Sunday Recap On A Tuesday...

On Tuesday's I hope to post some thoughts from the lesson that was previously taught at Merge the Sunday before...

Series: You Say You Want A Revolution
Lesson: The Hypocrite (part two)
Text: Matthew 6:9-18

Some Thoughts:
---Last week Jesus opened an area confronting our tendency to want to put our spirituality on display for all the wrong reasons.  As He goes after our hearts, He is profoundly and simply stating that it is entirely possible to do good things in deceptive motives.  He is confronting our willingness for doing things for the applause of men, rather than for the applause of God.


--- This is a touchy subject because for so many of us we have spent years, even decades, searching for the approval of a parent, a spouse, a child, a boss, an associate or a friend.  When we do receive that approval it can become intoxicating to the point where it can become a dangerous pursuit of our lives.  


v.1 
---If your "acts" are done for the applause of men, don't be surprised when that is the only applause you receive.


---There are few greater compliments a Christian can receive than through your "acts" people proclaim that God has done something amazing and used you to do it.


---What Jesus is saying: GIVE anonymously, PRAY secretly, FAST quietly


PRAYER:
---the true aim of prayer is not to tune God's ear to our request; rather prayer is aimed to tune our hearts to His.


v.5-8
---So don't let you prayer frequency be dictated by the size of the crowd, don't babble thinking that the more words you use the better your chances are of being heard.  Instead make prayer intimate, private an a heart thing more than a vocal thing.  


v.9
---"This is HOW your should pray" not "This is WHAT you should pray".  What Jesus is teaching us is essence not mechanics.  Meaning, He will give us an umbrella to pray under, not a box to pray in.


v.10
---One prayer I have been praying in regards to verse 10 is "Help me become increasingly passionate about what you are doing and decreasingly passionate about my desire to attempt to steer my own ship."


v.11
---Our daily bread is a miracle from God.  There was a time in the history of Israel  when they were in a barren desert and God would provide Manna and Quail for them to eat.  Every morning was a visual reminder of God's provision.  You know what happened?  What was a miracle on Monday because a complaint on Thursday!!!


---Do you realize that God is smarter than you?  Do you realize that He knows what you need before you do and has promised to take care of all of your needs?  STOP!!! Because you nod with your heads but your hearts and worries tell a completely different story.


---Your car isn't daily bread, it's the icing on the cake.


v.13
---The best protection from sin and temptation is pre-deciding to do life God's Way and turning to Him as you depend on His direction.


v.12,14-15
---Our forgiveness of others effects our relationship with God.  


FASTING:
v.16-18
---The purpose of the fast since Jesus is basically to gain greater clarity in life or intimacy with God by drawing closer to Him by gong without food (or something) in order to devote more time in prayer or the Word.


---The object of the fast should be something that you quite possibly are placing a higher value on than your relationship with God.


---Some great reasons to fast:
1.  An important decision
2.  Fighting a particular sin
3.  Developing a deeper dependence on God.
4.  Training in self-discipline


---Jesus says fasting (like giving and prayer) has less to do with an audience and more to do with you and God.


Heart and Soul,
BAG
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