CLEAR PURPOSE

Clear Purpose:

Series: “The WHY Matters.” Part 1

Sunday, March 8, 2020

Dr. Chris Vaught, Sr. Pastor

The WHY Matters!

Jesus addresses 3 Disciplines observed by the Jewish People, , , .

Matthew 6: 2— So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do…

Vs. 5—Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites,

Vs. 16—Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites.

• What is a Hypocrite?

• Jesus reveals that you can do the from the .

Matthew 6:33— But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

The WHY according to Jesus.

1. To

2. To Seek  be Done.

Matthew 6: 5— Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.

The WHY of Prayer – vs. 5-8

1. Jesus  us to Pray

2. Not for  but in  Relationship

3. Not  but with  and

The WHY of Fasting – vs. 16-18, Isaiah 58: 3-10,

1. Jesus  us to Fast

2. Not for  but for  and

Vs. 16-18— “Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Isaiah 58: 3-10 — 3 “Why have we fasted, but you have not seen? We have denied ourselves, but you haven’t noticed!” “Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast, and oppress all your workers. 4You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today, hoping to make your voice heard on high. 5 Will the fast I choose be like this: A day for a person to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the Lord? 6 Isn’t this the fast I choose: To break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to ignore your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will appear like the dawn, and your recovery will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard.9 At that time, when you call, the Lord will answer; when you cry out, he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you get rid of the yoke among you, the finger-pointing and malicious speaking, 10 and if you offer yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted one, then your light will shine in the darkness,

Keep prayer and fasting…REAL.

• R.

• E.

• A.

• L.

The Big Take-Away:

For the next 7 Days I Will

• Pray for God to

• Fast in this manner in order to devote my attention on God’s Glory and God’s Will. I will Fast