SLIDE: Back to Basics: The Secret Life

 

Last week – Hundreds of people came forward

 

2019 – 2020 new decade!

 

2 weeks in… what has changed?

 

Resolution vs transformation

 

This sermon is about real change –

 

SLIDE: Matthew 6:1-18  what is done in secret

6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

² “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Prayer

⁵ “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 others. Truly I tell you, 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.

Fasting

¹⁶ “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

 

The secret life is more often than not a warning!!

 

SLIDE: Ephesians 5:12  It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

 

SLIDE: Luke 12: 1-3. Jesus’s warning about “secret”

 Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be^[ on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. ² There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. ³ What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

 

If you have a double life… It will be revealed!

Publicly!!!

 

SLIDE: Matthew 5:14-16 Let Your Light Shine

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  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.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

 

Your good deeds… GLORIFY your Father in heaven.

 

That is God!

 

BE careful – Jesus

SLIDE: Matthew 6:1 “To be seen by others”

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

Be careful…

 

(theathēnai)  to be seen by them! =  (theh-ah’-om-ahee)

 

Greek root word =  English –  Theatre

 

3xs “do not be like the hypocrites” – Jesus

 

Hypocrite = an actor – playing a part!

 

Jesus – huge theatre – dad stone mason

 

Matthew 6:1 “To be seen by others”

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

 

An age of posting. FB Twitter Snapchat

What would you do if only you and God knew?

 

YOUR POSTS  always reflect Jesus … right?

Humility… love… kindness… mercy… grace…  

 

 

SLIDE: Feet to Your Faith

 

SLIDE: I want you to have a secret life!

 

Living a split life! A double life

What God calls us to… How you live in secret…

Exhausting –  Unsettling – Unnerving

 

Sideways energy

Alignment – Vision- Mission –

 

 

SLIDE: What is done in secret – Praying – Giving – Fasting

 

SLIDE:  The Secret Life

Giving:   Giving… Money = Your Heart

Prayer:  Praying… Words = Your Mind

Fasting:   Fasting…  Food = Your Body

 

GIVING:

Matthew 6:19-23  your money is your heart is

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

Prayer:  Praying… Words = Your Mind

 

Scripture – Meditate vs Reading

 

Reading – Breadth of God

Meditation – Depth of God

 

 

Meditating on Scripture (biblically based)

(bible project, NT Wright, reading plans)

We believe that this type of time has the highest ROI of all.

 

Sunday + life groups + daily time with God.  – 1/12

 

SLIDE: Romans 12:1-2  The Secret Life

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world,  but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 

 

I will send out an email with the tools I use.

 

 

Fasting:   Fasting…  Food = Your Body

 

“offer your bodies”

 

SLIDE: Matthew 9:14-15  Jesus Questioned About Fasting

Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”

 

Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

ONE DAY EACH WEEK – sun up to sundown

Food –

 

SLIDE: Back to Basics: The Secret Life

 

Your heart, your mind and your body

Giving, praying and fasting