Mathew 6:16-18
Fasting
Introduction
A. Fast! Ohh no the preacher said fast!
B. Great we are going to have a church wide fast
C. Relax folks. This is not going to be bad.
D. We are going to explain biblical fasting
E. Let look at our Scripture Passage
F. Read Mathew 6:16-18
G. I want you to notice something hear
H. Jesus says, “When You Fast” – Not if – When
I. Jesus also uses the same When you Pray, and When Your Give
J. Obviously Jesus expects us to fast
K. Today we are going to look at
a. How Not to Fast
b. How To Fast
c. How practically this all works
I. How Not To Do It
A. Explanation
1. It was commonplace in the Jewish culture to fast
2. In fact most Jews would fast twice a week
3. Now fasting is a concept that you can trace all the way back to the numbers and Deuteronomy
4. Like a lot of customs, the act of fasting had become more important the purpose behind customs
5. What you had is pharasissees walking around saying wow is me
6. They would stop putting oil on there head to cause there skin to dry
7. They would get ashes and with the sweat and tears would smear it all over there face
8. They would not bath, they would not wash there clothes, they would look horrible
9. They did this to appear more spiritual
10. They wanted the attention of men when there were fasting, they wanted to make sure that everyone knew there were fasting
B. Application
1. What can we learn from this bad example and apply it to our lives?
2. Fasting we know is a good thing, but only when we do it for the right reasons
C. Illustration
1. Let me give you an example. A long time ago people decide that they wanted to show God how much they love and respect him they were going to we dressy clothes to church. Not a bad idea. However what began to happen is that people turned it into a completion and the whole reason behind doing it was lost. If you want to dress up, dress up. If you dress up it is you honoring God, that does not mean your neighbor who isn’t dressed up is not honoring God
2. The same thing is true with fasting
3. If you go around make a big deal about it your doing it for the wrong reason
4. Corporate prayer is a good thing, Corporate Worship is a good thing. Connecting with one another is a good thing.
5. Fasting is not a corporate activity
6. Fasting is something between you an God
7. Now understand it is ok to tell people you are fasting, especially your wife, imagine if she cook you a nice big juicy steak and you did not eat it and did not tell her why, your marriage would start to fall apart
8. Don’t purposefully look like a starving child in Africa
9. Your NOT! The truth of the matter is that fasting could be very beneficial to all of us
10. We have so much extra food stored up it would do us some good
II. How To do it
A. Explanation
1. In Verse 17-18 Jesus gives us the proper way to fast
2. Jesus tells us that when we fast we are to put oil on our head and wash our face
3. This is not Jesus telling us how much makeup to wear
4. This is not Jesus telling giving us a good hygiene lesson
5. This is Jesus saying, don’t profusely show that you are fasting
6. Don’t advertise the fact that you are fasting
7. There reason is focus
8. Your focus should not been on man acceptance,
9. The point of Fasting is to get closer to God
10. Not Closer to man
11. Therefore, God is the only one who needs to see what you are doing
B. Application
1. What does this mean for our lives?
2. When you fast remember why you are fasting
3. If you are not fasting to grow closer to God
4. STOP! Don’t do it
5. If you are fasting to win the approve of man
6. DON’T DO IT
7. If your reasons are correct
8. You will not want to put on a public display
9. You will do it for God
10. Not for man
C. Illustration
1. Sometimes, Ill be completely honest, I will do things at home so that I can get something from it. You know maybe I need a shirt ironed so I will do the dishes quickly before Heather gets home and say Hi Honey. Look I did the dishes, ohh by the way can you Iron my shirt?
2. However there are times when I know that Heather is having a busy time with lots of work and just totally overwhelmed, it is at those times I will do stuff around the house not to get anything, just to do it for Heather
3. That is the attitude we need to approach fasting with.
III. How it works practically
A. Explanation: This is the nuts and bolts part; this is how it actually works.
B. What is fasting? Let me give you a definition: Fasting means to lay aside any pleasurable and/or vital activity for a period of time in order to intensely pursue God and know His mind with the intent of obeying His revealed will
C. Why should I fast? Let me hand you out this guide. (hand out sheet, and read)
D. When should you fast? – There are 4 occasion when we should fast
1. When we feel a special pull, an urge to get alone with God.
a) This is God’s Spirit moving within you. This is a time to start
2. There are time when special needs arise such as
a) Public problems (the war, sept 11)
b) Private affliction (should I get a new job)
c) Affliction of others (Focusing on someone else’s difficult)
d) Approaching danger (If you know your going to be in danger, fast first)
e) Sending off workers from the church (Acts 13:3)
3. There are times when we need to humble ourselves before God
a) We need to get back with God
4. There are times when we need a very special power.
a) Lord I need you to move this mountain
E. How To Fast
1. We have to realize that there are different type of fasting. It is true let me give you some of them
a) Water Only Fast – This is where you have water only The max duration is 40 days. Jonathan in (1 Samuel 20:34)
b) Absolute Fast – This means no water or food. The longest recorded is 40 says. Moses did this in Exodus 34:28
c) Partial Daniel-type fast. This fast you deny yourself of only certain food. Maybe cut out meet, maybe desert. This is a fast that can go on indefinitely. An Example of this fast is Daniel found in Daniel 10:3
d) Juice Fast – This is a modification of the normal fast. Fruits and vegetable juices are used for a supplement. This is good for a person who is in an extended fast
e) Sundown fast – This is a fast where you eat on meal a day. This time that you save with meals should be spent in time with God. This feast can go on a long time. But it is harder to maintain then you think
f) Most of us naturally assume that fasting has to do with abstain from food. There is a reason for that
(1) We as a society are driven by food. Look at the number of restaurants, look at the number of food commercials, look at the number of events we have at Bakerstown Alliance Church with food
2. Not all fast involve food. There is the Idols fast – some people should not do a dietary fast, it just does not work. But everyone certainly can give up TV, Internet, Books, hobbies, ect for a certain time period. This one can go on indefinitely
3. It has to be something meaningful in your life. Otherwise it does not demonstrate true fasting
F. Prayer must always be included in fasting. I hope you pray every day, while you are fasting, you should increase your prayer time
Conclusion
A. Understand something I am not saying we should start a church wide fast next week
B. That is not what this is about. Fasting is between you and God
C. I want to encourage you to see God’s direction in all of this. Study fasting in the Bible. I have not given an exhaustive study by any means.
D. I am going to leave you with Bill Brights 7 Steps for Successful Fasting. This is a strategy, not the strategy. But a good one none the less
