STAY CLOSE TO THE FIRE | RED HOT | MATTHEW 6:5-18 | PASTOR EDWIN JONES
This video is hosted by YouTube. Playing it loads content from YouTube, which may set cookies.
Series: Red Hot Scripture: Matthew 6:5-18 Preacher: Pastor Edwin Jones
There's a difference between knowing about fire and standing close to it. You can read about heat, talk about heat, even believe in heat — but until you get close to the source, you won't feel it.
That's the picture behind this week's message at The Bridge Church in Hampton, VA. As we enter our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, Pastor Edwin Jones opened the Red Hot series with a message called "Stay Close to the Fire" — a word from Matthew 6:5-18 on what Jesus actually taught His disciples about prayer and fasting, and why it still matters for us today.
Jesus Had a Lot to Say About How We Pray
In Matthew 6, Jesus doesn't just encourage His followers to pray — He corrects the way they do it. He says don't pray like the hypocrites, who love to be seen praying in public. Don't use vain repetitions, piling up empty words and hoping volume or length will impress God. Instead, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. The One who sees in secret will reward you openly.
This is a striking teaching. Jesus isn't against public prayer — He prayed publicly throughout the Gospels. What He's against is performance. Prayer that's designed to be noticed by people rather than heard by God has already received its reward: human applause. And human applause is a poor substitute for the presence of God.
The fire of God isn't found in the performance. It's found in the secret place.
The Lord's Prayer Is a Blueprint, Not a Script
Jesus follows His correction with what we know as the Lord's Prayer — "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…" It's one of the most quoted passages in all of Scripture. And for that reason, it's also one of the most misunderstood.
This prayer wasn't meant to be recited and forgotten. It was meant to be a model — a blueprint for how to approach God. It moves through adoration, surrender, dependence, confession, and protection. It covers every dimension of the human experience before God.
When Pastor Edwin preached through this passage, the challenge was clear: how many of us have prayed the words without praying the prayer? How many of us have gone through the motions of a devotional life without ever actually drawing near to God?
Staying close to the fire means letting these words do what they were designed to do — not rushing through them to check a box, but letting them slow you down and bring you into the presence of the One who is actually listening.
Fasting Is About Focus, Not Suffering
The second half of the passage moves to fasting. Jesus assumes His followers will fast — He says "when you fast," not "if you fast." And once again, He addresses the motive. Don't fast to be seen. Don't walk around looking miserable so that everyone knows you're sacrificing. Instead, wash your face, go about your day normally, and let your fasting be between you and God.
Fasting, in Jesus' teaching, is not primarily about denying yourself food. It's about redirecting your appetite — from the things of this world toward the things of God. Every time hunger arises during a fast, it becomes a prompt to pray. The physical discomfort becomes a spiritual signal.
And the reward? Not recognition. Intimacy. A closer position to the fire.
Why This Message Matters Right Now
At The Bridge Church, we are in the middle of 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting running August 2 through August 22. This message wasn't scheduled by accident. Pastor Edwin's word from Matthew 6 sets the foundation for everything these three weeks are meant to accomplish.
We're not fasting to perform. We're not praying to be noticed. We are positioning ourselves — as a church, together — as close to the fire of God as we can get. And we're trusting that the God who sees in secret will move in ways that are anything but secret.
If you're fasting and praying with us, this message will fuel you. If you haven't joined in yet, it's not too late. Download the daily prayer focus at thebridgechurchva.com/21days and join thousands of believers across Hampton Roads who are seeking God together this month.
New to The Bridge? We'd love to have you join us in person. We meet every Sunday at 8:15, 10:00, and 11:45 AM at 35 Tide Mill Lane, Hampton, VA 23666. Plan your visit here.