Secrete Service

Did I ever tell you the story of how I caught a fever because of George W. Bush?

In the Summer of 2002 George W. Bush would make a visit to Denver Colorado for some reason I don’t know. All I know was that Marine One, the presidents helicopter was going to land in City Park behind the pavilion where he would shake the hands of some kids and then leave. (Finish Story) What I learned was that the more important Secret Service agents were the ones that you don’t see.

We celebrate the women who’s serves went unseen, unnoticed, but who were the backbone of the church as they were praying. (preach)

Jesus is moving right along, he has elevated the application of the law to its most powerful ideal, love. He now has transitioned to more practical themes for the life of the Disciple. The first verse in chapter 6 is the anchor for the chapter. It lets us know that we are not to purposely display our righteousness for the applause of humanity. We benefit nothing if what we do, we do for approval of other people. Our righteousness is only for our neighbors well being, but not for their applause. God has a way of rewarding us.

1. Secret Service to the Poor (v.3-4)

Sounding the trumpet as the hypocrites? They have their reward.

Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

2. Secret Prayer (v.6-7)

Jesus is not against public prayer. He encourages public and communal prayer. The Lord’s prayer, is both public and communal. What Jesus is against is praying so that people will hear your for the purpose of elevation yourself in their eyes. He said, “the love to stand and pray…so that the may be seen by men” And Jesus says the same thing about them, they have their reward in full. Meaning they are getting just what they desired, notoriety. The power of prayer is not in the performance of it. James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (preach)

When you go to God for prayer you go to God alone. Your prayer life is not for show. You prayer life is intimacy with your God, the lover of your soul, the one who saved and and keeps you.

Just like its unnecessary to brag about your intimate moments with your spouse.

But when you do pray, (he knows his people are praying people) go into your inner room. Closet. Somewhere where you can’t be bothered. And your Father who see’s what is done in secret will reward you openly.

3. Secret Piety (v.14-18)

Now finally, we get the last of the the secret services. Fasting. And I know that fasting goes hand in hand with prayer. The differences is that fasting is a demonstration of piety, or holiness, or a display of holiness. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that every disciple should do from time to time (teach on fasting).

Because of its close link with repentance, mourning, and disaster (mourning past disaster, humbling oneself before God that he might avert threatened disaster), fasting was often accompanied by such things as weeping, sackcloth, ashes, soil, and rent clothing.

But when we try to show how holy we are because our religious practices we nullify our witness. Again, Jesus is not against communal and public fasting. There were many times in the OT were the community would fast and receive what they asked for. So, that’s not it. They would disfigure their faces, and put on clothes so that when people would see them they would know they were fasting, they would now they were holy, and they would think they were the real deal.

They would think, they were the real deal. But underneath facade they were hypocrites. (preach)

But when you fast, (because he knows his people will fast) anoint your head, wash your face. In other words you don’t need to let anyone know when you are fasting, you don’t need show your holiness. It is okay to look normal when you are in deep prayer.

And as we look at the ministry of Jesus you will find that he never healed anyone, for the sake of popularity. His objective was to reveal the father, glorify the father, and to life a perfect that satisfied the requirements of the Father. He never asked to be repaid, he never asked for a thank you. He never asked for money. He never asked for sympathy. He never served to be served. He never served to be praised. He did all that he did for benefit of the person and to the revelation of God.