Sunday, June 13, 2021

3 things JESUS tells us to do in SECRET

 


1 Corinthians 10:31

King James Version

31 Whether therefore ye eat, 

or drink, 

or whatsoever ye do, 

do all to the glory of God.


How to identify the true born again?

They do things quietly.

Anonymously.

They don't wish to be given plaques, honor, rewards.

Much less publicity, or money.

We follow the example given by JESUS.

His life, and ministry, showed us all.

We only act, when "endued with power from on high".

That way, we know we are doing God's will.

And that we are aligned with His SPIRIT.

JESUS said these must be done in "secret":

1. GIVE secretly.

Matthew 6:1-4

King James Version

6 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.

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.

3 But when thou doest alms, 

let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4 That thine alms may be in secret: 

and thy Father which seeth in secret 

himself shall reward thee openly.


2. PRAY secretly.

Matthew 6:5-6

King James Version

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.

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.


3. FAST secretly.

Matthew 6:16-18

King James Version

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.

17 But thou, when thou fastest, 

anoint thine head, 

and wash thy face;

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.


True believers do things for God, because we love Him.

We don't focus on a reward.

We know we are saved by faith alone.

And never by "works".

Ephesians 2:8-9

King James Version

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; 

and that not of yourselves: 

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, 

lest any man should boast.


Related post:

Paradoxes


Updated 19 February 2023


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