Sermon on the Mount - Part 7

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The House of Bread · Voice Note For 20240927 - Matthew 6 KJV - Sermon On The Mount - Part 7

Matthew 6 KJV

Matthew 6:6-18 KJV - The Lord’s Prayer

[6] But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. [7] But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. [8] Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. [9] After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. [10] Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. [11] Give us this day our daily bread. [12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. [13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. [14] For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: [15] but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. [16] Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [17] But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; [18] that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.6.6-18.KJV

Note for 20240927

As a child, I was brought up going to one of the more conservative protestant church denominations. I still remember the method of the service, the standing up and sitting down, the declaration of faith and the reading of the law. The singing of songs as the standing up and sitting down continued, until the offering plates made their rounds pass every one that congregated for the sermon. Depending on the time of year, the sermon was usually more or less anticipated, just like Sunday school after the service. One of the things that was done each Sunday in this process, was saying the Lord's Prayer, in my mother tongue, well rehearsed, even at the tempo of the minister. I remember then even, it felt too rehearsed for me; as if something was missing. Even as a child, it seemed that it was just something people in the community did by habit. I remember hearing of the Pharisees, when I was old enough to be distracted by guided thoughts, how much it was as if I was reading about those that stood around me, in their Sunday best clothing, even the hats the women then still wore to church. Outside, waiting to take us home, spit and polished, the family "Sunday car."

Let me give you a few verses from Yesterday's reading in Matthew 6.

[5] And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [6] But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. [7] But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

You see friends, in all the time that I have participated in that almost ritualistic pattern, even saying this prayer that Christ gave us to pray, I can't recall even once hearing the verses that I just quoted here. Maybe it was read out, while I was counting the ceiling tiles overhead.

You see, I also saw many of those in church when they were not in their Sunday-best. The words and deeds of the rest of the week. It felt like a scam, even the high vocabulary used whenever the minister, elder or deacon was around.

Today, the Lord's prayer has become my favorite prayer to pray. You see, now I know what it means, but more so, Who Christ is who gave this prayer for us to pray. As soon as I was old enough to determine for myself where I could go, I started searching for a church that had the "something" I felt missing in our family church. This search led me to some wild places, even radical separatists; but, it usually didn't take long before I would see the shortcomings in what was preached and practiced.

In my hour of need, when I fell down on my knees; I found what I was always looking for was near. Right beside me, even deep within me. I suppose, some people must face true darkness, before they are willing to look within. So, I recorded that as the date of my repentance, 17 March 1990. It is the Lord that later reminded me of the first time I gave my heart to him, very young sitting on the lap of my Father as he was reading to me from the children's Bible about King Solomon.

So today, you get a little more of my testimony, but the focus is on the Lord's prayer. For all that you have to say to our Father in Heaven is in it. Now I say these words by choice, knowing what they mean. And as I say, "Thine is the Kingdom" I know that I have given Christ my crown. That He is my King and I His servant.

Do not let your faith only be a measure of habit, repeat and rinse again. But, when you rise in church, know Who you rise for. Before you rise, know there comes a moment where you are on your knees without any other hope. Of all the things we as Christians monitor in our lives, hypocrisy should be high on our list. Not in others, but in ourselves. It just happens to be one of the topics Christ spoke out against most often. What we do, we must do for real. For even a child can see a hypocrite, and with too little knowledge to make a sound conclusion, that child may be sent into years of searching, for Who has always been near.

There is a saying in the world, "it takes a village to raise a child." But, I want to change that this morning, that it takes an honest church. When we stand in pretense, we may confuse children. Instead of walking in high and mighty ways of ritualistic behavior, maybe we should show each other that we are just as desperate for the Salvation in Christ as they sense inside. I did not force my children to go to church, instead I worked on the beam in my eye, even showing them my own vulnerabilities. I was real with them, and I trust GOD for their Salvation as much as I trust Him for mine. Out of their own they went to church. On their own they decided to participate and get more involved. And when it is time to eat they fetch my hand for prayer. Living a fake life, may set others back in their journey, and I cannot have peace within that. So have they become, not just children, but fellow brothers and sisters in the Faith of Jesus Christ.

So as we pray the Lord's prayer, try and remember; it is the Son of GOD Almighty, teaching us to speak to His Father in Heaven. All we need to say to Our Father in Heaven is contained in these few words. But, if it is not met with intent, they become words of pretend.

May the Holy Spirit of GOD Almighty go with you this day.

Shalom

Verse of The Day

(YouVersion - Expanded from verse 12)

1 Timothy 4:11-16 KJV

[11] These things command and teach. [12] Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. [13] Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. [14] Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. [15] Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. [16] Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

https://bible.com/bible/1/1ti.4.11-16.KJV

Note on this extraction

This scripture was literally spoken out over me with the laying on of the hands by the elders in church when I was still young in the faith.

The Lord knows us, He knows our hearts and where we will grow up to stand. We are called, according to His purpose. Our Names, written in the Book of Life, even before we were born. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. There is no mystery for Him. Thy Will be done my LORD, for Your pleasure and purpose alone. Amen

From Psalms

Psalm 103:1-22 KJV

[1] Bless the LORD, O my soul: And all that is within me, bless his holy name. [2] Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits: [3] Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; [4] Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; [5] Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. [6] The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment For all that are oppressed. [7] He made known his ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel. [8] The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. [9] He will not always chide: Neither will he keep his anger for ever. [10] He hath not dealt with us after our sins; Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. [11] For as the heaven is high above the earth, So great is his mercy toward them that fear him. [12] As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us. [13] Like as a father pitieth his children, So the LORD pitieth them that fear him. [14] For he knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust. [15] As for man, his days are as grass: As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. [16] For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And the place thereof shall know it no more. [17] But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, And his righteousness unto children's children; [18] To such as keep his covenant, And to those that remember his commandments to do them. [19] The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; And his kingdom ruleth over all. [20] Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, That do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. [21] Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; Ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. [22] Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: Bless the LORD, O my soul.

https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.103.1-22.KJV