Authenticity

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What Jesus Had to Say About…
Authenticity
Pastor Duane Cross
October 21, 2007

(1)"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, 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 men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
(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 men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
(16)"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
Matthew 6:1, 6:2, 6:5, 6:16


Authenticity = Consistency inside w/outside

I. Audience test
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ … to be seen by them.” Matthew 6:1

II. Secrecy test
“When the Lord comes, He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts.”
I Corinthians 4:5

HOW CAN WE GROW IN AUTHENTICITY?
“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed and purified.” Hebrews 10:22

(3)”When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.”
(4)”Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.”
(5)”Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.”
Psalms 32:3-5 (NLT)
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