Don't let your regular riding know what your switch is doing

[alph]

We're going to continue on with this message that Jesus has been preaching. The last few weeks he's just been delivering some of the hardest stuff I think the Bible has in it.

This week he kind of starts out and addresses the religious person.

Now, if you don't go to church I don't want you to tune out cause you're right there. We're all 'spiritual' minded, and most of us would say that we believe in some form of god.

This is for you too then. I think that the things that Jesus is talking about in these first few verses are the types of things that really make us mad when people don't do them. The kind of person that Jesus is talking about in these verses...hypocrite.


I'm going to address these verses in sections. The first section of scripture that we're looking at is Matthew 6:1-4.

YOu know that question, "Who are you when no one is looking?" This is the perfect section of scripture regarding that.

Why do YOU do the religious or spiritual things that you do? Do you do them because you're in love with Jesus, or do you do them because you want to be a good person.

There is a big difference. And one of those will result in getting there, and the other wont.

Next section of scripture:

Matthew 6:5-7

Some times I wonder about the people at church and how they are praying makes me wonder if they pray that way to God on their own. Or do they pray to God on their own at all?
You know what I'm talking about? Then I think about me. Do I talk the same way with my God as I do in public? Do I pray the same way when I'm alone with God as I do when I'm praying over dinner? If not...why?

I think an answer could be that we really aren't praying TO God. I think half of the time we're praying FOR us.

Think about it.

So here comes verses 8-13. Commonly called "The Lords Prayer"

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen

What is happening in these verses?

Recognition of our God
Praise to our God
Acknowledgement of us believing in what He will do in the future
Submission to His agenda for our lives (in all areas)
Plea for constant provision
Practical and spiritual acknowledgement of our need for rescue
a commitment to treat others as we would want to be treated
An acknowledgement of our need for our God to guide our steps and rescue us from darkness.
A proclamation of our understanding of God's place above all things.

That's some deep stuff when you really mean what you are saying.

We rocket through that prayer so often and so fast that it's not even thought about half the time.

What happens when we really mean what we are saying to God?

That my friend will change your life.


Go through these verses and at the end of your night, pray through the Lords prayer together with intentions to mean every word in it.