Introduction

Good morning, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. What a blessing it is to gather together in the house of the Lord on this beautiful day, united in our shared love for our Savior, Jesus Christ. As we come together today, we find ourselves on the cusp of a spiritual adventure, a voyage of discovery that promises to deepen our relationship with God and strengthen our faith.

Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the words of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 6:16-18.

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

A powerful passage, isn't it? Here, Jesus is speaking to us about the practice of fasting, a spiritual discipline that is as misunderstood as it is underutilized. Fasting, dear friends, is not about deprivation for deprivation's sake. It's not about earning God's favor or impressing others with our piety. No, fasting is about faithfulness, fulfillment, and fellowship. It's about drawing closer to God, aligning our desires with His, and experiencing a deeper sense of His presence in our lives.

Fasting with Faithfulness

The act of fasting: Fasting, in its simplest form, is the act of abstaining from food or drink for a period of time. But in a spiritual context, it's so much more than that. It's a deliberate act of devotion, a physical expression of a spiritual commitment. When we fast, we're not just saying no to food or drink. We're saying yes to God. We're saying, "God, you are more important to me than my physical needs. You are more satisfying to me than the most delicious meal. You are more refreshing to me than the most thirst-quenching drink."

Fasting is not a transaction: It's not a case of "I'll fast, so God will do this for me." No, fasting is about aligning our desires with God's. It's about saying, "God, I want what you want. I desire what you desire." It's about surrendering our will to His, about seeking His kingdom above all else.

Fasting is a deeply personal act: It's not something we do to impress others or to earn spiritual brownie points. As Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6, when we fast, we should not make it obvious to others. Instead, we should go about our normal activities, not drawing attention to ourselves. Why? Because fasting is not about us. It's about God. It's about seeking His face, His will, His kingdom.

Fasting requires discipline: It's not easy to go without food or drink, especially in a culture that places so much emphasis on consumption and instant gratification. But as followers of Jesus, we're called to live counter-culturally. We're called to deny ourselves, to take up our cross, and to follow Him. And sometimes, that means saying no to our physical desires in order to say yes to our spiritual ones.

Finding Fulfillment in Fasting

As we continue to navigate the depths of fasting, we find ourselves in the realm of fulfillment ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO