2006-01-08 Communion Dedication – Baldwin Christian Church

Matthew 6:16-18

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.  But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 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.

Humility:  Jesus emphasizes humility over and over again in this Sermon on the Mount.  One of the ways that we approach our heavenly Father is through prayer and fasting, but without humility, it’s a waste of time.

Galatians 6:7-8  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Why do I have such a hard time keeping the good things a secret, just between the Father and me?  I can read these Scriptures a hundred times, but every time I think I’ve done a good deed, I trip all over my tongue trying to tell everybody else all about it.  I lack humility.

Romans 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

We need to always examine our motives: “What’s really behind my almsgiving and good deeds?  What is it that motivates me to pray?  Why am I really fasting?”  If even my slightest desire to be seen by other men creeps in, these holy things become tainted/defiled.  The good secrets I could have kept with God alone are spoiled by fleshly motivations.

The ‘law of faith’ says that my salvation is by God’s grace, not by my works (Eph 2:8-10), so if I’m looking around to see who’s watching me place my offering in the plate, what does that say about my faith?  When I’m saying a prayer before the congregation, and you catch me peeking up to see who’s listening to my great flowery words, what does that say about my faith?  (For that matter, what would it say about both our faiths if we catch each other peeking during prayer?)

The ‘law of faith’ says that if I fast to be seen of men, then I have more faith in my works than I have in God’s grace.  It’s as if I’m telling the Father that He’s not enough for me; that I need the approval and admiration of men, too.  If I’m motivated even slightly by the enjoyment I get from being seen doing holy things such as almsgiving, prayer, fasting, and communion, then in effect I’m sowing after the flesh and boasting by the law of works.  You all know me well enough to laugh me right out of here if I ever start bragging about my works, my deeds, or my ability to keep the law.  I won’t be able to stand by my works on the great and the terrible day of the LORD (Joel 2:31-32).  Every ‘good thing’ I’ve sown in the flesh will either corrode or be eaten by bugs.  Only the work of Jesus can save me, so why do I still lack humility?

How about you?  Is that ‘still small voice’ of God enough for you (1 Kings 19:12), or do you need to hear the praises of men?  Is the promise of heavenly treasure enough for you, or are you still pursuing the treasures of this earth?  How much time to you spend bragging about yourself compared to how much you brag about Jesus?

In John chapter 4, we see Jesus by Jacob’s well, speaking with a Samaritan woman alone.  Through His words she became convinced that He was the promised Messiah, and in turn, she led many people to Jesus that day.  Jesus had done a good thing, but even He did it in humility.  When His disciples returned, they offered Him food, and asked Him why He was talking to that woman, but He said (John 4:32-34), “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.”  Jesus’ food, His motivation was to do the will of His Father, to help bring people into the Kingdom; the praises of men did not motivate Him at all.

As we feast together, let’s be careful, and let’s not forget the example given to us by the man at the head of the table.  Let’s remember how humbly He was born, how humbly He walked this earth, and how humbly He offered Himself to free our souls from sin.  He is our Example of how to deny our flesh and sow to the Spirit.  He is our Hope to life everlasting.

Psalms 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Proverbs 27:2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.