Matthew15
Matt 6:1-17 True Prayer.

A reflective sermon where Greg holds the mirror up so we can check how well we line up to Jesus teaching. At what stage are we? Acting Christians? or Practising followers of Jesus Christ?

The problems with religious hypocrisy: •

Service of God becomes a theatrical display before an audience for show, not a heart felt response to God. • A focus on the perfection of their performance and their own vanity in that role.

Jesus solution: Seek only the approval of God. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Summary regarding true prayer & giving

1. Hypocritical religious activity is perverse because it is destructive.  To pray is to seek God.  But hypocrisy destroys the integrity of this practice by turning it into an occasion for self-centredness.

2. We have to become so conscious of God that we cease to be self conscious. Knowing that God knows our innermost thoughts can keep us honest in this endeavour, at least enabling us to want pure motives. Relying on the Holy Spirit, the gift of the Father to us is the only way to succeed in godly devotion.