Giving, Fasting and Praying     Matt. 6:1-18    EBC  Wednesday Night Bible Study  6/2

  Henry Ward Beecher- “there never was a person who did anything worth doing, who did not receive more than he gave”.

I. Define “In Secret”

  A. Not to do it for public praise. Our motivation should always be for the glory of God and not the praise of men

    1. Matthew 6:2 -

    2. Col. 3:23-24 – private devotion allows us to focus on a relationship with God rather than on attention from others

II. Define “Alms”

  A. Greek word is “eleemosune”. It means relating to or supported by charity. Literally means having mercy and pity upon the poor and giving to their needs.

    1. Luke 12:33-34 -

    2. Acts 10:2-4 – God takes note of those that give alms to the poor with the proper attitude

      a. 1 Cor. 13:3 – without the motivation of genuine love our giving is in vain

        1. Prov. 11:22 -   

III. The Importance of Secret Prayer

  A. Matt. 6:6 – prayer is communion with God. Prayer is God’s provision not man’s. God is very interested in communion with us. Jesus is most concerned here with our show of our $ .85 words. Shut the door – shut everything else out of our lives. Much of our prayer life should be in secret. The most important thing he sees in prayer is the condition of our heart.

  B. Dan. 6:10 – Daniel’s prayer was a public declaration and an act of worship

  C. Purpose of private prayer – to block out any distractions that would come from public praying and remove all wrong motivation that would arise from the desire for man’s praise.

    1. Bill Gothard – “Private prayer allows us to get our eyes off men and onto God.

  D. The strength of public prayer will be based on the strength of private prayer.

IV. Fasting In Secret

  A. Matt. 6:16-18 -

  B. Acts 13:1-3 –

  C. Jonah 3:5 -