Food, Prayer,and Wineskins
Matthew 9:14-9:17
Introduction-
The ministry of Jesus seems at times complex and confusing when you think of what He did and how He did it.
Remember a couple weeks ago, Jesus left this earth by way of ascension and told the disciples that He must go so the comforter could come.
In their own words, they said that was amazing and perplexing.
Jesus records His ministry in the gospels, this morning we are looking at Matthew 9.
We see Jesus calm a sea. (He tells us that we had little faith.)
He heals people from diseases, heals people from demon possession. (He tells us that our sins are forgiven.)
All the while that He is doing this, He is calling people to follow Him and do the same things.
Jesus shows up and there in town is a tax collector named Matthew, Jesus asks Him to “follow me.”
Matthew leaves his booth and follows him. He leaves everything behind and follows him.
The Pharisees saw this, not very much friends with Jesus, and they ask Jesus disciples “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus overhears the conversation and answers for them.
Matthew 9:12
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means. I desire mercy, not sacrifice, For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Not that the Pharisees are healthy, but that people must recognize themselves as sinners before they can be spiritually healed.
Isn’t that like today? You’ll never be able to talk to someone about coming to Christ as Lord and Savior until they realize that they need a savior.
A good salesmen will get you to realize that you cannot live without whatever he/she is selling. Until then, they will have a hard time convincing you to spend your money.
The Pharisee’s, who were not healthy in the eyes of Jesus, approached Jesus disciples about eating with sinners and Jesus tells them that until they know they are sick, He can’t help them.
Then right after in a chain reaction of conversation John’s disciples come and ask Jesus disciples “How is it that we and the Pharisee’s fast, but your disciples do not fast.”
Wow, the Pharisee’s and Johns disciples in agreement about fasting and praying and they are wondering why Jesus own disciples are not fasting and praying.
The text this morning gives us the answer
Matthew chapter 9:14-9:17
Jesus answers the question of fasting by comparing it to a bridegroom.
“How can the guest of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, then they will fast.”
Background- a Jewish wedding was a joyous time and the celebration often lasted a week. it would be unthinkable to fast during the festivity because fasting was associated with sorrow.
Jesus the bridegroom would be taken from them by death, and then it would be appropriate to fast and pray.
John’s disciples were fasting and praying because John was taken from them and was in prison awaiting his fate.
The Pharisee’s prayed and fasted a couple times a week as a ritual and Jesus is indicating that prayer and fasting was to be done a new way and for a new reason.
Let’s take a look at fasting and praying so that when we look at the comparison of new wines in new wine skins we will understand what Jesus is trying to say to us.
Definition of fasting and praying
It is defined as a voluntary going without food in order to focus on prayer and fellowship with God. (Repeat)
Prayer and fasting go hand in hand but don’t always have to be the case.
You can pray without fasting, and you can fast without praying.
God gets glory when you do both together for a dedicated purpose.
It is not to manipulate God, show off to others how spiritual you are, it allows you to focus on God, and hear what God has to say about it.
The OT talks about fasting once a year on the Day of Attonement.
The Bible nowhere demands that you fast, but it is recommended to fast and pray as we see many fasted and prayed- Moses, King David, Jonathan.
We see in the NT that Jesus fasted and prayed for 40 days before He went into the wilderness against Satan.
We do know some things about fasting
Jesus tells us to not look like sour pusses, not look like we lost our best friends, not let everyone know that you are fasting by putting oil on your head and leaving their there for all to see.
Matthew 6:16-18
“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. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men 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.”
Loud prayers are not always the best prayers.
Long prayers do not necessarily get the attention of God.
Looking and acting Holy, does not make you holy.
A lot of prayers are answered quietly in the secret prayer closets of some amazing faithful believers.
Is fasting required- no, but strongly suggested.
If you focus on fasting is abstaining from food, you have lost focus, they call that dieting! Abstaining from food, eating less and burning more calories.
The focus on fasting is to take our focus off the things of the world that distract us and focus ourselves on God. That may be the needs of others that you have a burden for, or God specifically is wanting you to fast and pray about something specific in your life.
Fasting is not a punishment to our bodies as it is to put our focus on God.
That is why a diabetic can fast and pray and accomplish much, even though he/she stays within the limits of safety taking care of their medical needs.
What can pray and fasting accomplish
More things than you can imagine because we are working in the spiritual realm and we will not always see what amazing things God is doing.
There are some things God tells us will only happen when we are fasting and praying. The disciples watched Jesus heal and then went out to do the same without the same results. Mt. 17:21- “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Praying and fasting with the right attitude, praying the will of God be done brings power of God into the situation.
1 John 5:14-
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us.”
You know what that shows us? That there is a lot of unanswered prayer because we either are not asking God believing Him to do some amazing things, or we have not learned that our prayers have to line up with the word of God and the will of God, and we are asking God to bless things that He cannot bless.
Isaiah records that the external show of fasting and prayer without proper heart attitude is worthless (58:5-9)
Listen to me this morning
Some of our prayers are not being answered because we are asking God to do something that goes against His will.
Some prayers are not being answered because we are not doing what God has already told us to do, and until we do it, we won’t see his blessing.
Some are not being answered because we are not asking! Little faith+ big God= huge results!
We have not because we ask not! God says I haven’t heard from you in a while. Let’s talk!
Prayer is a discipline
You have to be intentional about it. There will always be other things you could be doing, always other important things that have to get done.
Fasting side of it- we just like to eat, we eat the wrong things because we are so busy.
You can pray anytime, it does not have to be on your knees, eyes closed, hands folded. You are focusing on Him and desiring to fellowship with Him, wanting to see his will in your life and those that you come into contact with.
Here’s great news! God already is wanting to do something new and amazing!
Isaiah 43:19-
“See, I am doing a new thing, now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Roads in the desert and streams in the desert! Amen.
(16) “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse, neither do we pour new wine into old wineskins, if they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out, and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine in new wineskins and both are preserved.”
God is wanting to do something new this morning!
Do you believe that!
Little faith +big God= Hugh results!
Illustration-
I have been praying for someone very close to me that God would answer a very specific prayer I had. This week God answered that prayer and I rejoice! I also know that for awhile that it will be a hard adjustment for them. God doing something new is painful at times, but it is the right thing!
You cannot patch up your life and hope for the best.
You have to let God do a make over. Really, he recreates, because everything is new.
Truth be told, don’t worry about prayer and fasting until you and the Lord are good with just prayer and communicating.
If you are not praying, begin there, and as the Lord leads, begin fasting and focus on what God is telling you to do. You will see some amazing things.
Know this morning if you are praying for something that goes against God’s word, it won’t happen. At least not with God’s blessing.
In order for God to do something new in you, you must be made new.
Some things need to change and that is a conversation that you and the Lord must have.
I know God is doing some great things. I know that it is painful, but hung in there, allow God to finish what he is started, or let him begin something new.
Close- Amen.
