Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

LEANNESS OF SOUL AND THE BREAD OF LIFE

1. Background to the words of our text:
   1. Israel had been the subject of great experience
   2. They had been delivered from Egyptian bondage
   3. They had been cared for in a most unusual way; a cloud covered them by day, and a pillar of fire by night
   4. They ate the bread of heaven, food that the angels eat
2. Yet, they murmured, they were dissatisfied with the care of Heaven:
   1. They lusted after the flesh pots of Egypt
   2. They were in a state of constant rebellion; these and other related facts form the background to the words of our text

1. The meaning of the word "Leanness":
   1. Leanness is a lack of vitality, indicating under nourishment
   2. It indicates a lack of the proper food or the neglect of the physical needs of the body; Example: the state of the prodigal son - Luke 15:14-17
2. It is a well known fact:
   1. That some people are well fed bodily, yet are suffering from leanness of the soul; Example: Belshazzar is a typical example - Dan. 5:6-7; Felix was well fed in body but had great leanness in his soul - Acts 24:25; the Laodiceans, no doubt, are well kept in body, but think of their souls - Rev. 3:14-17
   2. This condition is a clear indication of the neglect of the spiritual nature
   3. Neglecting the study of the word of God and also prayer without which our spiritual nature is bound to become lean and die out - Example: think of the testimony of the true witness to Sardis, "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die" - Rev. 3:1-3
   4. Leanness of soul verifies the words of the Lord Jesus, when He says, "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the Lord" - Matt. 4:4

1. The scriptures lay down a basic law covering man's spiritual nature:
   1. He must partake of the bread of life to sustain his spiritual nature
   2. "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" - Luke 4:4; Deut. 8:3
   3. This makes it crystal clear that for man to be in good health and well balanced in body, soul, and spirit he must partake of the bread of life
   4. "Thy words were found and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and the rejoicing of mine heart; for I am called by thy name" - Jer. 15:16
   5. Said the Lord to the prophet Ezekiel, "But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto you, be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house; open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee" - Ezek.. 2:8
2. Jesus Christ our Lord:
   1. Is the Bread of life that came from heaven
   2. "I am that bread of life...I am the living bread which came from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" - John 6:48-58
3. Our spiritual nature will be sustained by our daily meditation upon the life, love and sacrifice of the Son of God:
   1. That is the great objective of the gospel of Jesus Christ
   2. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord" - 2 Cor. 3:17-18
   3. Moses had, as far as we know, no material bread to eat when he was in the mount with God for forty days and nights, yet his being glowed with health; the glory of God rested upon him - Ex. 34:29-33
   4. When God sends leanness into the soul, it is so we relish the spiritual food he provides for our spiritual nature