8/26/2017 Watch online The Secret World Issue 7 Release Date witch subtitles in english FULLHD onlineRead NowSecret Service (Matthew 6: 1–1. If you’ve got it, flaunt it!” Typically, this expression means: If you have a great body, don’t hide it under modest attire. Show yourself off for the world to see. If you have a brilliant mind, don’t be humble and unassuming. Expose the genius within. If you have money, spend it so that people know you’re loaded. Perhaps you can see the problems with the notion, “If you’ve got it, flaunt it!” Yet, for some bizarre reason many Christians assume that this expression is valid in the spiritual realm. It’s common for Christians to brag about how much they give, how much they pray, how much they serve, and how spiritual they are. Element Related detail Significance; Page in a book, showing chapter title: "The World's Greatest Discovery" From book: The Secret of the Ages, by Robert Collier. Jill Lepore on Wonder Woman’s real origin story: she was a utopian feminist creation, inspired by Margaret Sanger and the ideals of free love.
Honestly, we’ve all been guilty of this behavior. It’s easy to be spiritually smug and let pride enter into our lives. We all want to be recognized and appreciated. We all want to impress people with our gifts and devotion. Yet, the Bible is clear that we must seek to impress God alone. This requires a motives check- up. After all, motives matter when it comes to being approved and rewarded by God. This means you must do the right thing in the right way. In Matt 6: 1–1. 8, Jesus shares three practices. Give without fanfare (6: 1–4). Jesus urges you and me to give with pure motives that please God. He begins in 6: 1 with a principle. Jesus says, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed. Father. 7 who is in heaven.” The word “beware”8 always warns of danger ahead, like a bridge being out of order or a road being under water. To refuse to obey such a sign is both foolish and dangerous. Here, Jesus warns you to beware of seeking to impress people. He doesn’t say that you can’t be impressive. Many Christians are impressive people. Jesus is not opposed to public righteousness. We are commanded to be “salt” and “light” (5: 1. Jesus’ primary concern is with your motives. God looks at the heart (motive) before the hand (action)! If your motives are to hear people “ooh and ah” over your righteousness,1. Jesus’ words are absolute. He is saying, “Anyone who does a good deed so as to be seen and appreciated by others will lose his or her reward, no matter how . There are absolutely no exceptions!”1. It is imperative, therefore, that you do the right thing in the right way. After laying down the overarching principle, in 6: 2–4, Jesus focuses on the topic of financial giving. He says in 6: 2: “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites. Truly I say to you,1. Jesus says “when” you give. The word “when” is a key word throughout this entire passage. Jesus does not say “if” but “when.” He assumes that His disciples will give! This means giving is not optional. Yet, maybe you’re thinking, “I’m barely making ends meet and you want me to give?” Absolutely! You’re never too poor to give. If you’re struggling to get by, give to someone who is struggling more than you. The Lord will meet your needs, especially if you are obedient to give. The question that Jesus is addressing in this verse and in this entire passage is not “when” but “why.” Why do you do what you do? It is important to see that Jesus does not forbid public giving, but He doesn’t want you to “sound a trumpet.” This is a figurative phrase from which we get our expression “toot your own horn.”1. In other words, do not give for the purpose of being “honored” by people. When the offering plates are passed, don’t cough loudly just as you’re giving. Don’t slam- dunk your offering into the plate. Don’t give so that your name will be inscribed on a building, on a plaque, on a brick, or in a list of donors for all to see. If you do, that will be your reward. The word translated “in full” (apecho) is a technical term for commercial transactions and means to “receive a sum in full and give a receipt for it.”2. When you seek to impress people you are not giving but buying, and you get what you paid for. I paid for my food. I received it in full and consumed it. End of story. This is equally true when I seek to impress people instead of God. I am paid in full with no hope of any future reward. Fortunately, Jesus offers an alternative to giving with fanfare. In 6: 3–4 He says: “But when you give to the poor,2. Please don’t take this verse literally or else you will have to undergo a lobotomy. This is a hyperbolic phrase that means “give in secret.”2. Don’t give with your right hand while you wave your left hand in the air. Instead, just drop your check in the offering or send it in the mail, without drawing attention to yourself. Fold the check. Keep the envelope sealed. Give in a spirit of humility and simplicity, as an act of worship. Try giving anonymously sometimes, even if it means that you do not receive a tax deduction. Verse 4 says, “so that. Father who sees what is done in secret will reward. Again, there’s nothing wrong with public giving that is an act of worship. But there’s plenty wrong with giving money to impress people. If you do, it is like taking municipal bonds and cashing them in early. You get accolades, but not nearly what you would if you waited. This is the principle of delayed gratification at work. You will receive your reward later, but from God Himself. Does this mean that you should never tell anyone what you give and who you give to? Acts 2: 4. 5 tells of Christians selling possessions and giving to the needy. In 4: 3. 6–3. 7, Luke tells us that Barnabas sold a field and brought the money to the feet of the apostles. If Barnabas was looking for status and prestige, his motive was wrong. But it’s certainly false to say that it was wrong for others to be made aware of his gift, because Scripture itself reveals that! Barnabas’ act of generosity was commonly known among the believers and was publicly and permanently recorded in Acts. Numbers 7 lists the names of donors to the tabernacle. Chronicles 2. 9 tells exactly how much the leaders of Israel gave to build the temple. This is recorded in Scripture for our encouragement and motivation. Jesus does not object to the fact that people may know what you give, but that you would give in order to impress people rather than God. We need heroes in the church. We need to know that our friends and leaders are giving. This motivates and challenges us to give even more sacrificially. The key is: why do you give? Do you give to please God or to impress people? When it comes to giving, make sure you do the right thing in the right way. Why should you give in secret? Because God will reward you. The second practice is. Pray without pride (6: 5–1. Jesus’ teaching on prayer is the centerpiece of the entire Sermon on the Mount. In 6: 5–8, Jesus contrasts prideful and humble prayer: “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you,3. 1 when you pray, go into your inner room,3. Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition. Gentiles do,3. 4 for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; 3. Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” Again, Jesus’ concern is praying to impress others. He is not opposed to long prayers or public prayers except when you are seeking accolades from people. Jesus’ point is: When you pray to impress people, you are paid in full. Instead, pray in secret and receive a reward from God. Perhaps a few questions would help. Do I pray frequently or more fervently when I am alone with God than when I am in public? Is my public praying an overflow of my private prayer? What do I think of when I am praying in public? Am I looking for “just the right” phrase? Am I thinking of the worshipers more than of God? Am I a spectator to my own performance? Is it possible that the reason more of my prayers are not answered is because I am more concerned about bringing my prayer to men than to God? Do the right thing in the right way. In 6: 9–1. 3, we delve into what is commonly called “The Lord’s Prayer.”3. I prefer, however, to call this “The Disciples Prayer” since it was designed for Jesus’ disciples. In these five verses, there are a total of six petitions. In 6: 9–1. 0, there are three petitions that promote God’s glory; 4. This pattern indicates that we should have more concern for God than we do for ourselves. Petition 1: God’s person (6: 9). Jesus says pray,“Pray, then, in this way: 4. The word “our” demonstrates that this prayer is for the gathered community, not private prayer. Only fifteen times was God referred to as the Father in the Old Testament. Where it does occur, it is used of the nation Israel or to the king of Israel. Never was God called the Father of an individual or of human beings in general. He was Yahweh and Adonai. In the New Testament, Jesus comes on the scene and emphasizes the fatherhood of God. He expands the intimacy that we can have as we approach God in prayer. However, God is not your pal, your buddy, or the man upstairs—He is your Father who is in heaven! He is high and lifted up and He still expects to be approached with awe. The word “hallowed” means set apart. You are to set apart God’s name as distinct from other names. You are to honor His name. You are to ask God’s name to be made holy in your life. Petition 2: God’s program (6: 1. Jesus says pray, “Your kingdom come.” In the New Testament, God’s kingdom is expressed as both a present reality. Jesus inaugurated His kingdom during His earthily ministry, but the fulfillment of His kingdom will not be fully consummated until He sets His feet down in Jerusalem and rules and reigns. When this occurs, we will experience a theocracy (not a democracy) where Jesus is King. In the meantime, we pray that God’s kingdom will come in our life and eventually to the earth. As we approach our presidential election next week, our prayer must be, “God, may Your kingdom come.” You may be concerned that if your candidate is not elected the end is near.
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