Ch. 6: Two main pitfalls/things that will block or hinder a life of constant interaction with God (=healthy, consistent growth in the Kingdom) Chapter can be divided into two sections: vv1-18 deals with the first and vv19-34 with the second.

The first pitfall: Desiring the approval of others (more than God, alongside God) Mt 6:1 ““Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” What follows: 3 examples of current practice to illustrate the point and three directives to avoid this trap. (Giving, Prayer, Fasting) Must balance with Mt. 5:14-16 ““You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Second pitfall: Security through material wealth (vv19-34  Next two weeks)

Main focus of both warnings/accompanying illustrations: Kingdom hearts play to an Audience of One: God alone. Not seeking recognition from others, content to work behind the scenes, willing to give/serve/pray anonymously & secretly/privately. Like many of the illustrations in Ch. 5, not talking about doing a good deed AND being seen, but rather about doing a good deed IN ORDER TO be seen—there’s a big difference, but it’s primarily internal…

Emphasis: vv5-15  Prayer & Forgiveness. Starts with three main elements of True Prayer found in vv5-8 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Again…not doing acts of righteousness to be seen by men, but to BE in the movements of the Kingdom. JMB: draws out and expounds on three main elements of True Prayer

First: It is offered to God the Father. We’ll see this in v9, but we also see it throughout Jesus’ ministry  always addressed God as Father. Only time He didn’t: On the Cross (My God, My God…) We have a tendency to pray more to ourselves or the others in the room than to God. The chief goal of prayer should be to bring you into the presence of God…do we view prayer as a privilege or a duty? JMB: How much time must I spend in prayer? Vs. How much time may I spend in prayer without neglecting the other privileges and duties of life?

Prayer: bring us into the presence of God, That only happens through Christ…John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Heb. 10:19-22 “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Not talking about just tagging a “my will” prayer with the words “in Jesus name”…

Eph 2:18 “For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” Rom. 8:26-27 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”  Then more than conquers. Outside or w/out the power of the HS  Hindrances to prayer. Ps. 66:18 “ If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;” Jn 16:8-9 “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt[a] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me;” HS brings Conviction  Belief in Jesus. Also distractions & worries. 1 Pet. 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Not really Lord’s Prayer (John 17)…Disciple’s prayer. A formula, not something to be repeated over and over, mindlessly (v7: don’t babble like pagans). Verses 9-13: “This, then, is how you should pray:    “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done    on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts,    as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.[a]’ (For yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever) What are the themes/principles, how can they be expanded? Adoration Confession Thanksgiving Supplication, Trinitarian Prayers.

Abba = Daddy, familial term of reliance, affection, respect, etc. Literally: Source and sustainer (Creator & provider) emotionally, physically, spiritually. Ps 103:13 “ As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;” Jer. 3:19-20 ““I myself said, “‘How gladly would I treat you like sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation.’ I thought you would call me ‘Father’ and not turn away from following me. 20 But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you have been unfaithful to me, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD.” God longs for us to call him daddy, to look to Him and Him alone for sustenance. Feels betrayed, wounded, as a husband with an unfaithful wife.

Notice the order/proportion…first half on God, His Kingdom, His Will. Second half: my needs. Is that proportion reflected in most of my prayers? Jesus our example in this regard. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 3x (Jn 17: 5vv on Himself (really God to be glorified through Him), 13vv on Disciples, 7vv on all believers) Submission is a big part of the scriptures that promise answers to prayer!

Physical, Spiritual: forgiveness/reconciliation & temptation (remaining/abiding) Daily bread  not tomorrow’s bread or unlimited stores of bread (Prov. 30:8 “give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.” Repeats day/daily  important to return to Him daily (not trying to make it through a whole week on one stop to an all-you can eat buffet) Phil 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Needs vs. wants…

Mt 6:12, 14-15 “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors . . . For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Centrality of extending forgiveness to the Kingdom heart. Break in fellowship with God that can result from unforgiveness. Like loving our enemy, it tests the true character of the heart like few things can. Also reveals the depth of trust in God/Christ like few things can…

We need to be forgiven! By God and by each other. Many psychiatrists and counselors will tell you that most of the time in therapy/counseling deals with forgiveness. “Like swallowing poison and waiting for the other person to die!” Col 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Initial forgiveness/justification & subsequent forgiveness (already justified). Jesus is talking about the second here. The first will separate us from God eternally if left unforgiven. The second deals with a temporary breach or disconnect in our relationship with God. With first, John 1:12  believed, received  children of God. 1 Jn 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Without forgiving others, we remain in a state of disconnectedness from God. As we seek forgiveness from Him (v12), our hearts will be softened toward other to extend forgiveness to others. Mt. 18:21-35 (32-35) Huge debt forgiven/small debt not forgiven . . . “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.   35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Prayer as seeking the presence of God? Format/proportions of prayer? Forgiveness? Not a list of things to do, but changed people do things differently… Who can you share this with? To whom would it be Good News?

Featured Resource? New People…run through website slides that follow…

Two Main Pitfalls to Avoid (Mt. 6:1, 19)

a. Desiring the Approval of Others

b. Playing to an Audience of One

II. Three Elements of True Prayer (Mt. 6:5-8)

II. a. It is Offered to God the Father

II. b. …On the Basis of Christ’s Sacrifice

II. c. …In the Power of the Holy Spirit

III. The Disciples’ Prayer (Mt. 6:9-13)

III. a. Praying to Our Daddy

III. b. Thy Will… Then My Will

III. c. What to Pray for

IV. A Word about Forgiveness (Mt. 6:14-15)

IV. a. The Need for Forgiveness

IV. b. Two Main Types of Forgiveness

IV. c. The Importance of Forgiving

What is YOUR next step?

Questions???