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Practicing Kingdom Righteousness: Charity, Prayer, and Fasting

Explore Jesus' teachings on practicing Kingdom righteousness through acts of charity, prayer, and fasting. Discover the importance of sincere motives and seeking rewards from God, rather than seeking the praise of others. Learn how to align your heart and mind with God's expectations and lay up treasures in heaven.

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Practicing Kingdom Righteousness: Charity, Prayer, and Fasting

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  1. …

  2. Message From The Mount The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7)

  3. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: Empty Self-Righteousness6:1-18 • The “kind” of righteousness Jesus has been discussing is not academic…it is active • He now instructs how one will practice the righteousness of His kingdom • Right actions can be done wrong

  4. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: Empty Self-Righteousness6:1-18 • If all we seek & receive is “men’s praise”… we have our reward in full vv. 2b, 5b, 16b • Such get no reward from the Father v. 1b • The over-riding principle is found in 5:16b • To illustrate, Jesus uses 3 “topics”

  5. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: Empty Self-Righteousness6:1-18 Topic # 1 ÙCharity(vv. 2-4) • The object = help others less fortunate • The concern is not to draw attention to yourself • If that is one’s motive…he has his “reward”

  6. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: Empty Self-Righteousness6:1-18 Topic # 1 ÙCharity(vv. 2-4) • “Do not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing” • TranslationÙ make your charitable deeds so secret that not even your other hand is aware

  7. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: Empty Self-Righteousness6:1-18 Topic # 1 ÙCharity(vv. 2-4) • Even if no one else sees/knows your actions…. …the needy still get helped …the Father who “sees in secret” knows and will reward you

  8. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: Empty Self-Righteousness6:1-18 Topic # 2 ÙPrayer(vv. 5-15) • The object = petition God for help, cast cares • The concern is not to be heard by others • If that is one’s motive…he has his “reward”

  9. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: Empty Self-Righteousness6:1-18 Topic # 2 ÙPrayer(vv. 5-15) • Many words…vain repetitions are useless • They may impress men…they don’t impress God • Pray in your “closet”…the God who sees in secret will hear you and grant what you need

  10. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: Empty Self-Righteousness6:1-18 Topic # 2 ÙPrayer(vv. 5-15) • The God to Whom we pray already knows our needs before we ask them • As an “example,” Jesus gives a Model Prayer

  11. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: Empty Self-Righteousness6:1-18 Topic # 3 ÙFasting(vv. 16-18) • The object = to humble self…seek God’s favor • It is not just to appear “righteously afflicted” • If that is one’s motive…he has his “reward”

  12. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: Empty Self-Righteousness6:1-18 Topic # 3 ÙFasting(vv. 16-18) • Fasting appears to be the result of spiritual activity and not “planning” to abstain from food • Because one pursues a spiritual goal, he may not take the time to eat

  13. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: Empty Self-Righteousness6:1-18 Topic # 3 ÙFasting(vv. 16-18) • “Anoint your head…wash your face” v. 17 • Don’t appear to be “spiritually afflicted” so that men will notice and praise you…the Father who “sees in secret” knows and will reward

  14. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • “Do not “lay up treasures on earth”… but “lay up treasures in heaven” vv. 19-20 • Earth = a decaying realm destined for destruction 1 Pet 1:24 2 Pet 3:10-12 • Material things are subject to decay or theft

  15. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • Earthly treasures = “uncertain” 1 Tim 6:17 • Heavenly treasures = “riches” protected by God…nothing more valuable 2 Tim 1:12b Mt 16:26 • The real issue = the heart v. 21

  16. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • The real issue = the heart v. 21 • In whatever “realm” we put our “treasures”… that is where our heart is (goals, desires) • The heart is the deciding factor Prov 4:23 • The heart = the eye (MIND) vv. 22-23

  17. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • The heart = the eye (MIND)vv. 22-23 • A “good” or “single” eye indicates one has his priorities right • He is “spiritually focused” cp. 5:8

  18. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • The heart = the eye (MIND)vv. 22-23 • A “single” eye = “single-minded” Jas 1:5-8 • Kingdom citizens cannot have 1 foot in the world and 1 foot in the kingdom • That is “double-minded” or “unstable”

  19. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • The heart = the eye (MIND)vv. 22-23 • A “single” eye = “single-minded” Jas 1:5-8 • A prevalent Biblical theme Josh 24:14-15 1 Kings 18:21 Rev 3:15-16

  20. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • The problem isn’t having, appreciating things Eccl 5:18-19 • The problem is “loving” earthly things more than things of the kingdom 1 Tim 6:9-10 • The Pharisees were guilty of this Lk 16:13-14

  21. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • The result = rejecting God as an “idolater” v. 24 Col 3:5 • Jesus then takes the discussion to the next step…one involving anxious worry & trusting God vv. 25-34

  22. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • Anxious worry vs. Trusting God vv. 25-34 • It boils down to insufficient faith v. 30b • He just taught against pursuing earthly treasures vv. 19-24 • The worry Ù“What about our needs??”

  23. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • Anxious worry vs. Trusting God vv. 25-34 • Jesus illustrates the folly of worrying about basic needs vv. 26-30 • God takes care of the birds & flowers • Are we not more valuable than these?

  24. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • Anxious worry vs. Trusting God vv. 25-34 • Jesus illustrates the folly of worrying about basic needs vv. 26-30 • Worry is “wasted energy”…it won’t “add one cubit to stature” (won’t change anything)

  25. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • Anxious worry vs. Trusting God vv. 25-34 • “Life” (man’s existence & purpose) is more than food & clothing v. 25b Lk 12:15 • Moses gave a similar exhortation to Israel Deut 8:2-3

  26. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • Anxious worry vs. Trusting God vv. 25-34 • “Gentiles” (those not in the kingdom) do not live the way Jesus instructs vv. 32a, 19-24 • They “eagerly seek” things of this life… indicates where they have placed their heart

  27. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • Anxious worry vs. Trusting God vv. 25-34 • No need for kingdom citizens to do this…God already knows our needs v. 32b • If we worry (anxious) over such things, we are no different than the unbelievers

  28. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • Anxious worry vs. Trusting God vv. 25-34 • TheExhortationv. 33 • Not just seek the kingdom…“seek FIRST the kingdom & its righteousness” 5:20 – 6:18 • Things we need will be supplied

  29. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • Anxious worry vs. Trusting God vv. 25-34 • TheExhortationv. 33 • A thematic verse for this section…it indicates faith, and is the “cure” for anxious worry

  30. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • Anxious worry vs. Trusting God vv. 25-34 • TheExhortationv. 33 • A thematic verse for the entire sermon • We must do this…God supplies our needs • He cannot compel us to “believe” or “seek”

  31. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • Anxious worry vs. Trusting God vv. 25-34 • The object of worry = the future • Jesus cautions…“Tomorrow will care for itself” v. 34 • Tomorrow may not even come Jas 4:13-15

  32. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • Anxious worry vs. Trusting God vv. 25-34 • We must give God the only day we have… TODAY • Spend this day “seeking” this kingdom and practicing true kingdom righteousness

  33. Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: God’s Expectations For Us6:19-34 • Anxious worry vs. Trusting God vv. 25-34 • Leave the future to God • He is the only One who can do anything about this unknown realm anyway • Either we truly believe this or we don’t

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