Do It For God - Not For Show!

Pastor Rocklyn Clarke - Sunday March 21, 2010

© 2010 Life Church Ministries, Inc.

http://www.LifeChurchMinistries.org/

*
Notes
V Introduction
* Bible Reading 3/14 - 3/20: Num 21 - 31; Luke 1:26 - 4:30; Psalm 57 - 63; Proverbs 11:9-21
> Review
V New Material
> Preparation
V Do It For God - Not For Show!
> Preparation - Matthew 6:1-18
> Standing Issues
> Introduction - Importance of Corporate Worship
V Announcement
* Pastoral Leadership meeting at 1PM at Clarke Home.
V Introduction
V Top Secret - From the Movie "Pearl Harbor":
Alec Baldwin: “Do you know what top secret means?”

Ben Affleck: “Yes sir. It’s the kind of mission where you get medals, but they give them to your relatives.”
* Are you prepared to execute a mission without enjoying the glory?
* Saul and the Amalekites
* What does the Bible say about our desire for glory and/or approval?
V Read the Passage - Matthew 6:1-18
“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.

“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 men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

“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. 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. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“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 today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, 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 men 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.
* Alms (Giving) - Matthew 6:1-4
* Prayer - Matthew 6:5-15
* Fasting - Matthew 6:16-18
* Exegetical Idea: Do good deeds for God's approval, not the public's.
* Homiletical Idea: Do it for God - not for show!
V What does this mean?
V The "big three" of Jewish piety:
* Charity, Prayer, Fasting
* Their importance causes them to be promoted by leaders.
* This, in turn, causes people to use them for status.
* We like the approval of others and we seek it out.
V What about letting our light shine? - Matthew 5:13-16
* Our goal should be praise for the Father - not praise for us.
V By seeking the approval of others we forfeit God's approval.
* Cuba Gooding in "Jerry McGuire": grandstanding vs. his team.
V Is it True? Do I believe it?
V God saves us so that he will be the focus of our attention.
* Jesus' food was to do the Father's will. - John 4:31-34
* Some other verse about prioritizing God?
V When we direct our behavior at someone else we are demonstrating that our relationship with God is not our priority.
* Introducing R. as Dr. Poussaint's niece: status over relationship.
* Me trying to triple major: status over true learning.
* Me defending traditional doctrines as a new convert.
V Examples
* Charity as a form of public relations
* Religious praying in church
* Religious fasting in church
* Typical Easter behavior - clothes, etc.
* Gospel music - Everybody wants to look spiritual so that they can tap into the money from the gospel audience.
* Man at revival who looked around before "falling out".
V What difference does it make? So What?
V "Be careful not to . . ." - Matthew 6:1
* You are in danger of losing your reward!
* If you want it to count with God then do it for God!
* Human approval is ultimately worthless - 1Corinthians 3:10-15
* Only a genuine relationship saves! - Matthew 7:21-24
* Jesus made the Father his audience. - John 5:24-47
* The world can see our hypocrisy.
* It makes us like the Pharisees - Matthew 23:1-39
* Homiletical Idea: Do it for God - not for show!
V Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do)
* Deal with your own religious approval-seeking:
* Make God your primary audience.
V Come correct!
* Give out of love for the needy.
* Pray to connect with God - not to impress others.
* Fast to align yourself with God's will - not to impress others.
V Deal with your own religious approval-seeking:
V Know the difference between seeking God's approval and man's
V We always play to some audience:
* Pleasing your parents vs. pleasing your friends.
* Pleasing your teacher vs. pleasing your classmates.
* Pleasing your boss vs. pleasing your coworkers.
* Politicians seem to constantly play to an audience.
V Picture yourself on stage.
* Who's in the audience - God, people, or both?
* When you read your lines who are you facing?
V Who's going to get the glory?
* When you're seeking God's approval he gets the glory.
* When you're seeking man's approval you get the glory.
V Recognize and acknowledge your own desire and behavior in this area.
* Do you seek places of honor when being seated?
V Are you eager for a title?
* Shriners: Grand Potentate, Grand Scribe, Chief Rabban, High Priest & Prophet
* Church: Doctor, Bishop, Prophet / Prophetess, Apostle
* You need other brothers and sisters in your life to help you with this!
* Be accountable in this area.
V Repent!
* Sabotage your human approval-seeking behavior.
* Be accountable in your repentance.
V Make God your primary audience.
V Talk to God. Develop your relationship with him.
* The closer you get to God the less you'll want to impress others.
* One "attaboy" from God beats several "attaboys" from anyone else.
* You have to be close to God to hear the "attaboy".
V Come correct!
V Give out of love for the needy.
* The purpose of giving is to love the recipient, not to create a fan club.
* Do you gain status because of your giving? - James 2:1-13
V Pray to connect with God - not to impress others.
* Prayer is for relating to God, not impressing an audience.
* Do people who hear you pray say: "Don't call on me to pray because I could never pray like that!"
V Fast to align yourself with God's will - not to impress others.
* Fasting is for focusing on God, not impressing others.
* Do you somehow find yourself discussing the fact that you're fasting?
V Conclusion
* Be willing to serve others in obscurity.
* Give in secret.
V Pray privately
* Spend most of your prayer time away from the public.
* When in public pray simply so listeners will say: "I can do that!".
* Fast privately.
* Allow followers of Jesus to speak into your life in this area.
* Story about Bishop's friend: "He left you didn't he?"
V Altar Call / Welcome Cards / Communion ?
* Welcome Cards - refer to script
* Are you desperate for someone to be proud of you?
* Are you hungry for some sort of approval?
* Let God in!
* Sin requires a reset from the creator like "supervisor to aisle 3".
* Worship Team
* Benediction - Numbers 6:24-26
“‘“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’
* Men's Prayer
V Life Group Material
V Life Group Word Material
These are sample discussion questions / topics. Your life group leaders may choose to adjust these questions, substitute new ones, or spend the Word section of the meeting in a different way altogether.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
V Matthew 6:1-18
“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.
“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 men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
“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. 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. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“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 today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, 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 men 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.
V Discussion Questions / Topics:
* Have you ever given charity in order to look good? Discuss.
* Have you ever prayed publicly in order to look good? Discuss.
* Have you ever talked about a fast in order to look good? Discuss.
V John 5:41-43
“I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?
V Discussion Questions / Topics:
* In what ways do you pursue praise from other people?
* In what ways do you pursue praise from God?
V Matthew 5:13-16
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
“You are the light of the world. A city 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 men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
V Discussion Questions / Topics:
* In what ways do you let your light shine around other people?
* Do the people around you praise you or your Father in heaven?
V Life Group Witnessing Activities
* Key Passage - Matthew 5:13-16
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
“You are the light of the world. A city 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 men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
V Activities
* Pick a partner with whom you can work on being salt and light in the world around you for the next month. Tell your life group whom it is.
* Pray regularly with your partner for God to show the two of you some places and ways that you can use your gifts and resources to do good.
* Get together with your partner to act on what God shows you.
V Scriptures For 03/21/2010 Life Church Sermon
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
Matthew 6:1-18
“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.
“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 men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
“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. 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. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“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 today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, 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 men 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.
John 4:31-34
Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”
But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”
Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
1Corinthians 3:10-15
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
John 5:24-47
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out — those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid.
“You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
“I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?
“But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”
Matthew 5:13-16
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
“You are the light of the world. A city 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 men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
V Reading
* Saul and the Amalekites
Samuel said to Saul, “I am the one the LORD sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the LORD. This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

So Saul summoned the men and mustered them at Telaim — two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah. Saul went to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the ravine. Then he said to the Kenites, “Go away, leave the Amalekites so that I do not destroy you along with them; for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.

Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, to the east of Egypt. He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs — everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.

Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel: “I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that night.
Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on down to Gilgal.”

When Samuel reached him, Saul said, “The LORD bless you! I have carried out the LORD’s instructions.”
But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?”
Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.”
“Stop!” Samuel said to Saul. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.”
“Tell me,” Saul replied.

Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.’ Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?”

“But I did obey the LORD,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”

But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”

Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the LORD’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD.”
But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel!”

As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore. Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors — to one better than you. He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind.”

Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.” So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.

Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.”
Agag came to him confidently, thinking, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”
But Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so will your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel put Agag to death before the LORD at Gilgal.
Then Samuel left for Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the LORD was grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel.