Pastor Nate Brosher
Mar 1, 2026
Matthew 6:1-4 NLT - 1 "Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don't do as the hypocrites do--blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
1. Practicing Righteousness for God or Applause?
Clout Chaser - someone who acts in a desperate, often disingenuous manner to gain social media followers, attention, or popularity.
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.
Jesus is condemning our motive, not our obedience
Wrong Motive of Giving
Right Motive of Giving
Matthew 6:5-8 NLT - 5 "When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. 7 "When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
2. Learn How to Pray!
Jesus said, 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Pray Privately
Psalm 91:1-2 NKJV - 1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."
Pray Relationally
Mark 14:36 NLT - 36 "Abba, Father," he cried out, "everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine."
Pray Simply
Job 1:21-22 NLT - 21 He said, "I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!" 22 In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.
Prayer is not about performance or persuasion; It’s communion with your heavenly Father!
Matthew 6:9-13 ESV - 9 Pray then like this: "Our Father 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 lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
“Our Father in Heaven”
“Hallowed by your name”
“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done”
Prayer is Alignment, not Manipulation!
Key aspects of alignment:
Surrender
Trust
Motives