Saturday, May 05, 2018

Jesus' Commandments-5 (SD62)

In Mat 6:1-18, our Lord Jesus teaches us how we can get His blessings and complete protection in time of wars, famines and calamities.

Charitable Deeds in Secret
Mat 6:1-4 "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven... But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
    Charitable works in secret - a sign that you are only a steward of His wealth placed under your care.

Praying in Secret
Mat 6:5-7 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words."
    Pray in secret - a sign of love for the brethren.

Fasting in Secret
Mat 6:16-18 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance... But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."
    When Christians fast, it is the willingness to crucify one's flesh. Others have become more important than us for we are prepared to suffer for their welfare. We must also fast in secret.
Isa 58:6-7 "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?"

Mercy is better than Sacrifice
Mat 6:14-15 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
    Unless we have forgiven everyone and God has forgiven us our sins* we cannot enter His Holy Secret place (for Mat 6:14-15 is right in between Mat 6:1-18).

Secret Place of the Most High
Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
   When we perform charity, prayer and fast in secret, we can enter His secret place for His protection.

Protection from Deceptions
Psalm 91:2-3 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust. Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence."

Protection in Wars & Calamities
Psalm 91:5-7, 9-10 "You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you... Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling."