May 23, 2021
Part of Winning The Kingdom Battle

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AVOIDING THE APPROVAL TRAP
Winning the Kingdom Battles
May 23, 2021

Matthew 6:1-18

Do Good to Please God
1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

The Model Prayer
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, 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 this day our daily bread.
12 ​​And forgive us our debts,
​​As we forgive our debtors.
13 ​​And do not lead us into temptation,
​​But deliver us from the evil one.
​​For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Fasting to Be Seen Only by God
16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

It all begins with our hearts .

Matthew 23:5-7
5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’

Psalm 7:9
Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end,
But establish the just;
For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.

Colossians 3:23-24
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

“Live your life for the audience of .”

Practicing the discipline of .

Allow your good deeds to become second .

2 Corinthians 9:7
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Trust that God sees and hears and will .

Psalm 91:1-2
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.”

John 4:24
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Romans 8:15-17
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Rely on the inexhaustible of God.

Deuteronomy 8:3-4
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.

Practical aides for avoiding the approval trap.

Focus on God not the of others.

Philippians 2:12-13
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

“The praise of man the ego and the soul.”

Make spiritual disciplines natural not .

Colossians 1:9-10
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

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Life Group Homework

May 23, 2021

Getting to Know You

  1. What traditions does your family have that you would feel very uncomfortable changing?

Going Deeper

  1. Read Isaiah 58:6-9 and discuss what God says about fasting. What are some of the benefits and what are we to desire to see happen?

  2. What is a hypocrite? How do we avoid becoming hypocritical in our practices today? How would Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 apply?

  3. Jesus makes reference often to rewards in Matthew 6. Using scripture to support your view what are some of the rewards that come with giving, praying and fasting? Read Philippians 3:12-16 and discuss the “prize” Paul is pressing towards.