Practicing Faith

Introduction: The Danger of Performing for an Audience

Most people don't struggle with whether they should pray, give, or seek God.

The deeper struggle is: Why am I doing it?

There is something inside all of us that wants to be seen, noticed, and affirmed.

Social media has simply amplified something that has always existed in the human heart.

We can turn even good things into opportunities for self-promotion.

Jesus isn't condemning spiritual practices.

He assumes His followers will give, pray, and fast.

The issue is not the practice.

The issue is the audience

Jesus is not asking, 'Do you pray?

He's asking, 'Who are you praying for?

Tension

We often turn intimacy into performance.

We can attend church to be seen.

Serve to be appreciated.

Give to be recognized.

Pray to sound spiritual.

Post every act of generosity online.

Measure spirituality by visibility.

The temptation is subtle.

Nobody announces, "I want everyone to think I'm holy."

It usually begins as a sincere act.

Over time, the applause becomes addictive.

The Pharisees struggled with this.

They looked incredibly spiritual.

They were respected.

They knew Scripture.

Yet Jesus repeatedly challenged them because their hearts were disconnected from God.

The danger of spiritual performance:

It looks like faith.

It sounds like faith.

But it slowly replaces relationship with reputation.

Am I pursuing God, or am I pursuing approval?"

Truth

1. Secret faith shapes public faith

Matthew 6:1–8 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be adored by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!”

Jesus doesn't say never let anyone see your faith.

Earlier in Matthew 5 He said let your light shine before others.

The difference is motivation.

Matthew 5:

Let them see God.

Matthew 6:

Don't make them see you.

Public faith is only healthy when it flows from private devotion.

The strongest believers are often those whose faith nobody sees.

Illustration

An iceberg is only visible because of what exists beneath the surface.

The visible portion is small.

The hidden portion supports everything above the water.

The same is true spiritually.

Your public faith will never exceed your private walk with God.

2. Beware spiritual applause.

Jesus gives three examples:

Giving

Some gave publicly to gain recognition.

Jesus says they already received their reward.

Prayer

Some prayed loudly to impress people.

Prayer became performance instead of conversation.

Fasting

Some intentionally looked miserable.

Their suffering became a billboard for their spirituality.

Notice the repeated phrase:

They have received their reward in full.

If human applause is what we seek, human applause is all we get.

Temporary recognition is a poor substitute for intimacy with God.

Modern Examples

Serving so people notice.

Giving so people know.

Posting every act of generosity.

Using spiritual language to appear mature.

Comparing our spiritual life to someone else's.

3. The Father who sees rewards.

This phrase appears repeatedly:

Your Father, who sees what is done in secret...

Jesus wants us to notice something.

God sees.

He sees the prayer nobody hears.

The gift nobody knows about.

The fast nobody notices.

The tears nobody witnesses.

The act of obedience nobody applauds.

Why this matters

Many people feel unnoticed.

At work.

In ministry.

In parenting.

In serving.

Jesus reminds us:

You are never unseen by your Father

Jesus Gives Us a Model Prayer

Matthew 6:9–13 “Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.”

When Jesus teaches the Lord's Prayer, He is not merely giving words to repeat.

He is teaching us how to relate to God.

Notice the progression:

Our Father

Relationship before requests.

Your Kingdom Come

Surrender before provision.

Give Us Today

Dependence instead of self-sufficiency.

Forgive Us

Humility instead of pride.

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Trust instead of self-reliance.

Prayer is not a performance

Prayer is dependence

Matthew 6:14–18 ““If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

Application

1. Examine your audience.

Ask yourself:

Who am I hoping notices this?

God?

Or people?

Before serving, giving, posting, praying, or speaking:

Who is this really for?

2. Build a secret place.

Jesus repeatedly says:

Go into your room and shut the door

The Kingdom grows in hidden places

Practical ideas:

Ten minutes of prayer before checking your phone.

Read Scripture without posting about it.

Pray during your commute.

Journal your prayers.

Worship when nobody is watching.

3. Practice one hidden act of devotion this week.

Do something only God knows about.

Examples:

Give anonymously.

Pray for someone privately.

Fast from a meal.

Write an encouraging note without signing it.

Serve someone without taking credit

Final Question

If nobody ever knew what you did for God, would you still do it?