BE AUTHENTIC

INTRODUCTION

Theme: We are to constantly be aware of the temptation to perform acts of righteousness in order to receive the praise of men as opposed to the praise of God.

Key Verse:Mat 6:1 (NASB) "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

I. THREE REPRESENTATIVE ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT ONE MAY ENGAGE IN.

A. GivingMat 6:2 (NASB) “When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

B. PrayingMat 6:5 (NASB) “And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

I. THREE REPRESENTATIVE ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT ONE MAY ENGAGE IN.

(Continued…)

C. FastingMat 6:16 (NASB) “And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

II. WE ARE NOT TO PERFORM ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN ORDER TO DRAW ATTENTION TO OURSELVES.

A. We are not to draw attention to ourselves in the way that we give.Mat 6:2 (NASB) “When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

B. We are not to draw attention to ourselves in the way that we pray.Mat 6:5 (NASB) “And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

II. WE ARE NOT TO PERFORM ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN ORDER TO DRAW ATTENTION TO OURSELVES.

(Continued…)

C. We are not to draw attention to ourselves in the way in which we fast.Mat 6:16 (NASB) “And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

III. WE SHOULD PERFORM OUR ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN SECRET AS IT WERE; WITHOUT OTHER PEOPLE KNOWING WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

A. We should give without informing others.Mat 6:3 (NASB) “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doingMat 6:4 (NASB) that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”

B. We should pray in private as opposed to a public spectacle.Mat 6:6 (NASB) “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”

III. WE SHOULD PERFORM OUR ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN SECRET AS IT WERE; WITHOUT OTHER PEOPLE KNOWING WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

(Continued…)

C. We should fast inconspicuously.Mat 6:17 (NASB) “But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your faceMat 6:18 (NASB) so that you may not be seen fasting by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”

IV. WE ARE TO BE AUTHENTIC IN PERFORMING ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Mat 6:2 (NASB) “When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

Mat 6:5 (NASB) “And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

Mat 6:16 (NASB) “And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

V. WE ARE NOT TO PERFORM ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN ORDER TO GAIN THE PRAISE OF MEN.

Mat 6:2 (NASB) “When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

Mat 6:5 (NASB) “And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

Mat 6:16 (NASB) “And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

VI. THOSE WHO DRAW ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES IN ORDER TO BE PRAISED BY MEN WILL NOT BE PRAISED BY GOD.

Mat 6:2 (NASB) “When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

Mat 6:5 (NASB) “And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

Mat 6:16 (NASB) “And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

VII. WE HAVE ASSURANCE THAT OUR RIGHTEOUS DEEDS WILL NOT GO UNNOTICED BY GOD.

A. God is aware of our righteous deeds.

Mat 6:4 (NASB) “that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”

Mat 6:6 (NASB) “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”

Mat 6:18 (NASB) “so that you may not be seen fasting by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”

VII. WE HAVE ASSURANCE THAT OUR RIGHTEOUS DEEDS WILL NOT GO UNNOTICED BY GOD.

(Continued…)

B. God will honor us for our righteous deeds.

Mat 6:4 (NASB) “that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”

Mat 6:6 (NASB) “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”

Mat 6:18 (NASB) “so that you may not be seen fasting by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”

CONCLUSION

When we do good we should seek to bring praise to God not ourselves.

We will not rob a person of their reward if we thank or praise them for the good that they have done.

We should not grow weary in well doing when no one praises us; for we should be seeking the praise of God and not men.