The Games We Play

Matthew 6:1-18

What practices distinguish us as citizens of the United States?

We pledge allegiance to America

We vote...

We serve in the Armed Forces...

We pay taxes (reluctantly)...

What practices as believers set us apart?

Attendance? Giving? Praying? Fasting?

“When you give…when you pray…when you fast…”

1. TRUST

“For there will never cease to be poor people in the land; that is why I am commanding you, ‘You must willingly open your hand to your afflicted and poor brother in your land.’” (Deuteronomy 15:11, HCSB)

Giving alms, a significant part of Jewish worship, then was primarily an issue of trust, of a willingness to trust God for provision – both for the one to whom alms were given AND for the one giving!

“He looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins. “I tell you the truth,” He said. “This poor widow has put in more than all of them. For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”” (Luke 21:1–4, HCSB)

2. HUMILITY

Prayer is regarded throughout Scripture as a fundamental means of religious expression. This is because praying to God assumes in faith that he is powerfully willing and also graciously able to hear and respond to the prayers of his people—and further, that he chooses to work in and through these prayers. Thus, prayer is seen all through Scripture as both a wonderful privilege and also a solemn responsibility for God’s people. It follows, then, that prayer is utterly dependent on the revealed relational character of the God of the Bible, demonstrated most fully in the person of Jesus Christ in the NT.[1]

[1] Lowery, D. D. (2014). Prayer. D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Prayer is first in secret before it can be public; prayer is always surrendered to the will of God alone; God is more interested in sincerity than a formula; and prayer without a willingness to forgive others is nothing but empty words.[1]

[1] IBID.

Far too often our prayers hit the ceiling and fall back to earth because not because God doesn’t care (“Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8, HCSB)) but because we are asking God to agree with us instead of humbling ourselves under His purpose, His plan, His ways.

3. CONSECRATION

We don’t hear much about fasting in our corner of the Evangelical world as Southern Baptists. Our Pentecostal, Charismatic and more mainline groups use the discipline more than we do. Again it is worth noting that Jesus assumed His disciples would fast…’When you fast….”

Fasting is a private demonstration of consecration.

Jonathan Edwards:

I have given myself clear away and not retained anything of my own. I have been to God this morning and told Him I have given myself wholly to Him. I have given every power, so that for the future I claim no right to myself in any respect. I have expressly promised Him, for by His grace I will not fail. I take Him as my whole portion and felicity, looking upon nothing else as any part of my happiness. His law is the constant rule of my obedience.

I will fight with all my might against the world, the flesh, and the devil to the end of my life. I will adhere to the faith of the Gospel, however hazardous and difficult the profession and practice of it may be.

I receive the blessed Spirit as my Teacher, Sanctifier, and only Comforter, and cherish all admonitions to enlighten, purify, confirm, comfort, and assist me. This I have done.

I pray God, for the sake of others, to look upon this as a self-dedication, and receive me as His own. Henceforth, I am not to act in any respect as my own. I shall act as my own if I ever make use of any of my powers to do anything that is not to the glory of God, or to fail to make the glorifying of Him my whole and entire business.[1]

[1] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 271). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

How deeply do we trust God – enough to practice an unheralded generosity?

Are we humble enough to accept God’s purpose and plan – even if no one every writes books about us?

Are we hungering after God’s presence so thoroughly that we will pay whatever price necessary to experience His kingdom presence?