Introduction

Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. As we gather here today, we find ourselves standing on the precipice of a new day, a new opportunity to grow in our faith and deepen our relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are here, not by chance, but by divine appointment. God has a message for us today, a message that will challenge us, inspire us, and ultimately draw us closer to Him.

Our focus today is on a passage of scripture that is both familiar and challenging. It's a passage that speaks to the very heart of our faith and our relationship with God. It's a passage that calls us to examine our motives, our actions, and our attitudes. It's a passage that invites us to reflect on the place of alms and prayer in our lives as believers.

Before we embark on this journey through scripture, let's take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit into our midst. Let's pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you today with open hearts and open minds. We ask that you would fill this place with your presence. Open our eyes to see your truth, open our ears to hear your voice, and open our hearts to receive your love. Guide us as we study your word and help us to apply it to our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Now, if you have your Bibles with you, I invite you to turn with me to the book of Matthew, chapter 6, verses 1 through 15. If you don't have a Bible with you, don't worry. The verses will be displayed on the screen for you to follow along.

As I read these verses, I encourage you to listen carefully, not just with your ears, but with your heart. Allow the words of Jesus to sink in, to challenge you, to inspire you, and to transform you.

Matthew 6:1-15 (NIV)

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

2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Now, I want you to imagine for a moment that you are a tree. Yes, a tree. You might be thinking, "Why a tree?" Well, just bear with me for a moment. You see, a tree is a wonderful illustration of our spiritual lives. The roots of the tree represent our faith, our relationship with God. They are what anchor us, what give us stability and strength. The trunk of the tree represents our character, our integrity, our values. It's what supports us, what holds us up. The branches of the tree represent our actions, our deeds, our works. They are what reach out to the world, what bear fruit.

Now, think about the place of alms and prayer in this picture. Alms are like the water and nutrients that the tree needs to grow and thrive. They are acts of love, of compassion, of generosity. They nourish our faith, they strengthen our character, they enable us to bear fruit. Prayer, on the other hand, is like the sunlight that the tree needs to photosynthesize and produce food. It's our communication with God, our connection with Him. It enlightens our understanding, it warms our hearts, it energizes our actions.

As we journey through this sermon today, I invite you to reflect on this image. Think about your own spiritual tree. Are you nourishing it with acts of love and generosity? Are you basking it in the sunlight of prayer? Are you allowing it to grow and bear fruit?

Let's take a moment to reflect on these questions as we prepare our hearts to receive God's word today.

Our Attitude In Our Prayers

When we look at Matthew 6:1-15, we see Jesus teaching us about the place of alms and prayer in our lives as believers. He's not just giving us a how-to guide, but He's showing us the heart behind it.

Let's start with alms. Jesus says, "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them." (Matthew 6:1). He's telling us that our giving shouldn't be a show for others. It's not about getting applause or recognition. It's about helping those in need.

Now, this doesn't mean we can't give publicly. But it does mean our motive should always be love, not pride. We give because we love God and we love people. And we trust that God sees our hearts and rewards us in His own way.

Then Jesus moves on to prayer. He says, "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others." (Matthew 6:5). Again, He's warning us against making a show of our faith.

Prayer is a conversation with God. It's a time to connect with Him, to pour out our hearts, to listen to His voice. It's not a performance. It's not about using fancy words or long sentences. It's about being real with God.

In the original Greek, the word for prayer is "proseuche," which means to offer up, to make a wish. It's a beautiful picture of what prayer is meant to be. It's offering up our desires, our hopes, our fears to God. It's making a wish, knowing that our Heavenly Father is listening and cares about every detail of our lives.

As the great theologian C.S. Lewis once said, "Prayer doesn't change God, it changes me." Prayer is not about getting God to do what we want. It's about aligning our hearts with His. It's about becoming more like Him.

And that's where the Lord's Prayer comes in. Jesus gives us this prayer as a model, not a script. It's a guide to help us focus our prayers.

First, we acknowledge God as our Father and honor His name. Then we pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done. We're saying, "God, I want what You want. I want Your plans, Your purposes, Your kingdom to come in my life."

Next, we ask for our daily needs. We're acknowledging that we depend on God for everything. We're saying, "God, I trust You to provide for me."

Then we ask for forgiveness and commit to forgiving others. We're saying, "God, I need Your grace. And I choose to extend that grace to others."

Finally, we ask for protection from temptation and evil. We're saying, "God, I need Your strength. I can't do this on my own."

So, let's remember the heart behind alms and prayer. Let's give with love, not pride. Let's pray with sincerity, not show. Let's trust that God sees our hearts and rewards us in His own way. And let's use the Lord's Prayer as a guide to help us focus our prayers and align our hearts with God's.

The Attitude of Sincerity in Prayer (Matthew 6:5-8)

In the heart of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us a blueprint for prayer. This isn't a formula to be repeated verbatim, but a model to guide our own prayers. It's a call to sincerity, to authenticity, to a heart that's open and honest before God.

Firstly, Jesus tells us not to be like the hypocrites. They love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. They want the applause of men more than the approval of God. But Jesus says, "When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen."

This is a call to intimacy with God. It's a call to a personal, private relationship with Him. It's a call to shut out the noise and distractions of the world and focus on the One who truly matters.

Secondly, Jesus tells us not to babble on and on like pagans. They think they'll be heard because of their many words. But God isn't impressed by our eloquence or our verbosity. He's not swayed by our arguments or our persuasions. He's moved by our faith, our humility, our sincerity.

This is a call to simplicity in prayer. It's a call to strip away the pretense and the posturing, the empty words and the empty rituals. It's a call to come before God just as we are, with our needs, our fears, our hopes, our dreams.

In the book of James, we find a similar teaching. James tells us, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective" (James 5:16). It's not the length of our prayers or the eloquence of our words that makes them effective. It's the righteousness of our hearts, the sincerity of our faith.

Thirdly, Jesus assures us that our Father knows what we need before we ask Him. This isn't a call to silence or inaction. It's a call to trust, to dependence, to surrender. It's a call to recognize that God is not only our Father, but also our Provider, our Protector, our Guide.

This is a call to confidence in prayer. It's a call to approach God with boldness and assurance, knowing that He hears us, that He cares for us, that He will answer us according to His perfect will and timing.

Lastly, Jesus gives us the Lord's Prayer as a model. It's a prayer that acknowledges God's holiness, submits to His will, asks for His provision, seeks His forgiveness, and pleads for His protection.

This is a call to balance in prayer. It's a call to worship and petition, confession and intercession, praise and supplication. It's a call to align our desires with God's desires, our will with God's will, our heart with God's heart.

In conclusion, the place of alms and prayer in the life of a believer is not about outward show or empty words. It's about a sincere heart, a humble spirit, a trusting faith. It's about a personal, intimate, authentic relationship with God. It's about living out our faith in practical, tangible ways, loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

The Attitude of Forgiveness in Prayer (Matthew 6:9-15)

When we approach the subject of prayer and almsgiving, we must first understand that these are not just religious activities. They are, in fact, expressions of our relationship with God and with our fellow human beings. They are the practical outworking of our faith, the tangible evidence of our love for God and for others.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus provides us with a blueprint for our prayers. He teaches us to pray with an attitude of humility, recognizing our dependence on God for all things. He instructs us to pray with a spirit of forgiveness, extending the same grace to others that we have received from God.

The first point we need to consider is the role of almsgiving in our spiritual lives. Almsgiving, or giving to the poor, is a fundamental aspect of our faith. It is a concrete way of demonstrating our love for our neighbors and our commitment to social justice. It is also a means of expressing our gratitude to God for His abundant blessings.

In his book "God's Economy: Redefining the Health and Wealth Gospel," theologian Jonathan Wilson argues that almsgiving is not just about giving money. It is about participating in God's work of restoring justice and equality in the world. It is about aligning our resources with God's priorities. It is about living out our faith in a way that impacts the world around us.

The second point is the importance of forgiveness in our prayers. In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matthew 6:12). This is a powerful reminder that forgiveness is not optional for followers of Jesus. It is a requirement.

A.W. Tozer, a renowned Christian author, once said, "Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart." This quote underscores the fact that forgiveness is not a feeling, but a decision. It is a choice we make, regardless of how we feel.

The final point we need to consider is the role of prayer in our relationship with God. Prayer is not just about asking God for things. It is about aligning our will with God's will. It is about seeking God's kingdom and righteousness above all else.

In his book "Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God," theologian Timothy Keller argues that prayer is a conversation with God. It is a dialogue, not a monologue. It is an opportunity to express our deepest desires, fears, and hopes to God, and to listen to His voice in return.

In conclusion, the place of alms and prayer in the life of a believer is not just about religious rituals. It is about living out our faith in a way that reflects God's love, justice, and mercy. It is about aligning our lives with God's priorities and seeking His kingdom above all else.

Conclusion

In conclusion, let's take a moment to reflect on what we've learned today from Matthew 6:1-15 about the place of alms and prayer in the life of a believer. We've discovered that these practices are not just rituals or obligations. They are, in fact, vital components of our relationship with God.

Jesus teaches us that when we give alms and pray, we should do so with humility and sincerity. We should not be like the hypocrites who make a show of their piety. Instead, we should give and pray in secret, knowing that our Father who sees in secret will reward us.

This is a call to authenticity in our faith. It's a call to be real with God and with others. It's a call to let our actions match our beliefs. And it's a call to let our giving and our praying be expressions of our love for God and for others.

As we move into the coming week, let's strive to be more like Jesus. Let's strive to live out the principles He taught us in Matthew 6:1-15. Let's strive to give with generosity and humility. Let's strive to pray with sincerity and forgiveness. And let's strive to do all this not to be seen by others, but to please our Father in heaven.

Let's also remember that our giving and our praying are not just about us. They are about our relationship with God. They are about aligning ourselves with His will. And they are about experiencing His transformative work in our lives.

So, as we go from here, let's commit to being people of authentic faith. Let's commit to being people who give generously and pray sincerely. And let's commit to being people who seek to please God in all we do.

Let's pray together.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word and for the lessons we've learned today. We thank You for the example of Jesus and for His teachings on giving and praying. Help us, Lord, to live out these teachings in our lives. Help us to give with humility and generosity. Help us to pray with sincerity and forgiveness. And help us to seek to please You in all we do. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

And now, as we prepare to leave this place, let's receive the benediction. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May He turn His face toward you and give you peace. And may you go from here with a renewed commitment to live out your faith with authenticity, generosity, and sincerity. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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