Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

The Leverage of Love

LISTEN

Here is the link to ALL 21 LESSONS from the Devotional on the Beatitudes of Jesus

Donate to New Covenant Church: https://cash.app/$newcovenantindy
Sow seed to Pastor Bryan Hudson, https://cash.app/$BryanIndy

LISTEN TO PODCAST

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

DOWNLOAD KEYNOTE SLIDES

2 Corinthians 9:8, And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Micah 2:13, He who opens the breach goes up before them; they break through and pass the gate, going out by it. Their king passes on before them, the Lord at their head.

God provides what we need to IMPORT, to breakthrough in our lives.
God also gives us grace to EXPORT breakthrough for others.

HISTORY IS HIS-TORY

YOUR HISTORY IS HIS-STORY
Your ancestors & predecessors
Your family
Your spiritual lineage
Your education
Your experiences
Your nation

GRACE IS LEVERAGE
2 Corinthians 9:8, God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

LOVE IS LEVERAGE

Colossians 3:14, But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

THE BODY OF CHRIST IS LEVERAGE

Ephesians 4:16, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Daily Bread is More Than We Realize

LISTEN

Here is the link to ALL 21 LESSONS from the Devotional

Text of the same lesson from the audio

Matthew 6:11, Give us this day our daily bread

God is a God of provision and detail. Jesus stated that the hairs on our head (or lack thereof!) are numbered (Luke 12:7). This is a saying meant to convey God’s deep concern for His children.

This part of Jesus’ instruction to His disciples on prayer was very simple, but there is profound truth behind it. Some of explanations of this text include (From William Barclay’s Commentary on the New Testament):

1. The bread has been identified with the bread of the Lord's Supper.

2. The bread has been identified with the spiritual food of the word of God. Taken to be a prayer for the true teaching, the true doctrine, the essential truth as our food.

3. The bread has been taken to stand for Jesus Himself. Jesus called himself the bread of life (John 6:33-35)

4. The bread has been taken to be the bread of the heavenly kingdom. Luke tells how someone said to Jesus: “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” (Luke 14:15).

“Daily” Bread Has a Special Meaning

The Greek word “daily” is only used here and in Luke’s Gospel of the same prayer: ἐπιούσιος – epiousios

In the early part of the 20th Century a papyrus fragment (a material which people used for writing) was found with the Greek word, ἐπιούσιος, on it. The papyrus fragment was actually a shopping list! It was a note to remind the person to buy supplies of a certain food for the coming day.

From this context, the literal meaning of “daily bread” is: “Give me the things we need to eat for this coming day.”

This simple prayer for our everyday needs reveals FIVE truths:

1. We understand that God cares for our bodies. Jesus showed us that; he spent so much time healing men's diseases and satisfying their physical hunger.

2. We understand to live one day at a time, and not to worry and be anxious about the distant and unknown future.

3. Praying for daily provision puts God His proper place in our lives.

4. This pray reminds us of how prayer works.

5. Jesus did not teach us to pray: “Give ME my daily bread.” He taught us to pray: “Give US our daily bread.”

The problem of hunger in our world is not a lack of provision. There is enough to go around. The problem is a lack of distribution. This prayer teaches us never to be selfish in our prayers.

It is a prayer that we can help answer by being obedient to God and showing the same level of concern/detail for the needs of others as for ourselves. This prayer is not only a prayer that we may receive our daily bread; it is also a prayer that we may share daily bread with others.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

How has your understanding of Give us this day our daily bread been expanded? What will it change in your lifestyle?

ACTION ITEMS BASED ON TODAY'S LESSON:

Here is the link to ALL 21 LESSONS from the Devotional

Donate to New Covenant Church: https://cash.app/$newcovenantindy
Sow seed to Pastor Bryan Hudson, https://cash.app/$BryanIndy

Your Kingdom Come. Your Will Be Done.

LISTEN

[Text of the same lesson from the audio]

For these final two days of our 21-day devotional, we're going to look at a couple of statements from the “Disciple’s prayer,” that we mistakenly call the “Lord’s prayer.” This was the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray.

Today, we will consider Matthew 6:10, Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

In our final lesson, we will consider Matthew 6:11: Give us this day our daily bread.

Throughout His time on the earth it was evident that the Kingdom of God was central to the message of Jesus.

Jesus said, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” (Luke 4:43)

To be in the Kingdom is to obey the will of God. The Kingdom is in fact the most personal thing in the world. The Kingdom demands the submission of my will, my heart, my life. It is only when each one of us makes his personal decision and submission that the Kingdom comes. (Barclay)

Given this understanding, it certainly makes sense that part of our daily prayer would be for God to make his kingdom present and active among Christ followers. We live within systems of our society, such as our economic systems, political systems, and educational systems. We are also citizens of God's kingdom which affords advantages that are not available to civil kingdoms. This would include righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17-18).

What does this mean? “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Contrary to the false ideas and idolatry of Christian nationalism, that seeks to integrate their views of the Bible into every aspect of government and society, Kingdom living is mostly a matter of our devotion to God and behavior toward others. People who try to insert the Bible into civil laws and culture neglect the reality that unsaved people cannot obey the Scriptures––something only possible by the help of the Holy Spirit. (John 14:17) It seems that some people wish to impose a Christian form of Muslim sharia law. God’s kingdom is not of this world, though we are salt and light to the world.

I suggest that God’s will being done “on earth” must first happen in “earthen vessels”–– you and me. There are those who believe that God’s will being done on earth is essentially advocating a Christian “take over” of systems of this world.

The truth is this: Everything in this present order will be destroyed, not preserved and presented to Jesus when He returns:

“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:10-13)

Jesus did not advocate a “take over.” He preached the Gospel of the Kingdom which is God’s love, righteousness, joy, Christ-like character, and good works infused in our lives and lifestyle.

I believe this is the more biblical understanding of “Your Kingdom Come. Your Will Be Done.”

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. How is kingdom living different than a desire to “take over” systems of this world?

2. What does doing God’s will “on earth” look like to you?

ACTION ITEMS BASED ON TODAY'S LESSON:

_______________

Listen to the Teaching

“The Beatitudes: Blessing on Purpose”

Make It Plain. Add Nothing To It.

LISTEN

[Text of the same lesson from the audio]

Matthew 5:33-37, You have heard that it was said by the people of the old days: You shall not take an oath falsely, but you shall pay your oath in full to the Lord. But I say to you: Do not swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God, nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King, nor by your head, for you cannot make one hair black or white. When you say, Yes, let it be yes; and when you say, No, let it be no. Anything which goes beyond that has its source in evil.

We live in a world where people have used the phrase "alternative facts” or attempt to justify their actions with a phrase like, “Well, the depends on what the meaning of ‘is’ is.” A more recent response on the part of George Santos now famously lying about being a Jew: “I didn’t say I was Jewish, I said I was Jew-ish.” We live in a world where you can go into an electronics store and ask for something, only to be told, "Yes we have it…what does it look like?” Rather than say, "I don't know,” many would rather create an illusion of knowledge.

The other side of that coin is when people discover that someone was faking knowledge, all credibility is lost. When this happens at an institutional level, institutions become untrusted.

As people, we have surprising little actual power. We can mix things together, like the ingredients for a cake, but we don’t actually invent things like wheat to make flour or chickens that provide eggs.

It is far better to “under-promise and over-deliver” than “over-promise and under-deliver.” Swearing to (or committing to) actions that require powers we do not possess is foolish, not to mention doomed to fail. Jesus taught His disciples and others listening in to “make it plain.” Let “yes” be yes and “no” be no.

I am amused by people who offer me something to which I may say “No, thank you,” followed by the response, “Are your sure?” Sometimes my response is, “I already answered the question.” We live in a world where people are conditioned not to accept your answer because are not clear with our answers.

There is also this worthless response to an invitation, to which some people respond, “I will try” or my favorite, “I might try.” Just say, “no,” if that is your intention.

It is interesting that in His Sermon on the Mount Jesus dealt with these matters which seem quite trivial. But the reality is that small things in life, added together, become the sum total of our lives.

So, make it plain and add nothing to it.

REFLECTION QUESTION:

What vague and evasive behaviors or habits do you need to stop and replace with brief, honest responses?

ACTION ITEMS BASED ON TODAY'S LESSON:

_______________

Listen to the Teaching

“The Beatitudes: Blessing on Purpose”