WEBVTT 00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:08.640 Hello, I'm Pastor Creighton, and thank you for tuning in to Newsung Churches Podcast. 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:15.359 We're a gospel centered church in Port Perry, Ontario, proclaiming the true and life-giving word of Jesus as we love and serve our neighbors. 00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:18.320 May God bless you today through his life-giving word. 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:22.160 Jesus Christ, according to Matthew. 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:36.240 Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:47.280 Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:51.600 Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. 00:00:52.479 --> 00:01:06.079 But when you give to the needy, do not left uh let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret, and your father who sees in secret will reward you. 00:01:07.599 --> 00:01:18.640 And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:22.400 Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:34.959 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door, and pray to your father who is in secret, and your father who sees in secret will reward you. 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:45.439 And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces, that their fasting may be seen by others. 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:49.359 Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. 00:01:50.079 --> 00:02:00.159 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others, but by your father who is in secret. 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:05.120 And your father, who sees in secret, will reward you. 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:08.879 The gospel of the Lord. 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:20.080 Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:29.199 May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight. 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:32.719 O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:34.240 Please be seated. 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:51.280 In the ESV, we see the word beware. 00:02:53.599 --> 00:02:58.560 In others it's translated, be careful, pay attention to. 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:04.560 Perhaps, like me, uh you drive along and you see the beware signs. 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:11.840 Beware of falling rocks, beware of slippery road, beware of bumps in the road. 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:18.080 Perhaps if you've gone to the Friedrich's, they should have a sign, beware of dog. 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:33.360 These are signs that bring your attention to an impending or imminent danger, and it tells you to take action to avoid the danger. 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:39.360 In this passage here, Christ also tells us about a danger. 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:48.879 The difference in this case is unlike beware of falling rocks, slippery road, whatever it may be, that is an external danger. 00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:54.240 Here, Christ tells us to beware of an internal danger. 00:03:54.960 --> 00:04:23.040 And this morning, I think by the end of this little time together, I hope we'll understand the same things about the danger, about the implication of each danger, why it's important, and perhaps the three Rs, not reduce, reuse, recycle, but three other R's that might help us to get through it and to avoid this danger each and every time. 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:38.399 Jesus speaks in this passage, continuing the Sermon on the Mount, to three occasions to beware of this danger. 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:45.759 Beware when giving to the needy, alms, beware when praying, and beware when fasting. 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:50.079 And one commentator calls this the three pillars of piety. 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:53.199 So, of course, piety have to look it up. 00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:54.240 What is piety? 00:04:54.480 --> 00:05:00.399 Merriam Webster defines piety as dutifulness in religion. 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:02.879 That must be a good thing, right? 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:04.000 Sure. 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:08.800 But piety, righteousness, is then set by what standard? 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:13.439 And this standard is set by whom? 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:15.920 And does it apply to everybody? 00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:18.079 Is your standard the same as mine? 00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:20.000 That depends. 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:25.040 And maybe that is the very issue in each of these cases for us. 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:33.600 So I'd like to look at these and I mentioned the three Rs just so you know what they are, and we'll discuss them a little later. 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:38.560 Reflect, redirect, and reject. 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:40.399 Little mnemonic. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:41.519 How do you say mnemonic? 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:42.399 M N? 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:43.839 Do you pronounce the N? 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:45.600 Do you pronounce the N? 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:47.920 I pronounce the N. 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:48.959 Never mind. 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:54.160 Piety number one, giving to the needy. 00:05:54.319 --> 00:06:03.199 Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:04.800 Okay, this is the basic one. 00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:06.480 This beware is unique. 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:14.399 At least in Matthew, Christ goes on for three, at least three other bewares in the ESV version. 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:19.600 And they point to external dangers, which you can internalize later. 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:23.920 But this again is unique because it's the internal danger. 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:30.720 He tells us to beware of, or in the longer form, be aware of, practicing our righteousness. 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:32.000 Okay. 00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:34.399 What's our righteousness? 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:37.199 Is it self-righteousness? 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:44.639 The Oxford Dictionary this time states that self-righteousness is righteousness in one's own esteem. 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:47.600 I'm pretty good, right? 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:51.360 The Oxford Learner's Dictionary goes further. 00:06:51.680 --> 00:07:00.319 The attitude that what you say or do is always morally right and other people are wrong. 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:01.199 Oh. 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:04.959 How many times do I feel that? 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:10.000 The attitude that what you say or do is morally right and other people are wrong. 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:21.199 Whereas righteousness is defined as behavior that is morally right or good, especially according to a religion, and here we need to read that according to God. 00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:29.839 Self-esteem based on my standards, which may be different from yours, because I'm always right. 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:31.759 Yeah, of course I'm. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:40.399 And I don't see my faults because I'm inside me and I see others. 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:41.920 I can see your faults so well. 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:44.399 What's Christ say about the log and the speck? 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:48.800 Take the log out of yours, Michael, before you take the speck out of your brothers. 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:52.800 Be aware of what is going on. 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:56.720 And Christ is pointing to something within, and it's our heart, it's the motive. 00:07:56.800 --> 00:07:59.040 So let's explore that a bit as we get in. 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:13.839 The question towards the end, and this is the part I have the most difficulty with, excuse me, when Christ says your reward with your Father in heaven. 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:21.839 I'd like to explore that and offer some examples from Scripture to help satisfy that point. 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:23.839 But why? 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:27.519 Why is it important not to be self-righteous? 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:28.079 Why? 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:34.240 Because, well, if it's my standards, then I'll be blaming others and I will do certain things. 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:47.039 The first one, when you give to the needy, thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and the streets, that they may be praised by others. 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:49.600 Okay, a critical word here is when. 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:56.000 Before we get into the rationale, Christ says, when you give to the needy. 00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:59.759 This is not something that he's telling you you need to give to the needy. 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:01.840 It's already part of life. 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:07.279 At the three pillars of piety, as discussed before, in the Jewish tradition and in ours. 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:11.519 So he doesn't need to explore why or tell people when and why. 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:13.200 That's already the case. 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:16.080 But he says, when you give. 00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:33.200 Have you ever gone to the ribfest where you're buying ribs and they ask for a tip, and if you give a tip, what do they do? 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:39.840 They ring the bell and everyone cheers, yay! Well, all you're doing is giving a tip. 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:42.559 It's not the same. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:54.879 And I don't think this often occurred back in Jesus' time, but the point is you're bringing attention to yourself for doing something that should be done anyway. 00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:56.960 But what's the danger there? 00:09:57.200 --> 00:09:58.879 Why is it a problem? 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:08.639 Well, the problem, very simply in this case, and I think Jesus makes a point really well with the trumpets, is that we're pointing to ourselves and not to him. 00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:12.960 We're pointing to ourselves, and that leads to, or is, self-pride. 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:15.360 Self-pride leads to proud behavior. 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:23.919 Proud behavior leads to self-sufficiency, which is in opposition to God's authority. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:33.840 And as one commentator puts it so well, this obstructs the grace and humility necessary for a relationship with Him. 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:40.000 We become God's here on earth, at least in our own minds. 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:43.279 We then exalt ourselves and not the Lord. 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:45.200 This goes against God. 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:46.799 Okay. 00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:51.840 If it's true that we're born sinners, then this is natural for us. 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:53.360 It's a natural condition. 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:54.960 We want to be applauded. 00:10:55.039 --> 00:10:57.919 We want that hard to do pat on the back. 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:00.240 We want people to praise us. 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:02.240 We want to be lifted up. 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:11.679 Although there are some who don't like applause, uh, some of us who are a little shyer than others, but for many, we search it out. 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:15.840 And it it's a natural thing for us, and it's natural in society. 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:17.919 We're taught that in school. 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:19.679 We're taught that in business. 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:22.320 We're taught that all our lives. 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:24.480 How do we get around that? 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:27.679 If it's a natural thing, how do we? 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:30.559 We can't follow culture, so we have to follow Christ. 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:40.480 And uh Reverend Creighton has spoken many times about reordering our hearts, and it's different, our hearts here and hearts in heaven, the same for all laws, the same here too. 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:43.600 We need to consider what is going on there. 00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:49.919 Jesus talks about hypocrites. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:51.440 Uh, you know what hypocrites are? 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:53.600 In those days, the hypocrite was an actor. 00:11:53.679 --> 00:11:55.679 An actor portrayed other people. 00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:58.240 To portray other people, they put on a mask. 00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:02.320 So what you saw outside was different from inside. 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:08.960 And I think the point is well made there that what you see on the outside, giving to the needy. 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:10.960 Oh boy, I'm giving pots of money here. 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:12.639 I'm giving a, do I have one? 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:14.559 A two-dollar coin. 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:16.320 Yeah, giving that to the needy. 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:17.039 Terrific. 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:18.080 Everyone applauds. 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:22.639 Well, the issue again is the mask and what's inside. 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:27.919 Christ and God are concerned with what's inside, what our heart is. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:36.879 Jesus also refers, as you know, to the scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites for the very same reason. 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:42.799 What they say, what they do, is not always what they feel inside. 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:46.000 He talks about that later on in Matthew. 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:53.679 You outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:55.840 Does that describe me? 00:12:56.480 --> 00:12:57.360 Maybe. 00:12:57.759 --> 00:13:01.360 Beware of your motive, be aware of your heart. 00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:06.240 He goes on, truly I say to you, they have received their reward. 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:16.080 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:20.399 And your father who sees in secret will reward you. 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:23.360 The left hand and the right hand. 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:24.960 I couldn't figure that out. 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:26.960 I got two hands, fair enough. 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:34.559 But one commentator puts it this way: the phrase was probably proverbial and indicates in the form of free hyperbole. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:35.600 Oh, that's good. 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:37.279 Extremist secrecy. 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:44.799 It is possible that there may be some reference to the practice of using the right hand in offering gifts. 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:50.399 The symbolic application through an afterthought is suggestive. 00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:55.440 The right hand is a higher spiritual element in us that leads to true charity. 00:13:55.919 --> 00:14:01.039 The left is the baser seeking, self-seeking nature. 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:03.840 Charity? 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:05.200 Nature. 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:09.440 We ought, as it were, to set a barrier between the two as far as possible. 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:17.120 To exclude that mingling of motives, here's motives again, which is at least the beginning of evil. 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:23.120 The mixing of motives can be the beginning of evil. 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:24.000 Hmm. 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:29.440 Don't mix metaphors and don't mix motives. 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:34.159 Twice now we've heard about the Father in heaven rewarding us or not. 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:36.720 I asked about that before. 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:42.080 I worried about that before, and I can go the wrong path with that. 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:44.480 So let's see if we can get it straight. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:55.759 Perhaps it is as Matthew writes later, for the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they've done. 00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:01.600 There will be a spiritual reward after meeting with the Lord. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:04.399 Okay, I gotta think this through here. 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:13.840 We've been told, we've been taught, and Scripture tells us time and time again, that it's by his grace alone that we are saved, that we get to heaven. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:16.960 It's nothing at all that I could ever do. 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:19.919 So this is not the reward he's talking about. 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:21.759 It's a spiritual reward. 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:26.559 Peter writes later to join the Lord in glory in 5.4. 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:32.080 When the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade. 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:34.799 Perhaps that is the reward too. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:37.919 We are justified by his grace alone. 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:47.360 And then we need to adopt, as Reverend Creighton's being talked about, adopt his heart, adopt his character, and do his will. 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:49.840 And then the reward comes. 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:55.440 Piety number two, prayer. 00:15:56.799 --> 00:16:06.559 And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:10.240 Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:12.159 Very similar wording. 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:20.000 And when you pray, prayer is not, he's not talking about, gosh, you should be praying, Michael, you should be doing more of this. 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:21.759 We know that we should be praying. 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:24.240 I mean, Daniel prayed three times a day. 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:26.960 It's Jewish tradition to pray several times a day. 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:29.200 We, as Christians, pray. 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:30.720 It's a natural thing to do. 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:48.639 We as Christians, as Anglican Christians, have in our Book of Common Prayer, well, it depends which version you have, the current one and the older ones, although not the really old one, have morning prayer, midday prayer, evening prayer, and complain. 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:52.399 I think the 1662 has just morning and evening prayer. 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:59.200 These are family and regular prayers that can be done over and above our joining together in prayer here. 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:05.759 But Jesus says, when we pray, don't be like the hypocrites, those poor guys. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:07.440 They get mentioned a lot. 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:08.640 Don't act it out. 00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:15.359 Don't stand on the street corner and act like you are righteous. 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:17.200 What's the rationale behind it? 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:28.480 The first one we talked about is uh self-aggrandizement, patting myself on the back, building up my ego, which uh we read this morning is a difficult thing and wrong thing to do. 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:43.200 In this case, is it perhaps that the Pharisees and scribes who would do this on a regular basis felt it was one of the 618 laws they had to abide by to get to heaven? 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:45.519 And what does Christ tell us? 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:51.119 He has fulfilled everything that Christ alone has justified. 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:54.400 Through our faith in him, he has justified us. 00:17:57.680 --> 00:18:05.119 If it's just to be exalted, if it's just to stand on the corner to achieve those, you received your reward already. 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:14.079 But when you pray, go into your room, shut the door, and pray to your father who is in secret. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:17.680 And your father who sees in secret will reward you. 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:24.880 So if the purpose of prayer is to communicate with the Father, then do it in private. 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:27.119 Now, this brings up a point. 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:28.880 What are we doing here? 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:31.599 Are we supposed to pray in public? 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:32.960 Like a church? 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:34.319 What about that? 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:38.319 If I leave it there, then I'll be wondering all this time. 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:41.599 But the early church points to praying together. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:44.319 In Acts, we read about them praying together. 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:52.000 Jesus himself prayed with the disciples as well as on his own, as you remember, got up early in the morning and spent time with the Father in prayer. 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:53.680 He prayed with the disciples. 00:18:53.759 --> 00:19:00.559 So it's not that we don't pray together, it's that we need to pray alone as well. 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:04.480 And we don't pray for personal gain. 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:11.200 We pray to communicate, to understand his will, and to exalt him. 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:17.839 Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people. 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:22.319 Piety number three, fasting, the third one. 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:26.799 And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:28.160 They really get nailed. 00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:32.079 For they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:35.599 Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:38.079 Okay, the last one. 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:44.240 Again, not you must fast, because it's already accepted that you do. 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:49.680 And fasting was traditionally done, certainly the Day of Atonement. 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:56.799 And the Pharisees, we remember in that story that I think Christ related in Luke, was it? 00:19:57.039 --> 00:20:00.400 Talks about Pharisees fasting twice a week. 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:02.880 So it's an accepted thing. 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:03.839 It's already done. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:09.279 But he says, When you fast, do not look gloomy. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:20.319 The tradition, if I read it correctly, was to put on this really sad face, put ashes on, and dress in sackcloth. 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:21.680 I don't have sackcloth. 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:25.680 Um, I probably would not like wearing it because it would be pretty itchy. 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:29.680 But you're to show everyone that you are fasting. 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:36.079 They know just having a look at you, you're fasting, that you're in that condition for some reason. 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:38.640 And Jesus says not to do that. 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:40.640 But what's the rationale behind it? 00:20:40.799 --> 00:21:05.759 If he says later on, when you fast, anoint your head, wash your face, do all the things so you look good, that your fasting may not be seen by others, but by your father, again, who is in secret, is the reason here, once again our heart, the motive, that if we do it because everyone has always done it, then it's just a thing we do. 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:06.720 It doesn't matter. 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:18.720 If we do it, if we fast because of uh love for the Father, because of getting deeper into his word, then the motive in our heart is very different. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:21.680 I'm just doing it regularly, just doing it normally. 00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:25.599 What reward? 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:27.359 Maybe Paul has it. 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:35.680 Paul reaches for the prize, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:54.000 So, in these three conditions of giving alms to the needy, prayer, and fasting, Christ tells us when you do it, tells us to be aware of the danger, and the danger is an internal danger. 00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:55.920 The danger is our heart. 00:21:56.799 --> 00:22:03.200 If it's in my heart to exalt myself, if it's in My heart to do it just because it's normally done, and who cares? 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:06.319 Then it's not really something I really care about. 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:15.200 Or if it's because if I do good, I'm gonna get to heaven, then my motives are all completely wrong. 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:20.799 Christ says to be aware of what's in the heart. 00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:31.920 This is dangerous to me, dangerous to my health, dangerous to my life, and dangerous to my life everlasting with the Lord. 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:38.319 And if, as we've already said, it's a natural thing, how do I avoid it? 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:45.519 Well, perhaps the best thing is using Christ as an example. 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:48.480 Not my will, but the Lord's will. 00:22:48.559 --> 00:23:01.119 And Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane understood fully what he was going to go through, understood fully what that death, that painful, agonizing death would be on the cross. 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:04.160 And he didn't want to do it. 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:09.759 But he said, Not my will, but yours. 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:11.839 Not my will, but yours. 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:27.039 So he, if he can do that, give up his life for my sins, for all our sins, for the sins of the whole world throughout time, can I give up my will and apply the Lord's will? 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:30.240 And that's where perhaps the three R's can come in. 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:37.359 Uh he said, not reduce, reuse, recycle, but reflect, redirect, and reject. 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:46.799 When it comes to a point where I feel I might be patting myself on the back for doing something, let me reflect on it. 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:47.920 Let me pray about it. 00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:55.440 Let me consider what my motive is, what's on my heart, and what God's will would be in this case. 00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:57.279 Let me reflect. 00:23:57.759 --> 00:24:11.440 When it comes that I receive some adulation, some praise, instead of letting it go to my heart and my head, let me redirect that praise to God. 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:15.680 Nicky Gumbel, in one of his devotions, talks about passing it along. 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:25.519 It's the same thing, redirecting the praise to God so it doesn't build me up, because I don't need that if I rest fully in God. 00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:44.000 And reject is perhaps the hardest part because it's my natural, my nature, my very nature to want this when I realize what this temptation is, when I realize what this adulation is intended for, let me reject it. 00:24:44.400 --> 00:25:06.400 If I can do that, if I can accept God's will and carry on, I think I'll be able to make it along for another day, another week, another month, trusting in the Lord, looking at my heart being reordered to his, that my character may be more like his, and that I may continue on. 00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:20.400 Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:23.920 We hope that you've been blessed by God's Word today. 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:29.519 If you live in the Port Perry area, we hope that you'll come and worship with us in person on Sunday at 10 a.m. 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:33.200 If you'd like to learn more about Newsong Church, we'd love to connect with you. 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:38.240 Please find our contact information at newsongportperry.ca and reach out to us. 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:43.680 Newsong's ministry is entirely funded by the generous giving of those who worship and journey with us. 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:52.000 If you feel called to support our ministry with a financial gift, please go to newsongportperry.ca slash giving to make a contribution. 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:54.960 Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.