MAIN POINT
The ETHIC of the KINGDOM: True
Jesus warns His followers that they must keep a eye on our motives in everything we do.
If we are not careful, God is the one who gets out of our lives.
As we wrongly assume the throne of our lives, we can begin to do everything we do for the or praise of man and not God.
Jesus assumes that there is a to doing all of these things that is held out to the believer, the challenge is doing the right things for the right reasons.
Jesus makes it clear that if we do these things with the right motives we will be by God.
MONEY
Jesus His people will be generous people.
New Covenant command regarding giving is that believers are to be and givers as the Lord has prospered you.
What Jesus says here in basic terms is that when you give your money to fill needs, you did it.
PRAYING
Jesus that His disciples will pray.
The Pharisees were more concerned about their image and reputation than having a connection with God.
In contrast to the Pharisees, genuine followers of Jesus pray because they are God-focused, emphasizing a connection with God rather than seeking the approval or admiration of others.
FASTING
Jesus that His disciples will fast.
The purpose of fasting should be to take your eyes off the things of this world to focus on God.
APPLICATION
If we were to sum up what we have seen today and what this means for us it is the need to recognize that our hearts are to impure motives, especially craving man’s approval over God’s.
Always has and always will be a temptation to God and His approval for ourselves and man’s approval.
We must understand that God’s promises are there to empower us to our God-glorifying mission of reaching the lost, not for success in our own private missions apart from the gospel or God’s glory.
We need recognize this potential and temptation for hypocrisy inside the church because unfortunately those outside the church that we are here to reach this hypocrisy.
Jesus doesn’t say that these things don’t matter, but what Jesus says does matter is the behind what we do.
Jesus teaches us that these all things must be done to the not man, TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS shown thru TRUE MOTIVES.
It is clear throughout the Bible that Jesus wants His followers to be focused on pleasing God so that we do for His eyes and glory alone.
Jesus is calling His people and Kingdom to as one body.