She wanted a swimming pool in her back yard. John 15:5-8 (NIV). This is a good time to talk about our motives for giving, because in the next two months, every charity that knows you’re alive will be making some kind of effort to reach out to you! It isn’t granted, it is learned. Prayer is not given to us as a way to present our demands to God! Where they are fake about it – In worship and in public Motives For Faithfulness Hebrews Series Heb. So you don’t have to constantly say, “Is it Your will?” When you go to buy a new car: “God is it Your will that I buy a brown Chevy or a gold Mercedes?…God is it Your will that I order the steak or the pork chops?” No, you don’t have to ask god’s will on every little item like that. Simple. But then how do you know if you really want God’s will for your life? If you are a person that is stingy when it comes to helping those in need, the poor, the widows, orphans. In God’s eyes, this is wrong motives – it doesn’t line up with His generous and just character, and nature. Grace Chan. Matthew 6:2–4 NIV “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. SermonSearch.com is an online resource for sermon outlines and preaching ideas. This passage gives us God s criteria for right motives. UnashamedSermons.com is a labor of love dedicated to all the pastors and Christian workers spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world! iii. Some people approach prayer like they do a soft drink machine. So the pastor kept the deacons parrot and it began to recite, “lets kiss, lets kiss.” This account about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane is no doubt included in scriptures for a number of reasons by the Holy Spirit but among those reasons I believe a predominant one is to demonstrate that even Jesus modeled the importance of our prayers being according to the will of the Father! You quarrel and fight. The core issue here is that the focus was completely wrong. Heavenly Father, I surrender all motives of my heart before you. I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life. (the word hypocrite carries the idea of an actor who plays two role, two-faced person; a pretender). All Rights Reserved. The person giving the prayer and the focus on God is completely lost. We are not to seek the approval, applause, and recognition of men. This I … You hit it, and if that doesn’t work, you write a nasty little note that says, “This machine took my money!” and you leave it on the machine. James warns believers that certain prayers will not be answered by God. Many people think that God is always going to answer their prayers the way they want them answered and in the time that they want them answered. My prayers been answered!” Two quick things to observe when looking at another reason for why God doesn’t answer prayers: 1. For a period of about 15 years, Jesse James and his gang committed 26 holdups where they made off with approximately $200,000 and killed at least 17 men (many by Jesse’s own hand). The key issue that Jesus is dealing with is “showboating” prayer. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. James 4:1-3: Ask and Have: ... it is most determinately fixed by Almighty God. Unashamed Sermons is no longer being actively maintained but is remaining online for archive purchases. The only way you can know the will of God is by reading and doing the Word of God. The word that is used here for love is not centered on God and His divine love but rather is focused on the brotherly love and acceptance of humanity. (“Some reasons for unanswered prayer” by Freddy Fritz). So it is important that our prayer is consistent with God’s character and nature in order for it to be His will. Perhaps its divine timing, then, that we come to a passage in The Sermon on the Mount in which Jesus discusses the proper motives for giving to the needy. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content. James 4:3. So the deacon asked the preacher if he could leave his parrot with the pastor to influence his parrot so that it wouldn’t say, “lets kiss…” What do you do when you go up to a soft drink machine? 2. There are many examples in Scripture of individuals who had wrong motives. Listen, if you are a person who hoards and stores anything that you get. Posted on March 25, 2007 by Darren Ethier. You cannot be hypocritical with God because He knows the truth already. – yes, not yet, and no Based on God’s Word in Ephesians 2:8-9 and Ephesians 6:6, those are wrong motives. When we pray for things – stuff – we tread close to missing the point that prayer is about or relationship with God….Jesus demonstrated the way we are to approach prayer when he was in the Garden of Eden. C. It is important that we discipline our giving. lack of faith Balak paid prophet Balaam to pronounce a curse upon Israel out of fear that Israel would invade and take over his land. In “The Power of Prayer” and “The Prayer of Power”, R.A. Torrey tells of one minister who was praying for revival so he would not lose his church. i. It is a warning to not pray with a wrong motive as demonstrated by the “hypocrites” in Jesus’ example. Find out how. Scripture: I Corinthians 13:1-3This content is part of a series. If your prayer is motivated out of dishonest or dishonorable desires, God will not honor such prayers. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. The pastor’s parrot immediately began to say, “Praise the Lord! The good news is that, if we act with good motives, we will receive a reward. But we must important this simple truth. In just a short while, he will be arrested, tried, and executed. God sees through every mask you wear and every role you play. Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Author Ed Dobson wrote a book titled The Year of Living Like Jesus, in which he tells the story in diary form of how he tried to live as Jesus lived and as Jesus taught for a year.On day thirteen of month one, he records this story: My wife and I drove to Key West. God said, No. But done for the wrong reasons and motives they were ungodly acts that resulted in God's rejection. The truth is, that if we pray something that is not of God’s will – it won’t be answered. I asked God to give me happiness. It’s been said that worship is meant to have an audience of one – meaning that God is really the only one that matters when we worship. If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. On the surface that seems like a license to the very thing James warns against. Jesus is giving a clear warning about prayer here to the disciples and it begins with do not. God is incredibly generous and delights in showering blessings upon His people. Do you know that the term is for something or someone who isn’t genuine? It’s because the heart has its motives: right or wrong. The Value Of Your Altars. I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me. Matthew records three times Jesus going to pray this prayer…, He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” So in this passage then, how are the people being “fake”? © 2020 SermonSearch. UnashamedSermons.com is a labor of love dedicated to all the pastors and Christian workers spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world! January 12, 2020. 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV), In this series of messages I’ve had a chance to share with you some of the discoveries I’ve made in scripture in answering the question, “Why God doesn’t answer prayer?” I’ve learned (and hopefully you have as well) that there are predominately three main reasons for unanswered prayer: (briefly expand on each point verbally as the Spirit leads), ? God said, No. Done for the right reason and right motives, they were godly acts. We show up at church to fulfill our role, whatever it may be. Absolutely not! Is Jesus saying that public prayer is wrong? (quoted in “Are your Prayers Answered?” by Ted Sutherland), Recap previous messages in the series: Why? Man Gives to Beggar for Wrong Reason. These are great practices, which most religions do, but we could practice them with wrong motives.-Giving to those in need (v.2-4) –giving is not meant to be showy. The trouble with wrong motives is they can end up hardening and become principles! An example of such motives is found in the scripture that was read at the beginning of the service this morning – I want to refresh our memory by reading once again verse 5 and 6: 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. In this account from John’s gospel, Lloyd-Jones demonstrates how the Greeks come with the wrong approach and challenges you to take the right approach in coming to Christ. Suffering teaches you to lean on me instead of yourself. How many people come to church wearing “masks”? Powered by churchthemes.com.churchthemes.com. We pretend our lives are OK all of the time. We put up masks to hide our true feelings and emotions. The goal of prayer ought to be to enter into a deeper awareness of the presence of God. Let me state it very clearly and simply: motives matter to God. How do you know if you are like this? According to the Bible, the purity of our message trumps every other consideration—even one as vital as our motives. Now before I go further I need to clarify something. If you won’t do what I want, I won’t believe in you.” One individual I’ve counseled was convinced God was out to get him because it seemed like not only was God not answering his prayers but things were getting worse! He will never pay attention to prayer requests that are expressed to Him out of anger, hatred, jealousy & envy. Any prayer request motivated by lust, sensuality, or sinful passion is against the character and nature of God. Jesus shows us the importance of motivations through three examples: giving (6:2-4), prayer (6:5-15), and fasting (6:16-18). They come for wrong reasons and with wrong motives and when Jesus does not pluck them from the floodwaters of their broken life, they find nothing in Him and leave. Then she put feet to her prayer by calling the swimming pool company and ordering a pool. But it really cleverly summarizes what I’ve already stated. Matthew 6:5-6 (NIV). Prayer is not about swimming pools or new cars or houses or clothes or CD players or stuff. The real issue is not “God, what is Your will regarding this specific circumstance?” The real issue is “Am I in God’s will as a person?” If my life is in harmony with God, then my desires are going to be in harmony with God!” I love this quote attributed to Saint Augustine. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. They have the ability to define you and to set you apart and pull you into spiritual greatness if you will just allow them to do so. We pretend things aren’t hard at times. By praying not chiefly so that God may be glorified and people saved, but that his church might begin to grow and other pastors might look up to him as an effective evangelist. We may get ridiculed by our peers, but at the end of our stay on earth we can expect a reward from God. The love that Jesus speaks about is not motivated by God but by human selfishness. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. They think God is not a “good” or loving God. It would be as fake as a three dollar bill. The title today is “Right things, wrong motives” because this is exactly Jesus’ point. ... Get 30 FREE sermons. Most Christians make a big mistake in prayer. This is especially true in the giving of our money. And God’s word tells you God’s will. Do you remember what Jesus prayed? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You do not have, because you do not ask. Learn how your comment data is processed. Diagnostic Time Sermons preached by Darren Ethier. God said, No. All of us are a little hypocritical at times. In 3 John 9, 10 we read, I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to … wrong motives. Warning against Pride … 2 You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. The same thing is true when we pray. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. In other words, the hypocrites made it a practice to pray in public places to show others that they were praying. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up. We take on a role, play the part. How eager are you to spend time in His presence in prayer, and worship? All The Right Moves – All The Wrong Motives (1 of 4) Series: All You Need Is Love Jeff Strite I Corinthians 13:1-3 OPEN: Jesse James was one of the most famous men of the West. We don t worship them as God, of course, and we certainly don t do what they say if they tell us to disobey God. You do not have, because you do not ask God. Why they are fake about it – to be seen by men. I want to conclude with a poem that helps put everything back into perspective. He told of another minister who was praying to be baptized with the Holy Spirit because he thought he would be paid more if he was. How wrong I was. We put up masks to hide our brokenness. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. This would be like __________ going over to the grocery store and just shouting out a bunch of prayers in the bakery department to be seen by other people. I just don't have time to give to it like I had in the past. Do you only care about pleasing people? We pretend and we become less and less genuine. – broken relationships (with God, with each other). Her husband was in the anti-swimming pool camp. What they are fake about – The love of prayer You get your life in God’s will and say, “To the best of my knowledge, I’m trying to do what’s right, Lord. Regardless of how eloquent the words that are used or how passionate the pleas may be, God has promised not to give what has been requested from Him. It is not to get the attention of others but to enter the presence of God Almighty. I asked God to spare me pain. There is no hiding yourself from God. Location Events Give Stay Connected Home Sunday Service Upcoming Events ... Wrong Motives. A hypocrite is a person who pretends to be something they are not. For, if you really love God with all Your heart, you’re not going to want to do what displeases God and indeed the desires of your heart will line up with the desires of His heart! January 12, 2020. God said…Ahhh, finally you have the idea Undisciplined giving too is a sign of giving out of wrong attitude and motives. This word was used to describe an actor who wore a mask and played a specific role. You see, the only thing that bothered Paul more than wrong motives (Philippians 1) was the wrong gospel (Galatians 1). The Pastor had a parrot that said, “lets pray, lets pray.” And when God doesn’t perform the way they think God ought to perform, they feel cheated. Prayer is not like presenting our Christmas wish list to Santa Claus. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. The pursuit of power, prestige, pleasure, position, and praise are all improper motives! I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things. I shared this verse last week but it is worthwhile to refresh your memory here, 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. January 12, 2020. You quarrel and fight. God is a very loving and merciful God. (“Answered Prayers” by Roger Thompson). A Wrong Motive For Prayer. You get in God’s will! A deacon had a parrot that said, “lets kiss, lets kiss.” WRONG REASONS FOR FOLLOWING A CHURCH OR FOLLOWING JESUS (1) FOLLOWING GOD FOR MATERIAL THINGS – (Luke 12:15 – And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”) Illustrations used in this sermon: Giving in secret, Sacrificial giving, Image by: SXC.HU If this sermon was helpful to you, please consider leaving your feedback in the comments section at the bottom. The purpose was to make themselves look good, pious and spiritual. See for example the story of Balaam and King Balak in Numbers 22-24. 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