The Demands of the Kingdom Part 4
Central thought: Almsgiving, prayers and fasting are key kingdom principles.
Text: Matthew 6:1-18
The demands of the Kingdom with regards to almsgiving, prayer and fasting were centrally focused in the sermon of Christ on the Mount. This study seeks to look into the teaching of Christ on these three issues with a view of correcting the erroneous practices of the day. God’s own earnest desire is that we should be doers of the word which we hear.
1. What is almsgiving?
Almsgiving as used in Matthew 6:1, signify any righteous act which includes giving of money, clothes and food to poor people. Acts 10:1-4 gives the account of Cornelius, who gave much alms to people always. He gave so much that his alms and prayers went up as a memorial before God.
When almsgiving is being carried out, it should not be with the motive of attracting attention and getting praise from men. Such attitude is hypocritical and condemned by the Lord.
2. How should a Christian give alms? Matthew 6:2-3
Therefore, “when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth”.
In the above quoted verse Christ laid down the acceptable standard in giving of alms. This includes: giving of alms in secret, not having to make a public show of what we are giving. This is common, as many people, Christians inclusive want to be noticed when giving and hence they would prefer to spay money in parties rather than put it in envelopes and give to the persons celebrating privately. When compelled not to spray they give little or nothing as what they are giving is hidden from men and would be denied the praises of men.
Giving as demanded by God should be done with the mind that God sees in secret and would reward every act done in His name. We should not seek out for the praises of men. The secrecy in giving as advocated by Christ is to the extent that the ‘right hand must not know what the left is doing’.
Christians must shun all acts of giving with the intention to be brought to the limelight. Christians must avoid giving to be noticed. At all times, Christians must know that all they have is given to them by god and that we are just custodians of all we are blessed with, for God’s use and glory.
3. Identify and explain the guiding principles on prayer in Matthew 6:5-8.
The Pharisees in Christ’s day loved to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corner of the streets, to be seen by men. The Lord condemned this practice and instructed that when we pray, we should enter into our closet, shut our door, and present the requests. Prayers are not answered by the volume of words spoken but by the heart behind it. Therefore we must not use vain repetitions.
Believers must know God as a loving Father, who is willing to answer His children. God is not wicked, for if wicked men would not give stone for bread nor give snake for fish, how much more our heavenly Father. We must therefore pray with the consciousness that our heavenly Father knows our requests.
4. Highlight and discuss the main point in our Lord’s Prayer. Matthew 6:9-13
The Lord Jesus laid down what we know today as components of prayers, which are herein discussed. “The Lord’s Prayer” is a model for our prayers. It begins with adoration of God, v.9, acknowledges subjection to His will, v.10, asks petitions of Him, v.11-13, and ends with ascription of praise.
“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name”. God does not answer the prayer of a sinner. God must first and foremost be a father to the person praying. The word “our” is used so the person praying is inclusive.
There must therefore be an established relationship between the person praying and God, as that of a father and child. Until this is done such prayers might not go far.
“Which art in heaven”. Though God is seen as our Father, we must know He is higher than us, and must not take God for granted. It is common to see children who due to familiarity with their parents; treat their parents with contempt. God must be reverenced, worshiped and adored. Often times, youths talk to and about God with so much disrespect and disregard. God, though our Father, must be reverenced. This act is not out of fear but love for our heavenly Father. Hence His name should not be called with levity and used for jokes or as slang, as it is done by some comedians. The name of the Lord is not an ordinary name. It is the only name that can save from sin, bring deliverance to the oppressed, give peace to the troubled, strength to the week and help to the depraved.
“Thy kingdom come, they will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. Realizing the all-powerfulness of God is paramount to our Christian faith. Peace and tranquility are prevalent characters of heaven. Asking for the kingdom to come is praying for the power of God to cover the earth, the peace that prevails in heaven to reign on earth. It is desiring that the earth be governed after the pattern of heaven. This prayer is often said without attaching so much weight and importance to it. The will of God alone is what is done in heaven: hence Lucifer could not stay, as two ‘wills’ could not be in charge. Asking for God’s will to be done on earth is to surrender to the will and purpose of God, where no man’s will would prevail but God’s. Heaven is not in disarray but orderly. The will of God would mean bringing divine order to the earth.
“Give us this day our daily bread”. The believer must know that all he has is by the mercies of God, for none of us has received anything apart from that which was given us from above. It implies looking unto God for our daily sustenance. This is a look away from our resources and salary to a total dependence on God for our daily needs.
And “forgive us this day our debts as we forgive our debtors”. We must realize our sins and confess them unto God. We must also forgive others who have wronged us, so that we also would be forgiven our sins by God. In forging others, we do not wait for their apology before we forgive them, but must forgive whether the person deserves it or not. In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus laid down the standard of forgiveness, by telling Peter that he should not only forgive someone who has wronged him seven times but should forgive seventy times seven. In the Bible story, a servant who was forgiven much of his debt refused and failed to forgive a fellow servant who was indebted to him. The Lord of the servant when told, revoked the initial pardon and had him handed over to the tormentors. Jesus then said God will do the same to us if we do not forgive our fellow men. For our own prayers not to be hindered and for God to forgive us our sins, we must make provision in our hearts to forgive ahead of the offence.
“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen”. In further petition to God, we must pray for grace to stand. “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed least he falls”. We can also ask God for protection, “delivery us from evil”, and for every other need we have. We should not forget to also thank Him at the end of our prayers.
5. How we ought to pray.
A. In Jesus Name.
We are not to pray through any man but in the name of Jesus. “if ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it”, John 14: 13-14.
B. In faith.
We must pray in faith to receive from God, Mark 9:23. All things are possible to them that believe. Whatever things you desire, when you pray, you must believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them, Mark 11:23-24.
C. In accordance with God’s will, 1 John 5:14.
Even Christ prayed according to God’s will, Luke 22:42.
D. In humility and whole-heartedness.
“Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart”, Jeremiah 29:13. 2 Chronicles 7:14 states clearly that “if my people . . . shall humble themselves . . . and pray and seek my face”. God will hear them from heaven.
E. In righteousness and obedience.
It is the prayer of a righteous man that availeth much, James 5:16. 1 John 3:22 emphasized the place of obedience in receiving from God.
F. In the Spirit.
As believers we are told to pray in the Holy Spirit, Jude 20. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, Ephesians 6:18.
G. With thanksgiving.
In Philippians 4:6 we are told that by prayers and supplication with thanksgiving we should let our request be made know unto God. The only Christian activity that will be carried into eternity is praise and thanksgiving. Revelation 5:11-14 is the account of the angelic heavenly choir.
H. Must pray without doubts. James 1:6-8
We are to lift up holy hands without wrath and doubting, 1 Timothy 2:8
I. To pray effectively, we must be prepared to spend time in the presence of God.
It is common today, due to pressure of life to hurry in and out of prayers; such prayer cannot yield effective results, Luke 18:1-8.
6. What are the hindrances to answered prayer? Psalm 66:18; James 1:6-7; Isaiah 59:1-2
A major hindrance to receiving the answer of prayers is sin. Psalm 66:18, “if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me”. Isaiah 59:1-2 put it in this form, “Behold the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear, but your iniquity have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you that he will not hear”. If we hide iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not answer us. We must therefore purge ourselves of every sin, known and unknown.
Another hindrance to receiving the answer of our prayers is doubt. James 1:6-7 admonished that a doubtful mind cannot receive anything from the Lord. We must put away doubt and build up our faith to believe in our prayers and that God has answered when we pray in accordance to His will, 1 John 5:14.
An unforgiving spirit is another hindrance to prayers, Mark 11:25.
Disagreement between wife and husband could also hinder prayers, 1 Peter 3:7.
Blood guiltiness, Isaiah 1:15, when our hands are stained with blood, our prayers would not be answered.
7. How often should a Christian pray? 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Luke 18:1
Christians are to pray always. “All men to pray everywhere lifting up holy hands”. “Pray without ceasing”, 1 Thessalonians 5:17. “Men ought always to pray and not faint”, Luke 18:1.
8. What are the benefits derived in praying? Philippians 4:6-7
The benefits derived in praying are enormous. After praying, there is peace and assurance we get, that God has heard us. This breeds hope, confidence and courage to continue in the face of life’s challenges.
We gain strength and help in the place of prayer; the Lord Jesus had to pray before going to the cross. We also get divine direction, instruction and guidance in the place of prayers.
Life’s journey becomes less difficult, as battles are fought and won in the place of prayers. Prayers guarantee victory over challenges.
9. What is fasting?
Fasting is abstinence from food, drink, pleasures of life like marital affairs and curtailment of daily duty or business so that the seeker could have enough time and dedication for prayer and fellowship with God.
The origin of fasting is traced to the time of the law, Leviticus 16:29-31. The Hebrews fasted on the Day of Atonement, Numbers 29:7. The day of Atonement was a Hebrew festival. The activities of the day involved abstinence from labor, fasting, penitence and sacrifice for sin. They were also to afflict their souls. It was the day the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies, Exodus 30:10; Hebrews 9:7-9. Fasting was not a new teaching by Christ. This is because Kings, Prophets, Saints, and Children fasted in the Old Testament, 1 Kings 21:27-29; 2 Chronicles 20:1-25; Ezra 8:21-23; Nehemiah 1:2-4; Esther 4:1-3,16; Daniel 9:3; Judges 20:26-35; 1 Samuel 7:6-16; Deuteronomy 9:9, 18, 25-29, 10:10; Jonah 3; Luke 2:37; Matthew 9:14.
10. How should a Christian fast? Matthew 6:17-18
Christians should not make a show of their fast. It should rather be unto God that sees in secret to reward.
Isaiah 58:6-9 states the right kind of fast to include a demonstration of practical daily holiness. This includes:
A. To loose the bond of wickedness
B. To undo the heavy burdens
C. Let the oppressed go free
D. To break every yoke
E. Break, divide and distribute bread to the hungry
F. To live unselfish life and give shelter to the cast out
G. To stop speaking vanity and cloth the naked
H. To call upon and cry to God.
More importantly it is a time of setting oneself apart unto God in prayers, supplication, study, meditation on God’s word, and practicing the Love of God.
11. Has fasting been abolishes? 2 Corinthians 6:5, 11:27; 1 Corinthians 7:5
Fasting was not abolished with the law. The Lord Jesus our supreme example fasted. Apostle Paul also fasted and taught believers to fast. Fasting is still being practiced today.
Daily living application:
Almsgiving, prayer and fasting are spiritual exercises that must be practiced according to God’s prescription in order to achieve kingdom results.
Fasting helps the Christian to reach a higher spiritual realm in prayer, meditation and fellowship with God. Fasting must not be taken to the extreme, i.e. the longer you fast the quicker God hears and answers your prayers. The answers to our prayers do not depend on the duration of our fasting.
Fasting besides spiritual benefits also helps our health. The digestive system is given periodic rest during fasting. It could also help to control fat and reduce weight especially for obese people.
Christian almsgiving, prayer and fasting must be done to honor God and not get the praises of men.
Memory verse
Philippians 4:6 – “Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God”.