SPIRITUAL SHOWINESS Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 First Presbyterian ...

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practice is more common: using long, flowing words that impresses people but forgets who
we're praying to.
In my experience, Presbyterians are not showy prayers. They have the opposite problemwe're
inhibited from praying publicly at all. We're not sure we would say the right thing.
Or that we will pray long enough.
Prayer is conversing with God, honestly and naturally. Liturgical resources and prayer
collections support this aim but should not take away from it. In prayer we are talking to
God not to people. Prayer is rooted in a desire to commune with God not in a desire to
make a public display of our spirituality.
Jesus tells us that when we pray we are to go into our room and pray to the loving God in
private. This room probably refers to the supply room which was the only room that could
be locked in the house. It was used to store feed, small animals, tools and other supplies.
But it could be locked, it could be private, and that was the supreme consideration. We
close the door not only to lock out distraction and disturbance but also to resist the
temptation to impress others.
Nowadays there are many places to be alone with God. There may be a place in your
house. Some find praying while walking to be helpful. Many Christians today find their
cars a good place to pray. But if you drive and pray keep your eyes open.
Jesus is often portrayed as praying privately (Mark 1:35, 6:46), but it should also be pointed
out that on occasion Jesus prayed aloud where others could hear him (Matthew 11:25,
14:19, 26:39, 42). The prayer we know as the Lord’s Prayer which we will look at in two
weeks is worded in the plural, as a corporate prayer rather than a private one. Gatherings
for public prayer together were a regular feature of the life of Jesus’ disciples from the very
beginning. The issue here is not whether prayer is public or private but the direction of
prayer- to God or for people (R.T. France p. 239).
The last spiritual discipline Jesus mentions is probably the least familiar to us. Few
Protestants fast for any reason during any time. Fasting, though, is a historic, ancient
discipline in the church particularly during the season of Lent. Fasting was also an
important part of the Jewish faith. They fasted on the Day of Atonement as well as other
special days. The Pharisees made a practice of fasting twice a week.
The purpose of fasting is to go without food to focus one's attention and energy on God.
Jesus assumed that his followers would fast. He said "When you fast..." not "If you fast."
There are a number of biblical reasons to fast: to help us to humble ourselves before God,
when we are repentant for what we've done, when we are seeking guidance. Jesus often