Message by Dr. David Drake

rec1218-112950

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A study through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

What Happens When A Christian Gives?

Matthew 7:9-12

Matthew 7:9-12 (NASB)
⁹  “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
¹⁰  “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?
¹¹  “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
¹²  “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus Christ, on this subject,  is speaking

more of our “ATTITUDE” in our giving

than He is the “AMOUNT” of our gift.

I. A Hypothetical Response When Confronted With Giving

Matthew 7:9-10 (NASB) 9  “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10  “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?

1. The Giver

Irresponsible Provider

Lesson: Learn to be serious about our position (who we are).

2. The Gift

Useless Provision

Lesson: Pay attention to what we provide for people.

3. The Receiver

Represents a person who has a real need

Lesson: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal someone who has a real need.

II. An Authentic Response When Confronted With Giving

Matthew 7:11-12 (NASB) 11  “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! 12  “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

1. He authenticates “WHO” we are

God is not God because He is good.

God is good because He is God.

2. He authenticates “HOW” to give

Give like God gives…sacrificially.

3. He authenticates “WHY” we give

Motivation: LOVE

Lessons To Be Learned About Giving

1. Give when you know your gift will meet a need.

2. Give with a heavenly mind-set.

3. Give with a proper motive, manner, and means.

Message by Dr. David Drake

rec1211-112610

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A study through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

What Happens When A Christian Prays?

Matthew 7:7-8

Matthew 7:7-8 (NASB)
⁷  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
⁸  “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Hebrews 4:16 (NASB)
¹⁶  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Philippians 4:19 (NASB)
¹⁹  And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

I. A BELIEVER’S RESPONSIBILITY … vs. 7

⁷  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

1. Ask … (Lit. Keep on Asking …)

Jeremiah 33:3 (NASB)
³  ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ 

Asking expects an answer.

2. Seek … (Lit. Keep on Seeking …)

Seeking is asking plus acting.

Seeking implies an earnest desire to find.

3. Knock … (Lit. Keep on Knocking ..) 

Luke 11:5-8 (NASB)
⁵  Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves;
⁶  for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;
⁷  and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.‘
⁸  “I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

Knocking is asking plus acting plus persevering.

Knocking gives us the privilege to persist until the door is opened.

II. A DIVINE RESPONSE … vs. 8

⁸  “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

1. A Divine response is Personal

2. A Divine response is Exclusive

3. A Divine response can be Expected

Message by Dr. David Drake

rec1204-112849

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A study through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

What Happens When A Christian Judges?

Matthew 7:1-5

Matthew 7:1-5 (NASB)
¹  “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
²  “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
³  “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
⁴  “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?
⁵  “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

I. The Problem Christians Have … vs. 1-4

1. Judging always breaks God’s divine commandment … vs. 1

Matthew 7:1 (NASB)
¹  “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.

Luke 6:37 (NASB)
³⁷  “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.

Luke 6:27 (NASB)
²⁷  “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

– “Condemn” – to pronounce guilty

– The Bible says we are not to judge …

* The appearances of others … John 7:24

John 7:24 (NASB) “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.“

* The motives of others … Romans 2:1

 Romans 2:1 (NASB) Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.

2. Judging always brings judgment upon ourselves … vs. 2

Matthew 7:2 (NASB)
²  “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

– Every act of judging condemns us

Romans 14:10-13 (NASB)
¹⁰  But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
¹¹  For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.”
¹²  So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
¹³  Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this””not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.

– We will reap what we sow

Galatians 6:6-7 (NASB)
⁶  The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.
⁷  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

3. Judging always becomes a tool of condemnation … vs. 3-4

Matthew 7:3-4 (NASB)
³  “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
⁴  “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?

– We “SEE” the weaknesses of others beyond our own … vs. 3

Matthew 7:3 (NASB)
³  “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

– We “SPEAK” to the weaknesses of others beyond our own … vs. 4a

Matthew 7:4a (NASB)
⁴  “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’

James 2:1-4 (NASB)
¹  My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.
²  For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes,
³  and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,”
⁴  have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?

II. The Solution Christians Need … vs. 5

Matthew 7:5 (NASB)
⁵  “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

1. Recognize … who you are  … ( “You hypocrite …” )

Question – What Do I Do?   CONFESS

2. Deal … with personal areas in your life … ( “first take out the log in your own eye …” )

Question – What Do I Do?   COMMIT

3. Help … others through their areas of need … ( “then take the speck …” )

Question … What Do I Do?   CARE

(Video)

Recently a young couple had moved into a rural neighborhood.

Living next door to this new couple was Bill and Mary.

One morning while eating breakfast, Mary looked out the window

 and watched her new young neighbor hanging out her wash.

“That laundry isn’t very clean!” Mary told Bill.

“Our young neighbor doesn’t know how to get her clothes clean!”

Bill read the paper and didn’t say a word.

Every time her new neighbor hung her laundry to dry,

Mary would make the same comments.

Bill continued to say nothing.

A few weeks later…

Mary was surprised to look out her window and see a nice,

fresh and clean row of wash hung out to dry.

In surprise she said to her husband,

“Look Bill she finally knows how to clean her laundry!”

“I wonder what she learned?” Mary asked.

Bill replied, “Honey, I might have an answer for you.”

“Really?’ Mary said.

“Yes I do,” Bill said,

“I got up early this morning and washed our windows!”

“I guess we finally learned how to wash the windows!”

What window are you looking out of?

We would be wise to focus on our own laundry

before we worry about someone else’s.

 Message by Dr. David Drake

rec1127-112806

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A study through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

How To Keep Your Eyes Off Of Tomorrow

Matthew 6:24-34

Matthew 6:24-34 (NASB)
²⁴  “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
²⁵  “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
²⁶  “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
²⁷  “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
²⁸  “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,
²⁹  yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
³⁰  “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
³¹  “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’
³²  “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
³³  “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
³⁴  “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 There are 773,692 words in the Bible (King James Version)

and not one of them is the word … WORRY!

Worry (defined): “to cause to feel troubled or uneasy; to make anxious;

to distress; something that causes mental distress.”

Three (3) haunting truths about worry …

1. Worry has the capacity, power, and even the ability to

redirect our focus (maybe even our faith) away from Jesus Christ

2. Worry puts words and actions in our life that express –

“GOD, YOU ARE UNABLE TO SEE ME THROUGH THIS!”

3. Worry can, and often will paralyze us, emotionally,

mentally, and spiritually

* Commit Yourself … vs. 24

²⁴  “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

* Devote Yourself … vs. 25

²⁵  “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

* Remind Yourself … vs. 26

²⁶  “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

* Re-Remind Yourself … vs. 27-32

²⁷  “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
²⁸  “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,
²⁹  yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
³⁰  “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
³¹  “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’
³²  “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

* Teach Yourself … vs. 33

³³  “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

* Prepare Yourself … vs. 34

³⁴  “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Message by Dr. David Drake

rec1120-112912

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A study through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

A Heart Full Of Treasure

Matthew 6:19-21

Matthew 6:19-21 (NASB)
¹⁹  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰  “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
²¹  for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus Speaks of Two Kinds of

“Treasures” –  

Earthly & Heavenly

I. We Are Warned Concerning The Wrong Location

(for our treasures)

v19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

1. A wrong location is “Personal” treasures … “for yourself”  

Luke 12:15-34

Luke 12:15-34 (NASB)
¹⁵  Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”
¹⁶  And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.
¹⁷  “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’
¹⁸  “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
¹⁹  ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”‘
²⁰  “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’
²¹  “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
²²  And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.
²³  “For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
²⁴  “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!
²⁵  “And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span?
²⁶  “If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?
²⁷  “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
²⁸  “But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!
²⁹  “And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying.
³⁰  “For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.
³¹  “But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
³²  “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.
³³  “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.
³⁴  “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

2. A wrong location is “Terrestrial” surroundings … “on earth”  

James 5:1-3

James 5:1-3 (NASB)
¹  Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.
²  Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.
³  Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!

II. We Are Encouraged Concerning The Right Location

(for our treasures)

vs. 20-21 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

1. The right location is “Spiritual” treasures … “For Yourself” 

1 Timothy 6:17-19, James 2:5

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NASB)
¹⁷  Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
¹⁸  Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
¹⁹  storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

James 2:5 (NASB)
⁵  Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

2. The right location is “Eternal” treasures…“In Heaven”

Matthew 6:20-21 (NASB)
²⁰  “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
²¹  for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

*Our “treasures” determine the ATTITUDE of our heart

Joshua 7:1-26

* Our “heart” determines the DIRECTION of our treasures   

Matthew 6:33 (NASB)

33  “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Message by Dr. David Drake

rec1030-113125

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A study through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

Our Righteous Act Of Fasting

Matthew 6:16-18

Matthew 6:16-18 (NASB)
¹⁶  “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
¹⁷  “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face
¹⁸  so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Definition of Fasting: I abstain in order to obtain.

1. Fasting By Way Of Display

16  “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

The “Use” Of Fasting

When we fast, first we create a spirit of humility, repentance, & dependency on God.

Daniel 9:3-5 (NASB)
³  So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.
⁴  I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments,
⁵  we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances.

As we fast, we focus on connecting with God.

Nehemiah 1:4-5 (NASB)
⁴  When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
⁵  I said, “I beseech You, O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments,

As we fast, we pursue God and His purposes.

Acts 13:2-3 (NASB)
²  While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
³  Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

The “Abuse” Of Fasting

We abuse the act of fasting by desiring to get things from God.

We abuse the act of fasting by developing a spirit of self-righteousness.

Luke 18:10-12 (NASB)
¹⁰  “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
¹¹  “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
¹²  ‘I fast twice a week;

Proverbs 27:19 (NASB)
¹⁹  As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man.

2. Fasting By Way Of Devotion

17  “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face 18  so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Devoted fasting does not reveal our outward appearance to men but our inward worship of God.

Devoted fasting does not receive the praise of man but the reward of God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB)
⁵  Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Message by Dr. David Drake

(audio unavailable)

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A study through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

The Righteous Act Of Praying – Part 2

Matthew 6:9-15

Matthew 6:9-15 (NASB)
⁹  “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
¹⁰  ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹  ‘Give us this day our daily bread.
¹²  ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³  ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]
¹⁴  “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
¹⁵  “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Prayer Quotes …

Prayer does not fit us for the greater works, prayer is the greater work. – Oswald Chambers

The secret of prayer, pray in secret.

Kneeling in prayer keeps you in good standing.

Prevailing prayer brings perpetual power.

Prayer is the first thing, the second thing, and the third thing necessary for the Christian worker.

 Pray then my brother, pray, pray, pray!

1. JESUS INSTRUCTS US TO PRAY UPWARD

9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

The pre-eminent priority of our prayer / prayer’s direction

The “WHO” in our prayer life

The “WHAT” of our prayer life

2. JESUS INSTRUCTS US TO PRAY OUTWARD

11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread. 12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]

The personal petition of our prayer / prayer’s dependency

Pray for God’s provision – vs. 11

Pray for God’s pardon … vs. 12

Pray for God’s protection … vs. 13

Message by Dr. David Drake

rec1016-112136

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A study through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

The Righteous Act Of Praying

Matthew 6:5-8

Matthew 6:5-8 (NASB)
⁵  “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
⁶  “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
⁷  “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
⁸  “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

1. The People Of Prayer

5a  “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men.

6a  “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret,

Prayer is the believer’s PREPARATION

Prayer is the believer’s PARTICIPATION

Genesis 24:12-14 (NASB)
¹²  He said, “O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham.
¹³  “Behold, I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water;
¹⁴  now may it be that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar so that I may drink,’ and who answers, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels also’””may she be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness to my master.”

Prayer is the believer’s PRIVILEGE

Matthew 6:9 (NASB)
⁹  “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

2. A Place For Prayer

The OUTSIDE Place of Prayer (Prideful)

“for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men.”

The INSIDE Place of Prayer (Private, Personal)

“go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret,”

Prayer is a matter of the heart.

Matthew 15:7-8 (NASB)
⁷  “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:
⁸  ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.

3. A Purpose In Prayer 

PRESENCE

HOLINESS

NEED

Matthew 6:8 (NASB)
⁸  “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

You can build your life on 5 words:

The Lord is my Shepherd.