Giving, Prayer and Fasting (How to Build Your Life on the Rock, Part 3)
How to Build Your Life on the Rock: Sermon on the Mount Series • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro
Intro
Series - Part 3, How to Build Your Life on the Rock (Sermon on the Mount Series)
Series Text - Matt 7.24-27
24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.
26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
27 And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and its collapse was great.”
Part 3 - Giving, Prayer and Fasting
Series text - Matthew 6.1
1 “Take care not to practice your righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
Main Idea
Main Idea
After discussing the characteristics of righteousness, Jesus went on to discuss how to practice righteousness.
also called “acts of piety” or godly activities
Practicing righteousness involves three things -
giving - Matthew 6.2-4
praying - Matthew 6.5-15
fasting - Matthew 6.16-18
Giving, praying and fasting are the righteous practices of the godly.
Giving, praying and fasting are the righteous practices of the godly.
to be godly to be devoted to God, which is demonstrated in one’s giving, praying and fasting.
The Jews put a lot of emphasis on these 3 things.
The early Christians were also known for these 3 things.
Christianity as self-fulfillment is a modern concept, a product of Laodicean age.
the early christians were never focused on themselves.
Giving, praying and fasting are religious obligations.
Giving, praying and fasting are religious obligations.
Jesus used the word “when”, not “if”
Jesus used the word “when”, not “if”
if - implies conditional event
when - implies and event or action that is expected to happen
When you give - Matt 6.2
2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that they will be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
you are expected to give…
Giving should be a way of life to Christians - Acts 20.35
35 In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
When you pray - Matthew 6.5
5 “And when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they will be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
you are expected to pray…
praying should be a way of life for Christians - 1 Thess 5.17
17 pray without ceasing,
1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not become discouraged,
When you fast - Matt 6.16
16 “Now whenever you fast, do not make a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they distort their faces so that they will be noticed by people when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
you are expected to fast…
fasting should be a way of life for Christians
don’t fast only when you have needs
fast in order to discipline your body -
Giving, praying and fasting are for God’s eyes, not men’s.
Giving, praying and fasting are for God’s eyes, not men’s.
Do not announce your giving - Matthew 6.2-4
Do not announce your giving - Matthew 6.2-4
2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that they will be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
3 But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your charitable giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
sounding a trumpet - may be a methapor for making their giving known to the public. other ways could be -
announcement board
public mentions
engravings
do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing - do not tell the people around
Do not pray in public - Matthew 6.5
Do not pray in public - Matthew 6.5
5 “And when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they will be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
for some religion, praying is even public feat or stunt
pharisaic practice is they pray in public whenever they remember something to pray for.
the right way of praying as a religious duty is to-
do it in secret - Matthew 6.6
6 But as for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
do not use repetition as the heathen do - Matthew 6.7-8
7 “And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.
8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Jesus’ model prayer as a godly duty - Matthew 6.9-13
9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread.
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’
worship God
invoke the kingdom of God
invoke the will of God
ask for you needs
ask for protection from evil
Do not fast like the hypocrites - Matthew 6.16-18
Do not fast like the hypocrites - Matthew 6.16-18
16 “Now whenever you fast, do not make a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they distort their faces so that they will be noticed by people when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
17 But as for you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by people but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
Giving, praying and fasting are a way of laying up treasures in heaven.
Giving, praying and fasting are a way of laying up treasures in heaven.
Giving, praying and fasting are rewarding practices.
Jesus shows us how to better reap the rewards.
Lay up treasures in heaven - Matthew 6.19-20
Lay up treasures in heaven - Matthew 6.19-20
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
Your treasures’ location determine your heart’s direction - Matthew 6.21
Your treasures’ location determine your heart’s direction - Matthew 6.21
21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Our treatures are the fruits of our giving, praying and fasting!
Our treatures are the fruits of our giving, praying and fasting!
advancement of the kingdom of God
salvation of more souls
fulfillment of God will in people’s lives
Conclusion
Conclusion
Giving, praying and fasting as a means to strengthen our relationship with God, not a way to blow up our ego on earth.
Giving helps remind us who owns the things we have in our hand, and what are we to do with them.
We are not owners - we are stewards of God’s properties
Praying helps remind us who is in control over everything
we are subjects of God’s kingdom
we are followers of God’s will
Fasting helps remind us we are to live above the environment and influence of the flesh.
we have been made to sit in the heavenly places in Christ
we rule with Christ
Proper way of Giving, praying and fasting will help make you lives strong in times of trials
Song - deeper in love
