In the next verses Jesus taught about GIVING, PRAYING AND FASTING. Other versions in the Bible talk about "stewardship" and "worship". He us teaching us to try and live each day like Him.
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4. GIVING/STEWARDSHIP
"Watch out! Don't do your GOOD DEEDS PUBLICLY, to be admired by others, for you will lose your reward from your Father in Heaven.....When you GIVE TO SOMEONE IN NEED don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. GIVE YOUR GIFTS IN PRIVATE, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you." Matthew 6:1&3 (NLT)
Generosity is investing in Heaven! But we do this privately - "not in front of people, to be seen by them". OUR GIVING NEEDS TO BE IN SECRET - we don't want to be like the "hypocrites" or the "religious leaders", who did these kind and generous things, so that everyone would "call attention to them". We will receive rewards in Heaven, when we do good deeds because we want to follow Jesus.
5. TEACHING ABOUT PRAYER
"When YOU PRAY, GO AWAY BY YOURSELF, shut the door behind you and PRAY TO YOUR FATHER in PRIVATE. Then your Father, who sees everything , will reward you." Matthew 6:6 (NLT)
"Prayer is a vital expression of TRUST IN GOD . It involves other disciplines: MEDITATION, WORSHIP, SOLITUDE and SURRENDER." from" Charles Swindoll
We need to take time to LISTEN to Him, not just be like the "hypocrites" who stand praying in "the synagogues", wanting everyone to hear what they are saying. They also stand on the "street corners" and "babble on".
"They think their prayers will be answers merely by repeating their words over and over again. Don't turn these into a theatrical production. All these people make a regular show of their prayers." Matthew 6:5 (NLT/MSG)
Jesus wants our prayers to be "simple and honest", in a quiet place, our focusing beging on God and on others, before ourselves. God never hides His will from us if we ask Him, and He is always ready to give us DIRECTION. But prayer is not "a get rich scheme" or a "Christmas wish list".
"PRAYER IS THE MOST POWERFUL SPIRIT DISCIPLINE. It is an authentic seeking of GOD'S WILL, a PERSONAL CONVERSATION, with our Almighty Father, expressing our honest concerns and LISTENING TO HIS RESPONSES." Charles Swindoll
It is also important to pray for our GOVERNMENT and the LEADERS AND PASTORS IN OUIR CHURCH. We may have personal struggles, and we need to share these with others as well as communicate with Jesus and His Father. Prayer should be a "natural, spiritual response", a time of worship every day.
"First of all, I urge the entreaties, PRAYERS AND PETITIONS, and THANKSGIVINGS be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that you may lead a tranquil and quiet life in godliness, and dignity." 1 Timothy 2:1&2 (NKJV)
"Dear brothers and sisters, honour those who are LEADERS in the LORD'S WORK. They work hard among you and GIVE YOU SPIRITUAL GUIUDANCE. Show them GREAT RESPECT AND WHOLEHEARTED LOVE because of their work. And LIVE PEACEFULLY with each other." 1 Thessalonians 5:12&13 (NLT)
"Find a PRIVATE, QUIET PLACE to be ALONE WITH GOD. It is where your battles are fought, and you develop an INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP with HIM. Humble yourselves before God because He knows all about you and HE LOVES YOU. Learn to talk to Him, for HE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND." Charles F Stanley
6)LORD'S PRAYER
"This then is how you should PRAY:
"OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME, YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
GIVE US THIS DAY, OUR DAILY BREAD.
AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE ALSP FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS.
AND LEAD US NOT US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL." Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)
The disciples have asked Jesus to teach them how to PRAY. Christians use this PRAYER as a model for how they can talk to God and have a relationship with Him.
a) OUR FATHER - HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME
I loved and him, respected my father and mother. Prayer flowed naturally to my parents, "leaping out of morning to pray". I would watch them, as a child, trying to learn, but like Jesus' disciples, "I found myself falling asleep on
job". I struggled with PRAYER. It was a BATTLE. But I always knew that PRAYER was a "PRIVILEDGE" and a "BLESSING" that allowed me to develop a relationship with my Fatger God, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
b) YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE.
As I watched my mother on her knees every morning in PRAYER, I oftened listened to her words. She always prayed for GOD'S WILL to be done in her life, and in that of her husband and children.
She served Jesus and His Father. He was her King, and she wanted Him to be the Saviour of all her family. I could always feel that God was watching over us, and I too would pray that "HIS KINGDOM COME".
We need to follow GOD'S WILL. but NOT ON OUR OWN. We need to be "persistant in prayer", talking to God each and every day, waiting patiently for His answers. My Mum and Dad did this every day of their lives!
"So we keep on praying for you, asking God to enable you to live a life worthy of His call. Maybe he will give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.".2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NLT)
"There are times we doubt that God is willing. He answers our prayers, but not always the way we have hoped for. Like Paul, who prayed 3 times for "thorn in his flesh" to be taken away. Still he trusted in GOD'S CLEAR PROMISES. God achieves his BEST VICTORY when we trust in HIS WILL." Tony Payne
c) GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.
Each and every day we need to pray, knowing that the Lord will provide all our needs. This is something I have always TRUSTED IN. As a child, as a volunteer, a wife, a mother, and then as my first job, as a teacher, I knew God would always supply all my needs. As Mark and I travelled with the Circus and then when I started having health problems, we were always in His prayers, and in His hands. We always had "DAILY BREAD"!
I never doubted that God was POWERFUL and ABLE!
"Ah Lord God, it is You who made the Heavens and the earth, and by your power and your outstretched arm! Nothing g is too hard for you! " Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV)
d) FORGIVE US OUR SINS & FORGIVE OTHERS
Because of Jesus' MERCY AND GRACE, we have FORGIVENESS. Remember, that you too can have MERCY AND KINDNESS, and you can FORGIVE OTHERS. Tell God "if you are holding a grudge" and seek His help. Always recognize the difference between BEING FORGIVENEN and FORGIVING OTHERS.
"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6:14&15 (NIV)
"Let us therefore approach God's throne of GRACE with CONFIDENCE, so that we may receive MERCY and find GRACE to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)
e) TEMPTATION
What is TEMPTATION? Thank you Lord that we are not alone in our temptations, Jesus is with us every step of the way, and He wants to help us get through them. In our prayers we thank God for His faithfulness, He will never allow our temptations to "crush us".
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
7. FASTING & WORSHIP
"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. But when you FAST, put oil on your head, and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are FASTING, but only to the Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:16-18 (NIV)
FASTING and WORSHIP are important values for Jesus and His disciples. When you FAST and WORSHIP you will receive "greater intimacy" with your Father God and His Son Jesus. We are encouraged to set aside time to be in their PRESENCE every day. Jesus enjoyed spending time with His disciples, and teaching other followers who sat and listened to Him on the hillside, but the teaching didn't finish there.
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"Find a HOLY PLACE to COMMUNE and WORSHIP GOD. Prayer creates an atmosphere for worship, and opens the door to let Jesus in. In HIS PRESENCE we find PEACE for our souls and GUIDANCE for our daily lives. Be faithful in prayer and have a HEART OF WORSHIP!" Charles F Stanley
"THE HOLY BIBLE - NEW LIVING TRANSLATION", 2025, Tyndale House Foundation
"THE HOLY BIBLE - NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION", 2011, Biblica
"THE MESSAGE: THE BIBLE IN CONTEMPORARY LANGUAGE", 2018, Eugene H Peterson, Nav Press, Tyndale House Publishers
"THE HOLY BIBLE - NEW KING JAMES VERSION", 1982, Thomas Nelson
"I'M TRYING TO BE LIKE JESUS", 1980, Janice Kapp Perry (Writer)/Affleck Family, Rise of Children's Chior (Performers), Chrisian Cover Official/You Tube
" SERMON ON THE MOUNT - DON'T GIVE, PRAY and FAST PRIVATELY" , 2024, Bible Project/You Tube
"MILLENIUM PRAYER", 2000, Charlie Grant/Jez Azhunt/Pete Woodroffe (Writers), Cliff Richard (Performer), Sony/ATV Music/Universal Music
SWINDOLL, Charles, " The Greatest Life of All 0f All - Jesus", 2008, Thomas Nelsom
STANLEY, Charles F, "Prayer - the Ultimate Conversation - Making Prayer a Priority", 2012, Howard Books/Simon & Schuster
JENSON, Philip D, PAYNE, Tony J, "Prayer and the Voice of God - Diagnosing Your Prayer Life.", 2006, Matthias Media: Your Partner in Making Disciples.
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