Key Verse:
6 1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Prayer
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘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 today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’
In this passage, Jesus addresses the actions and motives of individuals, emphasizing the importance of sincerity and genuine intentions in our deeds, prayers, and fasting.
Let’s break down the key points:
𝟏. 𝐇𝐲𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 (𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟔:𝟐-𝟒)
Understanding Hypocrisy
Jesus distinguishes between those who do good with insincere motives (hypocrites) and those who act out of genuine love and compassion.
Motives for Acts of Kindness
Acts of kindness should be done without seeking recognition or praise. The true reward comes from God, and it may not be material or immediate but could be spiritual or eternal.
𝟐. 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 (𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟔:𝟓-𝟔)
Private vs. Public Prayer
Jesus emphasizes the sincerity of prayer, cautioning against praying solely for public recognition. The focus should be on a genuine connection with God rather than seeking approval from others.
Heartfelt vs. Hypocritical Prayer
The distinction lies not in the setting but in the authenticity of the prayer. Whether in public or private, the motive should be a sincere communication with God.
𝟑. 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟔:𝟕-𝟖)
Quality of Prayer
Jesus discourages shallow repetition of words without genuine intent. Persistent and honest prayer is encouraged, emphasizing the engagement of heart and mind.
Sincerity in Prayer
Meaningful prayer is not about the quantity of words but the sincerity of the heart. God values honesty and authenticity in our communication with Him.
𝟒. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝’𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥 (𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟔:𝟗-𝟏𝟑)
Our Relationship with God
Addressing God as “Our Father in heaven” emphasizes a personal and loving connection with God. The repeated use of “Father” underscores the community and family aspect of Jesus’ movement.
Praying for God’s Will
The prayer includes a plea for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done. This is not passive resignation but an active commitment to align ourselves with God’s purposes on earth.
Dependence on God
Acknowledging God as the provider of daily sustenance and strength reinforces our dependence on Him.
Seeking Protection from Temptation
The prayer concludes with a request for deliverance from temptation, recognizing the universal challenge faced by all Christians.
Closing Thoughts:
Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 6 remind us of the importance of authenticity, sincerity, and genuine motives in our actions, prayers, and daily dependence on God. As you engage in acts of kindness, prayer, and fasting, let the underlying motivation be a true love for God and others, seeking His approval rather than the praise of people.

Revelation 22:13 New International Version

13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

THINKING ABOUT

It’s the New Year, and it’s a fantastic time to enter the largest claim ever written into our system. Everyone should think about it! If you use the Bible as a source of counsel, consolation, and recommendations for a better life, you should consider this verse a prerequisite. He is the beginning and the end. Where should we start? The first and last, the start and the finish. The truth about this matter will motivate us to persevere. Taking Jesus’ remarks, we shall see that this is not merely an excellent teacher, but a claim that He is God Himself. The maker of heaven and earth.

The creator of our lives, as well as the source of all wisdom and the custodian of all mysteries, abound. We cannot simply believe what our minds can sense; rather, we must realize the truth that even our limited thinking cannot fully fathom. There is no subliminal meaning. He is the beginning and the end. There is no need to fine-tune the phrase, no better mindset is required, and no perspective can ever make us believe this. The highest power is Him, straight from God’s lips to our hearts! As a result, His words constitute our highest authority.

TO DO

Consider this and ask these questions!

How frequently do you hear His word?

How do you appreciate listening to His teaching as the key to life, and how do you rely on it on a daily basis?

How important is God’s word to you that you can’t go a day without reading it?

Is God’s message like air, without which you will suffer and die?

God’s words were true long before the world was created, and they will be true forever!

Every day, embrace it!

-Lloyd

The Lord is faithful, He is God of all nation, and all generation.

For 34 years, we have witnessed how the Lord graced Gospel Lighthouse with his faithfulness and he never stops. We have been blessed with provisions even in a trying and crying times. The Lord is present then, now and always. In this year’s thanksgiving, we are in awe on how God has abundantly provided and increased us in every aspect as we look back on some of the greatest memories we’ve shared since the last thanksgiving.

In year 2021 the church faced common struggle that other community experienced; but by the glory of God he enabled the church-us- to draw closer to him, and his outpouring glory becomes so evident as the church celebrated God in different events.
In months of February, March and April, the church of the Lord is acknowledged as various event took place. It is an amazement on how He works even in restrictions and protocols,

February—we held our 33rd thanksgiving, March—we launched Women of Worth Maranding—which eventually inspires our Men of Faith to stand and gather in a coffee meeting, and then there’s an Encounter with God Retreat together with our family from the House of Multitude. The Women of Worth activity started off in a what we call the “WOW! Go Green” event on May; but then the highlight was on July when Women of Worth Teens was launched here in Maranding and the Lord made Gospel Lighthouse the proponent of the first ever WOW Teens.

October—we blessed the Lord as we celebrated Pastor’s Appreciation Month, we know that this fellowship is founded and bonded by God and also He has given us a pasture where we are nurtured and empowered to become real people of God. We are a Timothy to a 2 Paul who are both a mind with a heart and soul with God’s spirit.
In the month of November, the launching of the 4th Album of the People of Praise also took place almost simultaneously with Jesus Reigns and in December the church gathered in a Family Day at a Spring Resort at Salvador.

Celebration is what most of us gets excited to, and it becomes a double excitement when we gather together starting from the pastors, partners, leaders, workers, down to the church members. We celebrate even in tears, for even in tears his grace abounds, so give cheers and praises as a thanks-giving of God’s greater glory in year 2021 and an overflowing grace in year 2022.

– Pearl