Giving and Prayer
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In 2009 I purchased my first Home, I was 24 years old and a single young professional. The house was a 5 bedroom 3 bath home in Pike Township. This house was also a bank owned home that needed quite a bit of work.
The Idea was that I would purchase this home, then my parents would fix it up and live in the home for a while. Eventually I would move into the home once I had a family.
In order for all of this to have happened, since I was a first time home buyer I needed help through the process. So I hired a Realtor to help me through the process of finding a property and purchasing it.
What this meant is that the realtor would consider my desires and needs and price range, and that she would then help me find a home based off of these things.
Once I found a home then the Realtor would help me to achieve my goals of purchasing the property at the lowest price possible while also moving into the property in a certain amount of time along with any other wants that I had.
During the entire process of finding and purchasing a home the Realtor worked on my behalf to achieve my desires and she placed my interest and my will first. Her job was to represent me and protect my interest helping me to achieve my goal.
Just as it was the Realtors Job to keep my interest in mind and represent me in all aspects of this transaction. It is the live of a believer to represent Christ and to do the Will of the Father in every area of their lives.
Today we are talking about the life of a believer in giving and in prayer.
Big Idea- Everything that a believer does is done to achieve Gods Will.
Big Idea- Everything that a believer does is done to achieve Gods Will.
Take Aways
Take Aways
Give out of Love with a purpose of Doing Gods Will.
Pray for Gods Will to be done.
Forgive as you have been forgiven.
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Have you all ever seen a distinguished donors list? Or other prestigious clubs that people can get into only by giving to them? I often work out at the YMCA at the Athenaeum, and when you go there on the back wall you will see a list of people who have given to the YMCA and they are honored on this wall along with the giving range. Some people and companies give because they truly care about the organization and its success and that is why they give. However others give in order to be recognized and honored.
Here the motive is important. As believers we do not give to achieve notoriety, fame or glory. We give to genuinely help others and work to achieve the Will of God in this.
If we give seeking Glory and recognition from our giving then that will be our reward.
Matthew 6:1 does not contradict Matthew 5:16 where it says.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
The reason why these two passages do not contradict each other is because they speak to completely different motives. In Matthew 5:16 the believer is letting their good works be seen to bring Glory to God. However in Matthew 6:1 These are looking to bring Glory to themselves instead of God.
When you Give what is your motive? Do you give for recognition and to get other things? Or do you give to help others and to Glorify God?
Back to our Text. Matthew 6:2-4
Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
Jesus tells us how we are to give. And we are to give in a way where others are not tempted to glorify us rather than glorifying God.
Back to the text Matthew 6:5
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
Matthew 6:5 echoes Matthew 6:1 except instead of talking about giving, Jesus is talking about prayer. Prayer should not be used to gain the praises of others or for any reason other than having a genuine conversation with God.
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
When we pray it is to have a conversation with the Lord, not to show others how holy we are or to give other’s messages in our prayers, but prayer is a genuine conversation with the Lord.
This does not mean that we are not to pray in group settings or in public at all. There is a time and a place for that where it is appropriate. For example next Sunday we will have a prayer service where we are going to pray together as a congregation having a genuine conversation with the Lord.
We also see corporate prayer done in the early Church, Acts 2:42
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
We also have Matthew 18:19-20
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Prayer can and should be done in public in an appropriate manner, and praying together in Gods Will is powerful. However when we pray we are to pray with the right motives.
Back to the main text Matthew 6:7
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
When Jesus is talking about using vain repetitions He is addressing two things here. One is by going to the Lord aimlessly praying for the sake of praying with no real intent in mind.
How many of you have ever gone to an old school hour long prayer service? I’m not talking about the purposeful, intentional structure that is done here at Nehemiah. I’m talking about your in a room with others and the instruction is to pray for an hour. When I was a kid I grew up going to a church that had hour long prayer services. The instruction that was given to me was to “pray”. So i’m like oh… for an hour? what do I pray about? So I get on my knees and I hear other people around me praying. Some are praying loudly and repeating the same phrase over and over again, some where praying in tongues, others were praying quietly and to themselves praying between them and the Lord. So being a kid who didn't know much I would say a few random things for a few minutes, wake up, maybe repeat some phrases over and over and thing of other things to say to kill the time.
I didn't have a topic to bring to the lord in mind, I didn't have an intention in mind, in fact I was just there because I had to be.
That is an example of how not to pray.
Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.
So when we pray our goal is not to use the most flowery and fancy words that we can find, praying the longest prayers that we can possibly pray to impress those around us or to seem more “spiritual” to others.
But when we pray we are to pray purposefully with intent knowing that we are approaching the throne of God all mighty.
The second thing that Jesus is addressing in Matthew 6:7 is praying in chants or repeating the same phrases over and over again in hopes that it would cause God to hear us or in hopes that the more we say it the more likely it will happen.
We see an example of people worshiping false Gods using these exact methods in 1 Kings 18:26
So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made.
So when we pray we are to be intentional, and we are to have a conversation with God and not use prayer for anything outside of communicating with the Lord.
Back to our main text Matthew 6:8
“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Here we see the sovereignty and the omniscience of God. This means He is in control of everything and He knows everything. When we come to God in prayer we are not telling Him something that He doesn't already know. And although prayer is powerful and it does change things. Prayer is also a spiritual discipline just like Studying the Word of God and Fasting are. Prayer done right, helps to conform us to the Will of God.
In fact believers are to live their lives for God completely and we are to work to achieve the Will of God. Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Prayer is one of the things that God uses to conform us to His will and to renew our minds. However we also need to Study the Word of God so we know the Will of God and to live it out.
Prayer should be something that is done regularly in the life of a believer. Just like any relationship communication is needed and time spent together is needed for the relationship to be strong.
How would you would like it if you were married but your spouse only talks with you or spends time with you once a month or a couple of times a year? Or what if they only spent time with you when everyone else is hanging out in public? How would that relationship go?
Every believer has a personal relationship with God and should have personal time that we spend in prayer and Bible study with the Lord. This is how the relationship is built and the mind is changed by the Power of the Holy Spirit to line up with the Will of God. By studying the Bible, Praying and living it out.
If you are reflecting on your own personal habits and you realize that you do not have much of a prayer life or you don't study your word then re-prioritize your life. Put God first, Give Him dedicated time allowing Him to do a work in your life.
Have you ever prayed a prayer that was based on your own will and not Gods? Have you ever prayed as if God was a Genie
or as if He was there only to do your will?
When I was a kid at school we use to make trades for different things with other kids at school. Like at lunch we would trade different foods like one kid may trade a fruit roll-up for another kids Cookie or a chocolate milk for a sandwich or something like that. Other times kids would buy things or trade things with each other like gadgets or jewelry.
Well on the last day of school I came to school with a unique chain on, it had a mood globe on it. Meaning the sphere changed colors based on the temperature. Well there was a kid at school that liked my chain and he asked if he could trade for it. I told him no. Then later in the day he asked if he could buy it off of me, again, I said no.
Later on that day during dismissal the kid snatched my chain and ran into the crowd of kids leaving school for home. I lost track of him and couldn't really go after him because I had to catch my bus home. But I was furious.
So when I got home I prayed a horrible prayer, in fact I would say it was more of a curse. I prayed that all kinds of bad things would happen to him. Since I couldn't get my revenge on him the next day I prayed that these things would happen to him.
What I was praying was for my will to be done and for God to make it happen.
When you pray, whose will are you hoping to accomplish? Yours or Gods?
In this next section of scripture Jesus lets us know exactly how we are to pray and the mind that we are to have when we are praying.
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
There are a few things happening here in this verse. The first is that we are to acknowledge God as our heavenly Father which means we have a relationship with Him, we who are believers are children of God, which means we rely on Him for everything as a child relies on their parents. Since God is our heavenly father we also reflect Him in everything that we do.
The next part of this verse, Hallowed be Your name. What this is saying is that God’s name is Holy, His name is to be set apart and above all other names. When we come to God we are to acknowledge his Holiness. Malachi 1:11 shows how Gods name is to be revered.
For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,” Says the Lord of hosts.
This is who we are praying to. So when we pray we are to Acknowledge Him as our heavenly father and to approach Him as the Holy God who’s name is above all names.
Back to the text.
Matthew 6:10 (NKJV)
Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
Here where is says your kingdom come this is talking about the return of Christ when he comes for the Church and Judgement happens then he reigns forever. Those of us who are believers look forward to the coming of Christ and that is what we pray for. 2 Peter 3:12-13 shows us the mindset and outlook of a believer in regards to the coming of Christ.
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?
Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
We look forward to that day.
In Matthew 6:10 where it says your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven it is talking about Gods Will being done in and through us. That we are conformed to the Will of God and that we obey his Will and live it out. This example is shown in Christ.
Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
When Jesus was looking at taking on the wrath of God and being killed so that we could have eternal life even though he did nothing to deserve it, He still prayed that the will of the Father be done.
We are also to pray that Gods Will be done in our lives.
In addition to praying for Gods will in our lives we are also to pray for Gods will to be done completely on earth. That Gods reign and rule is on earth as it is in heaven. That all are obedient and serving God here on earth Just as in Heaven. And we will see that when Jesus returns.
Psalm 103:20 shows what this will that is being done in heaven looks like.
Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word.
Here the Angels are obedient to God doing His will.
Back to the main text Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.
In praying this we are showing a posture of humility, acknowledging that we rely on God for all of our needs and that he supplies our every need. This posture also shows the faith that we have in God knowing that we can safely rely on Him for everything that we need.
In our culture it can be easy to rely on other things placing our faith in them. In fact that is what the world encourages. Whether it is our jobs, our money, people or anything else. If we find our-self relying on anything instead of God then we need to re- adjust our mindsets.
As believers we live to do the will of God, and we place our faith in Him and Him alone.
Back to the main text Matthew 6:12
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
When we remember how much wrong we have done, and how much we have sinned against God. But even when we were His enemies he paid our debt, and forgave us. Not only did He forgive us, but he adopted us and made us his Children.
We must also show grace and forgiveness Just as it has been showed to us. Matthew 18:21-22 says.
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
There is not a limit on forgiveness we forgive others as often as they ask for forgiveness just as our Lord did for us.
Back to our text Matthew 6:13
And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Here when it says and do not lead us into temptation it is not saying not to allow us to be tempted or not to bring us to the place of temptation. God already did this with Jesus when the Holy Spirit led him into the wilderness after he was baptised.
What this is saying is it is asking God not to allow us to fail to temptation. Now this is our prayer and God Gives us the Holy Spirit to keep us. We must also walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Although we pray that we do not succumb to temptation, unfortunately at times we fail. But this failure is not one that is unavoidable.
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
The goal of a believer is to do the will of God. That is to live a life of righteousness doing what God tells us to do in His word. There is always a way to avoid sin. But when you do sin, remember its not over. Repent, turn from the sin and follow God. This is the difference between one who has a heart after Gods heart and one who does not.
1 John 2:1 says.
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
If you find yourself in sin, repent and follow Christ.
Back to the main text Matthew 6:14-15
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Forgiveness is the trait of a believer. We have been given the ultimate example of forgiveness by Jesus. As children of God being conformed to doing Gods Will we also should show this kind of forgiveness to others.
If we are unwilling to forgive others, then we will not be forgiven.
Take Aways
Take Aways
Give out of Love with a purpose of Doing Gods Will.
Pray for Gods Will to be done.
Forgive as you have been forgiven.