Motive is everything

Satan tod him to pray

There is an Eastern story of a Sultan who overslept himself, so as not to awaken at the hour of prayer. So the Devil came and waked him, and told him to get up and pray.

“Who are you?” said the Sultan. “Oh, no matter,” replied the other. “My act is good, is it not? No matter who does the good action, so long as it is good.”

“Yes,” replied the Sultan, “but I think you are Satan. I know your face; you have some bad motive.” “But,” says the other, “I am not so bad as I am painted. I am pretty good fellow, after all. I was an angel once, and still keep some of my original goodness.” “That’s all very well,” replied the sagacious and prudent caliph, “but you are the tempter; that’s your business; and I wish to know why you want me to get up and pray.”

“Well,” said the Devil with a flirt of impatience, “if you must know, I will tell you. If you had slept and forgotten your prayers, you would have been sorry for it afterward, and penitent; but if you go on as now, and do not neglect a single prayer for ten years, you will be so satisfied with yourself that it will be worse for you than if you had missed one sometimes and repented of it. God loves your fault mixed with penitence more than your virtue seasoned with pride.”

—Walter Baxendale

26 Christian Motives

Motive in prayer is very important so we are going to rewind in Matthew Chapter 6 for a moment!!!

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Christ warned against spiritual pride. Spiritual pride destroys many Christians. Satan uses spiritual pride to hinder God’s work. Often people with spiritual pride keep others from attending God’s house.

Christ warned against spiritual pride. Spiritual pride destroys many Christians. Satan uses spiritual pride to hinder God’s work. Often people with spiritual pride keep others from attending God’s house.

Note the three areas in which spiritual pride arises and Jesus makes it clear that these are important and we cannot allow a motive of ME to enter these areas

1. IN GIVING—vv. 1–4 Look at your neighbor and say Giving

Matthew 6:1“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

2. IN PRAYING—vv. 5–8 Look at your neighbor and say Praying

 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

3. IN FASTING—vv. 16–18 Look at your neighbor and say Fasting

 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

We must place ourselves humbly in heavenly places to store our treasures in heaven

We must place ourselves humbly in heavenly places to store our treasures in heaven

 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?”

Prayer Humbles the Person Who Prays

Prayer Keeps Our Needs Before God

Prayer Seeks a Divine Response

Prayer Strengthens the Person Who Prays

Prayer places us Boldly and humbly in heavenly places to store our treasures in heaven

We must place ourselves humbly in heavenly places to store our treasures in heaven

4.We are above not beyond healing and restoration.

 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

LISTEN We ascend in prayer and worship and we descend in spiritual warfare

Mayshack, J. L. (1979). 175 Sermon Outlines (pp. 28–29). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

Henry Grover Dragon fly miracle

Where you at

Comunion

Matthew 26:26 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people.

27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people.