Sermon Tone Analysis

Last Week

We looked at the Symptoms of Hypocrisy

We looked at the differences between the Church that Jesus desired and the one that existed

We saw Jesus make a clear distinction between Kingdom People aka Jesus People, and the Religious Hypocrites of the day

In his venture to provide a clear distinction between the Real Church and the Hypocritical Church

He pointed out that not only do we need to change how we see giving

But we need to change the way we pray

This Week

We will look at some very practical things that will help us prevent a Hypocritical Spirit

We will be looking at Fasting with a correct posture

We will look at the things we value

We will look at the heart we should have when it comes to money

We will also look at Worry

Turn to

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.

Jesus here is setting in place the right posture to have while fasting

First thing we have to realize is that fasting is very much a part of the Kingdom that Jesus was promoting

He says “When You Fast”

Which promotes fasting as a regular rhythm amongst kingdom people

Not only should it an active part of our faith journey

There must be a difference between how Hypocrites fast and how Jesus People Fast

So lets look at the differences:

How do you fast in a Hypocritical Way?

What the Hyper Religious were doing was this

They would fast in a way that caught everyones attention

They would make themselves appear as if they were going through it.

They Disfigured their faces

Or exposed their imperfections

Amplified their blemishes

In order to make sure that everyone knew that they were fasting.

People would feel sorry for them

They would comfort them

They would encourage them

Because they would get their fill from what man had to offer

Jesus says

This will be their reward for fasting

The result of their penitence shifted from an expectancy of seeing God work, to a settling for the praises and comfort that man had to offer

What is Jesus trying to do here?

Jesus is trying to switch the focus off of everything that pointed to man’s self-sufficiency

To expose man’s truest necessity

For that is what paralleled and preached a Greater Message

Now lets look at how Fasting should be done:

Instead of participating in a spiritual practice to grab man’s attention

You, when you fast

Put on your “Sunday Best”

Anoint your head with Oil

Wash your face

In fact, don’t give any hints to anyone that you are fasting

Let it be something that is between you and the Lord

That as you fast

As you consecrate yourself to grow in your trust of God

As you set your face to seek the Lord

Give it 100%

Go all in

For that which you do in secret, He will reward you openly.

Now, lets take a look at our stuff

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus is encouraging us to abstain from storing up our treasures here on earth

The Message written by Eugene Peterson says it this way

“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars.

Don’t stack your chips here as if this was the end goal.

Jesus is again, trying to shift our focus from the earthly to the heavenly

He is shifting the focus of what we treasure from an earthly perspective to a heavenly one

Normally, this is where the pastor would talk about tithing and your money and it would get really awkward

We could do that

But its so 1990’s

I think what we need to focus on today is the deeper issue

need to slow the process down

I mentioned Tesla 5 times last week

We need

We let our financial

John Stott put it this way

So we are to differ from non-Christians not only in our devotions, but also in our ambitions

Church, if we are going to be salt and light

If we are going to be different than the Hypocrites

Then we must do it wholly

Not just in the spiritual parts of our lives

But in the normal every day practice

Everything about our lifestyle should reflect our eternal citizenship

What does this mean for us today?

It is a switch from saving whats valuable here on earth, to investing in what is valuable in Heaven

Paul said

11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.

Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Jesus is encouraging us to abstain from storing up our treasures here on earth

The Message written by Eugene Peterson says it this way

“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars.

Don’t stack your chips here as if this was the end goal.

We are not called to hoard what God has blessed us with

That word Treasures can be better translated

Highly Valued Objects or Accumulated Riches

We are not talking about your savings account or your emergency fund

We are talking about the excess that has the ability to hinder your spiritual growth

We are talking about the things we invest in here on this earth that replace what would have been an eternal investment

Jesus is telling us here:

The investments that you participate in here on this earth