2
Series: Sermon on the mount
Speaker: Sam Low
Date: 4th January 2014
Passage: Matthew 6:1-18
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 I remember a few years ago, not long after Sal and I had been married, we had the opportunity
00:00:04 --> 00:00:05 to go on a holiday.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 It was pre-kids, so it was one of the ones that was actually a holiday.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:15 And we got to go up to the Gold Coast with some friends, so we worked our way up the
00:00:15 --> 00:00:16 coast, stayed up there for a few nights.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:22 But the highlight was, me and my friend, as a surprise for our wives, got tickets to Dream
00:00:22 --> 00:00:27 World for New Year's Eve, which was fantastic because it meant there wasn't any kids running
00:00:27 --> 00:00:28 around Dream World.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:33 There was just adults in one of two categories, either those who had wasted money on the Dream
00:00:33 --> 00:00:37 World ticket and were getting drunk, or people like us who had bought the ticket to go and
00:00:37 --> 00:00:38 use rides all day.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:44 So there's a bunch of young adults running around Dream World going on all the rides, which was
00:00:44 --> 00:00:45 a fantastic night.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:52 But I remember it being a moment of clarity for my wife on exactly who I was as her husband.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 There's one particular ride at Dream World called The Claw.
00:00:56 --> 00:01:04 Now, to give you just a rough idea of what The Claw is, it's a circle of seats with a big long pole
00:01:04 --> 00:01:05 coming out the top.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 And basically, it goes upside down.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:08 It spins around.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:09 It does full loops.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:10 It does all sorts of things.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 And we were watching it as we walked through the gates.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:16 And straight away, there was a bit of nervousness from me.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:18 I don't mind rides.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 I don't mind things that go up and down.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 But I'm also quite lanky.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 And so when you strap me in, I don't feel like I'm actually contained.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:27 My arms and legs are going to go.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:31 And it just makes me worry that I'm going to slip out of whatever harness it is they've provided.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 But anyway, it was inevitable.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:39 We went around to The Claw first and queued up for that ride.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:39 And I'm watching.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 There's some people who are smaller than me, younger than me.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:47 There's 18-year-old girls queuing up to go on this ride, thinking this is going to be fantastic,
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 and cheering as they go around, and then coming off with big smiles on their face.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:55 And at that point, my wife started to get a little bit nervous about this ride.
00:01:55 --> 00:01:56 And I thought, fantastic.
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 So I began to say, look, it's OK.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 We don't have to go on the ride if you don't want to.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:06 I said, you know, it looks great, but it's OK.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:07 I'll stay off with you.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 Unfortunately, my friend's wife was like, no, no.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:11 Come on, you guys.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:12 You've got to come.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:13 Sal, we'll be fine.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:15 And she kept convincing her.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 And I'm trying to play the really brave husband.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:19 And I'm like, look, it's OK, Sal.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 I don't mind staying off with you if you want.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:26 And this conversation went on and on as we're getting closer and closer.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 And then finally, Sal goes, OK, I'll go on it.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 But Sam, you have to help me if I get scared.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 I'm like, yeah, that won't be a problem.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:35 That's fine.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 And so we're at the front of the queue.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 And the seats are emptying out.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 And the attendant points to us and invites us to our seats.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:44 We sit down.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:49 And Sal's starting to get very nervous as the harness comes down over the shoulders and suffocates you.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:50 Because it has to be tight.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 Otherwise, you're going to end up a suburb away.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 And she's starting to panic.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 And I can hear her breathing quickly.
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 And so I'm like, it's fine, Sal.
00:02:58 --> 00:02:59 It's going to be fine.
00:02:59 --> 00:02:59 It's just a ride.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:00 Don't worry.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:01 It'll all be over really quickly.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 And I'm acting as tough as I possibly can.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:09 What happens next is, because this thing's about to do loops like this, they have to get rid of the ground.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:10 Otherwise, you're going to hit it.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 So suddenly, the ground that you've been standing on disappears.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 And you're kind of dangling in these seats strapped in.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 Sal starts going, oh, I'm not sure anymore.
00:03:19 --> 00:03:19 I'm not sure anymore.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:21 Internally, I was saying something similar.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:23 It's fine.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:23 It's fine.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:24 It's going to be OK.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:25 This will be great fun.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:25 Just smile.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:26 Enjoy it.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:27 Open your eyes.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 And then we start to swing just a little bit back and forth.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 And Sal's eyes closed.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:34 She's like, I can't look.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:35 I can't look.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 And I'm like, it's great.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:37 It's really exciting.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:38 It's fantastic.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 Thankfully, she was next to me, so she couldn't see.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:42 But I'm playing tough.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:42 I'm playing tough.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:44 And then it's getting higher and higher.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 But for some reason, it always goes slow on the way up.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 It's like it's building suspense or trying to punish you or something.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 Until we got to the point where we were upside down and hanging.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 And you know it's about to happen.
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 But you're thinking, is there any way I can stop it now?
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 And so Sal is like, eyes closed.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:01 She's panicking.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:03 She might have been on the border of crying.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 And I'm like, it's OK.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:06 It's OK.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:08 And then we started to drop.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 And at that point, it didn't matter what I'd said, how much I'd faked, or what I'd acted.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:12 I squealed like a little girl.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 All the way down and around.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 Every swing from then on, spinning around.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 And I don't know if Sal knew it was me.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:22 But when we got off the ride at the end, there were some other kids that were like,
00:04:22 --> 00:04:23 did you hear that girl squealing?
00:04:23 --> 00:04:24 And there we go.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:29 And I'd put on this amazing show of how tough I was and what a great husband I was.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 But what's on the inside always comes out.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 It doesn't matter how well you pretend.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 It doesn't matter what a great show you put on.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:42 If internally something different is happening, eventually it's going to show up.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:49 Just a few years ago, one of the greatest athletes of our time became one of the greatest frauds of our time.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:59 Lance Armstrong had allegedly won multiple Tour de France's, survived testicular cancer, brain cancer, and lung cancer.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 Had marriages and kids.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:12 And then now we know that what was going on inside was a man so twisted by a need to win that he was willing to cheat and compromise his character over and over again.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:16 What is on the inside always comes out.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:25 When your reputation, the way that people see you, and your character, the person that you are when nobody is looking, don't line up,
00:05:25 --> 00:05:30 you can be sure that what's on the inside will always come out.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 And the same is true for us as followers of Jesus.
00:05:34 --> 00:05:38 If you're not genuine in your commitment to Jesus,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:42 if you have a double life, one that you show to us here at church,
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 one that you show when people can see you,
00:05:44 --> 00:05:48 and then a different one when you're by yourself or when you're with a different group of people,
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 you need to be warned,
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 what's on the inside will always come out.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 It might be that as you arrive at church on a Sunday morning,
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 you feel this pressure.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 From the moment you drive in the driveway,
00:06:03 --> 00:06:08 you are concerned because you know that you're about to be surrounded by a whole bunch of really holy people.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:13 And so instantly, you switch on that bit of you that is nicer than you are at home.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:16 You switch on that bit of you that is more excited about the Bible
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 than every other point in your week.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:24 You switch on that bit of you that is going to tell everybody else that you love Jesus the most,
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 that you are the most excited about Him.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 But the problem is,
00:06:30 --> 00:06:34 if what's on the inside and what's on the outside don't match up,
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 what's on the inside will always come out.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 The message of the Sermon on the Mount,
00:06:41 --> 00:06:44 from the Beatitudes that we looked at last week and through the rest of chapter 5,
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 is that from God's perspective,
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 what's on the inside matters most.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 From God's perspective,
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 it's the heart that He's interested in.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 And in the passage today,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:59 He wants to strip back that outside facade that we put on
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 and show us what really matters.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 Have a look at verse 2 with me.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:08 He wants to challenge us about some of the displays that we put on for the wrong reasons.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 So I begin at verse 1.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:16 Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men to be seen by them.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 If you do,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20 you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 Don't put on a show for the people around you.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:24 And the examples,
00:07:25 --> 00:07:25 verse 2,
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 When you give to the needy,
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 do not announce it with trumpets as the hypocrites do in the synagogues
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 and on the streets to be honored by men.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 I tell you the truth,
00:07:33 --> 00:07:36 they have received their reward in full.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 Or verse 5,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 When you pray,
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 do not be like the hypocrites,
00:07:40 --> 00:07:43 for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 to be seen by men.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 I tell you the truth,
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 they have received their reward in full.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 And verse 16,
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 When you fast,
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 do not look somber as the hypocrites do,
00:07:53 --> 00:07:57 for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting.
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 I tell you the truth,
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 they have received their reward in full.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 These are good things.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 Jesus is in opening this sermon and saying,
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 don't pray.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 He is not even saying,
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 don't pray in public.
00:08:10 --> 00:08:14 What he is showing us is that even good things that he has given us,
00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 even things that he has instructed us to do,
00:08:17 --> 00:08:21 can become just a means by which we put on a show for everyone around us.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 And the problem with that is,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 is God is not fooled.
00:08:25 --> 00:08:25 I mean,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 it is almost ridiculous to think that you would take something like this
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 and twist it and make it a bad thing.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 But by perverting what is good,
00:08:33 --> 00:08:36 we have stumbled into the worst kind of hypocrisy.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:37 I mean,
00:08:38 --> 00:08:38 prayer.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:42 To pray in a way that you are seeking to impress other people
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 is completely redundant.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:50 It is almost like me never saying anything nice to my wife when we are just alone,
00:08:51 --> 00:08:54 but in public being overly affectionate to her,
00:08:55 --> 00:08:58 overly positive to impress the other women around.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:02 Prayer is our opportunity to speak to God.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:06 So to use it as some sort of performance to impress other people
00:09:06 --> 00:09:09 completely defeats the purpose of prayer.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:13 And so today Jesus is warning us,
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 don't fake your love for him.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:21 Don't pretend because he is not fooled.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:29 And following Jesus genuinely means living for an audience of one.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:35 It means switching off that part of you that is nervous about what everybody else will think
00:09:35 --> 00:09:42 or say about what you do and focusing your heart and your desire on the audience of one.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 On the God who is always there.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:50 But I guess the question we need to ask as we reflect on this passage this morning is
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 how can you be sure?
00:09:52 --> 00:09:57 How can you check your heart and figure out whether or not you are actually praying to God,
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 giving for God,
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 fasting for God,
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 singing for God,
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 serving for God,
00:10:03 --> 00:10:07 rather than so that the people here at church will notice you and be impressed?
00:10:08 --> 00:10:08 Well,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:14 I think the key comes in comparing your private life with your public life.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 If they're different,
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 who are you trying to impress?
00:10:22 --> 00:10:26 Do you read your Bible more when you're by yourself?
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 Or when there's people around who will see you doing it?
00:10:30 --> 00:10:33 Do you pray more when you're by yourself?
00:10:34 --> 00:10:37 Or when you're at your community group and the people there will know whether or not you've prayed?
00:10:39 --> 00:10:45 Are you more excited about Jesus when you're alone and you are just reflecting on his grace to you?
00:10:45 --> 00:10:50 Or when you're here and you know that everybody else can see what kind of a facial expression you've got?
00:10:50 --> 00:10:58 Do you give more when it's public and everybody can see what you're doing?
00:10:59 --> 00:11:04 Or just whenever the opportunity is there because it is just your heart to be generous?
00:11:04 --> 00:11:09 If your public life and your private life are different,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 you have to ask yourself the question,
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 who are you trying to impress?
00:11:15 --> 00:11:18 Because the only one who matters is Jesus.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 No one else is worth it.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:24 That's a scary finish to each of those verses we just read out.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:25 The end of verse 2,
00:11:25 --> 00:11:44 If you go through the motions of being a Christian to impress people,
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 that's all you'll ever get out of it.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 Some people think,
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 Oh, what a great guy he is.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 How generous he is.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 How caring he is.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 How encouraging he is.
00:11:55 --> 00:12:01 But then they'll see someone else and be excited about their generosity and encouragement.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 If all you want is to impress people,
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 you'll probably do it.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 But is it really worth it?
00:12:09 --> 00:12:13 The Christian life is one that demands whole-of-life commitment.
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 Last week we looked at the Beatitudes
00:12:15 --> 00:12:19 and that God has flipped around everything that is success.
00:12:20 --> 00:12:23 Is it worth giving up all the things that the world is telling you matter
00:12:23 --> 00:12:26 if you're just doing it to impress people?
00:12:26 --> 00:12:29 The only one who really matters is the audience of one.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 Your Creator.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 Your God.
00:12:33 --> 00:12:36 And He is always with you.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:40 The psalmist in Psalm 139 asked the question,
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 Where could I go to hide from God?
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 If I go up to the heavens, He is there.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 If I go down to the depths, He is there.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:50 If I hide in the darkness, even darkness is light to Him.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 God is everywhere.
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 If you are different when you are alone
00:12:56 --> 00:12:59 compared to when you are among your church family
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 or among Christian brothers and sisters,
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 I ask you the question,
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 Who are you trying to impress?
00:13:05 --> 00:13:09 Do you need to realize that God is there
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 even when the doors are closed and you are by yourself?
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 Or do you need to ask yourself the question,
00:13:15 --> 00:13:18 Am I distracted by something less important?
00:13:18 --> 00:13:20 By someone less worthy?
00:13:23 --> 00:13:27 Imagine living your life as a Christian
00:13:27 --> 00:13:31 and convincing everyone you know that you are genuine,
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 that you are the real deal,
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 that you are serious,
00:13:33 --> 00:13:37 except for the one person who matters.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:43 It's like being pulled over by the police
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 with a carload of friends for speeding.
00:13:45 --> 00:13:48 And you work really hard to convince everyone in the car
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 that you weren't actually speeding,
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 that there's been some sort of mistake.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 Even if everybody in the car believes you,
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 if the policeman doesn't,
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 you're still going to get a fine.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:03 There are some really scary words in chapter 7,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 and let me read for you from verse 21.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 Verse 21.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:08 Not everyone who says to me,
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 Lord, Lord,
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 will enter the kingdom of heaven,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:13 but only he who does the will of my Father
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 who is in heaven.
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 Many will say to me on that day,
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 Lord, Lord,
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 did we not prophesy in your name,
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 and in your name drive out demons
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 and perform many miracles?
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 Then I will tell them plainly,
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 I never knew you.
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 Away from me, you evildoers.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:35 Can you imagine spending your whole life
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 convincing everyone around you
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 that you love Jesus?
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 Convincing everyone around you
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 that you're a Christian.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 Maybe even starting to convince yourself.
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 But missing out on the one person who matters.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 The God who made you,
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 who loves you,
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 who sent his son for you,
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 and who will ultimately decide
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 whether or not you spend eternity
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 in heaven with him
00:14:55 --> 00:14:58 or separated from him.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 There's an interesting little word in here
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 which I think we can't just skip past.
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 I was having a conversation
00:15:07 --> 00:15:10 with Mike Casson about this last week.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 We are challenged about the inferior reward
00:15:13 --> 00:15:15 that we might be seeking
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 if we're trying to perform
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 for the people around us.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 But there's the promise of another reward.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:24 Have a look in verse 3 and 4.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 When you give to the needy,
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 do not let your left hand know
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 what your right hand is doing
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 so that your giving may be in secret.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 Then your father,
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 who sees what is done in secret,
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 will reward you.
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 Or in verse 6,
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 When you pray,
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 go into your room,
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 close the door,
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 and pray to your father who is unseen.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 Then your father,
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 who sees what is done in secret,
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 will reward you.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 Or in verse 17,
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 When you fast,
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 put oil on your head
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 and wash your face
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 so that it will not be obvious
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 to men that you are fasting,
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 but only to your father,
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 who is unseen.
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 And your father,
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 who sees what is done in secret,
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 will reward you.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 It sounds like we're just trading
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 a dodgy reward
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 for a better reward.
00:16:08 --> 00:16:10 It sounds like we're getting paid
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 for our commitment to Jesus.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:16 But what exactly is this reward?
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 It's not the same thing
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 as putting on a show
00:16:19 --> 00:16:21 and then getting praise for it.
00:16:21 --> 00:16:23 It's not that we give to the needy
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 and then turn to God
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 and say,
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 OK, what do I get?
00:16:26 --> 00:16:28 It's not that we pray in private
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 and then we turn to God
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 and say,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 OK, what am I getting?
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 What's the benefit?
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 There is a fantastic C.S. Lewis quote
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 which helps us understand
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 the nature of gifts.
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 The proper rewards
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41 are not simply tacked on
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 to the activity
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 for which they are given,
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 but are the activity itself
00:16:45 --> 00:16:47 in consummation.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 What he's getting at there
00:16:49 --> 00:16:51 is that when we give
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 with a heart
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 that seeks to honour God,
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 when we give that a heart
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 that is generous
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 because God has been
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 generous to us
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 and because we are grateful
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 for all He has provided,
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 giving itself is a reward.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 When we are distracted
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 by what may come,
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 what people may think of us,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 we lose the benefit.
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 When we pray
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 out of dependence on God
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 and out of love for Him,
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 the chance to speak
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 to our Creator,
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 the chance to speak
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 to the Almighty God
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 is the reward
00:17:19 --> 00:17:22 and there is no greater reward.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:26 The reward that Jesus speaks about
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 here in this sermon
00:17:27 --> 00:17:29 is that the acts of righteousness
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 are no longer a burden,
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 are no longer a show
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 that we must put on,
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 are no longer hoops
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 that we must jump through,
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 but they are a labour of love.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 They are things that bless
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 and feed us
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 as we seek to love
00:17:42 --> 00:17:44 and serve our Holy God.
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 If you want to be genuine
00:17:46 --> 00:17:48 in your acts of righteousness,
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 genuine in your life
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 as a Christian,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 you must live
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 for the audience of one.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 You must close your eyes
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 to the pressure
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 and distraction
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 of the people around you
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 and check your heart.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 Why am I doing this?
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 Secondly,
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 how can you make sure
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 you're genuine?
00:18:08 --> 00:18:11 Let your reputation
00:18:11 --> 00:18:13 overflow from your character.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 Let what is outside
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 be the result
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 of what is inside.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 If people look at you
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 and ask questions
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 about your commitment to God,
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 ask questions
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 about your obedience,
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 the answer is not
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 to convince those people
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 that you're actually committed
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 and you're actually obedient.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:30 And that's good news.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:33 That's actually a weight lifted.
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 You don't have to put on a show.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 Instead,
00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 Jesus calls you to focus
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 on what's inside,
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 to focus on your heart,
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 to focus on a love for Him.
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 That is good news
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 because no matter
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 how hard you try,
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 you will never be good enough
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 to convince
00:18:51 --> 00:18:53 even the people around you,
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 let alone God,
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 if your heart
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 is not in love with Him.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:59 Jesus says,
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 let your public worship,
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 let the person that you are
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 when people are around
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 be the overflow
00:19:03 --> 00:19:05 of your private worship.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 Let the person that you are
00:19:08 --> 00:19:10 when other Christian brothers
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 and sisters see you
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 in your community group
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 here at church,
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 even when you're out shopping
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 or spending time with family,
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 let that person
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 be who you are in private,
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 overflowing.
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 Let the way that you read
00:19:22 --> 00:19:24 God's word by yourself
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 be the way that you read
00:19:25 --> 00:19:27 God's word here at church.
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 Work on the inside
00:19:29 --> 00:19:31 and the outside will follow
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 because what is on the inside
00:19:32 --> 00:19:34 always comes out.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 Let your heart
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 drive your hands and feet.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:39 There is an oppressive version
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 of following Jesus.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 It's the version where
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 you get told everything
00:19:42 --> 00:19:44 that you are doing wrong
00:19:44 --> 00:19:46 and try and fix it all.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 You get told that
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 you're not encouraging enough
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 and so you spend the next week
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 trying really hard
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 to be encouraging.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 You get told that
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 you're not praying enough
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 so you put in a disciplined
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 regime of prayer
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 where you get up at 6am
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 every day to pray for an hour.
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 You get told that
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 you're not serving enough
00:20:01 --> 00:20:03 so you fill every waking moment
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 with service.
00:20:04 --> 00:20:06 That is an oppressive version
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 of following Jesus
00:20:06 --> 00:20:08 where you just get burden
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 after burden.
00:20:09 --> 00:20:11 But Jesus is saying here
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 in his Sermon on the Mount
00:20:12 --> 00:20:14 what he is calling us to
00:20:14 --> 00:20:16 is to love him.
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 And then that love
00:20:18 --> 00:20:21 will overflow in service.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:23 It will overflow in prayer.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 Not so that people see
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 but because there is
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 no greater joy
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 than talking to the God
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 who loved us enough
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 to send his son
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 to die for us.
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 It is the love for him
00:20:33 --> 00:20:35 that overflows in generosity
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 because we have been shown
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 generosity.
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 Following Jesus
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 is between you
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 and him.
00:20:45 --> 00:20:47 The opinion of nobody else
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 matters
00:20:48 --> 00:20:50 when it comes to you
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 standing before God
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 in that final day.
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 And so even when
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 no one is watching
00:20:57 --> 00:20:59 especially
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 when no one is watching
00:21:01 --> 00:21:03 Jesus is still there
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 right by your side.
00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 If you wish to live a life
00:21:07 --> 00:21:09 of genuine devotion to God
00:21:09 --> 00:21:11 the instruction in this passage is
00:21:11 --> 00:21:14 let your reputation
00:21:14 --> 00:21:16 overflow from your character.
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 Work on the inside.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 Work on your love for him
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 when no one else is watching
00:21:23 --> 00:21:25 and that will shape
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 the person that you are
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 when people are watching.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:30 But there is a bit of a tension here.
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 If you remember
00:21:30 --> 00:21:32 last week we read
00:21:32 --> 00:21:34 in verse 16 of chapter 5
00:21:34 --> 00:21:36 let your light shine before men
00:21:36 --> 00:21:38 that they may see your good deeds
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 and praise your Father in heaven.
00:21:40 --> 00:21:42 So just one chapter ago
00:21:42 --> 00:21:44 we are told to be public
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 and obvious
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 in our love for Jesus
00:21:45 --> 00:21:47 so that God gets glory.
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 Now we have been told
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 to give privately
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 pray privately
00:21:50 --> 00:21:53 and fast subtly.
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 How do we hold
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 those two things together?
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 Again another really helpful quote
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 that I have read
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 during this week.
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 Basically
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 show
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 when you are tempted
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 to hide
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 and hide
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 when you are tempted
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 to show.
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 The issue isn't
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 whether or not you pray
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 in public or private.
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 The issue isn't
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 whether people know
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 whether you give
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 or what you are giving
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 or not giving.
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 The issue isn't
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 whether people are aware
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 that you are fasting
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 or not fasting.
00:22:18 --> 00:22:20 The issue is your heart.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 The issue is the motivation.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 If you are tempted
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 to be private
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 because you don't want
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 people to know
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 that you are following Jesus
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 then the message
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 of chapter 5
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 is let your light shine.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 If you are tempted
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 to show everybody
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 so that they think
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 you are impressive
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 and holy
00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 then the message is
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 go into your room
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 shut the door
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 and do it before
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 your heavenly father alone.
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 Before the audience
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 of one.
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 If you want
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 to be genuine
00:22:47 --> 00:22:50 close your eyes
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 to the people
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 around you
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 and live
00:22:52 --> 00:22:54 for your heavenly father
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 alone.
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 He is not asking
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 for mere actions
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 or words.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 He demands
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 your heart
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 and nothing less.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 Reputation
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 is just what people
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 think of you
00:23:07 --> 00:23:09 but if you want
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 to be real with God
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 then what matters
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 is your character.
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 What matters
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 is the person
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 that you are
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 when nobody's looking
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 because what's
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 on the inside
00:23:17 --> 00:23:19 will always
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 come out.
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 Let me pray for us.
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 Father God
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 we want to acknowledge
00:23:29 --> 00:23:31 that it is so easy
00:23:31 --> 00:23:33 to take good things
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 that you have
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 given us
00:23:34 --> 00:23:36 and then use them
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 as a means
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 of self-promotion.
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 We want to
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 confess that
00:23:40 --> 00:23:42 we do feel
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 the pressure
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45 of being good
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 or being better
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 when we're around
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 people.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 We do feel
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 the pressure
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 of living up
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 to the expectations
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 of others
00:23:52 --> 00:23:54 but God
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 thank you
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 for reminding us
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 that you are
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 the only one
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 who matters.
00:23:57 --> 00:23:59 thank you
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 for loving us
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 even when we
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 didn't deserve it.
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 Thank you
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 that how much
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 we pray
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 or give
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 or fast
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 in no way
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 affects
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 your willingness
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 to love
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 and forgive us.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 God
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 lift the burden
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 of trying
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 to be good enough
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 from our shoulders
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 and replace it
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 with the joy
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 of loving you
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 because you
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 first loved us.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 Father
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 help us
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 to be people
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 who feel safe
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 to be honest
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 when we're struggling
00:24:26 --> 00:24:28 to share
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 our failures
00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 so that together
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 we might grow
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 in our love
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 for you.
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 Father
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 please shape us
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 in the quiet
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 times
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 in our alone
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 times
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 to be so
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 consumed
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 with passion
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 for you
00:24:42 --> 00:24:44 so overwhelmed
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 with love
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 for you
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 that it
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 overflows
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 into the people
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 we are in public.
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 Thank you
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 for your spirit
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 that has begun
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 and will complete
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 this work
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 in us.
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 In Jesus' name
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 Amen.