To be noticed by others (Matthew 6:1-18), continued

• Beware!

  • Meaning

  • Examples

  • Repercussion

    • No reward in heaven (Matthew 6:1).

  • Consistency

    • Proverbs 27:2

    • John 5:44

    • Matthew 23:25

Not for show

• Left hand versus right hand – I Corinthians 12:14-27
• Leading a group prayer – I Corinthians 14:15-17, 26
• Where is the inner room? – Daniel 6:9-11

  • Places Jesus prayed

    • Luke 3:21 – after baptism

    • Matthew 14:23 – alone on a mountain

    • Mark 6:46 – on a mountain

    • Luke 6:12 – off to a mountain to pray all night

    • Mark 1:35

    • Luke 5:16

    • Luke 9:18

    • Matthew 28:36-42

    • Matthew 14:19 – Before feeding the crowds.

    • Matthew 19:13 – Prayed over children that were brought to Him.

    • John 17 – With His disciples just before His betrayal

    • Luke 22:32

Meaningless repetition – I Kings 18:26-29

• Why?
  • They were trying to wake up their idols!
• Why not? Isaiah 65:24
  • God hears us!
• Versus persistence – Luke 18:3-8
  • Earnest repeated prayer for the same thing is not vain repetition.

Pray in this manner

• After a manner, not rote – II Corinthians 13:7-9; II Thessalonians 1:11
• Short, simple, to the point.

About fasting

• Keep it clean

• What about fasting?

  • Self-denial with purpose – Isaiah 58:3-7

  • Devotion to prayer

    • Command

    • Necessity

    • Authorization

    • Practicality