,140 –> 00:10:56,780forgiven our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. So8500:10:56,780 –> 00:11:01,460you see here is a prayer that not only acknowledges our dependence, not only8600:11:01,460 –> 00:11:07,320grows our gratitude but this is a prayer that in its very nature will deepen our8700:11:07,320 –> 00:11:16,780compassion, our sensitivity towards others whose needs are greater than our8800:11:16,780 –> 00:11:26,299own. This is where then we intercede for the practical needs of others. This is8900:11:26,340 –> 00:11:34,359where we pray for a hungry world. This is where we ask God to bring to our minds9000:11:34,359 –> 00:11:43,419the needs of other people who we may be able to help, and if God has given to you9100:11:43,419 –> 00:11:49,059what you need for today perhaps in the very praying of this prayer he will9200:11:49,119 –> 00:11:57,760prompt you to be the means by which God provides for someone else.9300:11:57,760 –> 00:12:01,039You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, and a message9400:12:01,039 –> 00:12:05,979called God’s Provision, based on the Lord’s Prayer as we find it in9500:12:05,979 –> 00:12:11,119chapter six of Matthew. It’s part of our series, Six Things to Ask of God, and if9600:12:11,119 –> 00:12:14,039you’ve ever missed one of the series, or if you’d like to go back and listen9700:12:14,039 –> 00:12:17,760again, you can do that by coming online to our website9800:12:18,099 –> 00:12:24,140or you can find us as a podcast, and those are on all the main podcast sites,9900:12:24,140 –> 00:12:27,000so search for Open The Bible UK.10000:12:27,000 –> 00:12:29,960Open the Bible is supported by our10100:12:29,960 –> 00:12:34,260listeners, and each month if you’re able to begin supporting Open the Bible in10200:12:34,260 –> 00:12:39,299that way, we love to thank you by sending you a free gift. This month that10300:12:39,299 –> 00:12:44,580is a book by Colin himself, called For All Who Grieve, and it’s specially10400:12:44,580 –> 00:12:49,299written for anyone who has recently, or at some point in their lives, experienced10500:12:49,299 –> 00:12:54,799bereavement. I’ll be talking later on to Sue MacLeish and what makes the book10600:12:54,799 –> 00:12:59,359special to her, so I hope you’ll stay with us for that. Back to the message now,10700:12:59,359 –> 00:13:05,419here’s Colin and then this prayer will do one more thing, it will affirm God’s10800:13:05,640 –> 00:13:17,039marvellous faithfulness. Give us this day our daily bread, now think about that10900:13:17,039 –> 00:13:27,880word daily. It reminds us that God has a track record of faithfulness. What a11000:13:27,880 –> 00:13:33,080record of faithfulness God has, think about it. He has been providing for11100:13:33,280 –> 00:13:39,599billions of people in every continent of the world. He has been doing it on a11200:13:39,599 –> 00:13:49,099daily basis for thousands and thousands of years. Someone has said when you come11300:13:49,099 –> 00:13:57,159and ask God for a new blessing make sure you bring him the receipt for the last11400:13:58,000 –> 00:14:02,260I love that image. Peter Lewis takes it up and I think11500:14:02,260 –> 00:14:11,659says it so well. We urge God to write new checks for us but rarely flick through11600:14:11,659 –> 00:14:21,919his cheque stubs, if we did we would find our name attached to innumerable gifts11700:14:22,219 –> 00:14:28,780and benefits and protections and provisions. I find that a beautiful11800:14:28,780 –> 00:14:36,280picture. Brother, sister if you could, as it were, see God’s checkbook if you could11900:14:36,280 –> 00:14:42,219flick through the stubs you would see again and again something written out to12000:14:42,219 –> 00:14:47,200you, a blessing that was imparted how can you even count a number the blessings12100:14:47,239 –> 00:14:52,559that God has given to you down through the years of your life. The track record12200:14:52,559 –> 00:14:58,739of God’s faithfulness to you will encourage your faith in His provision as12300:14:58,739 –> 00:15:04,719you look at particular needs that you have at this time, and you know it’s12400:15:04,719 –> 00:15:10,219affirming the faithfulness of God that’s going to be the answer to anxiety, and12500:15:10,219 –> 00:15:16,239this is an anxious time for all of us remember what Jesus says in this regard12600:15:16,359 –> 00:15:23,119therefore He says, I tell you do not be anxious about your life, what you shall12700:15:23,119 –> 00:15:27,820eat don’t worry about that, or what you shall drink, or about your body what you12800:15:27,820 –> 00:15:34,320will put on, but so Jesus says this and we say well why, why shouldn’t we worry12900:15:34,320 –> 00:15:45,520and Jesus says this, look at the birds of the air then either sow, nor reap nor13000:15:45,599 –> 00:15:51,640gather into barns and yet your heavenly father feeds them, and consider the13100:15:51,640 –> 00:15:59,080lilies of the field look at how they grow, they don’t toil or spin, and yet13200:15:59,080 –> 00:16:06,440even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these, and if God so13300:16:06,440 –> 00:16:13,359clothes the grass of the field how much more will he clothe you, and then this13400:16:13,520 –> 00:16:23,039the conclusion, therefore do not be anxious saying what shall we eat or what13500:16:23,039 –> 00:16:28,840shall we drink or what shall we wear your heavenly father knows that you need13600:16:28,840 –> 00:16:35,960them all, so seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these13700:16:35,960 –> 00:16:42,940things will be added to you. Do you see the logic here do you see the conclusion13800:16:43,219 –> 00:16:48,940your father cares for you, therefore because you have a father in heaven who13900:16:48,940 –> 00:16:54,260feeds birds and clothes flowers and because you’re of far greater value than14000:16:54,260 –> 00:17:02,179them to him, therefore, even in this anxious time, roll your anxiety onto him14100:17:02,179 –> 00:17:07,260and look to him he has the most marvellous track record of faithfulness14200:17:08,219 –> 00:17:15,459your father in heaven will not fail you.14300:17:16,260 –> 00:17:21,739Lastly and just very briefly, each week in this series we’ve asked the simple14400:17:21,739 –> 00:17:29,099question did Jesus ever pray this prayer himself? One day a large crowd14500:17:29,099 –> 00:17:36,040gathered to listen to Jesus and they were in a desert place where there was14600:17:36,180 –> 00:17:44,439no food and no money to buy food. A small boy placed five loaves and two fish in14700:17:44,439 –> 00:17:50,500the hands of Jesus and John tells us that Jesus took the loaves and when he14800:17:50,500 –> 00:17:59,920had given thanks he distributed them. Jesus gave thanks to the father for the14900:18:00,060 –> 00:18:10,780bread he provided and what the father provided was sufficient for all. And then15000:18:10,780 –> 00:18:16,239on the night that he was betrayed our Lord Jesus celebrated the Passover with15100:18:16,239 –> 00:18:22,260his disciples and Matthew tells us as they were eating Jesus took bread and15200:18:22,520 –> 00:18:31,560blessing it he broke it and gave it to his disciples and said take, eat, this is15300:18:31,560 –> 00:18:43,319my body. See, God gives us the bread that sustains our bodies and God has given us15400:18:43,680 –> 00:18:55,660bread that feeds our souls. Jesus is the bread of life and he said, whoever feeds15500:18:55,660 –> 00:19:07,920on me, will live because of me. In other words, Jesus will do for your soul what15600:19:07,920 –> 00:19:19,400bread does for your body. He will sustain you and whoever feeds on this bread15700:19:19,400 –> 00:19:33,800will live forever. Will you join with me in praying this prayer? Our Father, we bow15800:19:33,800 –> 00:19:39,040before you in worship and gladly acknowledge that every good gift comes15900:19:39,040 –> 00:19:46,219from your loving hand. We thank you today for the beauty of the earth, for the love16000:19:46,219 –> 00:19:53,760of friends and family, for our food, for our homes, for our work, for your church16100:19:54,500 –> 00:20:05,300and most of all for the gift of your son. We confess our impatience, and we ask16200:20:05,300 –> 00:20:12,359your forgiveness. We know that patience is the fruit of your Holy Spirit and we16300:20:12,359 –> 00:20:20,400ask that you will produce this good fruit in our lives. Deliver us from16400:20:20,400 –> 00:20:30,199grumbling, we pray. May we never despise the manna. May your anger not blaze16500:20:30,199 –> 00:20:36,000hotly against us. Use this time when things that we enjoy16600:20:36,000 –> 00:20:42,979are taken away to increase our gratitude for what we have. Help us to rejoice in16700:20:42,979 –> 00:20:49,660what you have given rather than complain about what you have withheld. Our father,16800:20:49,739 –> 00:20:56,420your son has taught us to come and ask for what we need. Father, some of us need16900:20:56,420 –> 00:21:05,859work, and we ask that you will provide. Some of us are sick, and we ask that17000:21:05,859 –> 00:21:15,640your healing hand may be upon them. Some are hungry and we cry out to you, give17100:21:15,839 –> 00:21:26,199us this day our daily bread. We pray that you will deliver us from anxiety. Thank17200:21:26,199 –> 00:21:33,239you that you know what we need. Help us to trust you, Our Heavenly Father, and to17300:21:33,239 –> 00:21:39,760seek first your Kingdom knowing that you will give us what we need. And help us,17400:21:39,760 –> 00:21:45,140dear Lord, to measure your love for us by what you have done in sending your Son17500:21:45,260 –> 00:21:53,099Jesus Christ. Thank you that he is our living bread. Thank you that this bread17600:21:53,099 –> 00:22:04,099was broken, so that his life should be in us. So help us by faith to feed on Him17700:22:04,099 –> 00:22:15,180and so nourish our souls to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!17800:22:15,180 –> 00:22:19,439You’ve been listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message17900:22:19,439 –> 00:22:25,300called God’s Provision. It’s part of our series Six Things to Ask of God and if18000:22:25,300 –> 00:22:29,140you ever miss one of the series it’s very easy to catch up or go back and18100:22:29,500 –> 00:22:35,760by coming to our website that’s our Openthebible.org UK or by finding18200:22:35,760 –> 00:22:40,180Pastor Colin’s teaching as a podcast, and those are on all the main podcast sites.18300:22:40,180 –> 00:22:45,000Simply search for Open the Bible UK or follow the link from our website.18400:22:45,000 –> 00:22:49,859Open the Bible is supported by our listeners financially, and if that’s18500:22:49,859 –> 00:22:53,939something you’ve been considering doing, this month if you’re able to begin a new18600:22:53,939 –> 00:22:57,880direct debit to the work of Open the Bible,in the amount of five pounds per18700:22:57,880 –> 00:23:02,319month, or more, a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more, we’d love to say thank18800:23:02,319 –> 00:23:08,160you by sending you a copy of Colin’s book For All Who Grieve. I’m with Sue18900:23:08,160 –> 00:23:13,959MacLeish, who many of you will know is the voice of Open the Bible Daily. Sue’s19000:23:13,959 –> 00:23:18,680husband Ian died a few years ago so I know you’ve more recently read Colin’s19100:23:18,680 –> 00:23:23,079book For All Who Grieve. What’s your impression of the book for those who are19200:23:23,079 –> 00:23:27,239going through what you’ve been through? Well yes you know this book, For All Who19300:23:27,319 –> 00:23:33,060Grieve is wonderfully confirming. You’re faced with grief, it’s easy to think and19400:23:33,060 –> 00:23:37,599feel that nobody knows what it’s like. You know, nobody’s actually19500:23:37,599 –> 00:23:41,880experienced what I’ve ever experienced, what I’m experiencing. But to know that19600:23:41,880 –> 00:23:48,640grieving people share a number of common feelings in stages etc, is very19700:23:48,640 –> 00:23:52,719comforting and very important. You realize much more clearly that you’re19800:23:52,719 –> 00:23:56,079not alone. You’re not alone because God was with you, but I mean, that’s19900:23:56,599 –> 00:24:00,640comes out of that book. What is it about Colin’s book that you think will be20000:24:00,640 –> 00:24:05,699particularly helpful for those who have lost someone close to them. Pastor Colin’s20100:24:05,699 –> 00:24:11,219thoughts are based on a series of sermons on the book of Lamentations. And20200:24:11,219 –> 00:24:17,040actually it was these sermons that most impacted and helped me at the time of my20300:24:17,040 –> 00:24:23,619husband’s death. Each chapter of the book also centres on real-life bereavements20400:24:24,239 –> 00:24:29,000And it contains the testimonies of several grieving couples who had20500:24:29,000 –> 00:24:34,040willingly come together to meet with Pastor Colin and his wife and to share20600:24:34,040 –> 00:24:39,920and to talk about their own bereavement experiences. Well Colin’s book, for all20700:24:39,920 –> 00:24:45,160who grieve, is out gift to you this month, if you are able to begin a new direct20800:24:45,160 –> 00:24:50,599debit to the work of Open the Bible, in the amount of £5 per month, or more, or a20900:24:50,599 –> 00:24:55,839one-off gift of £50 or more. Full terms and conditions are on our website, and21000:24:55,839 –> 00:25:01,359you can give online. For Open the Bible, and Pastor Colin Smyth, I’m David Pick,21100:25:01,359 –> 00:25:07,719and I hope you’ll join us again next time.21200:25:08,119 –> 00:25:14,739Jesus taught us to pray forgive us our debts. What are our debts and why do they21300:25:14,739 –> 00:25:21,079need to be forgiven? Find out next time on Open the Bible!