Authentic Hypocrisy

Praise the Lord. Amen revivals if you look with me to Matthews gospel chapter number six Matthew six and when you find your place will stand in honor of God's word and read verse one down to verse number four. The Bible says this, take heed that you do not your almost before men to be seen of them. Otherwise you have no reward of your father which is in heaven. Therefore, without newest thine alms do not sound a trumpet before the as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say and you they have their reward. When you do without newest arms.

Let not thy hand know what I write and do it by left and over the right hand newest verse four that thine alms may be in secret, and thy Father which see if in secret himself shall reward the openly father we are so joyful to be saved today to know the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and that all who would come today and confess Christ as Lord would bow their knee in humble repentance and surrender their life to you could be saved but I praise anyone today doesn't know Jesus Lord they would come in trusting Christ. I pray for Christians that you will board you would search us know our hearts try us to know our thoughts and there is any unclean or wickedness innocent you lead us in the right path and that I pray that you would allow us to be a pure people who loves you. Sincerely and loves one another as our self. We ask in Jesus name. And God's people said then you may be seated this morning, so faith, religion and truths are necessary to our lives without real authentic worship on the inside of a person will always lead to hypocrisy. External faith without internal faith always ends in hypocrisy. Consider the word motive and what does that mean to you in regards to your worship how essential this motive in our worship and can we ever have right worship of we have a wrong motive in the day when faith and religion became external which was clear in the Lord's day.

It was a show the whole society had become infected with hypocrisy and it was the religious leaders that sadly were in the front of the line, parading the false teachings of hypocrisy. When asked by our Lord, what is the greatest commandment in the law is very interesting that Jesus did not point to some external observance, but rather he said it is to love the Lord with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. He went straight into the heart and soul of the person instead of the external because even an atheist can play the part, but an atheist cannot love God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength.

One thing hypocrites like to do is to make it deal out of externals, a focus on outward acts and they do that because it is only the external that will pay them the reward that they are so desperately looking for which is the applause of men. They want to be noticed. It is there, man centered religion that creates a man centered motive the true religion that is undefiled, seeks only the eyes of God lives in a world of minute lives for the audience of one that has little concern what men think of it, it cares deeply for what God thinks of them and it knows that the piercing eyes of God would be on the external shell of man into the inward fabric of their soul. God sees the motives and a true believer is deeply concerned with that. Matthew six Jesus begins to assault hypocrisy because it is indeed hypocrisy which assaults true religion my prayer today is our hearts and lives would be purified from any and all hypocrisy that we would not be those who simply would look good externally that we would look better internally what our Lord would find here would be true worshipers who worship him in spirit and in truth and that we would not live for the praise of men for the praise of God. So today let's look at what our Lord confronts here in a message of entitled authentic hypocrisy. There are three acts of hypocrisy. Jesus confronts in Matthew six.

The first is in verse one through 40 confronts of hypocritical giving verse five down to verse 15.

He confronts hypocritical praying and then verse 16 through 18. He confronts hypocritical fasting and so he starts by warning against hypocritical giving and the first thing we see here is the wrong motive of a authentic hypocrite in verse number one it says, take heed that you do not your alms before men to be seen of them.

Otherwise you have no reward of your father which is in heaven. The phrase there, take heed is a from the Greek word that it is a warning against something that is to say give careful attention to something they could.

You could be pulled into that could cause you a great problem. He uses the same word in Matthew 715, when he says, beware it's the same Greek word processor coat. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly ravening wolves uses the same word in Matthew 10 when he says, beware there is coming persecution.

He gives them. Also, the warning in Matthew 1616. Beware of the false teaching of the scribes and Pharisees, so it is a word that is designed to tell someone that there is there are some things that you need to be on alert for that you don't get pulled into something that could cause great room and see you and so so he's giving them this word and it's also the present imperative tense which means it is something we are to continually be aware of that we are to be on guard for this that we don't get pulled down by this danger, and what he says here is, take heed, beware. Make sure you don't get pulled into this that you do not your alms before men were always here is a word delay the lawsuit in it and it comes from the root word Laos which is translated in the English as a mercy it is showing mercy or pity is the idea that one who is a superior in some fashion would look upon someone who is an inferior some some soul that's in an inferior situation that they are is struggling that they are hurting that they are needed and you would have mercy you would show pity to them and that would be revealed through acts of kindness such as caring for their physical needs showing them just like the good Samaritan.

He had pity on the man who was beat up and cared for him, dressed his wounds, but he was on donkey took him to the unpaid for them and and that's an act of mercy, God shows us mercy. He pities our soul. The Bible says he sees us in our wretched condition and he extends mercy to us.

Now, the acts of mercy. Here is the word alms LA moss Una and in Jesus says don't do these acts of mercy before men know what does that mean that says do not your own before men are we supposed to not help someone if somebody else can see us. So if if if you're out somewhere you see a deer person who fell on the street and you say well or several people around the could see me do this act of mercy and kindness of I don't want to extend this act. This almost leads to this person because I will be seeing that's not what he saying what he saying is it's not wrong to be seen but it's wrong to desire to be seen.

Notice what verse one says they key that you do not your own before men to be seen of them being seen of men is not the problem to be seen of men is the problem to be seen is actually a Greek work fail by where we get the word theatrical from and it's interesting because if somebody is doing something theatrical. There doing some external act of extravagance there trying to call attention to themselves. It would be like some dear lady felon stringer several people around that not everybody stand aside extend my head and pulled his helpless child of God bring her to the other. That's that's the kind of theatrical extravagance that that that was being played upon by the spiritual leaders of that day they were doing it to be seen of men.

Now hear the Lord is doing with our motive in ministering to others, caring for others showing mercy and pity to them and making sure our desire is pure. Another reason I call this the motive of the authentic hypocrite is because this was genuinely their motive. This was authentically their desire. They then have like a true motive. They got pulled into a false motive coming they wanted to be seen by men. They wanted the attention they wanted other people say you know what you're just so generous I don't know anyone who's this kind is you like the whole world that people like you imagine what the world could be. Instead of saying you know what you're you're overpricing me on nothing without Christ for me to think myself to be something without Christ like. I deceive myself in the world with treasures and we have this treasure if we vessel the excellency power would be of God and not of us, and were not sufficient of ourselves to think anything of ourselves, our sufficiency is got. So instead of replying like that. They say all thank you very much with the president he would act that way I won't name who he was. Love the praise of men. And so secondly the reward of an authentic hypocrite. What is the reward of authentic hypocrite tells us in verse number one. This is a key that you do not your own before men to be seen of them.

Otherwise you have no reward of your father which is in heaven. There reward is totally lost because their pursuit is totally earthly Charles Spurgeon. I like what he said. He said you cannot expect to be paid twice. If therefore you take the reward and the applause of men who give you a high character for generosity. You cannot expect to have any reward from God, and where do you want your reward to come from God knows our true motives prescribed in chapter 4 verse five says therefore judge nothing before the time of the Lord will come and will bring both to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the external works is that what he says, which is a church of the hearts God's going to reveal to everyone in the day of judgment. The exact motive of everything we did you hear will be revealed in that day you know every single thing we've ever done for God will be revealed not only the act but also the motive think it's important for us to have pure motives these days, God will eternally reward those who serve him for the right motive in Scripture, God offers salvation to those who were lost as a free gift of his grace, and to the safety offers reward for faithful service this year that God extend salvation to the lost and he extends rewards to the saved you want to be faithful.

There are great rewards. He will give you what, I don't think I should serve God for rewards let's a great heart and spirit used to serve you and I should serve God because we've already been eternally rewarded with salvation right that's enough. But the Bible tells us here in Matthew six verse 19 and 20. Jesus said lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust rust doth corrupt, and with these breakthroughs still but lay up for yourselves treasures where unity saying lay it up where it's eternal lay up treasures in heaven. He's calling us to pursue an eternal reward. Matthew 2521.

What did the book of the Lord say to the faithful servant well done, thou good and faithful servant. You've been faithful few things will make the ruler over many things.

Enter into the joy of thy Lord.

Anybody want to what the Lord when they say will do no good and faithful servant a myth.

Second Timothy 478 Paul says at the end of his life.

He said I fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me in that day and not to me only, but unto all them also who love his appearing. Second John just second John Versace is look to yourselves that we lose not those things which we have wrought that we would receive what kind of reward you know you and I can lose rewards because we don't do it for the right motive. We get sidetracked we get caught up in building earthly sand castles. Instead of laying up treasure in heaven. You lose your eternal reward for some earthly desire. Hebrews 610.

The Bible says God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love.

God's going to reward you faithfully and sometimes you say all you know one day we get to heaven and were to be rewarded only to cast all of those rewards back at the feet of Jesus. They get that out of Revelation chapter number four what what that is, a display of the Bible tells us multiple times. The book of Revelation, we will reign with God is reign with crisis kings and priests of God, that's during the millennial kingdom he's going to give you crowns for faithful service in different areas of service and as they cast their crowns down it saying Jesus you are the King of Kings and Lord of lords. That's what that's displaying but Jesus doesn't give us rewards just to take them back is giving rewards because he says even in Matthew 25 pieces have dealt be thou over 10 cities be over 10 cities and cast that back to me know that's not what he saying so there is rewards that you will receive an believe me, whatever work you and I've ever done on this earth, we will receive magnanimous rewards for what we have done also to dissuade Romans 80 says the suffering that I've gone through is not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in me then some of you don't even think about eternally setting yourself up in heaven and in a place of of honoring God with your faithful service. We get so focused on the earth live for heaven were citizens of heaven as our citizenship is in heaven for months. Also we look for saber the Lord Jesus Christ and so thoroughly. Let's look at the example of an authentic hypocrite receiving the motive receiving the reward less of now, the example of an authentic hypocrite verse number two says. Therefore, when thou do is die norms do not sound a trumpet before the as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets. The they may have glory of men. Verily, I say to you, they have their reward.

You little bit of a history about almsgiving among the Jews. This will be helpful because we are not Jewish people, and most of us would not be, and we would not be familiar with their culture that they Jews held almsgiving in it in an extremely important category much more important than what we hold.

It was so sacred that the Hebrew word for righteousness which is said okay is actually also the same word that they use in translating the word for all its for acts of mercy and kindness they saw being righteous and giving alms as the same thing. They believe that by giving alms, which again was an act of mercy, such as helping the poor, giving food, money, clothing, leaving the corners of your field that you would not harvest that so that portico ministering to their needs. This was a way that they said that you could have your sins forgiven among the Jews. They believe that giving was a way to have your sins removed and the Jewish apocryphal book of Tobit. It states prayer with fasting is good but better than both his almsgiving with righteousness. It is better to give alms and delay up goals for almsgiving saved from death and purges away every cent that was, according to the Jewish apocryphal book of Tobit William Barclay says there was a rabbinic saying. Greater is he who gives alms that he who offers all sacrifices it stood first in their catalog of works now, the greatest of the rabbi's teachings actually were the same as what Jesus taught here in Matthew six they actually said he who gives alms in secret is greater than Moses.

They didn't. They did, they were promoting the traditional rabbis were not promoting it to be external and extravagant in trying to draw attention to yourself, they actually taught that you should do them in secret. They said, quote, these are the rabbi statements when the recipient does not know from whom he gets it and when the giver does not know to whom he is given it is that kind it saves from death. There was a rabbi when he wanted to give alms and that day he would drop money on the ground and not look behind him so ever who pick that money up, you would not know who they were and they would not know who he was, they were better they said to give a man nothing then to give him something in the put him to shame.

So they believe that there should be a silence and giving it a silence as well and receiving. There was even in every town.

What was known as a chamber of silence where people could come and drop alms often secret and it was also a place where the poor would come when nobody knew they would receive those alms so the giver never who knew the new governor, the recipient and the recipient never knew the giver was they had to set up and every one of the Jewish towns is called is called the chamber of silence also call the chamber of the Essenes, but silent giving is not what the hypocrites wanted to do because it wouldn't pay them the rewards that they were looking for in the East water was so scarce is sometimes the it had to be purchased and when a man wanted to do a good acting to bring blessing on his family. He would go to one of the water carriers and he would say with a loud voice give the thirsty a drink the water carrier would go fill his water skin up with water and he would bring it and as the giver stood by him. He would say with a loud voice blessed me who gave you a drink. This is the kind of trumpet sounding that was going on in our Lord's day. Ron Madden says there is a custom in the East similar to this, dervishes would carry horns with them which frequently they would blow when anything was done to them is an act of mercy. They would blow the horn in honor of the donor is not impossible that some of the poor Jews who begged alms might have been furnished with the same kind of horn like the person. Dervishes who are sort of religious Baker hypocrites might've even only gave to those who were caring around the horn so that they could have their and that perhaps his work don't teach her own horn came from HT Robertson told of a missionary who said in India, the Hindu priest did not indeed sound but did actually in India that Hindu priest would sound a trumpet to get a crowd when they were about to give alms is also a story of a Hindu priest who had said in ashes in and India done this for a long time and there is a there is a traveler that came by heaven and he said is it okay if I took a picture of you and the man said wait just a moment, let me rearrange my ashes and sadly sometimes there is this rearranging of ashes that goes on in the culture we need to understand.

It is not about what people see that we should desire it's only for God.

Jesus says do not be like the hypocrites would hypocrites comes from the Greek word Hoople creates a sense where we were they the words they use the net data hypocrites was a stage actor somebody who played a part.

You read a script you performed in front of an audience that was the literal word Hoople great taste translated is hypocrites in our English and Jesus Christ was very strong against the hypocrites and quite frankly it wasn't always the actions and that they that were hypocritical they they fasted twice a week coming they prayed they gave. They did a lot of stuff externally. The hypocrisy that Jesus is land blasting here was not simply some external thing. It was their internal motive that he's assaulting because in the eyes the world. They also these guys is the most spiritual, but in the eyes of God. There were the most wicked because they were totally hypocritical on the inside were living in a moral society today. People trumpet their sins don't.

It's amazing used to be a day where people trumpet the righteousness now were trumpeting our sins were bringing drag queens into schools across his country to teach little children messed up America has become so tragic, so tragic, but there's also a problem when when a society becomes extremely moral society becomes extremely moral look and become begin to happen. His self-righteousness grows judge mentalism boasting critical spirits. Some of you perhaps grow up in churches back in the 50s 60s and 70s and even 80s that were extremely critical. They preached external messages to their congregation that they they they preach little more about men with long hair or women wearing jeans and anything else they were fire and brimstone about men should not have facial areas that they have a goatee looking like Satan. I've heard guys get fired up about silly things and if you didn't grow up in that generation that it would with those kind of messages that's good. There were some guys a pretty solid messages, but in such places you've seen such works dry up as the is the deserts and they should dry up because he got away from the gospel and they got on the external systems that is an extremely dangerous thing to do when you begin to place morality only externally without looking at the heart of a person need to be clean on the inside so you can be you can be very you look very good on the outside and be completely corrupt on the inside. I can tell you this Jesus Christ was very severe with the hypocrites. In fact I would say he was more severe with the spiritual hypocrites that he was anyone else in the world. Jeremy, there's no one. He was more severe with he hammered them.

He says don't be like the hypocrites. In verse two. Chapter 6 don't pray like hypocrites. In verse five don't know fast like hypocrites. In verse 18 goes on and begins to blast them. He says don't judge like hypocrites. In Matthew seven verse five. Matthew 15 verse seven. Don't be insincere like hypocrites. Matthew 16. Three. Don't be spiritually blind, like hypocrites and then just read Matthew 23 sometime this week and he absolutely blasts the hypocrites as strong as you will hear him blast anyone just totally verbally assaults them in Matthew 25, 24, verse 51 listen what Jesus says will be the outcome of the hypocrite he says, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. According to Jesus, hypocrites will be separate from God in hell forever. That's what God does with hypocrites in acts chapter 5 was along for the hypocrites to enter the church a couple named Ananias and Sapphire came in they were giving people giving great amounts of offering to the church to be able to distribute to the needs of the saints. Many were impoverished states of the early church in Jerusalem and in Eisen's fire paraded himself and said we and they didn't have to give anything that you gave a little bit, but instead they came in and acted like they gave everything, but in behind-the-scenes are holding back a large portion God saw all that and killed both of them on the spot in church. What happens when a lie causes you to die, then got serious about it and got serious about pure motives. Tell your friends you will know what really upsets the heart of God. It's hypocrisy. You know what Jesus said to the cities of Tyre side. Yuri said to Capernaum to Capernaum, you are exalted to heaven and you will be thrust down to hell.

He said you are like whited sepulchers. You look so good on the outside but inside are full of dead men's bones.

He said and I say you do, you he said it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah to cities that were known for homosexuality and rape. He said it will be more tolerable for them than you hypocrite taste you hypocrites who put on an external so you look good on the outside but inside are full of dead men's bones. You've never truly accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior. You've never balance your need to the Lordship of Christ.

You will be judged more severely than homosexual rapists as you hear that this morning church. That's the BI BLE 101, God judges hypocrites listen me very close young people. Some of you this morning. Come here because you love Jesus Christ.

Some of you are so thankful because your parents bring you to church, but there are people that come to churches because mom and dad made him an you've played the part you've gone through the show.

You may even bring your Bobby may even act like you're listening while you're playing on your phone, you begin to do all these things just as an external so but in your heart you desire to go live like the world you can't wait to get out of mom and dad's house. You can put full expression of your sinful desires, your desires to going to the world and the Senate get off to college and go sleep around a party around to do with the world as I can tell you you're pretty taste your hypocrites and you will not enter into the kingdom of God. You sit in church and it's make-believe and it's not real.

Praise God for parents that still bring you to tell you something you will stand before God and God will shred that external shelf and he knows exactly who states it is not that goes for child adult grandma, grandpa, whoever you are, today we can put shows on goblets right to the hearts that's the truth and we need to know that I was a hypocrite grown up. I remember sitting in churches and not go along with the show but not all I wanted was my sin. All I wanted was to go out in the world and do my thing. When I got saved got so revolutionized my soul that I could not wait to sit in church and listen to the word of God. I never wanted the things of God.

I never want to church before I was say what changed me salvation changed me.

I pray little prayers and I was don't none of those little prayers save me, you know not everyone who calls in the Lord shall be saved. Not everyone who calls the Lord shall be saved. Many will say Lord Lord heaven we don't all these wonderful things he said all never knew you. I never knew you solicit me if you're sincere. If you're real if that salvation genuine then if you call the Lord, you shall be saved. I can tell you there's a lot of false professors don't truly possess. So examine yourself as Paul says, are you truly in the faith, like the story that our daily bread shared. He said one of one of the weakest arguments.

The most foolish excuses that unbelievers share these days as well. I don't go to church and I'm not going to give my life to Jesus because the church is filled with what is a story of a unbeliever who was so upset he began to share with a note with a believer. He says the reason I'm not a Christian because so-and-so is very prominent, well-known Christian who fell in the sand and just a gross and horrible and and in the Christian told him he says you really think that guy was a believer in the unbeliever said there's no way he was a true Christian.

He said exactly the man was in church parading himself among the believers because he was never really one tell you something.

The Bible says they went out from us because they were never of us.

If they were of us.

They no doubt would have continued with us, but they went out that it might be made manifest. Do you know why. If you love pricing you're still here why you're still here because you are kept by the power of God in salvation and he who began a good work and you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ is not our goodness that brought us here this morning for the grace of Christ abroad is here a minute by rhythmic that's that's what God does work strong for this. We love this book before I was sick.

I didn't love this and we go through an external so I can tell you this is essential to understand my real today, MI genuine this Christ sit on my heart. Do I love him and parents.

Please never tell your kids do as I say not as I do. If you ever want to ruin the faith of your child do something like that.

You need to do if you want them to do something that you're not doing say listen honey I have set a terrible example for you and I need to ask you forgiveness and I to go before God and ask God for forgiveness.

Let's both begin to live for Jesus right in this area that needs to be changed and you join arms with them as one preacher said my best preaching is done outside of the pulpit and with the God that would be true of every preacher may pray that that would be true of myself.

What is the core problem of the hypocrite will verse two says therefore they'll do is die norms do not sound the trumpet and it says they do this, that they may be seen of men. Man's glory was their motive, tell you it's easy for Christians to fall victim to this, you know. Even Peter fell victim to this strong godly Peter remembered first Galatians chapter number one he sitting with Gentiles and in that day, Gentiles and Jews were not supposed to mix among the Jewish teachings and so there's a bunch of Judaizers a bunch of strict Jews were coming up from Jerusalem to Galatia and and when Paul when Peter saw them, he got embarrassed and he got ashamed of eating with the Gentiles, so he got up, went over and began to eat with only the Jews were Paul locks and he sees that he's like wait a minute Peter. He says how is it that you being a Jew called them to lift after the Gentiles you live. After the Jewish teachings and he began to rebuke Peter to the face in front of everyone because Peter sending one of everyone and he rightly rightfully did that even Peter got swept up in hypocrisy all made it clear that he said if I were yet to please men, I should not be the servant of Christ we must be careful that we don't seek to please men cannot be people pleasers the we we may do things that please people bid that cannot be our motive solely that I would seek their praise that I would seek there.

There their desire to the desired for them to honor me how often our motives can turn from being vertical to horizontal. Instead of giving and living for God. We seek the praise and approval of men. Sometimes you will say stuff like this. Over the years I've heard this in churches say well you know I'm the only one doing anything around here and what thanks do I get my wife and husband.

They don't notice what I did for them last week. Why should I still go out of my way to serve them. Boss doesn't take notice of the things I do is (that's have an earthly motive seeking an earthly pat on the back.

Colossians 3 after Paul addresses the role of the wife and the role of the husband and their relationship to each other after in Colossians 3 he addresses the role of the parent and the responsibility of the children.

Also the children to the parents after he addresses the responsibility of employers to employees.

He says, in Colossians 323. To That teaching often says whatsoever you do so read this verse together actually and whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not on cement. Let's read that next verse as well, knowing that of the Lord, you shall receive the reward of the inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ at the very end of all them that what why should a husband and wife love each other in such a way of submission and and and and sacrificed what should why should parents leave their children. Children submit to the leadership and obey their parents. Why should employees be such faithful employees to their employers because you are not serving menu or serving the Lord Jesus Christ. You and I need to understand the weighted magnitude of that as long as you have an earthly motive. You only have an earthly reward you then become a slave to the responses and appreciations of people. Why would I base my rewards upon the appreciation of people. Why would I base my rewards upon the response of people or motives make as a servant to men's applause stop serving men with the motive and realize or serving Christ the problem so often people think is you know these people don't appreciate me, God would come and say the problem is not outsider you the problems inside of you. It's it's a hard issue.

You know you have a man centered motive. Listen to me when you're willing to quit serving God because people are indifferent towards your service when you feel underappreciated, then you know your motive has become earthly. I can tell you if I had an earthly motive. I would've saw preaching your one.

I mean, you are the people of this church are speak to well of me that there are those who, unlike you need to back that thing way back as if you know me as well as God, that you would not think so highly of me hate that.

That's the truth I'm a man, nothing more and understand this. There are also people who have slandered me over these 13 years of ministry here in Xenia and unfair ways as well, listen, I'm not serving people for praises or for criticism on serving the Lord first for his sake and and and and and and if if you begin to base your response and service to God. Based on those things.

It'll it'll manipulate your ministry your message, your service and all these things we must serve God for God's sake, do not focus on man's response. You know there's a lot of husbands and wives who have a wonderful marriage if they quit waiting for the response to be what they thought it should be what what what what what he still love your husband in such a way in and take care of him until he sinks because I'm serving Christ. Why do you love your wife. Even when she can be difficult in these situations right because I am. I'm loving her like Christ loved the church when Celestine husband wife let me ask you when is the last time you did something for your spouse, thinking only that you're serving Christ and doing if you've not thought about it I could. So, you've probably been living with the wrong motive because you're like me, we become, we become. We put a love you if instead of I love you because in so let me give you not only what the Lord says is a encouragement to avoid authentic hypocrisy.

But now this look at the Lord's encouragement of authentic giving and verse three and four. First of all, we have the example of an authentic giver. Look at verse three says when they'll do assign homes that not by left to know what I write and do it.

What is it mean what what is the what is the word when presupposing that verse when it says when they'll do is finals with Jesus presupposing that you're going to be getting right is presupposing that you will have acts of mercy and pity and kindness on others. I can tell your friends Christianity and true Christianity should be a merciful Christianity should be a given Christianity. James 127 says pure religion and undefiled before the father. Is this the visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction. It is to care for them. Luke 1980 story exactly as it says that key is that instead of the Lord. Behold, Lord. The half of my goods I give to the poor. This guy just got saved and he became an extravagant giver why because he received the giver and how can we be selfish when the ultimate giver comes inside of us. Generosity flowed out of the heart of Zacchaeus, because Christ flowed in Christian are you generous are you willing to care for those in genuine need or sometimes it's of great needs arise.

I do, I do understand that you need to wade through those waters in America today because sometimes you don't have genuine needs. Paul says in second Thessalonians 3 verse 10 for even when we were with you this week commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he what so according to Bible, those who we help should not be those who have the ability to help themselves. So you know it's one thing to give somebody if this is another thing to teach them the fish and anybody drive around and see all that we are hiring signs and even the funeral Friday evening to funerals like their hiring companies in a groundskeeper limited. There is everybody so so when people stand out in one help all the time. We need to understand that sometimes there's better ways to help you not helping your 25-year-old is living in your placement placement playing video games. Okay you save it all off they don't stay with me they be on the street you put them on the streets for a day or two they'd end up working in a lie is when it all done. Guess we going to do and I'm not trying to be insensitive and actually being very loving sometimes. Sometimes love enables doesn't. Sometimes it's hard to navigate as well as I understand you that the welfare system of America has totally corrupted our ability to give in our country because in a desire for the government to try to care for people in different situations. It's also enable the large majority of people in America and that system to the begin to to have unhealthy mindsets about that that they would just live off the government and not work and things like that and it's important that you would understand the Bible expects you to work to laboring in the Bible also says the book of Ephesians that if you work that he'll give you not only enough to care for you, but also to give to others in need.

Ephesians chapter 4 tells us this is he that stole let them. Still no morbid labors of hands that which is good, that he not only would have to have for himself but also to give reason to give you not only pressed down, but also running over you be able to take care of others. One place I believe the Christian should be generous in giving us to the church. I believe it's a joy to be able to give to the things of the church to advance the gospel all around the world. So thankful that as a boy my father taught me to begin to set aside 10% of what came into me the gift of the Lord and in and he taught me that principal and if so important now let me say something that some of you may disagree with and that's okay but I do not believe the New Testament commands us to tithe 10%. I believe it's a biblical pattern and a principal to follow, but it is not a New Testament command that is underneath the Old Testament law of God in the Old Testament Abraham before the law even came though, that he gave 10%. There was never commanded anywhere that you saw that we did it because 10% was represented the whole if I give a tent that represented like I surrender all that to got Jacob gave 1/10 of all before the law ever came in the book of Malachi, they broke that command that God gave in Leviticus 27 verse 30 you say so you're saying I should give 10%. I think 10% should be a good starting point.

I think that's a good place to start. That's not a good place in my opinion the end I think. I think it is a world that are under grace should give more than they that were under the law, and so you probably have been coming here for a year and never heard me once preached on giving.

This is your visitor David, this is not normal gait and so should we in the New Testament give less under grace. I think in the New Testament. Now the poor widow gave all she had.

I think about the early church next two through four. They surely gave more than 10% in the exact years did. Second Corinthians 8, nine, you read about the churches in Macedonia.

They were extravagant givers. You know what happens if if you whatever you love you give for you if you love something you gift for that and if you don't ever give anything to the church you don't love this place you don't love what were doing. I don't care what you say is not the words that mean something. It's our actions.

Jesus said if you love me feed my sheep, Peter, your words, your words are not sufficient needs to be something behind that so you can give without loving but you cannot love without giving. If I love to play golf, I will go out and buy good golf clubs I will get your spit if you love hunting anybody hunting yet beautiful weather on all the hunters alike free to read if you love the hunt. You're not going to go out where the junk you stuff it smells like a human right. You're here and you're gonna put urine on yourself, you're going to do everything. You will go the extra mile.

You know I made a yo-yo really you really got your way in and spend the money and whatever we value. You know what we we we spend money on most the time that's our self clothe herself in the noises we do these things for herself and what we need to do is realize you know what God given us an opportunity to give to ministries seeing soul save weekly. I praise God, us when we have over 50 missionaries are preaching the gospel all around the world and we have invested in that aim in good and because of your giving because of your faithfulness. Thousands of dollars every we go out to those missionaries. We just got I just received this morning. There's $18,000 of different needs that several churches will then present those to the church next week and I believe we could take a large more majority that in an instant. Tens of thousand dollars out to help those that are in need that what what what great opportunity. We sit on the we sit so wealthy in our world only and so we need to be able to help provided, and even even today after church. There's a dear lady in town is a widow and we have five guys from our church are going out and picking up a bunch of sticks and brush from her seat.

She doesn't have a husband.

She doesn't have people to help take care that the cities given her few days to be every move this stuff. She is desperately needed in and people going out on the name who they are, so they don't lose their reward to go out and ministering Karen and what a blessing that is a blessing that is we provide meals for people in town for funerals. We provide free funeral service for anybody. Whatever comes was we we provide transportation for families and children throughout the city.

Even Thursday we provided a meal for the senior football team.

No wonder they beat Tipp city and are six and no baby good base that will become the light out. They always feed as good as it is right we not even any you know what, that's only possible because people like you are willing to roll your sleeves up work behind the scenes and bring in food bringing cookies bring in things that are in and give of your resources. Paul tells us in second Corinthians 97. Every man according as he purposes and or in his heart, so letting give, not grudgingly, angers you to gift and don't give please keep that in your pocket. Be a slave to your resources.

If God moves you to help somebody in the new, like probably open will probably take advantage of future all right.

The problem is not with them. It's with you say say got it. Whatever they do, that's between them, the Lord, I want to do this because I moved in compelled since God loves a cheerful giver. What does your giving say about you. I think something that all of us could do a way of generosity is just just have a 10 or $20 bill state in your pocket just walked to the we can say this, we come to look for somebody who could be blessed by that somebody you do that would be a blessing to you find you find out somebody in our church as cancer and their driving up to Cleveland clinic cannot be good to do cinema hundred dollar bill or $20 bill say I know there's a lot of gas expenses.

Gas prices going up. Just think about you having to drive all that way. I just want you know you're in our prayers. I can tell you much more than that money will do is it somebody cared enough to give never forget when I was about 10 years ago we were out of state wife are eating at this restaurant we own a little trip and end the somebody paid for our meal and it was a pretty nice like Japanese steakhouse is really good and I don't know was an insulated paper mill we use out of state with no idea they were in the segment out of order dessert night. It was terrible just delete the but I thought I was so moved even 10 years later, I remember that you know what I guarantee you they would have no idea if somebody brought that up they be like you because givers like that. They just don't remember the just is just the flow of their life.

We had people I had multiple people come visit lighthouse.

This church who said you know what I like. As you know somebody somebody pay for my meal from your church who was somebody pay for my meal lifted we have this little administrator church low card.

You can leave your pay for somebody's mill stranger grabbed his out of the welcome center go do some act of kindness that you know how to be generous to this person to be kind to that person learn to hold loosely all that's not eternal so that you can lay up treasures in heaven for the glory of God in the kingdom of Christ and love of God and love for others and and serve begin the minister. I can't help but to share with you the man who passed away just think about this this morning.

A man who passed away this last year on March 30.

His name was Wayne Osborne and some of you may have known him by the gentleman who said in a wheelchair.

He be in the back and that his health was bad.

He hurt so bad a lot of time to get in tears by sit in church and he just ate his health was really declining. He passed away on March 30 and he wrote this letter to me on March 6. Just three weeks or so before his passing. He says I need to write you and express my love and appreciation for you and all that you do for LB CV says, and for all the many brothers and sisters it that love me at lighthouse Baptist Church. I'm not going to name the people, but I just want you to give to give you an idea of how this church family thing works. He says so-and-so gave me a $350 check in a time of great need. He says, and then another individual took me to a physical exam and my two cataract surgeries another individual came over and because I had four different HVAC companies who came in and told me I need a whole new HVAC system and there was a gentleman here does that kind of work when found out about it. Went over there and it was just one wire that needed fixed. He said they saved me six to $10,000 because everyone else that I need a new system and now my HVAC is working perfectly. He says another individual came over replace the kitchen sink fixture fix for my fans. Another individual fixed a network problem I had, because spectra mess himself up and they let that get going again and another individual came over and fix my snowblower.

This is over the course of a couple years. He said another individual who knew that I was you know my health condition. They came over when it snowed really bad.

Checked on me.

So they had one of the guys in church come out and they plow the law.

For me, my driveway another individual came by.

These are this literally 10 different people and nobody showed another individual came out trimmed my bushes last year did a great job.

The wife came in and clean my house organize my kitchen. He just goes on and on and shared with tears about how greatly he appreciated that mass. Your question was the last time that it can be said of you that I didn't know about all these people to its new three weeks later he's going to pass away church is not about just us walking in and sliding receipt listen to a sermon it's about saying Ms. or somebody or I can minister to the early service this morning. I think about one of our veterans. This man fought in war you come down with like Agent Orange because of it got say just a few months ago got baptized here about a month ago.

He sees going through chemo filling so that it only given him a few months left to live. He's just feeling rough man in his dear wife Mary about 60 years and he sit in the front row and he just like you do is going to sit down like this means I cannot sleep. I'm just, you know, not and he will always say anything's not feel good. I just think you know what just to be able to minister to people like that when you look for those situations and take who was at Nvidia. What can I do to minister what I do pray for what can I do to what blesses my heart is my find out somebody got sick. In summary, when I mowed the yard.

Somebody brought him a meal. Somebody did some act of kindness. That's what mercy means you shall pity you show compassion was less on your walking out he saw somebody on a cane you so you normally hold the store for me than it takes me five minutes and it's it started to drizzle on the growth would be great. Some young people, go grab one of these umbrellas on the walk that dear old lady out to her car and opened the door just to let her know I appreciate you as I can tell you something your 78, 89 years old. Your body walking and it's a long trek to go from healthcare in here an innocent young bucks, the young buck, so young and I'm kind of in between her and him always tells me how much more white here. I'm getting like I don't need to know to take it overvalued acts of kindness, acts of mercy, acts of love and in and in and you do that from a pure heart. You do it as you would do to Jesus the mask of Jesus Christ, was on crutches. Would you do help them out to his car Jesus Christ were in need. Would you help him give you a six in closing thought the reward of the authentic giver verse four and he says that thine alms may be in secret and I father was sees in secret shall reward thee openly and it needs to be done in secret, so that he says in verse three that your left hand would not even know what your right hand outs that that your right hand would be so generous that you would see in a that you would give that it would not even have time to consult with the left hand your giving would be in such a manner that you would even fully consult with yourself about the dinner portion of your body would not even know what that that's going to happen. So much so that if that were true of yourself and you would be spreading around everywhere letting everybody know the things that we've done.

So we have to be careful carefully guarded our motives pure.

Sometimes people can struggle with this. You know how I want to share. Praise this last week, the Lord let me bless so-and-so by doing this for them. We have to be careful of that God was able to really use me this week.

God used me to meet that person's need to know God really use me to be careful of that and so are acts of mercy and kindness need to be done with a pure heart and when you do that verse number four. Let's us know that he sees this in secret is what he says and I father would see if and what in secret God sees it in secret. Matthew Henry said it like this when we take the least notice of our good deeds. God takes most notice of them three times in this chapter verse four verse six, verse 18. He says your father sees it in secret. Every time you do something I can tell you God's eyes lays into the heart.

He sees exactly what you done there is not ever gonna be one act of kindness, mercy, generosity, giving anything you've ever done that God does not notice that wonderful list for the audience of one, do it only for him and he says and he shall reward thee openly.

God will be the one who rewards you with what's interesting is the word here in verse four shall reward is a word that means that like your obligating obligated is an obligation to like pay them. It's an expectation that you are to reward them. What's so interesting here is Jesus saying that God is literally obligating himself to reward you for this doesn't have to be chosen to obligate himself.

In Hebrews captures that truth in Hebrews 610 by saying, for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love which you have showed toward his name and that you administered the saints and to minister as a friend today who do you want to reward you. Earth or heaven you desire to be notice for your giving more acts of mercy are you displeased. If man didn't recognize your efforts that people through the first come up to me and do stuff like this. Please never do this to me I don't count money. I don't know who gives what I'll never know if you come up say what you know you faithful Tyler my don't tell me that I don't need to know. I never needed. That's between you and the Lord you want praise for me that's a very shallow pool that you're pulling from all cells of some first reviews. Four.

Five therefore judge nothing before the time to the Lord, and will bring both light the hidden things of darkness will make manifest the counsels of the heart, then shall every man have praise of God. How eternally rich the believer who ministers for the glory of God.

I was at the church one time where they literally had Christian seats in the church and I said like like it like really nice like separate from the rest. I said what are a few seats everywhere and they said all those are for the people who gave like the special building funds in like we gave them special seats in the sanctuary's yeah whatever and threw up on what's wrong about him vomit on vomiting all over the I did actually grow up in a church where this is the worst they have the pastor spotlight on me like here's the senior citizens in front of them is the pastor's. The staff know they're there up there. They got gold letters and you of the special part to pull in those parking spots sideways. You like to run over the side is like that as long as you listen when I die, I need to put this in the Constitution, no pastors allow the put their name on the sign on the side of the building. Better that people come in here and say I never got your pastor's name who is at be like. It doesn't matter.

Jesus Christ is great is forget to IM and you are forget who the leadership bar. It's all about Christ.

Forget ourselves.

Let God deal with that stuff and let us just worship from a sincere heart. Does that make sense this morning. We are not in Josh Bevan ministry here okay. How disgusting is that your visit is guys name their ministry after the himself either go you got to reward buddy.

Maybe they have a pure heart. I don't know I shouldn't say, but I would not want to tempt myself with that Matthew 516 says this.

Let your light so shine before men, that they would see your good works and guess what they would do glorify your father is not wrong if somebody saw you do something an act of mercy and kindness but make sure that's not your motive and let God get the glory.

And if somebody ever says something to you all yours is so you make sure you let them know that God still only by God's grace.

So what is your motive for worship today friend.

What is your motive in serving and I believe there some people have also set serving aside because I got hurt in the past, sometimes friendly fire hurts doesn't.

Sometimes you serve in church and somebody hurt your feelings and things you know you know what people hurt your feelings home to the doesn't make a stop being parents and children right and so inside of a church. We need to say you know I am to serve it in in and if you quit serving forks because of people motive was wrong. Don't let Judy stop you serving Jesus.

We don't follow Jesus as we follow Jesus right somebody is a false believer.

Somebody hypocritically treats you about some credit. The Judas situation you just you say you know what I believe that between them.

The Lord why on earth would I allow them to have more control over my service in the Lord Jesus Christ has control over my search to make sense and so do it for the glory of God. Chilean service comes when our motive is vertical and lack of joy comes when a motive is horizontal sleep today with the vertical motive is arrows pointing glory to Jesus Christ as we love one another.

Amen as we close, I would like to also encourage you today. If you were to stand before God and he said why should I let you into heaven you're not sure what you would say today, if you examine your heart so you know what, there are some things in my life that I can see very hypocritical when I am on Sunday is not what I'm all Monday through Saturday. My life is not genuine. It's not really been going through the motions. I want to stand before God in and find out that I'm not going to heaven. I can tell you friends. God knows, and we love you I love you and I'll be down front would have been women stayed at these doors today. You can come and trust in Christ like. Don't be like me as a young guy that I was going to the motions being a hypocrite. I wasn't real church wasn't what I wanted, but after I got saved, he changed my life today, you could have your life change if you would surrender to him. Let's all stand this morning with his belt and eyes closed. The authors open of God spoken your heart friend you can come maybe Christian, maybe today you just want to come and spend a moment in prayer.

The authors open. If you here today so you know what I need to make a spiritual decision maybe to be baptized. Maybe surrender your life. Recommit your life to Christ if you're here today. You say you know what, I'm not sure of my salvation? Forgot.

I don't know if heaven smile day you realize you need me saying don't do me no love to meet you sign the side prayer rooms right on the sanctuary will share with the wording on how you can name your wedding ring from his weanling words and they would enjoy this to me saying recently rejoicing right right and Amy would examine our hearts cleanse us from all impurity that are not working Riesling garden may renew not merely saying anyone's name is lost. Jesus