The King's Church in Ilford
The following is the text of the talk given on 31st January 2010 by Georges Kisombola
"Which Reward Do You Want? God's or Public Reward?"
- Matthew 6:1-18
The first part of Jesus' sermon in Matthew 5 taught us to get real in HOW WE LIVE and to get real in WHAT WE BELIEVE. The second part in Matthew 6 will teach us something equally important … to get real in our SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES.
Matthew 6:1 (ESV) "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 6:1 (MSG) Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding.
The Message is very accurate in paraphrasing this verse, because Jesus uses the Greek word "theaomai" which is the original root of the English word "theater." Jesus is identifying the most common temptation in the area of spiritual discipline … the temptation to craft a public image that is vastly different than our private reality.
WHY ARE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES IMPORTANT? Because they help us conquer our old nature and let our new nature gain the supremacy in our three basic areas of spiritual struggle:
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Matthew 6:1 introduces 3 areas of spiritual discipline ("when you give, pray, fast" - v. 2, 5, 16) where we are tempted to "talk" more than we "walk." But when we playact in spiritual matters, we become hypocrites "actors wearing masks" - v. 2, 5, 16 who already have their reward, "wages for work done" - v. 2, 5, 16.
Giving, praying or fasting that is motivated by a desire to impress others is not rewarded by God. Because you have chosen to receive the "public" reward, you have eliminated the better "private" reward.
WHEN YOU GIVE
Matthew 6:2-4 (MSG) When you do something for someone else, don't call attention to yourself. You've seen them in action, I'm sure -'play actors' I call them - treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that's all they get. When you help someone out, don't think about how it looks. Just do it - quietly. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.
DID YOU KNOW … ?
The Bible talks more about giving than it does about either Heaven or Hell?
Over half of the parables Jesus told have to do with the subject of money?
There are more promises in the Bible related to giving than to any other subject?
Giving is an important discipline because it helps us conquer the LUST OF THE EYES.
1. GIVING CONQUERS THE LUST FOR "STUFF"
1 Timothy 6:17 (MSG) Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage. This is so relevant with the economy today.
2. GIVING CONQUERS THE LUST FOR "ME"
1 Timothy 6:18 (CEV) Instruct them to do as many good deeds as they can and to help everyone. Remind the rich to be generous and share what they have. Take attention from the self and think of others
3. GIVING CONQUERS THE LUST FOR "NOW"
1 Timothy 6:19 (LB) By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven - it is the only safe investment for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well. Double blessing: here and in Heaven.
4. GIVING PROVES THAT GOD IS MY SOURCE
Malachi 3:10 (NLT) Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do, says the Lord Almighty, I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you! Giving brings us back to trust in God.
WHEN YOU PRAY
Matthew 6:5-9a (MSG) And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. The world is full of so-called devoted prayers. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply.
Prayer is an important discipline because it helps us conquer the PRIDE OF LIFE. (The pride of life says "I'm in charge")
Notice two things about Jesus' instructions:
We are taught how not to pray before we are taught how to pray! ( we need to have the right ATTITUDE in prayer, and then we also need to have the right APPROACH in prayer) Jesus is not condemning repeated requests. He told us to "ask, seek and knock" in Matthew 7:8, and He made the same request several times in Matthew 27- "let this cup pass from me" Therefore, the Lord's Prayer (really the "Disciple's Prayer") is not given to be repeated, but to help us avoid meaningless repetition!
This is a PRAYER OUTLINE - six topics to bathe in prayer daily.
Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV) This then, is how you should pray:
PRAISE: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name
PURPOSE: your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
PROVISION: Give us today our daily bread.
PARDON: Forgive us our debts,
PEOPLE: as we also have forgiven our debtors.
PROTECTION: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one
PRAISE: for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Matthew 6:14-15 (MSG) In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part.
WHEN YOU FAST
Matthew 6:16-18 (MSG) When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don't make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won't make you a saint. If you 'go into training' inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. God doesn't require attention-getting devices. He won't overlook what you are doing; he'll reward you well.
Fasting is an important discipline because it helps us conquer the LUST OF THE FLESH. (The lust of the flesh says "I need"), fasting says "All I need is God"
Your fast is between you and God, not to impress anyone else with how spiritual you are. You are not denying your flesh at all when your flesh gets public credit for all the denial it is enduring! Especially in a spiritual discipline like fasting, we must "have a new beginning". We must be real.
