WEBVTT

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 Good morning, guys. Thank you to Todd and David for such a fun edition of our Sunday announcements today.

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! We're going to continue on in the Sermon on the Mount this morning as we read and open up with chapter 6.

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 Our text is Matthew 6, 1-6.

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 And then we're skipping the Lord's Prayer altogether because that most certainly deserves its own sermon.

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 And then we'll read verses 16-18.

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 I think you'll see soon why we grouped this text like this.

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 I was discussing the sermon with our very own Steve Miller,

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 who mentioned that this is the perfect text for me to preach on as I start full-time ministry.

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 And I couldn't agree more.

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 This text has been a mirror to me, revealing my pride, my self-righteousness,

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 but also the kindness of my Heavenly Father.

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 So let's pray now that the Spirit of God will show us both of those things this morning.

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 Heavenly Father,

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 Father, you are in heaven, high and holy,

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 but you're also our Father.

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 And you meet us where we are,

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 meek and lowly.

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 We are in awe of you.

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 That when we fall short of your standards,

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 of your teachings,

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 that your heart towards us isn't to reject us,

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 isn't to fold your arms,

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 to say,

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 try again next time.

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 But you love us.

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 You welcome us in as

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 a good, good Father does.

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 And we need to be reminded of that fatherly love this morning.

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 Our hearts are sick,

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 craving for affirmation and approval,

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 and we look for it in so many of the wrong places.

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 But I pray, Lord,

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 won't you open our eyes to see that your heart,

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 your disposition towards us,

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 is one of love and compassion and kindness,

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 so that we would be able to

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 not fear man,

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 and not seek the approval of man,

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 but to seek your approval and your reward.

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 Help us, Father, to that end.

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 We need your spirit to convict us

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 and to help us.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Please stand, if you are able,

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 for the reading of God's word.

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 We're in Matthew 6,

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 starting in verse 1.

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 Beware of practicing your righteousness

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 before other people

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 in order to be seen by them,

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 for then you will have no reward

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 from your Father who is in heaven.

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 Thus, when you give to the needy,

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 sound no trumpet before you,

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 as the hypocrites do

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 in the synagogues and in the streets,

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 that they may be praised by others.

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 Truly, I say to you,

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 they have received their reward.

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 But when you give to the needy,

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 do not let your left hand know

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 what your right hand is doing,

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 so that your giving may be in secret.

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 And your Father who sees in secret

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 will reward you.

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 And when you pray,

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 you must not be like the hypocrites,

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 for they love to stand

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 and pray in the synagogues

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 and at the street corners,

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 that they may be seen by others.

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 Truly, I say to you,

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 they have received their reward.

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 But when you pray,

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 go into your room

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 and shut the door

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 and pray to your Father

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 who is in secret.

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 And your Father who sees in secret

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 will reward you.

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 And when you fast,

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 do not look gloomy

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 like the hypocrites,

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 for they disfigure their faces,

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 that their fasting

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 may be seen by others.

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 Truly, I say to you,

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 they have received their reward.

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 But when you fast,

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 anoint your head

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 and wash your face,

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 that your fasting

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 may not be seen by others,

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 but by your heavenly Father,

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 but by your Father

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 who is in secret.

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 And your Father

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 who sees in secret

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 will reward you.

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 This is God's holy

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 and authoritative word.

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 You may be seated.

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 Back in the early 2000s,

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 there was this era

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 of youth-oriented,

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 high-production,

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 culturally relevant

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 megachurches like Hillsong.

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 And there was an up-and-coming church

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 that challenged Hillsong

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 with over 21,000 members,

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 multi-campus,

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 taking over Australia,

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 and it was called

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 Planet Shakers Church.

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 It gained massive

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 international attention,

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 and at its helm

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 was this young,

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 charismatic,

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 energetic speaker

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 named Michael Guglielmucci,

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 who filled stadiums

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 and he wrote

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 chart-topping music.

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 People loved Mike

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 for his authenticity,

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 his approachableness,

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 his passion for the Lord.

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 All was going great

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 for Planet Shakers

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 and for Mike

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 until he dropped

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 this bomb on them.

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 He had cancer.

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 Not just any kind of cancer,

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 but a rare form

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 of blood cancer

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 that left him

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 with years,

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 maybe even months,

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 to live.

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 But amazingly,

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 he didn't let that

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 stop him.

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 He continued

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 to go around churches,

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 preaching like a dying man,

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 exhorting the younger generation

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 to never stop trusting

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 in the Lord.

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 even when he needed

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 a cane to walk,

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 even when all his hair

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 fell out

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 because of the chemo,

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 and when he needed

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 to be hooked up

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 even to oxygen

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 on the stage.

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 He never stopped preaching.

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 He led worship

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 and he performed

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 his hit song,

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 Healer,

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 which lyrics go,

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 you hold my every moment,

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 you calm my raging seas,

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 you walk with me

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 through fire

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 and heal all my disease.

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 I trust in you.

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 In every way,

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 Mike was a model example

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 of someone

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 who holds on to faith

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 in such a hard situation.

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 Or so it seemed.

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 It turned out

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 that Mike was lying

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 the entire time

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 about his cancer diagnosis.

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 Not just to the public,

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 not just to his church,

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 but to his own family,

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 his own wife.

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 He would have them

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 drop him off

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 at the hospital,

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 but never let them

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 come in with him.

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 And it turns out

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 that he shaved

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 his own head,

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 he faked his oxygen tube

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 on stage,

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 and he acted a limp

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 into his walk.

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 to make matters worse.

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 He confessed

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 that he was using

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 this cancer diagnosis

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 to hide a secret sin,

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 a decades-long addiction

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 to adult videos.

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 Michael Guglielmucci

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 was a hypocrite,

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 a double life fraud.

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 In our passage this morning,

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 Jesus warns us

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 of this hypocrisy.

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 Verse 1 says,

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 Beware of practicing

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 your righteousness

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 before other people

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 in order to be seen by them,

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 for then you will have

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 no reward from your Father

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 who is in heaven.

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 This is a sobering verse

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 this morning

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 that acts like

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 the thesis statement

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 for the rest of our passage.

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 Jesus is saying

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 that the motive

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 by which you practice

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 your righteousness

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 before others

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 is not a light matter.

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 There sadly have been

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 way too many men,

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 like the scribes

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 and the Pharisees

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 that we're going to read about,

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 that have acted

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 like all they want

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 is to please the Lord,

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 but in reality,

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 they don't have an ounce

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 of genuine desire.

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 Their only motivation

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 is self-glory.

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 Jesus warns

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 that those who have won

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 the praise

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 of the entire world

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 by their hypocrisy,

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 like Mike Guglielmucci,

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 will not receive

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 an ounce of reward

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 from their heavenly father.

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 unless they repent.

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 So instead,

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 in our passage,

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 Jesus teaches us

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 a better way.

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 Other than in verse 1,

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 our passage is split

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 into three congruent passages,

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 and it doesn't take long

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 to see a pattern

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 between all three sections.

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 First,

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 Jesus rebukes

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 the hypocrites

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 for practicing

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 acts of righteousness

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 to be seen by men.

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 And in all three sections,

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 he has the same judgment.

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 Truly,

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 I say to you,

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 they have received

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 their reward.

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 And then comes

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 the contrast.

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 But you,

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 you should do

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 all that the hypocrite

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 is doing,

00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:35.600
 but in secret.

00:09:37.080 --> 00:09:37.820
 And then,

00:09:37.940 --> 00:09:39.480
 this is the identical line again.

00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:40.580
 He says,

00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:41.480
 your father,

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 who sees in secret,

00:09:43.080 --> 00:09:44.060
 will reward you.

00:09:44.059 --> 00:09:46.619
 The main idea

00:09:46.619 --> 00:09:47.259
 of this passage

00:09:47.259 --> 00:09:48.619
 isn't hard to identify.

00:09:49.339 --> 00:09:50.139
 Jesus makes it clear

00:09:50.139 --> 00:09:51.679
 that we should practice

00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:52.579
 our righteousness

00:09:52.579 --> 00:09:54.059
 in secret

00:09:54.579 --> 00:09:55.559
 to be seen

00:09:55.559 --> 00:09:56.239
 and rewarded

00:09:56.239 --> 00:09:56.939
 by God,

00:09:57.039 --> 00:09:57.739
 not man.

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 And in turn,

00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:00.699
 we're going to look

00:10:00.699 --> 00:10:01.559
 at how Jesus speaks

00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:02.359
 about how we are

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 to give,

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 not grandstand.

00:10:06.679 --> 00:10:07.599
 We're to pray,

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 not play act.

00:10:09.939 --> 00:10:11.159
 We're to fast,

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 and not feign.

00:10:14.299 --> 00:10:15.120
 Let's jump into

00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:16.299
 the first of his examples

00:10:16.299 --> 00:10:16.819
 now,

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 which is all about

00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:18.919
 giving to the poor.

00:10:20.139 --> 00:10:20.659
 Back then,

00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:21.419
 giving to the poor

00:10:21.419 --> 00:10:23.039
 was an essential part

00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:23.679
 of society

00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:25.919
 because unlike us today,

00:10:25.980 --> 00:10:26.759
 the poor didn't have

00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:27.919
 government welfare systems

00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:28.659
 to rely on.

00:10:30.860 --> 00:10:31.299
 Instead,

00:10:31.379 --> 00:10:31.980
 they had to depend

00:10:31.980 --> 00:10:33.240
 entirely on the donations

00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:34.139
 of the public

00:10:34.139 --> 00:10:36.139
 run through a system

00:10:36.139 --> 00:10:38.079
 by the Jewish synagogues.

00:10:39.019 --> 00:10:39.699
 And in that system,

00:10:39.700 --> 00:10:41.200
 significant donations,

00:10:41.520 --> 00:10:42.180
 big donations,

00:10:42.360 --> 00:10:43.800
 were likely broadcasted,

00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:44.580
 publicized

00:10:44.580 --> 00:10:46.400
 to the entire society.

00:10:47.520 --> 00:10:48.620
 So you can just imagine

00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:49.460
 how ripe

00:10:49.460 --> 00:10:51.060
 the circumstances were

00:10:51.060 --> 00:10:52.280
 for these hypocrites,

00:10:52.800 --> 00:10:53.460
 these scribes

00:10:53.460 --> 00:10:54.000
 and Pharisees

00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:55.140
 that Jesus most likely

00:10:55.140 --> 00:10:56.040
 is referring to here,

00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:57.379
 to practice

00:10:57.379 --> 00:10:58.480
 their righteousness

00:10:58.480 --> 00:10:59.220
 to win

00:10:59.220 --> 00:11:00.420
 the praise of man.

00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:03.160
 The word hypocrite

00:11:03.160 --> 00:11:04.940
 originally referred

00:11:04.940 --> 00:11:06.940
 to a theatrical actor,

00:11:07.560 --> 00:11:08.140
 which I think

00:11:08.140 --> 00:11:09.680
 is such a fitting description.

00:11:09.700 --> 00:11:11.220
 of what these men

00:11:11.220 --> 00:11:11.720
 are doing.

00:11:13.280 --> 00:11:14.540
 It really seems like

00:11:14.540 --> 00:11:15.920
 they know and love God

00:11:15.920 --> 00:11:16.480
 by their acts

00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:17.040
 of righteousness,

00:11:17.460 --> 00:11:18.640
 but in actuality,

00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:19.680
 they're only convincing

00:11:19.680 --> 00:11:20.460
 method actors.

00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:24.259
 They toot their trumpets

00:11:24.259 --> 00:11:26.000
 in a musical performance.

00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:27.340
 They perform

00:11:27.340 --> 00:11:29.080
 their long prayer monologues.

00:11:29.560 --> 00:11:31.340
 They even costume up.

00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:32.300
 They wear makeup,

00:11:32.379 --> 00:11:33.140
 as we'll see later.

00:11:33.139 --> 00:11:36.980
 Here Jesus exposes

00:11:36.980 --> 00:11:38.199
 their hypocrisy

00:11:38.199 --> 00:11:39.919
 as they give to the poor

00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:40.759
 only to hear

00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:41.580
 that trumpet played

00:11:41.580 --> 00:11:42.960
 and only to hear

00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:44.539
 the people ooh and ah

00:11:44.539 --> 00:11:45.600
 at their generosity

00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:46.460
 and their holiness.

00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:49.720
 Mind you,

00:11:49.860 --> 00:11:50.919
 this man is not

00:11:50.919 --> 00:11:52.039
 pretending to give.

00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:54.539
 He's not lying about it.

00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:56.019
 He's actually giving.

00:11:57.559 --> 00:11:58.419
 So he's doing

00:11:58.419 --> 00:11:59.319
 an act of kindness.

00:11:59.779 --> 00:12:00.740
 Anyone with two eyes

00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:01.580
 can see that.

00:12:04.060 --> 00:12:04.860
 But yet,

00:12:05.060 --> 00:12:06.639
 Jesus isn't impressed.

00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:09.539
 For Jesus,

00:12:09.659 --> 00:12:10.519
 it's not enough

00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:11.500
 for us to just

00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:12.480
 throw money

00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:13.500
 at the poor

00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:14.220
 and expect that

00:12:14.220 --> 00:12:14.860
 to please him.

00:12:16.220 --> 00:12:17.360
 If that were the case,

00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:18.519
 mega YouTube

00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:19.720
 star,

00:12:20.200 --> 00:12:20.940
 Mr. Beast,

00:12:21.180 --> 00:12:22.440
 if you guys know him,

00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:23.340
 Jimmy Donaldson,

00:12:23.340 --> 00:12:25.019
 he would be the most

00:12:25.019 --> 00:12:26.360
 righteous of us

00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:28.980
 with his long list

00:12:28.980 --> 00:12:29.800
 of philanthropic

00:12:29.800 --> 00:12:30.320
 achievements.

00:12:31.340 --> 00:12:32.280
 And these YouTube videos

00:12:32.280 --> 00:12:32.820
 that you guys

00:12:32.820 --> 00:12:33.780
 likely have seen,

00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:35.560
 they're insane.

00:12:35.660 --> 00:12:36.280
 He donates

00:12:36.280 --> 00:12:37.620
 a year's salary

00:12:37.620 --> 00:12:38.660
 to every family

00:12:38.660 --> 00:12:39.220
 in a village

00:12:39.220 --> 00:12:39.740
 in Uganda

00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:40.780
 or he pays

00:12:40.780 --> 00:12:42.340
 for a thousand

00:12:42.340 --> 00:12:43.000
 deaf people

00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:43.759
 and their surgeries

00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:44.680
 so that they can hear

00:12:44.680 --> 00:12:45.540
 for the first time.

00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:48.320
 On first glance,

00:12:48.460 --> 00:12:49.340
 it seems that Jesus

00:12:49.340 --> 00:12:50.259
 would be impressed

00:12:50.259 --> 00:12:51.200
 by such acts

00:12:51.200 --> 00:12:51.940
 of generosity

00:12:51.940 --> 00:12:53.000
 and kindness.

00:12:54.560 --> 00:12:54.980
 But here,

00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:55.880
 out of Donaldson's

00:12:55.880 --> 00:12:56.680
 own mouth,

00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:57.900
 the rationale,

00:12:58.120 --> 00:12:58.580
 the motive

00:12:58.580 --> 00:12:59.460
 by which he gives.

00:13:00.700 --> 00:13:01.340
 Near the beginning

00:13:01.340 --> 00:13:02.620
 of Donaldson's success,

00:13:03.060 --> 00:13:04.420
 he posted this video

00:13:04.420 --> 00:13:05.420
 in which he gives

00:13:05.420 --> 00:13:06.220
 to his mom

00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:07.860
 $100,000

00:13:07.860 --> 00:13:08.780
 in cold,

00:13:08.900 --> 00:13:09.420
 hard cash.

00:13:09.880 --> 00:13:10.380
 Can you imagine?

00:13:11.640 --> 00:13:12.240
 And at first,

00:13:12.860 --> 00:13:13.520
 she refuses,

00:13:14.300 --> 00:13:16.500
 but he insists,

00:13:17.140 --> 00:13:17.420
 says,

00:13:17.520 --> 00:13:18.360
 if I don't give this

00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:18.740
 to you,

00:13:19.500 --> 00:13:20.280
 I don't have

00:13:20.280 --> 00:13:21.020
 a viral video.

00:13:22.760 --> 00:13:23.720
 You're using me

00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:24.320
 for views,

00:13:24.420 --> 00:13:25.160
 she asks.

00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:26.840
 And he's honest.

00:13:26.920 --> 00:13:27.220
 He says,

00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:27.600
 yes,

00:13:28.100 --> 00:13:29.200
 but you get money too.

00:13:30.020 --> 00:13:31.220
 So we're both happy.

00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:35.320
 This philanthropic content

00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:37.440
 has been a key part

00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:38.320
 to Donaldson's

00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:39.300
 explosive growth

00:13:39.300 --> 00:13:39.680
 to fame.

00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:41.360
 These videos rack up

00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:42.540
 hundreds of millions

00:13:42.540 --> 00:13:43.080
 of views.

00:13:43.580 --> 00:13:44.940
 Even I want to watch

00:13:44.940 --> 00:13:46.560
 a thousand deaf people

00:13:46.560 --> 00:13:49.240
 to regain their hearing again.

00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:52.779
 But this is nothing new.

00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:54.560
 The scribes

00:13:54.560 --> 00:13:55.220
 and the Pharisees

00:13:55.220 --> 00:13:56.100
 were long onto

00:13:56.100 --> 00:13:57.220
 this strategy

00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:58.840
 long before Mr. Beast.

00:13:58.960 --> 00:13:59.340
 In fact,

00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:00.519
 they were the original

00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:01.460
 Mr. Beast

00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:03.500
 who flaunted

00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:04.460
 their generous giving.

00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:06.480
 It's not actually giving

00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:09.039
 because in actuality,

00:14:09.139 --> 00:14:09.980
 they're buying.

00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:11.279
 They're just using

00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:11.659
 their money

00:14:11.659 --> 00:14:13.360
 to buy the respect

00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:14.480
 and clout

00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:15.159
 of society.

00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:17.679
 And Jesus himself

00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:18.459
 knows that this

00:14:18.459 --> 00:14:19.519
 strategy works.

00:14:20.319 --> 00:14:20.980
 He acknowledges

00:14:20.980 --> 00:14:22.179
 that there is a reward

00:14:22.179 --> 00:14:23.259
 to this kind of behavior

00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:23.819
 when he says

00:14:23.819 --> 00:14:25.500
 three times in our passage,

00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:27.000
 truly I say to you,

00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:28.199
 they have received

00:14:28.199 --> 00:14:29.240
 their reward.

00:14:31.439 --> 00:14:32.699
 But what's the problem

00:14:32.699 --> 00:14:33.799
 with this kind of reward?

00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:35.779
 A lot of things,

00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:36.659
 but let me just highlight

00:14:36.659 --> 00:14:37.879
 two aspects.

00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:39.199
 Number one,

00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:40.639
 this praise,

00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:41.480
 this clout,

00:14:42.659 --> 00:14:43.139
 it's

00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:44.480
 caffeine.

00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:44.560
 caffeine.

00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:47.100
 It's

00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:48.360
 high fructose

00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:49.000
 corn syrup.

00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:51.300
 It's an addictive

00:14:51.300 --> 00:14:52.080
 stimulant.

00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:53.360
 It's ephemeral,

00:14:53.800 --> 00:14:54.240
 temporary,

00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:56.019
 burns hot for a second

00:14:56.019 --> 00:14:56.759
 and leaves you

00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:58.279
 crashing the next.

00:14:59.700 --> 00:15:00.920
 Like the high of a drug,

00:15:00.980 --> 00:15:02.120
 it never satisfies,

00:15:02.340 --> 00:15:03.519
 but it hooks you.

00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:04.620
 It addicts you

00:15:04.620 --> 00:15:05.560
 to the next hit,

00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:07.340
 to the next achievement,

00:15:07.560 --> 00:15:08.519
 to the next affirming

00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:08.860
 person,

00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:09.820
 the next compliment.

00:15:11.420 --> 00:15:12.779
 Then you're only as good

00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:13.759
 as your next achievement.

00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:17.080
 But more importantly,

00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:18.700
 the reward of man,

00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:21.039
 it forfeits

00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:21.899
 the true reward

00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:22.320
 of God

00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:23.980
 because we cannot

00:15:23.980 --> 00:15:25.259
 serve both God

00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:26.220
 and man.

00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:27.659
 It's binary.

00:15:27.940 --> 00:15:28.720
 It's one or the other.

00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:31.100
 So Jesus seriously

00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:31.600
 warns us

00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.220
 to be careful

00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:33.879
 because if this is all

00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:34.960
 that you're working towards,

00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:36.180
 if this is all

00:15:36.180 --> 00:15:37.659
 that you're striving for,

00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:40.860
 then you might just get it.

00:15:40.860 --> 00:15:43.379
 But that's all

00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:44.100
 you're going to get.

00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:46.379
 So friends,

00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:47.779
 we should not expect

00:15:47.779 --> 00:15:48.960
 to please Jesus

00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:50.259
 if we're not even

00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:51.080
 aiming to do so.

00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:55.740
 So instead of this hypocrisy,

00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:56.600
 what should we do?

00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:00.200
 We should give in total secret.

00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:01.539
 That's what Jesus says.

00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:03.300
 Here,

00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:04.639
 Jesus isn't directly

00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.360
 commanding us

00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:06.680
 to give to the needy,

00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:07.919
 but he's assuming

00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:08.819
 that we're doing so.

00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:11.299
 We can't give in secret

00:16:11.299 --> 00:16:12.699
 unless we're not giving at all.

00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:13.579
 So this is a time

00:16:13.579 --> 00:16:14.839
 to just quickly evaluate.

00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:16.699
 Am I matching?

00:16:16.819 --> 00:16:18.059
 Is the way that I use my money

00:16:18.059 --> 00:16:19.739
 match Jesus' assumption

00:16:19.739 --> 00:16:20.279
 about me?

00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:21.259
 My budget,

00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.279
 my spending habits?

00:16:24.079 --> 00:16:25.120
 But this passage

00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:25.839
 isn't about

00:16:25.839 --> 00:16:27.279
 the amount of money

00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:27.799
 that we give,

00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:28.959
 but it's more about

00:16:28.959 --> 00:16:29.919
 the motivation

00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:31.079
 with which we give.

00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:34.180
 for Jesus commands us

00:16:34.180 --> 00:16:35.680
 while the right hands

00:16:35.680 --> 00:16:36.600
 of the hypocrites

00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:38.080
 are tooting their horns

00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:40.620
 and they're blasting

00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:41.860
 their socials

00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:43.400
 to tell the entire world

00:16:43.400 --> 00:16:44.820
 of how good of a person

00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:45.580
 they are

00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:46.800
 and all that they're doing,

00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:49.639
 your right hand

00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:51.040
 shouldn't even tell the left

00:16:51.040 --> 00:16:52.700
 what it's doing.

00:16:53.300 --> 00:16:54.740
 That's how secretive

00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:55.660
 you are to be.

00:16:57.160 --> 00:16:57.700
 Why?

00:16:57.840 --> 00:16:58.860
 Because when you give

00:16:58.860 --> 00:16:59.660
 in secret,

00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:01.079
 your father

00:17:01.079 --> 00:17:02.379
 who sees in secret

00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:03.839
 will reward you.

00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:06.639
 This is a fascinating comment

00:17:06.639 --> 00:17:07.200
 from Jesus.

00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:08.639
 Do you notice

00:17:08.639 --> 00:17:09.500
 that he doesn't say

00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:11.180
 you should give in secret

00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:12.579
 because this is

00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:13.420
 the right thing to do?

00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:16.059
 You know,

00:17:16.099 --> 00:17:17.240
 sometimes we think

00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:18.940
 that the true Christian thing

00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:20.440
 is to completely

00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:21.859
 divorce ourselves

00:17:21.859 --> 00:17:22.460
 from any

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:24.039
 self-interested desire.

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.460
 We think we should

00:17:26.460 --> 00:17:27.960
 only be outward focused

00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:29.299
 and do the right thing only

00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:30.519
 because it's the right thing.

00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:33.339
 Because we love others

00:17:33.339 --> 00:17:34.460
 and we love God

00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:35.559
 so we shouldn't be

00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:36.659
 in it for ourselves.

00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:39.980
 And there is a way

00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:40.720
 that this certainly

00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:42.220
 does become selfish

00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:43.319
 but amazingly,

00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:44.500
 Jesus doesn't think

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.139
 that it is

00:17:45.139 --> 00:17:46.099
 automatically,

00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:47.399
 inherently selfish

00:17:47.399 --> 00:17:48.899
 for us to be motivated

00:17:48.899 --> 00:17:50.240
 by future reward.

00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:52.839
 instead he's intentionally

00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:54.279
 holding out to us

00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:55.079
 a greater,

00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:56.259
 a better reward.

00:17:58.640 --> 00:17:59.420
 And so what he's

00:17:59.420 --> 00:18:00.519
 ultimately rebuking

00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:01.180
 the scribes

00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:02.019
 and the Pharisees for

00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:02.839
 is not that they are

00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:03.799
 self-interested

00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:05.500
 but it's that they're not

00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:06.640
 self-interested

00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:07.819
 in the right way.

00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:10.660
 Like a little boy

00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.779
 who stuffs himself

00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:12.359
 with candy

00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:13.019
 before dinner,

00:18:13.859 --> 00:18:14.519
 these scribes

00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:15.339
 and their Pharisees,

00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:16.039
 these Pharisees,

00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:17.960
 they're too easily

00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:18.859
 stuffing themselves

00:18:18.859 --> 00:18:20.000
 with the praise of man,

00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:20.939
 the lesser things

00:18:20.939 --> 00:18:22.699
 which then disqualifies

00:18:22.699 --> 00:18:23.659
 them from a better,

00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:24.859
 heartier meal,

00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:26.919
 a future reward

00:18:26.919 --> 00:18:27.599
 that's going to be

00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:28.139
 far better

00:18:28.139 --> 00:18:29.000
 than anything man

00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:29.599
 can give.

00:18:31.679 --> 00:18:32.419
 In other words,

00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:34.279
 they're too nearsighted

00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:35.339
 to be able to see

00:18:35.339 --> 00:18:36.039
 far ahead

00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:37.500
 and long for

00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:38.119
 something better.

00:18:39.859 --> 00:18:40.299
 I don't know

00:18:40.299 --> 00:18:40.619
 if you guys

00:18:40.619 --> 00:18:41.519
 know this about me,

00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:42.199
 some of you guys do,

00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:43.659
 but I'm terribly

00:18:43.659 --> 00:18:44.399
 nearsighted.

00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:46.579
 My eyes are really,

00:18:46.719 --> 00:18:47.519
 really bad, right?

00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:48.419
 Like I can basically

00:18:48.420 --> 00:18:49.200
 only see clearly

00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:50.240
 three to four inches

00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:50.759
 in front of me.

00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:53.240
 My wife has joked

00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:54.240
 that probably

00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:54.860
 it's not a joke,

00:18:55.060 --> 00:18:56.840
 but that I would

00:18:56.840 --> 00:18:57.820
 be utterly useless

00:18:57.820 --> 00:18:58.460
 when I have to

00:18:58.460 --> 00:18:59.380
 defend her in a fight

00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:00.380
 because all you have

00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:00.860
 to do is just

00:19:00.860 --> 00:19:01.840
 knock the glasses off

00:19:01.840 --> 00:19:03.140
 and just going to

00:19:03.140 --> 00:19:03.500
 be throwing

00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:04.500
 punches blindly.

00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:08.779
 But just like

00:19:08.779 --> 00:19:09.800
 the best solution

00:19:09.800 --> 00:19:10.940
 for nearsightedness

00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:13.100
 is not to put

00:19:13.100 --> 00:19:13.660
 out our eyes

00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:14.360
 and go blind,

00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:14.920
 thank God,

00:19:15.080 --> 00:19:15.759
 but it's to

00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:16.580
 correct our vision

00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:17.240
 with glasses,

00:19:17.399 --> 00:19:18.099
 with contacts.

00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:20.539
 We shouldn't

00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:21.659
 blind ourselves

00:19:21.659 --> 00:19:22.799
 from reward,

00:19:22.919 --> 00:19:23.439
 but instead

00:19:23.439 --> 00:19:24.659
 correct our vision,

00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:25.839
 have a better

00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:26.980
 long-term view

00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:28.859
 of heavenly rewards.

00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:33.339
 seeking God's reward

00:19:33.339 --> 00:19:35.259
 as Jesus encourages,

00:19:35.399 --> 00:19:36.459
 it's not mercenary,

00:19:36.639 --> 00:19:37.779
 it's not impure,

00:19:38.139 --> 00:19:40.379
 but it honors God

00:19:40.379 --> 00:19:41.339
 because it's our

00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:41.899
 acknowledgement

00:19:41.899 --> 00:19:44.899
 that only he has

00:19:44.899 --> 00:19:46.500
 what can truly

00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.079
 satisfy.

00:19:47.639 --> 00:19:48.519
 He brings us

00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.599
 the greatest joy

00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:50.639
 and deepest happiness.

00:19:50.819 --> 00:19:51.779
 That's what I want.

00:19:51.919 --> 00:19:52.779
 That's what you say.

00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:55.059
 Do we immediately

00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:56.079
 consider a man

00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:56.619
 selfish

00:19:56.619 --> 00:19:58.399
 when he marries

00:19:58.399 --> 00:19:58.960
 a woman

00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:00.519
 because he anticipates

00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:02.220
 a lifetime of happiness

00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:02.720
 with her?

00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:04.980
 It's not immediately

00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:05.379
 selfish,

00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:06.339
 but it's honoring

00:20:06.339 --> 00:20:07.200
 to her.

00:20:08.639 --> 00:20:09.660
 In the same way,

00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.240
 if we

00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:12.519
 resolve to not

00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:13.099
 please man,

00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:13.980
 but to please God

00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:15.420
 for this future reward

00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:16.539
 for millions

00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:17.839
 of lifetimes

00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:18.960
 of happiness

00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:19.460
 with him,

00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:20.940
 that's not selfish,

00:20:21.099 --> 00:20:21.879
 but that's honoring

00:20:21.880 --> 00:20:22.300
 to him.

00:20:24.860 --> 00:20:26.240
 God is glorified

00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:26.880
 in us

00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:27.780
 when we live

00:20:27.780 --> 00:20:28.620
 with the conviction,

00:20:28.840 --> 00:20:29.660
 with the desire

00:20:29.660 --> 00:20:30.600
 that our greatest

00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:31.340
 satisfaction

00:20:31.340 --> 00:20:32.180
 and our reward

00:20:32.180 --> 00:20:32.940
 is found in him

00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:33.760
 and him alone.

00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:38.180
 We have to hit pause

00:20:38.180 --> 00:20:38.980
 and just say

00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:41.040
 the fact alone

00:20:41.040 --> 00:20:41.300
 though

00:20:41.300 --> 00:20:42.040
 that God would

00:20:42.040 --> 00:20:43.100
 reward me,

00:20:43.580 --> 00:20:43.900
 me,

00:20:44.300 --> 00:20:46.860
 is utterly astounding.

00:20:48.380 --> 00:20:49.340
 For who am I

00:20:49.340 --> 00:20:50.460
 but only an unworthy

00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:50.840
 servant

00:20:50.839 --> 00:20:51.939
 that should just do

00:20:51.939 --> 00:20:52.779
 whatever he tells me

00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:53.339
 to do whenever

00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:53.939
 he tells me

00:20:53.939 --> 00:20:54.439
 to do it?

00:20:55.679 --> 00:20:56.720
 Should the master

00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.639
 thank his servant

00:20:57.639 --> 00:20:58.819
 if he just does

00:20:58.819 --> 00:20:59.599
 what he's commanded

00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:00.000
 of?

00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:02.959
 And while that is

00:21:02.959 --> 00:21:03.339
 true,

00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:04.419
 that our relationships

00:21:04.419 --> 00:21:05.619
 with God is like that,

00:21:05.659 --> 00:21:06.740
 of master and servant,

00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:09.439
 Jesus doesn't frame

00:21:09.439 --> 00:21:10.119
 our relationship

00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:10.759
 with him

00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:11.819
 like this

00:21:11.819 --> 00:21:12.879
 in our passage today.

00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:14.720
 I don't know

00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:15.220
 if you've noticed

00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:15.940
 but the word

00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:16.740
 that is most

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:18.140
 frequently repeated

00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:19.760
 in our passage

00:21:19.760 --> 00:21:21.700
 is not

00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:22.820
 righteousness,

00:21:23.160 --> 00:21:23.600
 it's not

00:21:23.600 --> 00:21:24.480
 hypocrite,

00:21:24.760 --> 00:21:25.900
 but it's the word

00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:27.220
 father.

00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:29.920
 In fact,

00:21:30.140 --> 00:21:30.860
 Matthew 6

00:21:30.860 --> 00:21:31.380
 has the word

00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:31.900
 father

00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:33.000
 the most amount

00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:33.440
 of times

00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:34.300
 in this one chapter

00:21:34.300 --> 00:21:35.460
 compared to all

00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:36.380
 the rest of the book

00:21:36.380 --> 00:21:36.860
 of Matthew.

00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:38.419
 And by this

00:21:38.419 --> 00:21:39.299
 super concentration

00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:40.259
 of this title,

00:21:41.179 --> 00:21:42.199
 Jesus is highlighting

00:21:42.199 --> 00:21:43.039
 the intimate

00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:43.679
 relationship

00:21:43.679 --> 00:21:44.939
 that we now have

00:21:44.939 --> 00:21:46.740
 as God being

00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:47.919
 our heavenly father

00:21:47.919 --> 00:21:49.539
 and we his children.

00:21:49.679 --> 00:21:50.359
 That he is not

00:21:50.359 --> 00:21:51.339
 a stingy,

00:21:51.459 --> 00:21:52.579
 hard to please

00:21:52.579 --> 00:21:53.159
 master.

00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:54.519
 He's not a stern,

00:21:54.759 --> 00:21:55.619
 aloof judge.

00:21:55.619 --> 00:21:57.119
 but that he is

00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:57.619
 a good,

00:21:57.679 --> 00:21:58.939
 good father

00:21:58.939 --> 00:22:00.619
 that loves us

00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:01.879
 and is desiring

00:22:01.879 --> 00:22:02.539
 to give us

00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.199
 good gifts.

00:22:05.439 --> 00:22:06.079
 This is,

00:22:06.199 --> 00:22:07.219
 this is a massive

00:22:07.219 --> 00:22:07.919
 idea

00:22:07.919 --> 00:22:08.939
 that we need

00:22:08.939 --> 00:22:09.939
 to internalize

00:22:09.939 --> 00:22:10.739
 more and more

00:22:10.739 --> 00:22:12.279
 because without

00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:12.859
 believing this,

00:22:12.939 --> 00:22:13.679
 we will never

00:22:13.679 --> 00:22:14.579
 be able to give

00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:14.939
 in secret.

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:15.599
 We'll never be able

00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:16.159
 to practice

00:22:16.159 --> 00:22:16.699
 our righteousness

00:22:16.699 --> 00:22:17.679
 in secret

00:22:17.679 --> 00:22:19.199
 because if we

00:22:19.199 --> 00:22:20.119
 don't truly believe

00:22:20.119 --> 00:22:21.319
 that God sees us

00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:22.399
 and delights

00:22:22.399 --> 00:22:23.459
 to reward us,

00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.339
 then we're going

00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:24.899
 to seek

00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:26.680
 the affirmation

00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:27.840
 that we so crave

00:22:27.840 --> 00:22:28.900
 in other places.

00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:32.360
 But if he's a father

00:22:32.360 --> 00:22:33.960
 that jumps

00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:35.259
 at the chance

00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:36.500
 of blessing you,

00:22:36.580 --> 00:22:37.800
 of rewarding you,

00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:39.820
 you can now

00:22:39.820 --> 00:22:40.840
 give in secret

00:22:40.840 --> 00:22:41.640
 knowing that there

00:22:41.640 --> 00:22:42.540
 is going to be

00:22:42.540 --> 00:22:43.780
 a great heavenly

00:22:43.780 --> 00:22:44.620
 reward for you.

00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:46.420
 So give,

00:22:46.620 --> 00:22:47.380
 give in secret.

00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:49.360
 Even when

00:22:49.360 --> 00:22:50.480
 the world

00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.140
 is scheming

00:22:51.140 --> 00:22:51.519
 their way

00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:52.280
 to popularity

00:22:52.280 --> 00:22:53.160
 and to the top,

00:22:53.860 --> 00:22:54.480
 when everyone

00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:54.980
 is praising

00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:55.660
 that guy

00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:56.380
 who seems

00:22:56.380 --> 00:22:57.360
 to be getting

00:22:57.360 --> 00:22:58.120
 so much attention

00:22:58.120 --> 00:22:58.940
 for his acts

00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.480
 of righteousness,

00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:02.440
 we can be last,

00:23:03.140 --> 00:23:05.440
 be overlooked,

00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:06.660
 be invisible

00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:08.640
 because knowing,

00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:09.579
 we know that

00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:10.400
 our future,

00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.400
 our heavenly reward

00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:13.559
 will be so satisfying.

00:23:14.860 --> 00:23:15.640
 And in that

00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:16.480
 pursuit of rewards,

00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.579
 we not just

00:23:17.579 --> 00:23:18.740
 give in secret,

00:23:18.860 --> 00:23:19.759
 but we pray

00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:20.700
 in secret,

00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:21.259
 which brings me

00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:22.160
 to my second point.

00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:25.379
 In verses 5-6,

00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:26.220
 Jesus rebukes

00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:27.059
 the hypocrisy

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:27.799
 of the scribes

00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:28.299
 and Pharisees

00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:28.819
 for the way

00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:29.759
 that they pray.

00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:31.500
 And just like

00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:32.240
 they gave

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:32.940
 to the needy,

00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:34.160
 these actors

00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:34.900
 are merely

00:23:34.900 --> 00:23:35.740
 continuing

00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:36.799
 to play the part

00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:38.720
 as they lift up

00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:39.440
 these long,

00:23:39.559 --> 00:23:41.019
 lofty prayer monologues

00:23:41.019 --> 00:23:41.879
 in the synagogues

00:23:41.879 --> 00:23:42.660
 and the street corners.

00:23:43.900 --> 00:23:44.500
 And because they

00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:45.460
 love the stage

00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.059
 and they love

00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:46.619
 the limelight,

00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:47.119
 you can just

00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:47.779
 imagine them

00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:48.319
 scheming,

00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:50.359
 today,

00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:51.939
 where should I pray?

00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:52.939
 Should I

00:23:52.939 --> 00:23:54.480
 pray in that corner

00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.399
 next to the synagogue

00:23:55.399 --> 00:23:56.399
 by the market?

00:23:56.579 --> 00:23:57.419
 Gets a lot of

00:23:57.419 --> 00:23:58.240
 foot traffic.

00:23:59.419 --> 00:23:59.819
 But

00:23:59.819 --> 00:24:01.379
 it's kind of loud,

00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:02.059
 market's kind of loud,

00:24:02.099 --> 00:24:02.519
 I don't know if people

00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:02.899
 are going to be able

00:24:02.899 --> 00:24:03.460
 to hear me

00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:05.159
 when I hit my climax,

00:24:05.419 --> 00:24:07.000
 so let me pray

00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:07.599
 on the other corner.

00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:10.019
 You see,

00:24:10.099 --> 00:24:10.899
 there's a marked

00:24:10.899 --> 00:24:11.779
 difference

00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:12.819
 between someone

00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:13.879
 who egregiously

00:24:13.879 --> 00:24:14.939
 abuses religion

00:24:14.939 --> 00:24:15.720
 for his own gain

00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.659
 and operates like

00:24:16.659 --> 00:24:17.759
 there is no God

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.859
 versus someone

00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:19.640
 like you and me

00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:21.559
 who struggles

00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:22.379
 honestly with

00:24:22.379 --> 00:24:23.099
 fear of man.

00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:26.180
 But while we

00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:26.799
 might not scheme

00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:27.480
 as intensely,

00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:29.440
 we can relate

00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:30.279
 to this hypocrite,

00:24:30.359 --> 00:24:30.720
 can't we?

00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:34.640
 I for sure can.

00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:36.700
 Why do our

00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:37.759
 palms get sweaty

00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:39.319
 and our hearts

00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:40.000
 beat just a little

00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:40.559
 bit faster

00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:41.140
 when it comes

00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:41.759
 to our turn

00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:42.180
 to pray

00:24:42.180 --> 00:24:42.900
 at prayer meetings?

00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.299
 Why do we feel

00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:44.740
 the need

00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:45.879
 to throw in

00:24:45.879 --> 00:24:47.059
 theological jargon

00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:47.940
 and Christianese

00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:49.299
 so that we sound

00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:50.319
 better when we pray?

00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.779
 Is it because we know

00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:53.879
 who we're praying to?

00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:56.700
 Do we know

00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:57.379
 that we're praying

00:24:57.379 --> 00:24:59.619
 to the Ancient of Days,

00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:02.200
 to El Elyon,

00:25:02.619 --> 00:25:03.519
 the God Most High,

00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:04.619
 to El Shaddai,

00:25:05.159 --> 00:25:06.179
 the God Almighty?

00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:09.799
 or is it because

00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:11.140
 we know that

00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:12.900
 Bobby is sitting

00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:13.340
 in the corner

00:25:13.340 --> 00:25:13.759
 over there

00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.920
 and we want

00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:15.340
 to impress

00:25:15.340 --> 00:25:16.060
 little old Bobby?

00:25:19.840 --> 00:25:20.740
 Pastor Derek

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.480
 Prime captures

00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:22.680
 this phenomenon

00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:23.580
 well when he says,

00:25:23.820 --> 00:25:24.519
 we find ourselves

00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:25.560
 aware of the stars

00:25:25.560 --> 00:25:26.060
 only

00:25:26.060 --> 00:25:27.340
 when we cannot

00:25:27.340 --> 00:25:28.080
 see the sun.

00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:30.360
 We are preoccupied

00:25:30.360 --> 00:25:30.940
 with men

00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:32.259
 only when our minds

00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:33.120
 are turned away

00:25:33.120 --> 00:25:34.019
 from God.

00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:34.059
 God.

00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:36.579
 So may we

00:25:36.579 --> 00:25:37.539
 never forget

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.740
 that the central

00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:40.099
 purpose of prayer

00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:42.240
 is to actually

00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:43.180
 pray to God.

00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:44.180
 I know,

00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:45.639
 groundbreaking theology,

00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:48.220
 but there are times

00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:49.079
 that I've done this

00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:50.180
 way too many times

00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:52.319
 that we pray

00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:53.019
 with a motive

00:25:53.019 --> 00:25:54.420
 primarily not

00:25:54.420 --> 00:25:55.099
 to communicate

00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:55.759
 to God,

00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:57.059
 but to communicate

00:25:57.059 --> 00:25:58.180
 to the people

00:25:58.180 --> 00:25:58.799
 around us.

00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:01.180
 It could be

00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:01.879
 for good reasons.

00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.440
 We want to

00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:03.039
 communicate

00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:04.920
 good truths.

00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:05.319
 We want to

00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:06.079
 remind somebody

00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:07.480
 of this thing

00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.259
 so we pray

00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:08.639
 for it

00:26:08.639 --> 00:26:09.159
 out loud.

00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:11.659
 Or,

00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:12.480
 for instance,

00:26:12.599 --> 00:26:13.359
 in front of our kids

00:26:13.359 --> 00:26:14.399
 we try to be

00:26:14.399 --> 00:26:15.599
 a healthy example

00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:16.420
 for them to emulate

00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:17.200
 so we pray.

00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:19.259
 Those are all

00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:20.259
 great benefits

00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:20.819
 of praying

00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:22.079
 and I continue

00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:23.240
 to pray in public

00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:24.059
 and with others,

00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:25.220
 but when prayer

00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:25.980
 in your heart

00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:26.980
 primarily becomes

00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:28.200
 about communicating

00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:28.940
 to the people

00:26:28.940 --> 00:26:29.399
 around you

00:26:29.399 --> 00:26:30.019
 horizontally,

00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:31.519
 instead of praying

00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:32.859
 vertically to God,

00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:35.019
 slowly but surely,

00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:36.379
 prayer is no longer

00:26:36.379 --> 00:26:36.779
 prayer,

00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:38.220
 but it's play acting.

00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:41.639
 But prayer

00:26:41.639 --> 00:26:42.539
 is one of the

00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:43.779
 greatest privileges

00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:44.720
 that we ought to

00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:46.279
 never take for granted

00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:47.079
 or abuse.

00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:49.960
 To approach

00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:51.240
 the throne of glory.

00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:55.140
 can you imagine

00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:56.359
 communicating to this

00:26:56.359 --> 00:26:57.140
 God just like

00:26:57.140 --> 00:26:58.259
 the prophet Isaiah

00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:59.980
 did in his vision

00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:00.539
 of the Lord

00:27:00.539 --> 00:27:01.640
 seated on the throne

00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:03.220
 high and lifted up

00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:04.579
 with the train

00:27:04.579 --> 00:27:05.120
 of his robe

00:27:05.120 --> 00:27:05.940
 filling the temples

00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:06.980
 with the seraphim

00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.460
 around him

00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:08.359
 proclaiming,

00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:09.019


00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:09.380
 holy,

00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:10.400
 holy is the

00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:11.120
 Lord of hosts.

00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:12.460
 Can you imagine

00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:13.440
 that we get to pray

00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:14.180
 to that God

00:27:14.180 --> 00:27:15.440
 and he hears us

00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.779
 on the regular,

00:27:17.120 --> 00:27:17.960
 on the daily,

00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:21.940
 not only that,

00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:22.319
 but prayer

00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:22.799
 is one of the

00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.500
 most intimate

00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.519
 things that we

00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:25.259
 get to share

00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:26.039
 with God.

00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:28.299
 I've heard one

00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:28.940
 of my seminary

00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:29.340
 professors,

00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:30.319
 when asked about

00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:31.100
 his private

00:27:31.100 --> 00:27:31.819
 prayer life,

00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:32.600
 commented that

00:27:32.600 --> 00:27:33.620
 he doesn't like

00:27:33.620 --> 00:27:34.200
 to talk about

00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:34.960
 his prayer life

00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:36.539
 because for him

00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:37.200
 it feels like

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:37.920
 he's talking about

00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:38.380
 his private

00:27:38.380 --> 00:27:39.180
 love life.

00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:40.680
 That's how

00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:41.700
 intimate it

00:27:41.700 --> 00:27:42.700
 feels to him

00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:43.680
 and his relationship

00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:44.519
 is with God.

00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:44.559
 God.

00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.420
 So then how

00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:48.539
 twisted is it

00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:49.200
 then to use

00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:49.859
 the privilege

00:27:49.859 --> 00:27:50.359
 of prayer,

00:27:50.879 --> 00:27:51.539
 the intimacy

00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.079
 of prayer

00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:52.720
 and use it

00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:53.500
 for our own

00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.279
 selfish gain?

00:27:56.900 --> 00:27:57.900
 I once heard

00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:58.920
 a story of a

00:27:58.920 --> 00:27:59.579
 pastor who was

00:27:59.579 --> 00:28:00.200
 well known

00:28:00.200 --> 00:28:01.619
 for just having

00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:02.460
 a remarkable,

00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:04.200
 deep,

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:05.039
 fervent love

00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:05.759
 for his wife.

00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:09.500
 He simply

00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.559
 absolutely adored

00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:10.779
 her,

00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:12.400
 the ways that

00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:13.240
 his eyes would

00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:14.079
 sparkle looking

00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:14.379
 at her.

00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:15.460
 The way that

00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:16.059
 he would speak

00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:16.480
 about her,

00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:17.319
 the way he

00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:17.859
 would wait

00:28:17.859 --> 00:28:18.379
 on her hand

00:28:18.379 --> 00:28:18.839
 and foot.

00:28:20.859 --> 00:28:21.639
 Everyone just

00:28:21.639 --> 00:28:21.879
 knew,

00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:22.960
 even 40 years

00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:23.420
 into his

00:28:23.420 --> 00:28:23.680
 marriage,

00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:24.259
 that he was

00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:25.180
 head over heels

00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:26.000
 in love with

00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:26.420
 his wife.

00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:28.879
 Tragically,

00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:29.539
 when he lost

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:29.680
 her,

00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:30.379
 he spoke

00:28:30.379 --> 00:28:30.980
 at our

00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:31.319
 funeral.

00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:33.599
 And when he

00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:33.799
 did,

00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:34.500
 everyone was

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:35.160
 expecting this

00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:36.359
 grand display

00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:37.500
 of his

00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.720
 amazing love

00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:39.079
 for her.

00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:39.839
 And if anyone

00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.319
 could do it,

00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:41.440
 it was him.

00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:43.660
 But when he

00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:44.139
 got up there,

00:28:44.140 --> 00:28:45.680
 it was a

00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:46.360
 plain speech.

00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:47.780
 Basic facts

00:28:47.780 --> 00:28:48.120
 about his

00:28:48.120 --> 00:28:48.440
 wife,

00:28:49.800 --> 00:28:50.420
 the ministry

00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:50.880
 she carried

00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:51.100
 out,

00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:51.480
 and how she

00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:51.920
 was faithful

00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:52.420
 to the end.

00:28:55.460 --> 00:28:55.780
 He didn't

00:28:55.780 --> 00:28:56.360
 speak about

00:28:56.360 --> 00:28:57.060
 the thousands

00:28:57.060 --> 00:28:57.560
 of times

00:28:57.560 --> 00:28:57.820
 that they

00:28:57.820 --> 00:28:58.400
 prayed together,

00:28:59.020 --> 00:28:59.780
 the daily

00:28:59.780 --> 00:29:00.280
 walks that

00:29:00.280 --> 00:29:00.759
 they shared,

00:29:01.540 --> 00:29:02.140
 the inside

00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:02.840
 jokes that

00:29:02.840 --> 00:29:03.300
 brought out

00:29:03.300 --> 00:29:03.660
 the smile

00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:04.180
 that he so

00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:04.800
 dearly missed.

00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:08.180
 at the end,

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:08.980
 people came

00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:09.819
 up to ask

00:29:09.819 --> 00:29:09.980
 him,

00:29:10.099 --> 00:29:11.000
 we know,

00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:11.720
 we know

00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:12.079
 that you

00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:12.460
 have loved

00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:12.960
 your wife.

00:29:14.379 --> 00:29:14.740
 Why didn't

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.099
 you speak

00:29:15.099 --> 00:29:16.039
 more passionately

00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:16.639
 about your

00:29:16.639 --> 00:29:17.200
 love for her?

00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:19.319
 And to

00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:19.619
 which he

00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:20.059
 replied,

00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:21.079
 this funeral

00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:22.319
 is to honor

00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:23.019
 my wife

00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:24.079
 and the life

00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:24.460
 that she

00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:24.799
 lived.

00:29:26.379 --> 00:29:27.139
 It's not an

00:29:27.139 --> 00:29:27.579
 opportunity

00:29:27.579 --> 00:29:28.500
 for me to

00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:28.940
 show off

00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:29.339
 my love

00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:29.619
 for her.

00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:31.000
 This is not

00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:31.500
 about me.

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:34.519
 In the same

00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:34.720
 way,

00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:35.460
 prayer is

00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:36.440
 not an

00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:37.000
 opportunity

00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:38.259
 for us

00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:38.700
 to show

00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:39.099
 off our

00:29:39.099 --> 00:29:39.720
 love for

00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:40.039
 God.

00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:41.519
 It's not

00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:42.420
 about us.

00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:44.480
 But how

00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.380
 many of us

00:29:45.380 --> 00:29:46.019
 struggle to

00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:46.380
 pray with

00:29:46.380 --> 00:29:46.779
 this kind

00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:47.619
 of self-forgetful

00:29:47.619 --> 00:29:48.039
 humility?

00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:50.859
 Whether we

00:29:50.859 --> 00:29:51.279
 arrogantly

00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:51.819
 think that we

00:29:51.819 --> 00:29:52.339
 can impress

00:29:52.339 --> 00:29:52.779
 others,

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:54.140
 or we're

00:29:54.140 --> 00:29:54.859
 anxious,

00:29:55.799 --> 00:29:56.440
 and we worry

00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:57.240
 about embarrassing

00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:57.660
 ourselves,

00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:58.619
 we still make

00:29:58.619 --> 00:29:59.559
 prayer about

00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:00.200
 us.

00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:04.059
 We forget

00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:04.460
 who we're

00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:05.119
 praying to.

00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:07.740
 Not just

00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:08.160
 in prayer,

00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:08.740
 but we live

00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:09.359
 with that

00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:09.720
 kind of

00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:10.400
 self-attention,

00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:11.359
 that self-focus

00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:12.140
 often,

00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.259
 often in a

00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:13.680
 lot of what

00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:14.119
 we do.

00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:15.400
 So we don't

00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:16.259
 live in fear

00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:16.599
 of God,

00:30:16.660 --> 00:30:17.059
 but we live

00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:17.480
 in fear

00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:17.940
 of man.

00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:20.740
 But if we

00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:21.599
 were instead

00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:22.680
 to walk in

00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:23.240
 fear of the

00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:23.460
 Lord,

00:30:23.900 --> 00:30:24.440
 we'd be able

00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:24.920
 to live out

00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:25.299
 what Tim

00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:25.880
 Keller has

00:30:25.880 --> 00:30:26.119
 said.

00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:27.680
 True gospel

00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:28.380
 humility means

00:30:28.380 --> 00:30:28.940
 that I stop

00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:29.779
 connecting every

00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.480
 experience,

00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:31.799
 every conversation,

00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:32.559
 and I add

00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:33.920
 every prayer

00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:34.940
 with myself.

00:30:35.579 --> 00:30:36.000
 In fact,

00:30:36.099 --> 00:30:36.860
 I stop

00:30:36.860 --> 00:30:37.680
 thinking about

00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:38.140
 myself.

00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:39.460
 Oh,

00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:41.700
 how amazing

00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:42.400
 would that be

00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:43.160
 to stop

00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:44.200
 thinking about

00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:44.620
 yourself?

00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:46.720
 How liberating

00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:47.099
 would it be

00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:47.779
 to forget

00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:48.460
 yourself and

00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:49.400
 to pray openly

00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:50.360
 and honestly

00:30:50.360 --> 00:30:51.220
 before others

00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:52.319
 and to God?

00:30:53.360 --> 00:30:54.380
 How joyful

00:30:54.380 --> 00:30:54.880
 would it be

00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:55.960
 to stop

00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:56.720
 your performing

00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:57.559
 and stop

00:30:57.559 --> 00:30:58.759
 our play

00:30:58.759 --> 00:30:59.160
 acting

00:30:59.160 --> 00:31:00.299
 to impress

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:00.620
 people,

00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:01.259
 but to be

00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:02.079
 who we are

00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:03.180
 and to pray

00:31:03.180 --> 00:31:04.000
 as we are?

00:31:06.420 --> 00:31:07.100
 I'm not

00:31:07.100 --> 00:31:07.640
 preaching anything

00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:07.960
 new.

00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:08.759
 Most of us

00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:10.200
 know that

00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:10.700
 we shouldn't

00:31:10.700 --> 00:31:11.259
 fear man

00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:11.620
 and we should

00:31:11.620 --> 00:31:12.120
 fear God

00:31:12.120 --> 00:31:12.460
 alone.

00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:13.980
 But honestly,

00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:14.920
 and I feel

00:31:14.920 --> 00:31:15.200
 this,

00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.240
 that feels

00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:16.680
 like something

00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:17.279
 that's so

00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:18.200
 hard to do.

00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:20.400
 It feels

00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:20.740
 like there's

00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:21.380
 such a large

00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:21.920
 gap between

00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:22.440
 what we know

00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:22.980
 in our heads

00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:23.779
 and what is

00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:24.360
 in our hearts.

00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:24.759
 It feels

00:31:24.759 --> 00:31:25.140
 like there's

00:31:25.140 --> 00:31:25.680
 such a large

00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:26.259
 gap between

00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:27.340
 what we want

00:31:27.340 --> 00:31:28.100
 to live like

00:31:28.100 --> 00:31:28.960
 and what we

00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:29.520
 are today.

00:31:31.300 --> 00:31:32.280
 So how do

00:31:32.280 --> 00:31:33.060
 we realistically

00:31:33.060 --> 00:31:34.160
 get from here

00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:34.720
 to there?

00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:37.500
 To that end,

00:31:37.600 --> 00:31:38.400
 Jesus recommends

00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:39.160
 that we ought

00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:40.560
 to pray in secret

00:31:40.560 --> 00:31:42.240
 in the privacy

00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:42.860
 of our rooms

00:31:42.860 --> 00:31:44.400
 because our

00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:45.220
 heavenly father

00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:45.700
 sees,

00:31:45.780 --> 00:31:46.440
 not just sees

00:31:46.440 --> 00:31:46.980
 in secret,

00:31:47.300 --> 00:31:48.340
 but he is

00:31:48.340 --> 00:31:49.160
 in secret.

00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:51.440
 If the Lord

00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:52.140
 is in secret

00:31:52.140 --> 00:31:52.880
 and invisible

00:31:52.880 --> 00:31:54.420
 to the human

00:31:54.420 --> 00:31:54.840
 eye,

00:31:55.140 --> 00:31:55.800
 then one

00:31:55.800 --> 00:31:56.220
 of the ways

00:31:56.220 --> 00:31:56.759
 we should

00:31:56.759 --> 00:31:57.280
 draw near

00:31:57.280 --> 00:31:57.480
 to him

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.100
 should match

00:31:58.100 --> 00:31:58.400
 that,

00:31:58.820 --> 00:31:59.240
 to meet

00:31:59.240 --> 00:32:00.460
 him invisibly

00:32:00.460 --> 00:32:01.259
 from the rest

00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:01.840
 of the human

00:32:01.840 --> 00:32:02.280
 eyes.

00:32:04.680 --> 00:32:05.380
 Of course,

00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.120
 I don't think

00:32:06.120 --> 00:32:06.480
 that Jesus

00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:07.180
 is literally

00:32:07.180 --> 00:32:08.140
 commanding us

00:32:08.140 --> 00:32:08.560
 to never

00:32:08.560 --> 00:32:09.300
 pray with

00:32:09.300 --> 00:32:10.080
 others.

00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:10.540
 Of course,

00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:11.420
 that would

00:32:11.420 --> 00:32:11.900
 go against

00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:12.680
 many other

00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:13.460
 examples in

00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:13.820
 scripture,

00:32:14.580 --> 00:32:15.200
 even Jesus'

00:32:15.420 --> 00:32:16.340
 own example

00:32:16.340 --> 00:32:17.020
 in the book

00:32:17.020 --> 00:32:17.440
 of John.

00:32:19.780 --> 00:32:20.460
 In the book

00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:20.860
 of Acts,

00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:21.160
 there are

00:32:21.160 --> 00:32:21.580
 multiple

00:32:21.580 --> 00:32:22.560
 examples in

00:32:22.560 --> 00:32:22.940
 the church

00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:23.660
 gathering together

00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:24.080
 to pray

00:32:24.080 --> 00:32:24.880
 with great

00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:25.360
 power.

00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:25.840
 And I've

00:32:25.840 --> 00:32:27.060
 just tasted

00:32:27.060 --> 00:32:27.440
 and seen

00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:28.060
 a part of

00:32:28.060 --> 00:32:28.220
 that,

00:32:28.300 --> 00:32:28.700
 praying with

00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:29.259
 you guys.

00:32:29.400 --> 00:32:30.040
 I've been

00:32:30.040 --> 00:32:30.920
 built up

00:32:30.920 --> 00:32:31.580
 and encouraged

00:32:31.580 --> 00:32:32.460
 when I hear

00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:32.880
 you guys

00:32:32.880 --> 00:32:33.279
 pray.

00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:35.640
 But there

00:32:35.640 --> 00:32:36.580
 is something

00:32:36.580 --> 00:32:37.060
 to this

00:32:37.060 --> 00:32:37.460
 practice

00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:38.220
 of secret

00:32:38.220 --> 00:32:38.620
 prayer,

00:32:39.420 --> 00:32:40.480
 of going

00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:40.940
 into a

00:32:40.940 --> 00:32:41.660
 prayer closet.

00:32:43.160 --> 00:32:43.340
 You know,

00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:44.100
 practically in

00:32:44.100 --> 00:32:45.100
 a TikTok,

00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:46.060
 Netflix,

00:32:46.340 --> 00:32:47.160
 Twitter-infested

00:32:47.160 --> 00:32:47.480
 world,

00:32:47.540 --> 00:32:48.040
 it's hard

00:32:48.040 --> 00:32:49.040
 enough to

00:32:49.040 --> 00:32:49.880
 pray five

00:32:49.880 --> 00:32:50.620
 minutes without

00:32:50.620 --> 00:32:51.080
 internal

00:32:51.080 --> 00:32:51.620
 distraction.

00:32:51.619 --> 00:32:52.339
 We don't

00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:52.799
 need to

00:32:52.799 --> 00:32:53.419
 be bombarded

00:32:53.419 --> 00:32:54.179
 with external

00:32:54.179 --> 00:32:54.739
 distraction.

00:32:56.239 --> 00:32:56.779
 It would

00:32:56.779 --> 00:32:57.459
 be wise of

00:32:57.459 --> 00:32:57.839
 us to

00:32:57.839 --> 00:32:58.259
 find a

00:32:58.259 --> 00:32:58.839
 spot in

00:32:58.839 --> 00:32:59.399
 our homes,

00:32:59.559 --> 00:33:00.079
 in our

00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:00.439
 rooms,

00:33:00.579 --> 00:33:01.439
 if possible,

00:33:01.959 --> 00:33:02.299
 that is

00:33:02.299 --> 00:33:03.119
 device-less,

00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:04.219
 distraction-less,

00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:05.219
 where it could

00:33:05.219 --> 00:33:05.799
 just be you

00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:06.259
 and God.

00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:06.639
 And if you

00:33:06.639 --> 00:33:07.000
 don't have

00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:07.479
 those spots

00:33:07.479 --> 00:33:07.719
 in our

00:33:07.719 --> 00:33:07.839
 home,

00:33:07.879 --> 00:33:08.099
 we're going

00:33:08.099 --> 00:33:08.659
 to have

00:33:08.659 --> 00:33:09.019
 a spot

00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:09.299
 at the

00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:09.559
 church

00:33:09.559 --> 00:33:10.039
 office,

00:33:10.419 --> 00:33:10.799
 a little

00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:11.179
 nook

00:33:11.179 --> 00:33:11.779
 that's

00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:12.319
 hidden away

00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:12.639
 that you

00:33:12.639 --> 00:33:13.079
 can come

00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:13.659
 and pray

00:33:13.659 --> 00:33:14.379
 in secret.

00:33:16.439 --> 00:33:17.839
 And plan,

00:33:18.039 --> 00:33:18.579
 plan into

00:33:18.579 --> 00:33:19.259
 your schedule

00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:20.459
 those times

00:33:20.460 --> 00:33:20.880
 of prayer

00:33:20.880 --> 00:33:21.620
 in those

00:33:21.620 --> 00:33:22.079
 closets.

00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:23.660
 Of course,

00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:24.620
 have spontaneous

00:33:24.620 --> 00:33:25.360
 times of

00:33:25.360 --> 00:33:25.660
 prayer,

00:33:25.880 --> 00:33:27.380
 but don't

00:33:27.380 --> 00:33:27.880
 neglect the

00:33:27.880 --> 00:33:28.539
 planned times

00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:28.819
 either.

00:33:30.120 --> 00:33:30.920
 Just as my

00:33:30.920 --> 00:33:31.799
 marriage needs

00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:32.620
 both the

00:33:32.620 --> 00:33:33.279
 planned date

00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:33.880
 night and

00:33:33.880 --> 00:33:34.660
 the spontaneous

00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:35.220
 fun,

00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:36.840
 our

00:33:36.840 --> 00:33:37.539
 relationships

00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:38.059
 with God

00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:38.559
 need both

00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:38.819
 too.

00:33:40.420 --> 00:33:41.240
 But there

00:33:41.240 --> 00:33:41.620
 is something

00:33:41.620 --> 00:33:42.500
 more to

00:33:42.500 --> 00:33:43.140
 this practice

00:33:43.140 --> 00:33:43.759
 of praying

00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:44.259
 in secret,

00:33:44.620 --> 00:33:45.059
 for it is

00:33:45.059 --> 00:33:45.420
 in that

00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:46.000
 place where

00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:46.559
 the Spirit

00:33:46.559 --> 00:33:47.079
 of God

00:33:47.079 --> 00:33:48.620
 does His

00:33:48.620 --> 00:33:48.940
 work.

00:33:48.940 --> 00:33:49.720
 He builds

00:33:49.720 --> 00:33:50.220
 that bridge

00:33:50.220 --> 00:33:50.539
 between

00:33:50.539 --> 00:33:51.200
 head and

00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:51.539
 heart.

00:33:53.900 --> 00:33:54.779
 At first,

00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:55.340
 when we

00:33:55.340 --> 00:33:56.259
 begin doing

00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:56.580
 this,

00:33:56.740 --> 00:33:57.340
 our temptation

00:33:57.340 --> 00:33:57.940
 will be

00:33:57.940 --> 00:33:58.720
 to pray

00:33:58.720 --> 00:33:59.320
 like the

00:33:59.320 --> 00:33:59.740
 Pharisee

00:33:59.740 --> 00:33:59.980
 in Luke

00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:00.380
 18.

00:34:00.920 --> 00:34:01.299
 We say,

00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:01.720
 Lord,

00:34:02.100 --> 00:34:02.680
 thank you

00:34:02.680 --> 00:34:02.940
 that I'm

00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:03.299
 not like

00:34:03.299 --> 00:34:03.660
 the others

00:34:03.660 --> 00:34:04.019
 who don't

00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:04.400
 pray as

00:34:04.400 --> 00:34:04.700
 much as

00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:04.880
 me,

00:34:05.460 --> 00:34:06.240
 that don't

00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:06.539
 have a

00:34:06.539 --> 00:34:07.140
 prayer closet

00:34:07.140 --> 00:34:07.600
 like I

00:34:07.600 --> 00:34:07.799
 do.

00:34:10.280 --> 00:34:10.920
 But when

00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:11.159
 we are

00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:11.940
 still before

00:34:11.940 --> 00:34:12.659
 God long

00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:13.019
 enough,

00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:16.280
 the deep,

00:34:17.280 --> 00:34:18.420
 the ugly

00:34:18.420 --> 00:34:19.960
 stuff that

00:34:19.960 --> 00:34:20.320
 we all

00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:20.759
 carry,

00:34:22.460 --> 00:34:22.880
 the stuff

00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:23.179
 that we're

00:34:23.179 --> 00:34:23.800
 often too

00:34:23.800 --> 00:34:24.340
 busy to

00:34:24.340 --> 00:34:25.579
 identify and

00:34:25.579 --> 00:34:26.219
 to recognize

00:34:26.219 --> 00:34:26.880
 and acknowledge,

00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:30.880
 a desperate

00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:31.739
 longing for

00:34:31.739 --> 00:34:32.980
 people's

00:34:32.980 --> 00:34:33.559
 approval,

00:34:35.500 --> 00:34:36.280
 a lingering

00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:37.039
 guilt from

00:34:37.039 --> 00:34:37.880
 past mistakes,

00:34:37.880 --> 00:34:40.800
 unspoken

00:34:40.800 --> 00:34:41.320
 fears about

00:34:41.320 --> 00:34:41.800
 the future,

00:34:42.980 --> 00:34:43.320
 a deep

00:34:43.320 --> 00:34:43.860
 insecurity,

00:34:45.480 --> 00:34:46.119
 envy over

00:34:46.119 --> 00:34:46.800
 a friend's

00:34:46.800 --> 00:34:47.300
 success,

00:34:48.300 --> 00:34:49.460
 all that

00:34:49.460 --> 00:34:50.340
 stuff begins

00:34:50.340 --> 00:34:51.079
 to rise to

00:34:51.079 --> 00:34:51.579
 the surface.

00:34:52.820 --> 00:34:53.360
 And we see

00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:54.019
 that the only

00:34:54.019 --> 00:34:54.780
 prayer worth

00:34:54.780 --> 00:34:55.640
 praying in

00:34:55.640 --> 00:34:56.300
 that prayer

00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:56.900
 closet is

00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:57.519
 that of the

00:34:57.519 --> 00:34:58.280
 tax collector.

00:34:58.680 --> 00:34:59.019
 Lord,

00:34:59.680 --> 00:35:01.000
 have mercy

00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:01.400
 on me,

00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:01.800
 a sinner,

00:35:01.860 --> 00:35:02.420
 as we beat

00:35:02.420 --> 00:35:03.039
 our chests.

00:35:05.079 --> 00:35:05.960
 And then the

00:35:05.960 --> 00:35:06.519
 spirit of God

00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:07.200
 begins to

00:35:07.200 --> 00:35:07.640
 move.

00:35:07.880 --> 00:35:10.400
 begins to

00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:10.980
 do a work

00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:11.780
 on us

00:35:11.780 --> 00:35:12.880
 and gradually

00:35:12.880 --> 00:35:13.579
 but surely

00:35:13.579 --> 00:35:14.940
 constructs that

00:35:14.940 --> 00:35:15.440
 bridge between

00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:15.760
 head and

00:35:15.760 --> 00:35:16.019
 heart.

00:35:17.240 --> 00:35:17.980
 We can now

00:35:17.980 --> 00:35:19.200
 internalize the

00:35:19.200 --> 00:35:19.780
 truths of the

00:35:19.780 --> 00:35:20.200
 gospel.

00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:22.720
 He draws us

00:35:22.720 --> 00:35:23.220
 close to

00:35:23.220 --> 00:35:23.680
 himself and

00:35:23.680 --> 00:35:24.420
 reminds us of

00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:25.079
 all the lies

00:35:25.079 --> 00:35:25.360
 that we're

00:35:25.360 --> 00:35:26.140
 believing and

00:35:26.140 --> 00:35:26.780
 the truths that

00:35:26.780 --> 00:35:27.300
 we're forgetting.

00:35:28.680 --> 00:35:29.420
 Reminds us that

00:35:29.420 --> 00:35:30.320
 God loves us

00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:30.900
 based on what

00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:32.200
 Jesus has done

00:35:32.200 --> 00:35:32.700
 for us on

00:35:32.700 --> 00:35:33.200
 the cross,

00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:34.320
 not based on

00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:35.119
 our performance,

00:35:35.240 --> 00:35:35.740
 not based on

00:35:35.740 --> 00:35:36.619
 what man thinks

00:35:36.619 --> 00:35:37.260
 of us.

00:35:37.880 --> 00:35:38.440
 And he

00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:39.440
 empowers us

00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:39.760
 in that

00:35:39.760 --> 00:35:40.460
 secret place

00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:41.559
 to live out

00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:42.360
 the gospel,

00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:43.660
 to live as if

00:35:43.660 --> 00:35:44.180
 we actually

00:35:44.180 --> 00:35:44.820
 believe it.

00:35:46.780 --> 00:35:47.559
 And there in

00:35:47.559 --> 00:35:47.900
 the secret

00:35:47.900 --> 00:35:48.220
 place,

00:35:48.300 --> 00:35:48.880
 our fear of

00:35:48.880 --> 00:35:49.260
 man is

00:35:49.260 --> 00:35:49.920
 transformed

00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:50.720
 into the

00:35:50.720 --> 00:35:51.160
 fear of

00:35:51.160 --> 00:35:51.599
 the Lord.

00:35:52.160 --> 00:35:52.820
 And we

00:35:52.820 --> 00:35:53.800
 learn there

00:35:53.800 --> 00:35:54.720
 how to pray

00:35:54.720 --> 00:35:55.140
 with a

00:35:55.140 --> 00:35:55.960
 self-forgetful

00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:56.400
 humility.

00:35:58.340 --> 00:35:59.039
 Then when we

00:35:59.039 --> 00:36:00.220
 pray self-forgetfully,

00:36:00.760 --> 00:36:01.440
 either in

00:36:01.440 --> 00:36:02.700
 private or in

00:36:02.700 --> 00:36:03.079
 public,

00:36:03.780 --> 00:36:04.539
 when we pray

00:36:04.539 --> 00:36:05.240
 to get more

00:36:05.240 --> 00:36:05.900
 of God and

00:36:05.900 --> 00:36:06.300
 not to get

00:36:06.300 --> 00:36:06.680
 more of

00:36:06.680 --> 00:36:06.960
 man,

00:36:07.380 --> 00:36:07.860
 he will

00:36:07.860 --> 00:36:09.019
 reward us

00:36:09.019 --> 00:36:10.420
 in heaven

00:36:10.420 --> 00:36:10.840
 with a

00:36:10.840 --> 00:36:11.920
 love that

00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:12.480
 our hearts

00:36:12.480 --> 00:36:13.019
 are so

00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:13.559
 desperately

00:36:13.559 --> 00:36:14.519
 yearning for.

00:36:15.460 --> 00:36:16.400
 That love

00:36:16.400 --> 00:36:16.740
 that we've

00:36:16.740 --> 00:36:17.340
 only tasted

00:36:17.340 --> 00:36:18.240
 a part here

00:36:18.240 --> 00:36:18.840
 but will be

00:36:18.840 --> 00:36:19.340
 fuller,

00:36:19.420 --> 00:36:20.280
 richer in

00:36:20.280 --> 00:36:20.780
 that last

00:36:20.780 --> 00:36:21.059
 day.

00:36:22.180 --> 00:36:22.880
 So friend,

00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:25.260
 recently,

00:36:25.380 --> 00:36:25.720
 have you

00:36:25.720 --> 00:36:26.180
 known,

00:36:26.800 --> 00:36:27.180
 have you

00:36:27.180 --> 00:36:28.820
 tasted the

00:36:28.820 --> 00:36:29.519
 sweetness of

00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:30.039
 the Lord where

00:36:30.039 --> 00:36:30.639
 it's just you

00:36:30.639 --> 00:36:30.960
 and him?

00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:34.099
 have you

00:36:34.099 --> 00:36:34.579
 felt the

00:36:34.579 --> 00:36:35.039
 good Father

00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:35.579
 work on

00:36:35.579 --> 00:36:36.159
 your heart

00:36:36.159 --> 00:36:37.099
 in your

00:36:37.099 --> 00:36:37.740
 prayer closet?

00:36:38.980 --> 00:36:39.380
 Have you

00:36:39.380 --> 00:36:40.059
 sensed his

00:36:40.059 --> 00:36:41.119
 gentle guidance

00:36:41.119 --> 00:36:42.519
 speaking directly

00:36:42.519 --> 00:36:43.179
 to your soul

00:36:43.179 --> 00:36:43.740
 in those

00:36:43.740 --> 00:36:44.079
 moments?

00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:47.480
 If we

00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:47.740
 have,

00:36:47.800 --> 00:36:48.179
 then God

00:36:48.179 --> 00:36:48.760
 will help

00:36:48.760 --> 00:36:49.179
 us to

00:36:49.179 --> 00:36:49.699
 practice

00:36:49.699 --> 00:36:50.380
 our

00:36:50.380 --> 00:36:50.840
 righteousness,

00:36:51.380 --> 00:36:51.880
 not to

00:36:51.880 --> 00:36:52.139
 seek the

00:36:52.139 --> 00:36:52.639
 attention of

00:36:52.639 --> 00:36:52.880
 man,

00:36:53.460 --> 00:36:53.940
 even as

00:36:53.940 --> 00:36:54.539
 we fast,

00:36:54.619 --> 00:36:54.960
 which brings

00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:55.400
 me to my

00:36:55.400 --> 00:36:56.099
 last point.

00:36:57.740 --> 00:36:58.019
 In verses

00:36:58.019 --> 00:36:58.980
 16 to 18,

00:36:59.079 --> 00:36:59.720
 Jesus again

00:36:59.720 --> 00:37:00.460
 contrasts,

00:37:00.460 --> 00:37:01.900
 showy hypocrisy

00:37:01.900 --> 00:37:03.099
 and secret

00:37:03.099 --> 00:37:03.579
 righteousness.

00:37:05.740 --> 00:37:06.519
 This time

00:37:06.519 --> 00:37:07.119
 with fasting.

00:37:08.539 --> 00:37:09.320
 Fasting is

00:37:09.320 --> 00:37:10.460
 the prayer of

00:37:10.460 --> 00:37:11.059
 voluntarily

00:37:11.059 --> 00:37:12.119
 abstaining from

00:37:12.119 --> 00:37:13.800
 food for a

00:37:13.800 --> 00:37:14.500
 specific amount

00:37:14.500 --> 00:37:15.099
 of time so

00:37:15.099 --> 00:37:15.920
 that we draw

00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:16.720
 close to him

00:37:16.720 --> 00:37:17.119
 in prayer.

00:37:18.639 --> 00:37:19.059
 It's a way

00:37:19.059 --> 00:37:19.659
 to express

00:37:19.659 --> 00:37:20.420
 both in

00:37:20.420 --> 00:37:21.460
 soul and

00:37:21.460 --> 00:37:23.139
 body that

00:37:23.139 --> 00:37:23.820
 more than

00:37:23.820 --> 00:37:24.119
 food,

00:37:24.199 --> 00:37:24.519
 we need

00:37:24.519 --> 00:37:25.179
 God more.

00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:26.800
 It's a way

00:37:26.800 --> 00:37:27.280
 to sharpen

00:37:27.280 --> 00:37:27.940
 our hunger

00:37:27.940 --> 00:37:28.539
 for God

00:37:28.539 --> 00:37:28.980
 alone.

00:37:30.460 --> 00:37:31.360
 In a

00:37:31.360 --> 00:37:31.880
 quintessential

00:37:31.880 --> 00:37:32.599
 John Piper

00:37:32.599 --> 00:37:32.960
 way to

00:37:32.960 --> 00:37:33.280
 say this,

00:37:33.340 --> 00:37:33.679
 he says,

00:37:34.300 --> 00:37:34.760
 the greatest

00:37:34.760 --> 00:37:35.480
 enemy of

00:37:35.480 --> 00:37:36.039
 hunger for

00:37:36.039 --> 00:37:36.360
 God is

00:37:36.360 --> 00:37:37.179
 not poison,

00:37:37.599 --> 00:37:38.099
 but apple

00:37:38.099 --> 00:37:38.480
 pie.

00:37:39.960 --> 00:37:40.579
 It's not

00:37:40.579 --> 00:37:41.119
 the banquet

00:37:41.119 --> 00:37:41.599
 of the wicked

00:37:41.599 --> 00:37:42.159
 that dulls

00:37:42.159 --> 00:37:42.679
 our appetite

00:37:42.679 --> 00:37:43.220
 for heaven,

00:37:43.619 --> 00:37:44.940
 but endless

00:37:44.940 --> 00:37:45.659
 nibbling at

00:37:45.659 --> 00:37:46.079
 the table

00:37:46.079 --> 00:37:46.619
 of the world.

00:37:48.539 --> 00:37:49.220
 Once again,

00:37:49.300 --> 00:37:50.079
 Jesus assumes

00:37:50.079 --> 00:37:50.500
 that his

00:37:50.500 --> 00:37:52.019
 disciples are

00:37:52.019 --> 00:37:52.760
 fasting.

00:37:53.980 --> 00:37:54.639
 It doesn't

00:37:54.639 --> 00:37:55.320
 say if you

00:37:55.320 --> 00:37:55.599
 fast,

00:37:55.679 --> 00:37:56.480
 but when you

00:37:56.480 --> 00:37:57.039
 fast.

00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:57.079
 fast,

00:37:57.719 --> 00:37:59.059
 especially

00:37:59.059 --> 00:37:59.539
 given the

00:37:59.539 --> 00:37:59.980
 start of

00:37:59.980 --> 00:38:00.519
 prayer and

00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:01.199
 fasting week,

00:38:02.159 --> 00:38:02.880
 I want to

00:38:02.880 --> 00:38:03.840
 challenge you

00:38:03.840 --> 00:38:04.179
 and encourage

00:38:04.179 --> 00:38:04.380
 you.

00:38:05.320 --> 00:38:05.739
 Fasting is

00:38:05.739 --> 00:38:06.159
 one of the

00:38:06.159 --> 00:38:07.139
 least practiced

00:38:07.139 --> 00:38:07.639
 spiritual

00:38:07.639 --> 00:38:08.579
 disciplines in

00:38:08.579 --> 00:38:09.199
 the American

00:38:09.199 --> 00:38:09.800
 church today.

00:38:11.699 --> 00:38:12.380
 If you

00:38:12.380 --> 00:38:12.920
 haven't ever

00:38:12.920 --> 00:38:13.840
 fasted before,

00:38:14.679 --> 00:38:15.360
 take some

00:38:15.360 --> 00:38:15.960
 time to try

00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:16.500
 to fast.

00:38:18.239 --> 00:38:19.000
 Start off

00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:19.400
 small.

00:38:19.860 --> 00:38:20.300
 Fast just

00:38:20.300 --> 00:38:21.360
 one meal,

00:38:21.779 --> 00:38:22.400
 but use that

00:38:22.400 --> 00:38:23.259
 time to

00:38:23.259 --> 00:38:24.059
 express your

00:38:24.059 --> 00:38:25.139
 desperation for

00:38:25.139 --> 00:38:25.659
 the Lord and

00:38:25.659 --> 00:38:26.139
 for the Lord

00:38:26.139 --> 00:38:26.460
 alone.

00:38:26.639 --> 00:38:27.179
 That more

00:38:27.179 --> 00:38:27.739
 than food,

00:38:27.819 --> 00:38:28.739
 I need God

00:38:28.739 --> 00:38:29.480
 and God

00:38:29.480 --> 00:38:29.920
 alone.

00:38:31.639 --> 00:38:32.119
 And as you

00:38:32.119 --> 00:38:32.699
 make this a

00:38:32.699 --> 00:38:33.559
 regular habit,

00:38:33.839 --> 00:38:34.379
 you're going to

00:38:34.379 --> 00:38:34.960
 see that just

00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:35.699
 as he said,

00:38:36.299 --> 00:38:36.940
 Jesus has

00:38:36.940 --> 00:38:37.659
 food to eat

00:38:37.659 --> 00:38:37.980
 that the

00:38:37.980 --> 00:38:38.699
 world doesn't

00:38:38.699 --> 00:38:39.239
 know about.

00:38:41.899 --> 00:38:42.579
 But given

00:38:42.579 --> 00:38:43.000
 that true

00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:43.679
 fasting is the

00:38:43.679 --> 00:38:44.599
 expression of

00:38:44.599 --> 00:38:45.960
 desperation for

00:38:45.960 --> 00:38:46.219
 God,

00:38:47.259 --> 00:38:47.859
 what these

00:38:47.859 --> 00:38:48.639
 hypocrites are

00:38:48.639 --> 00:38:50.059
 doing is not

00:38:50.059 --> 00:38:50.819
 fasting, but

00:38:50.819 --> 00:38:52.219
 just going

00:38:52.219 --> 00:38:52.940
 hungry, going

00:38:52.940 --> 00:38:53.460
 on a diet.

00:38:53.460 --> 00:38:56.000
 like his

00:38:56.000 --> 00:38:56.519
 theatrical

00:38:56.519 --> 00:38:57.320
 giving or

00:38:57.320 --> 00:38:57.960
 his ornate

00:38:57.960 --> 00:38:59.059
 prayers, this

00:38:59.059 --> 00:38:59.679
 hypocritical

00:38:59.679 --> 00:39:00.579
 actor continued

00:39:00.579 --> 00:39:01.599
 the act by

00:39:01.599 --> 00:39:02.380
 skipping meals

00:39:02.380 --> 00:39:03.340
 and on top

00:39:03.340 --> 00:39:03.639
 of that,

00:39:03.860 --> 00:39:04.579
 costuming up,

00:39:05.199 --> 00:39:05.579
 putting on

00:39:05.579 --> 00:39:06.659
 makeup by

00:39:06.659 --> 00:39:07.619
 disfiguring his

00:39:07.619 --> 00:39:08.920
 face, likely

00:39:08.920 --> 00:39:10.159
 putting ashes or

00:39:10.159 --> 00:39:10.780
 dirt on his

00:39:10.780 --> 00:39:11.539
 head and face

00:39:11.539 --> 00:39:12.420
 to make it

00:39:12.420 --> 00:39:13.659
 readily apparent

00:39:13.659 --> 00:39:14.820
 that he is

00:39:14.820 --> 00:39:15.599
 on a fast.

00:39:17.500 --> 00:39:18.440
 The word

00:39:18.440 --> 00:39:19.480
 disfigure in

00:39:19.480 --> 00:39:19.920
 the Greek

00:39:19.920 --> 00:39:21.059
 literally means

00:39:21.059 --> 00:39:21.960
 to hide,

00:39:21.960 --> 00:39:23.900
 and I

00:39:23.900 --> 00:39:24.220
 think it

00:39:24.220 --> 00:39:25.159
 highlights this

00:39:25.159 --> 00:39:26.599
 rich, self

00:39:26.599 --> 00:39:27.380
 defeating irony

00:39:27.380 --> 00:39:28.420
 that this man

00:39:28.420 --> 00:39:29.340
 is hiding his

00:39:29.340 --> 00:39:30.500
 face behind a

00:39:30.500 --> 00:39:32.019
 mask in order

00:39:32.019 --> 00:39:32.780
 to be seen

00:39:32.780 --> 00:39:33.360
 by others.

00:39:35.420 --> 00:39:36.199
 Once again,

00:39:36.280 --> 00:39:37.579
 Jesus, though

00:39:37.579 --> 00:39:38.840
 he spoke 2,000

00:39:38.840 --> 00:39:40.380
 years ago, speaks

00:39:40.380 --> 00:39:41.280
 directly to our

00:39:41.280 --> 00:39:41.539
 lives.

00:39:41.619 --> 00:39:42.099
 It's relevant

00:39:42.099 --> 00:39:42.559
 now.

00:39:43.360 --> 00:39:43.980
 Because I

00:39:43.980 --> 00:39:44.420
 think at the

00:39:44.420 --> 00:39:44.980
 heart of this

00:39:44.980 --> 00:39:45.780
 passage, Jesus

00:39:45.780 --> 00:39:46.820
 is addressing,

00:39:48.179 --> 00:39:49.179
 tapping into

00:39:49.179 --> 00:39:50.480
 something innate

00:39:50.480 --> 00:39:51.699
 in every single

00:39:51.699 --> 00:39:52.500
 one of us

00:39:52.500 --> 00:39:53.000
 here in this

00:39:53.000 --> 00:39:53.199
 room.

00:39:54.559 --> 00:39:55.519
 Every single

00:39:55.519 --> 00:39:56.039
 one of us

00:39:56.039 --> 00:39:56.859
 craves to

00:39:56.859 --> 00:39:59.079
 be adored,

00:40:00.239 --> 00:40:01.119
 approved of,

00:40:01.460 --> 00:40:02.199
 accepted, and

00:40:02.199 --> 00:40:02.500
 loved.

00:40:03.639 --> 00:40:04.480
 There's not a

00:40:04.480 --> 00:40:05.460
 single person

00:40:05.460 --> 00:40:07.319
 on this earth

00:40:07.319 --> 00:40:08.199
 that is not

00:40:08.199 --> 00:40:09.099
 desperately and

00:40:09.099 --> 00:40:10.279
 intensely yearning

00:40:10.279 --> 00:40:11.159
 for that kind

00:40:11.159 --> 00:40:11.759
 of acceptance.

00:40:13.359 --> 00:40:14.059
 So when we

00:40:14.059 --> 00:40:14.679
 put on these

00:40:14.679 --> 00:40:15.419
 masks of

00:40:15.419 --> 00:40:16.960
 religiosity and

00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:18.059
 show off our

00:40:18.059 --> 00:40:18.659
 works of

00:40:18.659 --> 00:40:19.799
 righteousness to

00:40:19.799 --> 00:40:20.239
 be able to

00:40:20.239 --> 00:40:21.359
 win that kind

00:40:21.360 --> 00:40:21.760
 of approval

00:40:21.760 --> 00:40:22.140
 that our

00:40:22.140 --> 00:40:22.840
 hearts are so

00:40:22.840 --> 00:40:23.380
 desperately

00:40:23.380 --> 00:40:24.019
 yearning for.

00:40:25.599 --> 00:40:26.400
 But when the

00:40:26.400 --> 00:40:27.300
 show ends,

00:40:28.920 --> 00:40:30.240
 the curtain

00:40:30.240 --> 00:40:31.360
 closes and

00:40:31.360 --> 00:40:31.780
 the lights

00:40:31.780 --> 00:40:32.420
 turn off,

00:40:33.160 --> 00:40:33.380
 do you know

00:40:33.380 --> 00:40:33.740
 what you have

00:40:33.740 --> 00:40:34.019
 to do?

00:40:35.780 --> 00:40:36.460
 You have to

00:40:36.460 --> 00:40:36.940
 go home.

00:40:37.740 --> 00:40:38.260
 You have to

00:40:38.260 --> 00:40:38.820
 go home with

00:40:38.820 --> 00:40:39.200
 yourself.

00:40:41.960 --> 00:40:42.620
 You're not

00:40:42.620 --> 00:40:43.340
 fooling anyone

00:40:43.340 --> 00:40:43.680
 there.

00:40:45.140 --> 00:40:45.980
 Because we know

00:40:45.980 --> 00:40:47.000
 deep down that

00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:48.320
 any amount of

00:40:48.320 --> 00:40:49.600
 acting cannot

00:40:49.600 --> 00:40:51.039
 change who we

00:40:51.039 --> 00:40:51.680
 really are.

00:40:53.680 --> 00:40:54.740
 For the person

00:40:54.740 --> 00:40:55.500
 we are in

00:40:55.500 --> 00:40:56.700
 secret is a

00:40:56.700 --> 00:40:57.220
 person that we

00:40:57.220 --> 00:40:57.820
 really are.

00:40:59.980 --> 00:41:01.000
 The person that

00:41:01.000 --> 00:41:01.800
 you are when no

00:41:01.800 --> 00:41:02.400
 one is looking

00:41:02.400 --> 00:41:03.980
 is a person that

00:41:03.980 --> 00:41:04.840
 you really are.

00:41:08.200 --> 00:41:10.140
 Then who are

00:41:10.140 --> 00:41:10.700
 the people that

00:41:10.700 --> 00:41:11.380
 really know you?

00:41:12.260 --> 00:41:13.100
 Really know you?

00:41:14.360 --> 00:41:15.240
 Sure, our spouses

00:41:15.239 --> 00:41:15.899
 and our best

00:41:15.899 --> 00:41:17.399
 friends, they've

00:41:17.399 --> 00:41:17.959
 seen a lot of

00:41:17.959 --> 00:41:18.419
 your lows.

00:41:19.979 --> 00:41:20.919
 But if they

00:41:20.919 --> 00:41:22.079
 were to watch a

00:41:22.079 --> 00:41:22.939
 videotape of

00:41:22.939 --> 00:41:24.719
 your life, if

00:41:24.719 --> 00:41:27.059
 they heard or

00:41:27.059 --> 00:41:27.959
 saw all of your

00:41:27.959 --> 00:41:28.719
 inner thoughts,

00:41:30.119 --> 00:41:31.379
 there would be so

00:41:31.379 --> 00:41:32.339
 many things that we

00:41:32.339 --> 00:41:33.059
 wouldn't want to

00:41:33.059 --> 00:41:33.459
 show them.

00:41:35.519 --> 00:41:36.459
 They don't know

00:41:36.459 --> 00:41:37.079
 who you really

00:41:37.079 --> 00:41:37.399
 are.

00:41:38.719 --> 00:41:39.859
 And if they did,

00:41:39.919 --> 00:41:40.619
 they might not

00:41:40.619 --> 00:41:41.359
 even love you.

00:41:43.739 --> 00:41:44.739
 Only the

00:41:44.739 --> 00:41:45.960
 Lord knows

00:41:45.960 --> 00:41:46.639
 the real you.

00:41:47.980 --> 00:41:48.699
 We read this

00:41:48.699 --> 00:41:49.199
 verse in the

00:41:49.199 --> 00:41:49.639
 Assurance of

00:41:49.639 --> 00:41:51.359
 Pardon 4.13

00:41:51.359 --> 00:41:51.839
 in Hebrews

00:41:51.839 --> 00:41:52.219
 says,

00:41:53.039 --> 00:41:53.759
 no creature

00:41:53.759 --> 00:41:54.219
 is hidden

00:41:54.219 --> 00:41:54.819
 from his

00:41:54.819 --> 00:41:55.880
 sight, but

00:41:55.880 --> 00:41:56.480
 all are

00:41:56.480 --> 00:41:57.599
 naked and

00:41:57.599 --> 00:41:58.819
 exposed to

00:41:58.819 --> 00:41:59.519
 the eyes of

00:41:59.519 --> 00:41:59.880
 him.

00:42:00.420 --> 00:42:01.059
 To him we

00:42:01.059 --> 00:42:01.699
 must give

00:42:01.699 --> 00:42:02.099
 account.

00:42:03.219 --> 00:42:04.119
 This is a

00:42:04.119 --> 00:42:05.139
 terrifying verse,

00:42:05.199 --> 00:42:05.719
 is it not?

00:42:06.839 --> 00:42:07.839
 For all the

00:42:07.839 --> 00:42:08.839
 murderous

00:42:08.839 --> 00:42:09.420
 mutterings that

00:42:09.420 --> 00:42:09.839
 we've said

00:42:09.839 --> 00:42:10.279
 under our

00:42:10.280 --> 00:42:11.260
 breath, because

00:42:11.260 --> 00:42:11.740
 we thought no

00:42:11.740 --> 00:42:12.040
 one would

00:42:12.040 --> 00:42:14.600
 hear, God

00:42:14.600 --> 00:42:15.140
 has heard.

00:42:16.060 --> 00:42:16.800
 For all our

00:42:16.800 --> 00:42:17.680
 lustful thoughts

00:42:17.680 --> 00:42:18.360
 that we haven't

00:42:18.360 --> 00:42:19.100
 told a single

00:42:19.100 --> 00:42:20.500
 person about, God

00:42:20.500 --> 00:42:21.180
 has seen.

00:42:22.080 --> 00:42:22.960
 For all our

00:42:22.960 --> 00:42:24.000
 manipulative lies

00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:24.500
 that we thought

00:42:24.500 --> 00:42:25.100
 we got away

00:42:25.100 --> 00:42:26.780
 with, God

00:42:26.780 --> 00:42:27.680
 has heard.

00:42:29.600 --> 00:42:30.640
 If you're any

00:42:30.640 --> 00:42:31.600
 bit self-aware,

00:42:32.120 --> 00:42:33.300
 you have to be

00:42:33.300 --> 00:42:34.640
 wondering, how

00:42:34.640 --> 00:42:35.500
 could I ever be

00:42:35.500 --> 00:42:36.400
 loved by this

00:42:36.400 --> 00:42:36.840
 God?

00:42:38.200 --> 00:42:38.700
 But the

00:42:38.700 --> 00:42:40.180
 amazing news

00:42:40.179 --> 00:42:40.960
 of the gospel

00:42:40.960 --> 00:42:42.419
 is that God

00:42:42.419 --> 00:42:43.079
 has loved

00:42:43.079 --> 00:42:45.239
 us, that he

00:42:45.239 --> 00:42:45.879
 has loved us

00:42:45.879 --> 00:42:46.399
 by sending

00:42:46.399 --> 00:42:47.779
 his son to

00:42:47.779 --> 00:42:48.539
 die for

00:42:48.539 --> 00:42:49.219
 sinners like

00:42:49.219 --> 00:42:49.659
 you and me.

00:42:51.239 --> 00:42:52.099
 That this

00:42:52.099 --> 00:42:52.879
 God has not

00:42:52.879 --> 00:42:53.500
 only just seen

00:42:53.500 --> 00:42:54.099
 all the evil

00:42:54.099 --> 00:42:54.480
 that you've

00:42:54.480 --> 00:42:54.899
 done in the

00:42:54.899 --> 00:42:56.059
 past, but

00:42:56.059 --> 00:42:56.879
 all the future

00:42:56.879 --> 00:42:57.519
 evil that you

00:42:57.519 --> 00:42:58.639
 will do, and

00:42:58.639 --> 00:42:59.339
 he still has

00:42:59.339 --> 00:43:00.159
 committed himself

00:43:00.159 --> 00:43:00.919
 to you, even

00:43:00.919 --> 00:43:01.759
 to death.

00:43:03.679 --> 00:43:03.899
 Do you

00:43:03.899 --> 00:43:04.339
 understand how

00:43:04.339 --> 00:43:05.399
 preposterous is

00:43:05.399 --> 00:43:06.139
 that idea that

00:43:06.139 --> 00:43:07.239
 the creator God,

00:43:07.500 --> 00:43:08.460
 perfect and holy,

00:43:08.460 --> 00:43:09.699
 would take on

00:43:09.699 --> 00:43:10.619
 every single

00:43:10.619 --> 00:43:11.260
 one of my

00:43:11.260 --> 00:43:11.860
 heinous sins,

00:43:11.960 --> 00:43:12.559
 my secret

00:43:12.559 --> 00:43:17.240
 sins, and

00:43:17.240 --> 00:43:17.579
 that he's

00:43:17.579 --> 00:43:18.360
 accepted me

00:43:18.360 --> 00:43:19.039
 in Jesus.

00:43:21.940 --> 00:43:22.599
 Ever since

00:43:22.599 --> 00:43:23.179
 Adam and Eve,

00:43:23.280 --> 00:43:23.940
 sin has always

00:43:23.940 --> 00:43:24.519
 made us feel

00:43:24.519 --> 00:43:25.280
 naked and

00:43:25.280 --> 00:43:25.920
 exposed.

00:43:27.340 --> 00:43:28.000
 Our sin is

00:43:28.000 --> 00:43:28.440
 the ultimate

00:43:28.440 --> 00:43:29.300
 reason why we

00:43:29.300 --> 00:43:29.880
 feel like we

00:43:29.880 --> 00:43:30.400
 need to put on

00:43:30.400 --> 00:43:31.199
 these masks and

00:43:31.199 --> 00:43:31.940
 parade our

00:43:31.940 --> 00:43:32.380
 righteousness,

00:43:33.179 --> 00:43:33.800
 because we're

00:43:33.800 --> 00:43:34.340
 just trying to

00:43:34.340 --> 00:43:35.059
 cover up our

00:43:35.059 --> 00:43:36.240
 guilt and cover

00:43:36.240 --> 00:43:37.019
 up the shame

00:43:37.019 --> 00:43:38.480
 of our sin.

00:43:39.280 --> 00:43:39.719
 Isn't this

00:43:39.719 --> 00:43:40.519
 exactly what

00:43:40.519 --> 00:43:40.880
 Mike

00:43:40.880 --> 00:43:41.860
 Guglielmucci

00:43:41.860 --> 00:43:42.259
 did?

00:43:44.300 --> 00:43:45.360
 Just as God

00:43:45.360 --> 00:43:46.619
 graciously covered

00:43:46.619 --> 00:43:47.559
 Adam and Eve,

00:43:49.000 --> 00:43:49.719
 for those who

00:43:49.719 --> 00:43:50.280
 have put their

00:43:50.280 --> 00:43:51.239
 faith in Jesus,

00:43:51.460 --> 00:43:52.400
 rest assured

00:43:52.400 --> 00:43:53.320
 that he has

00:43:53.320 --> 00:43:54.440
 now not only

00:43:54.440 --> 00:43:55.179
 taken every

00:43:55.179 --> 00:43:55.780
 single one of

00:43:55.780 --> 00:43:56.280
 our sins, but

00:43:56.280 --> 00:43:57.280
 he has covered

00:43:57.280 --> 00:43:58.519
 you with his

00:43:58.519 --> 00:43:59.759
 perfect righteousness

00:43:59.759 --> 00:44:01.059
 so that he is

00:44:01.059 --> 00:44:01.679
 getting rid of

00:44:01.679 --> 00:44:03.320
 any need for

00:44:03.320 --> 00:44:04.679
 a mask, any

00:44:04.679 --> 00:44:05.659
 need to pretend

00:44:05.659 --> 00:44:06.280
 anymore.

00:44:07.019 --> 00:44:09.239
 So only to the

00:44:09.239 --> 00:44:09.980
 extent that you

00:44:09.980 --> 00:44:10.480
 believe, not

00:44:10.480 --> 00:44:10.940
 just with your

00:44:10.940 --> 00:44:11.739
 head, but in

00:44:11.739 --> 00:44:12.320
 your heart, when

00:44:12.320 --> 00:44:13.320
 you internalize

00:44:13.320 --> 00:44:14.820
 that truth, can

00:44:14.820 --> 00:44:15.880
 we now lower our

00:44:15.880 --> 00:44:17.880
 masks, can we

00:44:17.880 --> 00:44:18.780
 now anoint our

00:44:18.780 --> 00:44:20.079
 heads and wash

00:44:20.079 --> 00:44:20.980
 our faces when we

00:44:20.980 --> 00:44:22.500
 fast, not to

00:44:22.500 --> 00:44:23.420
 seek the approval

00:44:23.420 --> 00:44:24.519
 of man, but to

00:44:24.519 --> 00:44:25.239
 seek the approval

00:44:25.239 --> 00:44:26.320
 of God, the

00:44:26.320 --> 00:44:27.119
 reward that only

00:44:27.119 --> 00:44:27.759
 he can give.

00:44:30.539 --> 00:44:32.400
 And this, this

00:44:32.400 --> 00:44:33.739
 can then transform

00:44:33.739 --> 00:44:36.939
 this church, Trinity

00:44:36.939 --> 00:44:38.779
 Cambridge Church, it's

00:44:38.779 --> 00:44:40.759
 this power of the

00:44:40.759 --> 00:44:41.659
 gospel that will

00:44:41.659 --> 00:44:42.659
 enable us to be the

00:44:42.659 --> 00:44:43.439
 community that he

00:44:43.439 --> 00:44:44.639
 has called us to

00:44:44.639 --> 00:44:46.459
 be, not a church

00:44:46.459 --> 00:44:47.239
 where we need to

00:44:47.239 --> 00:44:47.939
 put on our best

00:44:47.939 --> 00:44:49.899
 face and pretend,

00:44:50.899 --> 00:44:52.419
 pretend to be people

00:44:52.419 --> 00:44:54.359
 that we're not, not

00:44:54.359 --> 00:44:55.279
 a church, but a

00:44:55.279 --> 00:44:56.419
 church that confesses

00:44:56.419 --> 00:44:58.399
 sins, that is

00:44:58.399 --> 00:44:59.519
 honest and open with

00:44:59.519 --> 00:45:00.340
 where we are and

00:45:00.340 --> 00:45:03.559
 who we are and

00:45:03.559 --> 00:45:04.360
 humbles ourselves

00:45:04.360 --> 00:45:05.159
 before others.

00:45:05.960 --> 00:45:07.199
 It's exhausting.

00:45:07.519 --> 00:45:08.179
 I've done this.

00:45:08.239 --> 00:45:09.199
 It's exhausting to

00:45:09.199 --> 00:45:10.340
 continue to pretend.

00:45:11.239 --> 00:45:12.400
 It's healing.

00:45:14.179 --> 00:45:15.659
 It's healing to be

00:45:15.659 --> 00:45:16.599
 honest and open.

00:45:17.719 --> 00:45:18.739
 And I pray that this

00:45:18.739 --> 00:45:21.000
 church be a no

00:45:21.000 --> 00:45:22.199
 mask, no

00:45:22.199 --> 00:45:23.000
 performing, no

00:45:23.000 --> 00:45:24.559
 play acting zone.

00:45:26.360 --> 00:45:27.599
 Imagine what our

00:45:27.599 --> 00:45:28.519
 church would be.

00:45:28.519 --> 00:45:29.739
 Imagine how set

00:45:29.739 --> 00:45:30.380
 apart we would be

00:45:30.380 --> 00:45:31.159
 from the rest of the

00:45:31.159 --> 00:45:31.739
 world, from any

00:45:31.739 --> 00:45:32.460
 other place that you

00:45:32.460 --> 00:45:32.900
 go to.

00:45:33.900 --> 00:45:34.920
 Then the world will

00:45:34.920 --> 00:45:35.780
 know us by our

00:45:35.780 --> 00:45:36.079
 love.

00:45:38.300 --> 00:45:40.920
 So as we give, we

00:45:40.920 --> 00:45:42.880
 pray, we fast, we

00:45:42.880 --> 00:45:43.719
 disciple, we

00:45:43.719 --> 00:45:44.780
 counsel, we read,

00:45:45.300 --> 00:45:46.340
 whatever we do, we

00:45:46.340 --> 00:45:48.280
 can do it all not to

00:45:48.280 --> 00:45:49.380
 seek the recognition

00:45:49.380 --> 00:45:50.539
 of man.

00:45:51.199 --> 00:45:51.860
 Because of the

00:45:51.860 --> 00:45:52.460
 things that happened

00:45:52.460 --> 00:45:53.659
 in the past, the

00:45:53.659 --> 00:45:54.039
 things that are

00:45:54.039 --> 00:45:55.599
 happening present in

00:45:55.599 --> 00:45:56.719
 the present, and the

00:45:56.719 --> 00:45:57.079
 things that will

00:45:57.079 --> 00:45:57.579
 happen in the

00:45:57.579 --> 00:45:57.860
 future.

00:45:58.519 --> 00:45:59.739
 Because of Jesus'

00:45:59.739 --> 00:46:01.039
 past work on the

00:46:01.039 --> 00:46:02.980
 cross to cover all

00:46:02.980 --> 00:46:05.480
 sin, we are secured, we

00:46:05.480 --> 00:46:06.340
 are covered in his

00:46:06.340 --> 00:46:06.619
 righteousness.

00:46:06.780 --> 00:46:07.519
 There's no need for

00:46:07.519 --> 00:46:07.880
 masks.

00:46:08.440 --> 00:46:09.440
 Because of God's

00:46:09.440 --> 00:46:10.800
 present work on us, when

00:46:10.800 --> 00:46:11.940
 we meet with him in

00:46:11.940 --> 00:46:13.639
 secret, we not only

00:46:13.639 --> 00:46:14.880
 believe the gospel, but

00:46:14.880 --> 00:46:15.619
 he helps us to

00:46:15.619 --> 00:46:16.820
 internalize it and to

00:46:16.820 --> 00:46:17.960
 walk as if we

00:46:17.960 --> 00:46:18.420
 believe.

00:46:19.659 --> 00:46:20.360
 And because of our

00:46:20.360 --> 00:46:21.800
 future heavenly reward,

00:46:22.300 --> 00:46:23.719
 we are motivated to

00:46:23.719 --> 00:46:25.860
 reject the lesser, the

00:46:25.860 --> 00:46:28.320
 smaller reward of man to

00:46:28.320 --> 00:46:29.160
 wait for something far,

00:46:29.240 --> 00:46:29.599
 far better.

00:46:30.680 --> 00:46:31.700
 And when we tap into

00:46:31.700 --> 00:46:34.039
 all of those reasons, we

00:46:34.039 --> 00:46:35.039
 can practice our

00:46:35.039 --> 00:46:36.440
 righteousness in secret,

00:46:36.640 --> 00:46:38.539
 not to be seen by man

00:46:38.539 --> 00:46:39.720
 and rewarded by man, but

00:46:39.720 --> 00:46:40.960
 God and him alone.

00:46:42.160 --> 00:46:43.180
 And when we do that, we

00:46:43.180 --> 00:46:44.559
 will hear that final day,

00:46:45.700 --> 00:46:48.059
 well done, well done,

00:46:48.460 --> 00:46:49.840
 good and faithful servant,

00:46:50.599 --> 00:46:51.780
 enter the joy of your

00:46:51.780 --> 00:46:52.160
 master.

00:46:53.800 --> 00:46:54.940
 That will be the

00:46:54.940 --> 00:46:55.820
 greatest thing you will

00:46:55.820 --> 00:46:56.420
 ever hear in your

00:46:56.420 --> 00:46:56.820
 lives.

00:46:57.580 --> 00:46:59.120
 For that alone, I can't

00:46:59.120 --> 00:46:59.300
 wait.

00:47:00.940 --> 00:47:01.500
 Let's pray.

00:47:06.080 --> 00:47:08.060
 So, Lord, we pray you

00:47:08.060 --> 00:47:08.700
 would help us to

00:47:08.700 --> 00:47:09.960
 internalize the gospel,

00:47:10.560 --> 00:47:11.820
 that this church would be

00:47:11.820 --> 00:47:14.300
 marked by a gospel

00:47:14.300 --> 00:47:17.180
 culture where we don't

00:47:17.180 --> 00:47:18.940
 need to pretend anymore,

00:47:18.940 --> 00:47:21.000
 but we are honest because

00:47:21.000 --> 00:47:22.860
 we are secure in the

00:47:22.860 --> 00:47:23.800
 love of Christ.

00:47:25.200 --> 00:47:26.700
 Empower us today to do

00:47:26.700 --> 00:47:27.019
 that.

00:47:27.619 --> 00:47:28.539
 Help us to have a bigger

00:47:28.539 --> 00:47:29.880
 view of you, God, and a

00:47:29.880 --> 00:47:31.079
 smaller view of self.

00:47:33.420 --> 00:47:34.539
 And then in all things,

00:47:34.639 --> 00:47:35.880
 we would know that it's

00:47:35.880 --> 00:47:38.679
 not us, but it is Christ

00:47:38.679 --> 00:47:40.659
 in us that we can now

00:47:40.659 --> 00:47:41.860
 live in this obedience.

00:47:42.159 --> 00:47:42.639
 Help us.

00:47:42.960 --> 00:47:44.599
 In Jesus' name, amen.