Beware! Religious Performance Now Showing, Part 1

Today from Chuck Swindoll a warning against religious performance.following go show stop being in love to display their piety don't follow leaders like that they're not walking humbly with your God famous they may be the discerning men and women learn from Jesus in his sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave a stern warning to those who prorate their piety, fancy way of saying showing off our Lord was not impressed with narcissistic behavior that Jesus likened the public display of holiness to sounding a trumpet or tooting your own horn today on Insight for living. Chuck Swindoll helps us understand the implications of Jesus review is not only a warning to those who show off to those who were impressed with as well. In either case, it's a can acting decree from Jesus. Chuck titled today's message. Beware religious performance now showing was the prophet Jeremiah who exclaimed in the ecstatic moment. Your words were found, and I did eat them in your word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart, for I am called by your name Lord God of hosts to beautiful picture found in the Old Testament, eating the word of God. It's picture of personal assimilation wasn't interested just and admiring it, and tasting it here and there but I wanted to consume it.

I wanted to become a part of my nourishment.

My energy my dry. Paul writes over in Romans 15 for whatever was written in earlier time referring to the Old Testament was written for our learning, that we through comfort and patience from the Scriptures might have hope.

Often we think of the New Testament is being that special part of the Bible that really addresses where we are but you know those who lived in the days of the New Testament didn't have a shred of the New Testament the only Bible they had was the old testament and that is what Paul refers to when he refers to that portion of the word that gives us hope and reassurance want to look at both.

Today, unlike you take the outline from your worship folder pulled it out, place it at Mica. Chapters 6. Mica is one of the least known of the books of the Bible is the seventh book from the end of the Old Testament working back Mica chapter 6, I begin my message there. So what you have that ready with the outline available. Once you locate Micah 6. Leave your outline there and then turn to Matthew chapter 6. Interesting will look at Micah 61 through eight, and then Matthew 61 through find the passage in Matthew I'll be reading from the new American Standard version Jesus words. Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them. Otherwise you have no reward with your father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor do not sound the trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret, and your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by man truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray going to your inner room closure door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your father who sees what is done in secret will reward when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many were so do not be like them, for your father knows what you need before you ask.

Study the book of Matthew Chuck Swindoll sure to download his searching the scripture studies by going to Insight world.or/studies. Another message from Chuck titled beware religious performance now showing biblical prophets never mess around. They said what they meant and they meant what they said false priests were not like that at all, is someone else's put it, the false priests had a way of comforting the afflicted, not the profits they afflicted the comfortable. In fact, they would tell the truth regardless. And even though the gullible are always ready to listen to the lies which fly like lightning all over the truth stands the truth stays prophets are great about standing for truth and declaring they were rough and rugged men. I guess why Jay Vernon McGee said that is no surprise the lions never ate the prophet Daniel.

He was three fourths gristle and the rest backbone with left to eat telling the truth speaking at declaring it was something intimidating about being around a man of God who declares the truth of God without any apology, especially if he is as the original prophets, the very mouthpiece of God they wouldn't lie. In fact, there was a statement made in the Old Testament that if the prophet lied you artists told him that's written in the job description attends to get your attention and you know there's one thing you cannot do and that is lie even though lies are always more popular. I read this past week that Mark Twain wrote a liar runs around the world while the truth is still putting on her boots.

If you stand for the truth.

Stay there.

That's what prophets did and it certainly worked for them is God's mouthpiece. The people heard what they often didn't expect and didn't want to hear. Take Micah's message. For example, in Micah chapter 6 look for yourself.

If you wonder of Micah spoke is God's mouthpiece, the very opening line of verse one tells you hear what the Lord is saying not what I've heard him say.

And now I'm passing this is what the Lord is saying. So prophets spoke ex cathedra, opened her mouth and from their vocal cords came the voice of God in human terms and tone look again at verse two the end of it, because the Lord has a case against his people. Even with Israel you will dispute and then you see quotation marks beginning at verse three in the version I'm using at the end of verse five the close so from verse three down through verse five we hear the indictment from the Lord. He doesn't stutter my people, what have I done to you and how have I wearied you answer me then he reiterates some things he's done for them. III brought you up from the land of Egypt, that would be the Exodus. Your forefathers came from bondage out into the wilderness because I broke the walls of bondage and brought you out of the land of Egypt and III ransomed you from the house of slavery.

Over 400 years they were in slavery and I came in through Moses and Aaron and Miriam. He says at the end of verse four, I led you there and brought you into the wilderness. I've done this for you would have done so many other things.

And now they get the message and they are feeling the sharp point of the dagger and so they answer in verse six with what shall I come to the Lord.

How can I make up for the way we have acted what we have to do to reconcile. In light of the long history of our disobedience.

We bow ourselves before the God on high. Shall I come with a big begin a litany of things and the crescendo only gets greater. They began small and they get larger. Look for yourself, come with burnt offerings. Or how about with yearling calves more expensive than the offerings of the Lord take delight in thousands of grams, 10,000 rivers of oil will that do it. Is that what I have to do to make up for all of these years and we fail you. Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts think of that so we picked the firstborn from our family and sacrifice him. Is that what you want, Lord, in the ultimate about the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul, and with that saying in poetic form. You want my life. Shall I give it up for you the questions and as the Lord steps back in the scene through the right words of the prophet Micah, he is told you what is good.

What does the Lord require of you if you haven't ever marked this verse.

Here are words to Mark to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly, as we say today, it doesn't get better than what can be more complicated, it can certainly be more expensive than earthly goods. But when it comes to character deep within. It doesn't get any better than doing what is right, showing kindness, compassion and care for others and especially walking in modeling humility. I love it when the Lord gives simple answers the complicated question perfect case in point. If you're wanting to begin the Scripture memory program. I suggest Micah 68 as the starting point. Don't leave it to quickly even after you learned repeated over and over. I would suggest it every morning when you rise in through the day.

Use it as the grid to filter your life and not doing what is right. With this we call showing mercy and kindness is mine a life of humility when returned to Matthew chapter 6. We arrive at the greatest of all priests, prophets, and one who would be king Jesus himself interestingly begins the sermon to chapter 5 by sitting down among those who were sitting around in folks often don't think of the servant of the amount delivered while the speaker is sitting, but in those days rabbis set as they taught and it wasn't long before the teaching turned into the fire of a prophet, especially when you get to the center section of the sermon begins with a word of warning, beware look at it. Beware, take heed what's out caution you're about to enter the no spin zone know what you been watching really means it is no spin with Jesus, yet interesting word translated beware 80. Robertson, the great Baptist scholar tells us that the Greek idiom uses or includes mind which is understood, though it really isn't a term in the root of the word translated.

Beware, it means, however, to hold the mind on a matter to take pains to take heed to pay attention. We say mind that if you ever want a lordship you will see at Lowell openings a little sign that reads in naval terms. Mind your head, meaning duct watch out or you'll bump your head if it's something you have to step over your see a little sign that says mind your foot or mind your feet. Watch out or you'll stumble here Jesus is mind your motive. Mind your heart. They know what's coming, but he now has their attention because to talk to them about religious performance. Look at his words. Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them.

Otherwise you have no reward with your father who is your show off with all your religious piety. You just at that moment got your full reward their applause is all you'll ever get from that I there being impressed. That's the limit of the reward factor. Other versions render this.

Interestingly, because of beware of practicing your piety before men. The RSV reads the new international or the new English Bible says be careful not to make a show of her religion JB Phillips paraphrase. Beware of doing your good deeds conspicuously to catch others I especially like Eugene Peterson's message.

Be especially careful when you're trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater. But the God who made you won't be applauding. And with that he moves into the three most public often public and the most obvious expressions of devotion look at it for yourself.

Verse two. So when you give. He covers that down through verse four, verse five when you pray he covers that down through verse 15. And when you fast, covered in verses 16 through 18 Lord.

When you read your Bible to observe the structure of the verses Jesus words are very logical begins with giving and I've marked that in a bright color in my Bible so I won't overlook it by Mark when you pray verse five the mark when you fast, in verse 16. Interestingly, following each of those settings, he adds, do not do something verse two when you give to the poor do not sound the trumpet. Forgive the voices the best I can do. The Pharisees would carry with them or bring with them from returns was there on their way with their gifts to the altar to the box the offering box would have the trumpeter blasts the sound like ringing a bell that today we look at sitting in this place and we roll our eyes thinking out world person do that show all my was a kid, also from the bottom of an offering plate to make you think goods are put in the big coin. I've even seen people gonna waive the large bill drop it in.

Please, please, that's all the reward you will ever get out of here. It's $1 million. When you give to the poor sound the trumpet as the hypocrites do in the synagogue and in the street so that they may be seen, they may be honored by others to talk to. In fact, there are several do not do not do that.

Verse two.

Do not let your left hand know what the right hand doing verse three. Do not spray using meaningless verbiage. Verse seven verse eight do not be like the Pharisees stop following those who were showoffs sought being enamored of those who love to display their piety don't follow leaders like that do not. Walking humbly with your God famous they may be the discerning men and women learn from Jesus. In fact he says in verse 16 when you fast, don't walk around in tattered, dirty clothes, making people know why, how much is been giving please will know about your life. If your sacrificial were not looking at your clothing. Jesus certainly didn't looking at the heart. So now is go to this matter of giving and let's analyze it a little bit more careful because I want you to get the wrong impression is not a disease, not a chance to getting please God's work is supported by God's people, not by unbelievers nor should it be. But when you are God's people participate in the financial support of his work.

We who have hearts for the poor give to the poor.

We who hear of some disaster. Have fun our hearts unable to just to remain restful. We we were uneasy until we help with that. Need it just part of being a believer in Christ.

None of it is to be done to get our name etched in bronze our picture on some wall or an announcement made that so-and-so gave so much. That's all part of what this is about don't sound the trumpet when we were in Los Angeles for almost 25 years, back when the Los Angeles Lakers used to win that a great basketball team and they had incredible athletes and to current with the announcer and usually Moneta television US to check on the radio.

It was like being there. III heard some people say that they have a friend who was without site and in rather good weather here to current and anyone he could see the whole game.

There was a lot of those athletes would slice down that get that court in Libya that that fast breaking in the car that ball over one of those great athletes of the jump at smash that down in the slamdunk check would say Showtime course is what you do when you send out all the hype about a basketball team. It fits it doesn't fit giving. It is an ever Showtime Showtime on the basketball is far different than Showtime in the religious arena and were just getting started in this bold warning from Jesus found in Matthew chapter 5 you're listening to Insight for living in a message from Chuck Swindoll titled beware religious performance now showing if you'd like to learn more about this ministry or these messages, please visit us online@insightworld.org then let me remind you check is written an in-depth book about Jesus sermon on the Mount to learn more about this timeless message from Jesus, we highly recommend you secure a copy. It's called simple faith when we sit down to read Matthew chapter 5 were quick to realize Jesus famous sermon was just 15 minutes or so in length, but his radical word stand as the most influential in history from his opening Beatitudes through a story about building our house on solid rock.

The sermon on the Mount contains a wealth of wisdom for our times, among other issues.

Jesus urged us to replace hypocritical performance-based religion with the joy and faith of kingdom living. These are the topics Chuck explores in his classic book called simple faith discovering what really matters to purchase a copy right now. Call us if you're listening in the US dial 1-800-772-8888 or go directly to Insight.org/store.

In addition, you might like to add the message called finding healing through forgiveness. It's available on CD or MP3.

This is a complete unabridged recording of a message Chuck delivered, including a stirring personal testimony from his wife Cynthia in this message Chuck helps us understand what it means to face her deepest insecurities that are often expressed in fear, anger and resentment and then Cynthia describes how she found healing from these damaging emotions through a humbling process of seeking forgiveness so to resources at your disposal today. First textbook on Jesus sermon of all sermons called simple faith in a second message on CD and MP3 called finding healing through forgiveness to purchase either resource or both columns listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8888 or go online to Insight.org/store window describes Jesus bold. Join us again Wednesday to hear Insight for living. The preceding message. Beware religious performance now show was copyrighted in 2015 and 2021 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2021 by Charles Parson talking all rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercially is strictly prohibited