Note: What follows is the teaching outline for my first session of teaching at Calvary Chapel Vero Beach’s Compelled Youth Workers Conference.

Prayer: “And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.” (1 Chronicles 4:10 NKJV)

Theme: If you want to have a lifetime of public fruitfulness, you must have a lifetime of private devotion, especially in the form of generosity, prayer, and self-denial.

• If you practice this inward devotion, God will wear you out.
• Temptation/Attack: 1 John 2:15-16 — 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Jesus’ Theme Verse/Statement (Matthew 6:1)

1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

• 1 In order to be seen by them:

  • Contrast — Matthew 5:16 (ESV) — 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
    • Motive of the heart.
      • Note: this is not a battle between pleasing others vs. pleasing God. This is a battle between pleasing self vs. pleasing God.

• 1 Then you will have no reward from your Father:

  • Rewards are important to Jesus (and often uncomfortable to us).
    • Future — 1 Corinthians 3:14 — survives, reward
    • Present — Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) — 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
      • These rewards are grace, for it is God we are merely responding to God’s goodness, by His power, and then He rewards us.
      • Grace reward:
        • a response to His reward.
        • enabled by a new nature He’s given.
        • empowered by Him.
        • led to a good life — by His design.
        • unleashes more of His reward (goodness).
      • Today — I will try to highlight those rewards.

Secret Generosity (Matthew 6:2-4)

2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

• 2 The hypocrites wanted the praise of others, so they announced their generosity to the needy.

  • They have received their reward.

• 3 But when you: But life with our Father gives us the opportunity for secret giving.

• 4 Your Father who sees in secret will reward you:

  • Eternally.
  • Presently.
    • Provision: Philippians 4:19 (ESV) — 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
    • More: 2 Corinthians 9:6 (ESV) — 6 …whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:10 (ESV) — 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
    • Victory: over the power of money / over the power of possessions / over the power of comfort / over the false-security money can provide / Deeper compassion for people

Generosity combats the lust of the eyes — the desire to have.

• In ministry we will battle the temptation to have.
  • Finances: security, fun money, ease
  • Possessions: housing, clothing, technology
  • Experiences: vacations, fun, outings

Secret Prayer (Matthew 6:5-6)

5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

• 5 The hypocrites wanted to be seen by others, so they prayed that way.
  • They have received their reward.
• 6 But when you pray: But life with our Father gives us the opportunity for secret prayer.
• 6 And your Father who sees in secret will reward you:
  • Help / Encouragement / Invisible God works in visible ways / Trust / Worry / Results / Heart Change / Vitality / Heavenly Focus / Grace / Mercy / Perspective / Counsel / Friendship / Dependance on God (and independence from others) / Passion

Prayer combats the pride of life — the desire to be.

• In ministry we will battle the temptation to be.
• For the temptation to be we need humility.
  • How to cultivate this:
    • Prayer
    • Failure.
    • Criticism.
    • Honesty.
    • Contentment.

Secret Self-Denial (Matthew 6:16-18)

16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

• 16 The hypocrites wanted to be seen by others when fasting, when denying themselves, so they disfigured their faces.
• 17 But when you fast: But life with our Father gives us the opportunity for secret self-denial.
  • Fasting defined (see https://www.nateholdridge.com/blog/fasting-for-beginners):
    • Modern: dulled definition — dietary, spiritual, cleansing.
    • Biblical: abstinence from an appetite for the purpose of seeking God, often in response to a spiritual emergency.
    • Fasting is a spiritual discipline.
      • 1 Prayer
      • 2 Study
      • 3 Worship in song
      • 4 Fellowship with believers
      • 5 Fasting
      • 6 Secrecy in good deeds
      • 7 Generosity
      • 8 Solitude
      • 9 Silence
      • 10 Confession

Spiritual disciplines combat the lust of the flesh — the desire to feel.

• In ministry we will battle the temptation to feel.
  • Substances — marijuana, alcohol, food.
  • Sexual experiences — digital, emotional, actual.
  • Consumption — television, social media, video games.
• Proverbs 4:23 (ESV) — Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
  • Wayne
• Integrity is not perfection, but wholeness.
  • Integer, a whole number.
  • Lack of segmentation.

Close

Theme: If you want to have a lifetime of public fruitfulness, you must have a lifetime of private devotion, especially in the form of generosity, prayer, and self-denial.