Today Can Fix Tomorrow.
You don’t need to worry about tomorrow. If you take care of today than things will work out the next day.
What are some things to focus on today?
The Motive
Mat 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
“Alms” is what you give to relieve the poor. What is your motive behind doing this?
The LORD says “take heed”. In other words, use caution and great care to see that your not giving “alms” to be “seen of men”.
Are you doing the things you do today to be seen of men or because it pleases the LORD?
A pharisee won’t do anything unless he thinks he will get recognized for it.
Mat 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
If your doing good works and no one sees it, remember that the LORD sees it.
Pro 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
If he sees it, it doesn’t matter if anyone else does.
Mat 6:2 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 glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Notice the humour from the LORD. He says “do not sound a trumpet before thee”.
Some people make a big announcement and big deal out of what they give.
One time Tyler Perry showed up at TD Jakes church and said the LORD put it on his heart to give a million dollars.
He sounded a trumpet in front of thousands of people. There was his reward.
Are we doing things for the “glory of God” or so that we can have “glory of men”?
1Th 2:5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
1Th 2:6 Nor of men sought we glory,
Mat 6:2 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 glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
This parading of the flesh done by the Pharisees is completely for their own glory.
Jesus never ceases to point out their hypocrisy. They pretend to be something outwardly when they are wicked inwardly.
Mat 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Mat 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
Do it so quietly that your left hand doesn’t even know how much is in your right hand.
Keep it on the DL! Don’t go and put it on everyone’s news feed. You don’t need to announce it at church or anything like that.
Notice the “left hand” and “right hand”. It is the “right hand” that was doing the giving. The right hand is usually positive in the Bible, while the left hand is painted in a bad light.
For example…
Jesus Christ sits on the right hand of power (Matthew 26:24)
And it is those “on the left hand” that is cast into the lake of fire.
Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
The less people know about it the better. If your doing things for God, God will see it, it doesn’t matter if no one else ever sees it.
Because your doing it FOR HIM! And not for THEM!
Even if nobody knows about it now, even the “good” secrets are going to come out in the open.
Luk 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
Dan 2:22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him
Do you know how many secrets the LORD is keeping right now? One day he is going to reveal them all.
What is “the motive” behind the things that you do?
What is “the motive” when your praying in front of others?
Mat 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.
There are some men who love to be called on to pray and they put on a big show.
How do you know if your putting on a show? Does your prayer in a crowd sound 1000x more spiritual than it does when your alone?
Naturally we might talk more proper in public, but you know your praying “to be seen of men” when you start saying words and phrases you don’t say in private.
In the Pharisees mind, they don’t think the prayer counts if men don’t see it.
They think “what is the point of this good deed if nobody on earth sees it”?
That is an example of someone who is doing good works but still are “earthly minded”.
Some of the greatest looking people you know, only look good OUTWARDLY.
Inside their motive is completely for self and they are just as worldly as any drunkard.
Mat 6:6 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.
Does this mean we can only pray in private?
1Ti 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
We can’t do those two verses if we can only “pray in the closet.” But at the same time it is good to get alone with God and pray.
And time spent in prayer is setting up treasures in heaven. The more you pray with the right motive the more openly you’ll be rewarded.
Now, under the time period when Jesus said this, “reward thee openly” may have been in their present life.
Applying it to a Christian I would say they are rewarded openly for prayer at the judgment seat of CHRIST in front of all the saints.
Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Vain repetition doesn’t mean you can’t pray the same prayer over and over.
An example of vain repetition would be to take a rehearsed prayer, that maybe you didn’t even write, and read it as a tradition, without it being from the heart.
Your saying it out of tradition or habit and not from the heart. That is vain repetition.
However any prayer that is prayed from the heart with the right motive is a good prayer, no matter how many times you repeat it.
People pray the same rehearsed prayers because “they think they shall be heard for their much speaking”.
Once again it goes back to having the wrong motive when you do things.
Mat 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
The LORD tells you the people you aren’t supposed to be like. Who is that? The fake, hypocritical, religious crowd.
God knows what you need before you even pray for it. He knows what you need better than you do.
Now what your about to read is “the disicple’s prayer”. People usually refer to it as “the Lord’s Prayer”.
But it is the disciples that are being told to pray this prayer.
Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
“After this manner”. There wouldn’t be anything wrong with constructing your prayer like this prayer.
But if your just copying the prayer word for word, without it coming from the heart, you have the wrong motive, and it is “vain repetition.”
He says “our Father which art in heaven”.
Me and you have direct access to the father in heaven through prayer.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
He says “hallowed be thy name”. Hallowed means you should treat it with reverence, it is sacred.
Many times someone amps up their prayer by saying something like “oh mighty God, the omnipotent, heavenly God of creation”.
If someone means that from the heart than that is ok, but many times they add the extra “umph” to look good.
If they are saying that to make themselves look good, than really they aren’t respecting his name. It is like they are taking it “in vain”.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
This shows we are dealing with the millennial kingdom. It won’t be until then that things are done “in earth, as it is in heaven”.
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
The LORD has given you your “daily bread”. You have 24/7 access to the word of God. Read it daily.
Deu 17:18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
Deu 17:19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
This verse easily proves that this is doctrinally for a different time period altogether.
We don’t get our debts forgiven by forgiving others. We got forgiven because we believed on Jesus Christ.
Act 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
Act 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
When it comes to salvation all our sins are forgiven in the past, present, and future.
Even any unforgiveness on our part is forgiven. Whether or not we forgive others or not.
On a practical day to day basis, in regards to fellowship, our sins are forgiven when we confess them.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Mat 6:13 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.
In the millennium the people will be “delievered from evil”. Satan will be chained in the pit, the unclean spirit will be made to pass out of the land.
Men in their fleshy bodies will still have “temptations” from the flesh that they will need to be “lead out of”.
Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
In the kingdom if the people don’t forgive others, they won’t get forgiveness.
Once again, this can’t be referring to you. In the kingdom you will be walking around in a glorified body that isn’t capable of sinning.
When you got saved it wasn’t based on your forgiving other people. It was based on believing on JESUS CHRIST.
Mat 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Now he is going to talk fasting. What is your motive for fasting?
Mat 6:16 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.
The hypocrites fasted…once again “to be seen of men”.
They let the fast show all over their face so that people would say “wow, what a man of God!”
You have your reward down here when you publicize your fasting for the world to see
Mat 6:17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
Mat 6:18 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.
You don’t have to let anyone know your fasting. Wash your face, wash your hair, smile, and keep your eyes wide.
The more you do in secret the better off you’ll be at the judgment seat.
So far it has been about “The Motive”. Now it is going to be about “the Master”. Who is your master?
Do you serve God or do you serve mammon? That is your riches and wealth.
If you serve mammon than you can guarantee it will mess up your motive.
Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
You can lay up all kinds of treasures on this earth but moth, rust, and thieves can get a hold of it.
These things down here are temporal.
2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
If your main focus is on the temporal than you have the wrong “master”.
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Forgot about the rewards, treasures, riches, fame, prizes, and things down here and focus on what is UP THERE.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
If your treasure is in the world than your heart will be in the world.
1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
2Ti 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world
Mat 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
If your “eye is single” than you have one purpose. You aren’t being pulled back and forth between God & the world.
Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
“The light of the body is the eye”. The eye is like the lamp for your better. It is what allows you to see everything.
If you keep your “eye on the prize”…the ETERNAL PRIZE…pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus….than your body will be “full of light”.
That is what happens when you “walk in the light as he is in the light”.
If you put your eye on the temporal things constantly than your whole body gets full of the wrong things.
Mat 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
If you live to serve the money master than your full of darkness.
Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
For example a preacher who loves money will throw most of the Bible on shelf, and despise it, because preaching it would hurt his money flow.
He can’t serve both. He must give the Bible even if it makes everyone hate him and the money stop.
If you have the wrong master than you’ll have the WRONG MOTIVE.
If you have the right motive and the right master than also realize there is no need to take thought for THE MORROW.
If you have the right MOTIVE and the right MASTER than tomorrow will take care of itself.
Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
If your “setting your affection on things above”, your “master is in heaven”…
and your motive has to do with making a positive effect on heaven & eternity, than what worry about tomorrow?
Life is “more than meat”.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Life is more than “raiment”. That is your clothes.
1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Anyone listening to this right now has never went too long without food. If you did you wouldn’t be here.
You all have raiment or you would go to jail for indecent exposure.
God has took care of everyone reading or listening to this.
Mat 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
If the LORD takes care of the birds, will he not take care of you?
Mat 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
This is rough preaching for a little man. Why are you worried about your height, you can’t THINK inches onto your body!
Your basically “taking thought” for nothing. Quit letting pointless thoughts stay in your brain rent free.
These kind of thoughts aren’t beneficial. Get some thoughts in your mind that will make you heavenly minded!
Mat 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Spin like spinning wool. The Lillie’s of the field don’t work to buy clothes or make their own clothes.
Mat 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
With all the money Solomon had he didn’t have as good of raiment as God put on the Lillies of the field.
Mat 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
If God is going to clothe the grass that is just going to get mowed down, will be not clothe you? Why worry about “the marrow”.
Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
You spend so much time worrying about things that aren’t even going to happen.
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
“After all these things do the gentiles seek”. Your spending your time focusing on the things the lost man focuses on.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Concentrate on getting up every day HEAVENLY MINDED and God will take care of the rest.
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
If you do what you need to do today than you will be prepared for the future.
If you wake up and work today than you will have food for tomorrow.
If you raise your kids right today than they will treat you good in the future.
If you love your wife today than that lowers the risk of a divorce.
Pro 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Jas 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
