1. Forgiveness is birthed from COMMUNION with God.
2. Forgiveness is fostered by HUMILITY before God.
3. Forgiveness is practiced in OBEDIENCE to God.

"This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." -Matthew 6:9-15 NIV

"The goal of prayer is to become a friend of God."

"We don't fast to impress God, but to be impressed by God."

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." -Matthew 6:5-8 ESV

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." -Matthew 6:16-18 ESV

Callout #1: Giving with the right heart is a narrow road

Callout #2: The ditch of pride = "I'm the hero. People need me "

Callout #3: The ditch of guilt and shame = "If I don't give, I'll feel bad."

Callout #4: Jesus IS the reward

Callout #5: The Litmus test for your giving posture = What drives you? Who's the hero? What do you see?

Callout #6: When we fix our eyes on Jesus -That's what we get.

“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. 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. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 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. 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." -Matthew 6:1-6 NIV

“Personal insult will be the saint’s occasion for revealing the incredible sweetness of the Lord Jesus.” -Oswald Chambers

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." -Matthew 5:38-42

Reflection Questions:

1. What is the most loving response in this situation?

2. Have you fully surrendered to receiving the love of a perfect heavenly Father? Do you need receive a fresh outpouring of God’s love today?

3. What is it you need to surrender that is hindering you from walking in the freedom and power of love for God, yourself and others – especially your enemies?

4. How is the Spirit of God in you prompting a creative, loving response to your enemy?

Jesus’ teaching elevates the sanctity of love, sex and marriage for men and women alike.

Matthew 5:27-32

Lust is a heart problem that requires heart solutions, which can only be found through our continual surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

“As long as lust is present, love cannot be. Lust is about consumption. Love is about communion. Lust is about taking. Love is about giving. Lust uses. Love honors. Lust diminishes the other. Love cherishes the other.” - Rich Villodas, The Narrow Path

“...God invented the first divorce recovery program. It's at a place called Calvary. The price for the course is one bloodstained cross–and Jesus paid it. He was the first to go through the program, and it's still in session...” John Ortberg, Insurmountable

“Haven’t you read that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” -Matthew 19:4-6

Jesus’ vision for love, sex and marriage is a narrow road, but it is holy, beautiful, and better than anything this world has to offer.

For Pharisees, the fulfillment of the law was about following the rules. For Jesus, the fulfillment of the law was about following him.

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift." -Matthew 5:23-24

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." -Matthew 5:13-16 NIV

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." -Matthew 5:3-12