Our Daily Bread (May 30, 1987) — George Warnock

The Lord’s Provision for Today

Seek to minister that which God's people need. When Jesus said when you pray pray our father So forth give us this day our daily bread. He was asking us to pray that God would give us this day That bread which we need for today.

I understand that's the meaning of that. Give me what I need for today. And so we just want to speak a word in season. God giveth Meat and you season and so may it be so tonight. The Lord knows the need of every heart and perhaps you will not all receive benefit from all that is said.

But we trust that each one will receive that portion that they need. God said his word is like the rain that cometh down from heaven and watereth the earth. But it might cause the things that are in it to spring forth and bud.

That it might give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth. It shall not return into me void. So there's many things taught in that verse. One is that he sends the rain from heaven to cause the things that are Sown in the earth to spring forth that it might give seed to the sower and bread to the eater.

And then he goes on to say it will not return him void. So that gives us confidence That as somehow we learn to speak a word from God's heart. It will not return to God empty it will prosper it will accomplish the thing for which you sent it.

And then he says the things That he intends are to give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. And so he desires to bring forth in our life something that will feed us with his living bread. But also something that we will have Wherewith we might sow seed in the lives of others seed to the sower bread to the eater and I call myself a sower of seed because it seems to be That particular phase of ministry God has given me To sow seed.

So the word has that very necessary Function Of imparting a seed into the hearts and lives of others. That as God waters that seed and it will bring forth in due course in due time. So we thank the Lord for the rain Intended of the Lord to bring forth something in the earth.

God’s Ultimate Desire Beyond the Rain

The reign of God Comes from God's heart and his intention is to water the soil. But The rain is not the ultimate the rain is necessary, but God always looks forth forward to the fulfillment of his ultimate desire.

And so he wants you and I to consider God's ultimate desires. What does he really have in mind? When he sends the rain well not just the rain but the ultimate desire is something else. So it's a day I believe when God wants to urge us forward unto fullness.

Unto fullness the fullness of Christ, of course, but fullness not falling short of God's intention in us through us and For us that eventually will come to that fullness. God's people are slow to apprehend that.

Because God does move in various ways of blessing and it's so good somehow unless the Lord continually brings us To places of need we don't see the necessity of any more than what he's done. And God will continually work in his church until he brings us to that fullness that he has in mind and so the principles of coming to fullness, I believe are all through the Word of God, but Just look let's looking at this look at it from the standpoint of Genesis and Revelation.

From Genesis to Revelation: God’s Work Toward Completion

Genesis and Revelation. Genesis the beginning. No doubt you've all been taught that Genesis is the book of beginnings. Where practically I think you might say all truth in some form or another Is found there in Genesis in?

Seed form. And Genesis means beginnings. And so the seed of truth is there in Genesis? First man the first bride the first covenant and the first sacrifice. Oh There's so many things first priesthood.

It's all there in Genesis the God's intention. That throughout the rest of the book is to bring forth the unfolding of that which is in Genesis further development of it through many phases of his workings in God's people.

Until we come to Revelation. Which is a book of completeness book of fullness Book of harvest. When God brings to a conclusion The ending of God's work in the earth. And that particular phase of his dealings God brings to a conclusion to finality and so all in between God is concerned about Leading his people from one phase of his dealings to another.

Until finally he brings his people to that Final desire that he has for them the consummation the conclusion. So the book of Revelation is a book of seven seven being that number of completion. Seven candlesticks seven stars seven eyes seven lamps.

Seven thunder seven seals seven last plagues. What is it? It's God? Telling us he's bringing things to a conclusion. So God must continually remind us of that and Because we're dull of hearing he will bring us into various experiences that will cause us to examine our hearts and lives and Seek God afresh and If so be he can lead us further.

But as it was in Israel so in the church God does a certain thing and and What we don't want to go any further. This is wonderful, and this is where we will stay. But if we stay in any situation where God has blessed us sooner or later the The cloud of God moves on and the experience that we once had becomes dry and We find ourselves in barren places, and we don't understand it because didn't God move in a mighty way.

Wasn't there a great working of God? And so the best it seems that the church has is to Continually look for something that God did before God did something wonderful back in latter rain or Pentecost or the days of Wesley or days of Finney days of Luther and so according to our particular Appreciation of what God did Lord restore those days do something that you did there bring back those days and so we read the histories of the great revivals in the church and I enjoy reading them because God does bring us back to places of original commitment and Original consecration to God he does bring us back to first love when we've missed it.

But it's only coming back to first principles that Coming back to certain principle basic principles from there. God would take us forward onward do new things and It's hard for us to recognize that we always want something.

That's God God has done before Lord restore that which we have lost bring us back bring us back until the ultimate of Restoration in the minds of most people is if God will restore that New Testament Church order that we have a New Testament Church where everything was powerful and mighty and glorious and Of course, I reckon I believe that too one time that God would Restore the New Testament Church, and I thought that was ultimate.

Till I began to realize that God never does restore original structures. He wants to restore that spirit of repentance and humility and meekness. These things which are basic and these things which relate to the heart of Christ he must bring us back to that.

But not to restore some former structure some former system. Some former working of God. But he wants to lead us on and so I don't believe he's going to restore the New Testament Church as such. But there's basic principles there that we've fallen so far short of that God will continually remind us of those basic principles that were there that caused him to move in the way he did.

But now we've come to the harvest church. That was a seed church. And the seed of course is good. It's it's a seed that has the life of God in it. But God is not going to restore the seed he's going to bring forth the harvest from that seed.

So basically Jesus was the seed that was planted In the earth 2 ,000 years ago. And so it's Christ that we want and God will bring us unto Christ begins with Christ and he'll bring us unto Christ and God's Working in the church these 2 ,000 years has been with that thought in mind bringing us unto Christ, but unto the fullness.

Under the fullness so that the Christ who was manifested in the early church brought forth a a wonderful church. All right, but now God wants the harvest church. The harvest church, which will be a church that comes to ultimate fullness.

So The Christ is the same and we're not saying that Christ changes. We're saying that when God plants the Christ in the earth God's intention is to change and change his people. Until we come to God's ultimate desire.

So the New Testament Church was wonderful but you see that that was the seed as it were the beginnings and. And I liken it to the. Say a watermelon seed a tomato seed. It's planted in the earth and in that little seed.

There's everything that the we're expecting in the day of harvest. Only it's there in merely merely eyes in its potential. Everything is in the sea potential. But it takes the sowing in the earth to bring forth the the fullness.

The fruit and so it's there in the sea, all right. But God wants the fullness. And so fullness is a word that we find many times in the writings of the Apostle Paul who was given the special Revelation of what God was doing in the earth.

The Fullness of Christ in His Body

He speaks about Christ having been enthroned in the heavens far above all principality and power and might Dominion every name that is named and God made him to be the head over all things of the church.

Which is his body? The fullness of him that filleth all in all so that the body of Christ is that fullness. The body is the fullness of the Christ. Doesn't mean something better than Christ. Doesn't mean something different than Christ.

But the the full expression of the Christ the Christ who became a seed now wants to come forth as the fruit and. So it's in that church that that fruit is to come forth, which is the fullness the full expression of the Christ.

Who because he was faithful unto death? Did not see the full desire of his heart while he was here in the earth. The full desire of his heart was to establish the kingdom of God in the hearts of men. He didn't see that full expression of it but becoming faithful unto death as the seed that became to you and to I and to the world God's promise.

Because he became faithful as a seed to fall into the ground of death and died there would come forth a great harvest. So we're looking for that harvest. And that harvest will come forth as the full expression of The Christ in the earth very full expression of The living Christ who is now no longer that one body in which The father dwelt and lived and moved and worked when he was here in earth.

Remember, he said a body us out prepared for me. And so in that one body the father lived and moved and manifested his glory. But then as you know, he said I'm not to be here for long. I'm going away but don't let your heart be troubled.

And It took a long time for them to to come to the realization. That what Jesus said? Was true that it was good for them expedient for them that he went away. That in him going away that same spirit that was in him would now be multiplied a thousand fold a million fold In the body of Christ in the earth, and so that's why it was good that he went away and that's why Greater works than these would his people do because he went to the father.

Not because this people in the earth were to become greater than Jesus. But because in him going away the same spirit that was in him would be multiplied over and over again in the body of Christ in the earth.

So that the the body of God would no longer be the man Christ Jesus. The temple of God would no longer be the man Christ Jesus as he walked in the earth. He was the temple of God the one in whom God dwelt.

He was the body in whom God lived and moved. So that that body would no longer be that one man. But he would be the head now of this body. He who was the body in which God dwelt was would now become the head of a greater body still the body of Christ, but Now he's the head no longer was he just the That one man the temple of God in whom the glory of God dwelt as Jesus declared himself to be the temple of God.

But now ascended into the heavens. He's the chief cornerstone of an enlarged temple so you see God's purpose was fullness and It was difficult for the disciples to realize that that there could be anything better or more wonderful Than for this Messiah to live and move in the earth and set up that kingdom here in the earth.

Difficult for them to comprehend that God could have any better plan than that and it took a long time for them to understand. Yes, God did have a better plan. As he was taken into the heavens and enthroned as a king priest on the throne then He could release his spirit in the earth that Every member of his body would have that same spirit that he had.

Not to make every member of his body a little Jesus as it were in their own right, but that corporately. They would be the full manifestation of Christ in the earth with Christ himself the head corporately so that individually.

None of us can attain to too much. But we do have that life of the Lord Jesus. We have his life the same quality of life. But it's only going to be corporately that we're going to see that full expression of the Christ in union one with another so that brings us to an appreciation for one another and also realization that.

Apart from my brother. I cannot amount to too much. I. But it's only in union with him that we will be able to come to the fullness. So in union with him then we discover that each of us are very very limited finger and foot and ear.

Very limited but in corporate union with one another and with Christ. Then we have the full expression of Christ only multiplied. You might say a million fold because this body will be all over the earth.

I like to emphasize that fullness because I think sometimes that and We are charged with blasphemy and so forth. For intimating we're going to be like Jesus. Not understanding that individually we can be nothing even as Jesus Took the position where he could do nothing except in union with the father.

So we're not going to be like a million little people like Jesus in our own, right? But just limited and confined so that just as one member one feeble member. We have the same life that Jesus had but totally helpless.

Except in corporate union with the whole body. It's the whole body that takes on this corporate fullness and so Paul speaks of fullness Christ being The head of the body that which is that the body is the fullness the completion the completeness of him.

That filleth all and in all and then writing again to the Ephesians in The chapter 3 he says. For this cause I bow my knees unto the father. Of whom they had the whole family and heaven and earth is named that he would grant you.

All says I bow my knees it seemed you'll notice in Ephesians how he'll pause to pray because It's a high revelation and we can't embrace any revelation of truth except by the help of God. Except by the revelation of the Spirit and this was all the truth was so tremendous.

He would pray in chapter 1 I Cease not to give thanks for you making mention you even my prayers that that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. So forth would give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation.

To come to an understanding of this fullness and then a chapter 3. For this cause I bow my knees unto the father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family and heaven and earth is named. There's a family in heaven.

There's one in earth. Family in heaven has gone on. There's a family in earth and We're one with them and Paul says you're coming to Mount Zion and to the city of the Living God the heavenly Jerusalem and Goes on to say to the spirits of just men made perfect.

So we're one with them. But we don't see them and we don't pray to them. We don't try to have communion with them in that sense of trying to contact them. Getting into things that are none of our business.

But we just recognize there's a family there and they're waiting for that day when we will be joined unto them as one family. There's a family in heaven and family in earth, but it's all one family and Paul prayed he would grant you according to the riches of his glory.

To be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. That ye being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend With all Saints and I emphasize that.

Because whenever Paul is talking about fullness he includes all Saints. He never says that I want to come to fullness never says that you individually can come to fullness. But that with all Saints We might be able to comprehend and that word I understand is even greater than the way we use it for.

Comprehend comprehend, you know to be able to understand. I Understand the word means more than it to literally lay hold upon apprehend it to receive and to receive fully With all Saints you see what is the breadth and length and depth and height?

And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that you might be filled with all the fullness of God. Just too much for us all had to pray that would somehow we'd be able to grasp What it means?

To lay hold upon that fullness with all Saints. That we might be able to comprehend apprehend Receive fully completely with all Saints. What is the breadth and length and depth and height? To know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that you might be filled with the better word is unto.

He's talking about a fullness coming in God pouring in of a fullness. Until we come unto until eventually as God's work is completed. We come. We're filled unto all the fullness of God that you know, it sounds blasphemous and until we understand that Jesus in the earth Was said to be the full expression of God in him dwelleth all the fullness Of the Godhead bodily and yet he laid aside.

He laid aside. What shall I say? I don't know how to put it. Paul just simply says he emptied himself Made himself of no reputation. The literal rendering is the Lord Jesus Emptied himself. He just emptied himself So that on earth though he was divine.

We know all that he was God yet. He didn't come to walk on earth as God. But to walk as man in total dependence on God so he was God with us because Though he was God by nature he didn't just walk in the earth as Having the authority of God but in total dependence upon God and Perhaps we can't explain it very well.

But he lived as perfect man in the earth Not drawing up on deity at any time of need or problem slipping away from this Human weakness and well, I'm God now, so I'll walk in the water. I'm God so I'll heal the sick or raise the dead.

But doing all these things as man only in such union with the father That he could say I can in my own self do nothing and the works that I'm doing I'm doing in my father's name the words they speak in you the words of the father.

And so as a man he just he just lived in total utter dependence on the father and So with the body of Christ, it's not a case of coming to a place where we can say we're gods in our own, right? We're little gods and we just have to develop that Godhead like they're teaching all over in the church.

No, we're. We have the same nature as The Sun we're born of God. But the Sun in order to please the father had to deny himself and lay aside that God had glory as it were the majesty of it and Live as a man and total dependence on the heavenly father and come to that place where he could do nothing.

I Can have my own self do nothing? And so all that he did was simply the father had a Vessel had a son in whom he could live and move and express his glory. And so that's that's our position that As individuals were just a feeble member and corporately we're just a body in whom the Lord Jesus Christ can live and move and and so manifest his fullness his completeness.

So that there'll be nothing Lacking from this body that God is forming that was lacking to Jesus when he was here in himself. Totally helpless to do anything. But because he lived in harmony union with the heavenly father.

He did whatever the father showed him to do. So Paul says that God wants to bring us to that place in union with the Saints not independently one from another. But in union with the Saints. Where we come to that fullness?

Where we know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge and Literally filled unto all the fullness of God if we can appreciate the fact that God the Father Revealed himself and the Lord Jesus and everything that Jesus did and said and taught all the works that he performed.

All that Jesus was doing was making himself a human vessel through whom God the Father could live and move and manifest his glory. Then we can get a little understanding of what he means when he says he wants the body In union with all Saints and with him and filled with the love of God.

Apprehending the fullness of God's love to come to that place where we're filled with the fullness God himself in the earth. God's place for his body. So God is working towards this fullness. What's this fullness to be revealed?

And so when you ascend it into his heavenly throne? He did it on purpose. It was the will of the father and the purpose was glorious. That having ascended to the heavenly throne he'd be able to release that same spirit That he had into this body in the earth.

That same spirit in which he lived and ministered in the earth. He'd be able to release it to this body in the earth. And so he said it's good. It's expedient for you that I go away. Because if I don't then this comforter will not come into you.

But if I depart I will send him unto you when he has come he'll reprove the world of sin. Righteousness judgment. So we see why the Church of Jesus Christ is not making any real impact on The world about us.

Oh, I know some boast and they think they are but we're not making any real impact in the world. Why not? Because only the Spirit of God can reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment.

We can preach all the sermons and write all the books and condemn all that's going on. But we're not doing anything to bring a vital reproof To the world about us concerning sin and concerning righteousness concerning judgment.

For the simple reason that the Holy Spirit has not been released within us to fulfill his office work. You say why hasn't he been? Because he must find this vessel. That he had in Jesus a Vessel that is totally committed totally yielded to the will of the heavenly Father.

Because Jesus had become that vessel not because he was divine by birth. But because as a son he had learned obedience and he survived the temptation on the mount of temptation perhaps won't touch on that much tonight, but The temptation was because you're the Son of God.

Prove you're the Son of God. Do something great. Perform miracles. Turn the stone to bread. Jump off the temple and let the angels hold you up. Tempt God put God to the test. Take the kingdoms of the world if you're the Son of God all those tests which the church has fallen victim to.

Trying to prove their deity trying to prove that they've got something. They can do things. They can take over governments. They can take over the kingdoms of the world. They can turn stones to bread.

They can fall off the temple. They can put God to the test. They can tempt God. Jesus said I shall not Tempt the Lord that God. You don't put God to the test like they're telling you to do test God. Prove God put him to the test.

And then you're supposed to do something to test God. You don't do that. Jesus didn't do it. Just do his will and when we do as well, we'll prove God. Prove me now here with that though. We prove God, but we don't tempt him.

We don't test him. We don't perform try to perform miracles just to make a show of it or even to supply a need. Oh, there's. We can't go into all that. But Jesus had to go through that great temptation in the wilderness before the father would let him Go forth into the world in that great anointed ministry.

He no sooner received that anointed ministry. When immediately we're told he went into the wilderness. Led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Mark's gospel it's more forceful than that. It says he was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness.

Comes out out of the waters of Jordan. And driven into the wilderness by the Spirit. God would not let him go forth without having tested him proved him. And so sad when a young convert comes in, you know, maybe he's been in the world maybe he's been a great musician or an actor or something and oh, it's wonderful to have a Converted actor actress or something or a converted rock star and it way he goes in ministry.

Unproved untested untried. God doesn't do that. Man does it prove to the world what you've got, you know. God doesn't do that. He's only son. Sinless had no sin. God wouldn't let him go forth in ministry.

Until he was tested and tried in the wilderness. Fasting for 40 days and he had no sin. You say well, he couldn't fail him. Oh, yes, he could. Didn't Adam fail when Adam had no sin. Sin is not a part of human nature.

It's something that come in because of the fall. But everything that God makes he reserves the right to test and to try even the angels. Adam was tested and tried and fell but the last Adam the Lord Jesus.

Going through a similar trial. He overcame. Didn't have sin nature. No, but he had a will and it was a temptation. It was a test. And he overcame and so then he was able to go forth in ministry. That didn't mean his temptations were passed.

For all through his ministry all through his life. He would be subject to great tests and trials. Of one kind or another so think it not strange then that God might give a mighty anointing a mighty gift and Might be a prophetic word thus saith the Lord my son my daughter this and that.

That doesn't mean you're all set to go and I think we should pray him. I know I did. I wonder sometimes, you know if I Should have. I used to wonder I don't know. Lord don't send me forth in ministry until you know that I will not make shipwreck.

And I was 19. I think I prayed that. Thinking might take two three four years. But nevertheless Looking back you see my vision then was a little obscure. My vision was ministry and I know how you feel.

Some of you younger people. You love God you see the tremendous need in the world. And you know that they just need the gospel, you know the word study the Bible. I Just must go forth and God honors that Love we have for people and all that.

But let's just recognize That to be sent of the Lord in God's time we can accomplish far more in one day. And you could accomplish in a whole lifetime of ministry. Let's recognize that you say well, that's a little far-fetched.

Maybe but the Lord reminded me one day that Moses, you know zealous young man. I call him a young man the age of 40. Zealous for God zealous for the children of Israel anxious to go and deliver them tried and he had credentials.

Moses, Preparation, and God’s Timing

He was brought up in the court of Pharaoh. So he had some Inside knowledge on the affairs of Egypt and he was a wise man had a lot of power and he was close to Pharaoh and He was well-liked and he thought maybe God has put me in this position so that I can help my brethren.

Well, you know the story. How he tried and failed and went off into the wilderness. Where remain 40 years? And that dream of delivering God's people seemed to no doubt recede and recede until you almost I Think I could almost say no doubt.

The vision was so far from his mind. He just considered his life was a failure and Gave up on the vision, but having come to that place. He was prepared then of God. The task that God had him to do the greater the task God has for you to perform the longer Will be that period of preparation.

But the thing I started to say was this in one single night. He delivered the whole nation in one single night. Delivered the whole nation out of Egyptian bondage. It's something that he had dreamt to do 40 years before God will give him a little success.

I suppose he'd go on killing the Egyptians one after the other. Finally be able to reach his people. God says no, I'm going to perform something mighty. You can't even conceive of and God let him just try and fail and go off into the wilderness of Midian.

Completely broken disappointed man. And then I think in those 40 years as some have said to unlearn all that he'd learned in the school of Pharaoh to unlearn it. If he might be a vessel humble broken meek.

Like the reed he carried in his hand like the sticky care. So Moses, I can't Lord, you know, I can't I can't even talk. Yet at one time he was eloquent and words and indeed Call anybody else Lord, but me and All the while God had no thought of giving up God had found God wanted that kind of a as long as they Lord I'm ready to go.

Just just let me hear a whisper. I'm just I'm just ready to run Lord. Just but I just want to know you're well Lord. Please. Give me a call, please. But when he come to the place he said Lord I can't do it.

I'd say that he's ready now. What's that in your hand? Oh just? Stick cast it down. And so just where he was. He was just that rod as it were just that dry stick. It's that big that became in the hands of God the rod of God.

By which he would not only judge Egypt, but deliver the people of God. So it's just one little example. But it's a very wonderful example of how God When he would bring forth a vessel unto honor. To use them for his glory.

He'll first of all drive that man into the wilderness. Test him try him prove him. But having broken that vessel you'll have a vessel he can use. It's the story of Moses it's the story of Joseph the story of David.

It's the story of Paul. It's the story of Jesus. It's the story of God's people in all ages. That God does not require my talents eloquence I my strength. My wisdom my knowledge. But that God somehow has to bring that to not that it might be his strength his power his knowledge his wisdom.

Is to bring to not. He has to so work in us that the outer man is weakened. Can it's trust in our wisdom. We cannot trust in our strength. Trust in our education or in our knowledge, it's devastating.

When God gets that devastated vessel and God says now perhaps I can use you and so may the Lord Enable us all to have that desire to be a vessel unto honor a golden vessel a silver vessel. Unto honor sanctified and prepared unto every good member.

There's the word prepared. It's a key word for this day prepared. Once it prepared people. Because we don't know our own hearts and because we don't know then Great working that God must do in our hearts.

We don't think preparation to be anything. That's so wonderful God. You can prepare me and send me out. All I need Lord is your anointing you can you can give me that send me forth. Well God wants a little more than just to pour his oil upon it.

He wants that pure anointing he wants that holy anointing oil and Somehow we don't appreciate the working of God that's required to bring forth that holy Anointing oil in his people. I think well, we just need the anointing but no.

Before that priest Was qualified to go and minister and holy things and be that priest that could go in to the holiest of all and stand before God stand in God's presence and receive a living word for God's people.

He had to be anointed with the holy oil but There was more to it than that he had to go in there and stand before Moses at the laver. And have his old garments completely stripped from he had to put on new garments get upon priestly garments a Robe an effort a cloak a holy mitre on his head a breastplate.

With Urim and Thummim in the breastplate. He had to be clothed with that, but he had to first of all be stripped of his old garments and washed. When we see some of these types we can understand why many many people Can go forth in the church and do great things.

And have power maybe have healings maybe build up churches and do all of that, but they're not doing anything by way of Bringing people unto that vital union with Christ bringing people into fullness.

We're doing anything in that area and that's the one thing that God's heart is set upon bringing people into that fullness. So you see great men preaching evangelizing. Building big churches and I'm not just criticizing all that goes on.

But we just know as we see things that there's so much that's not like Christ. And it amazes us a little we see the ego there. We see the blood flesh sticking out all over and yet we know God seems to be blessing and.

But when you see it, they're clearly shown here in the type that that the pure anointing that God wanted Was an anointing that would come upon a man who was cleansed stripped of his garments and plants and then clothed with the garments of beauty and of glory.

God calls them garments for glory and for beauty. Clothed upon with those beautiful garments righteousness and humility and meekness and love Patience mercy clothed upon of those garments and then anointed.