Sermons on Hold Fast:

The Right Motive For Fasting Series

Contributed by Chad Bolfa on Apr 14, 2009

The benefits of truly fasting are enormous, but there are also dangers. We can fast for the wrong reasons. This is the point of this passage of scripture. Jesus will council us on the wrong and right motives for fasting.

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount Part 13 The right Motive for fasting Matthew 6:16-18 Introduction Fasting means to abstain from food for some religious or spiritual purpose. A study of the practiced by Jesus and by the great leaders of the bible reveals what God means by fasting. Very simply, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

Fasting Lesson 3 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Feb 23, 2017

Fasting is a spiritual discipline for inward communion with God.

A. INTRODUCTION: MATTHEW 6:16-18 “When you fast, don’t make it obvious to others, as the hypocrites who try to look mournful or disheveled like they didn’t comb their hair, or wash their face. Don’t try to get people to admire you for fasting. That is the only reward you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

Genuine Prayer And Fasting Series

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jun 15, 2015

Last week we started the series on the places where Jesus said, “I tell you the truth”. We started out by looking at Matt. 6:1-4 where Jesus talks about giving. Today we’ll look at the other acts of righteousness in this passage-praying and fasting.

“GENUINE PRAYER AND FASTING” Matthew 6:5-18 INTRODUCTION: Last week we started the series on the places where Jesus said, “I tell you the truth”. We started out by looking at the first four verses of Matt. 6 where Jesus shows us our giving need not be done with fanfare, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fasting Lesson 3 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Feb 15, 2019

Fasting is a spiritual discipline for inward communion with God.

A. INTRODUCTION: MATTHEW 6:16-18 “When you fast, don’t make it obvious to others, as the hypocrites who try to look mournful or disheveled like they didn’t comb their hair, or wash their face. Don’t try to get people to admire you for fasting. That is the only reward you will get. But when you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Nature Of True Fasting

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 25, 2013

True fasting will lead the liberated soul to seek relief and liberty for others.

THE NATURE OF TRUE FASTING. Isaiah 58:1-12. Surprisingly, the only place where the law of Moses commands fasting is in the “affliction of soul” associated with the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29-31; Leviticus 23:27-32; Numbers 29:7). This is apt, as it immediately associates fasting with ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Fast God Chooses

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on Feb 8, 2014

While we try to please God on our own terms, God wants us to live for Him. We call it a "fast" when we do without a self-serving behavior for a limited period of time, but what God calls a "fast" is a life dedicated to serving others.

Abou ben Adhem had a dream. He awakened with a start to find an angel in his room, writing in a golden book. He said to the angel, “What writest thou?” and the angel replied, “The names of those who love the Lord.” “And is mine one?” he inquired. “Nay, not ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God's Guidance And Fasting

Contributed by Greg Nance on Aug 14, 2013

How does the church serve God and seek His will? How do we hear His voice for our present day needs? Certainly scripture is the primary tool to know God's will, but how we apply it takes wisdom and Spirit led help. How do we discover those?

The Church in Antioch – the first place where the disciples were called Christians – was a team building church. Earlier in Acts 11 we hear of how this church began and how the gospel began to spread outside the borders of Israel into the Gentile world as certain brave souls began ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Power Of Prayer And Fasting

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Jul 16, 2013

Though scripture does not command fasting in prayer, it is back up in scripture that there are some things that cannot happen without fasting and prayer. "You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high"

The power of prayer and fasting Isaiah 58:3-7 Introduction- This morning I want us to look at the power of prayer and effectiveness of adding Fasting to prayer. I believe most people do not understand the biblical concept of prayer and fasting. Most people either ignore fasting (It’s ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:3-7

Denomination: Nazarene

Lent - A Season Of Fasting

Contributed by Howard Gunter on Mar 7, 2019

What the season of Lent is all about

Weekend Message/Devotion March 10, 2019 Isaiah 58 LENT – A Season of Fasting Can you find anything in the Holy Scriptures that refer to LENT as a prescribed order of holy days or platform for observance? I find the word “lent” seven times in the bible (Exodus 12:38, Deuteronomy 23:19, 1 ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Fasting Is Imporant Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

Placing attention on fasting is dangerous business. Placing attention on our performance is dangerous. Yet, wea are commanded to fast.

Voter’s Guides are Available in Ministry Galley. I encourage each one of you to vote. Today we conclude our series Seven Practice of a Healthy Christian. And our focus this morning is on the mouth. I call on our church to a Week of Prayer and a Day of Fasting for World Missions. For this reason ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

And When You Fast Series

Contributed by Jon Daniels on Oct 19, 2020

Sermon based on Matthew 6:16-18 - Encourages the hearers to practice fasting as a spiritual discipline.

“AND WHEN YOU FAST” Matthew 6:16-18 FBCF – 10/18/20 Jon Daniels INTRO – Fasting is all the rage these days. Typed “fasting” into Google. Didn’t find anything related to any type of Christian fasting until I got to the 8th page. Tons of websites dedicated to intermittent fasting for weight loss, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Truth About Fasting Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Aug 9, 2023

God has given us so much to enjoy in this world, but the results of sin is so great that the grief in our spirit overrides our physical hunger.

Dr. Bradford Reaves Crossway Christian Fellowship Hagerstown, MD www.mycrossway.org 16 “Now whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Brethren

The Right Way To Fast Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Oct 2, 2023

This message looks at what Jesus has to say about our physical appearance when fasting. The way we present ourselves physically can speak volumes about the inner man. Who are we trying to impress when we fast? Jesus or the people around us?

I have entitled our message this morning, “The Right Way to Fast.” Jesus both practiced fasting and taught about it; and yet, fasting is something that is often feared and misunderstood. In many Christian circles, you rarely even hear about fasting; and yet, the Scripture mentions it more times ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Spirit-Led Fast

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jun 15, 2025

A fast that is led by the Holy Spirit produces lasting fruit, spiritual sensitivity, and power.

THE SPIRIT-LED FAST By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Matthew 4:1-2 Supporting Texts: Romans 8:14, Galatians 5:16-18, Acts 13:1-3, Isaiah 58:6-11, Luke 4:14 INTRODUCTION: Fasting is not just a religious duty; it is a spiritual discipline that requires divine guidance to be effective. A fast ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-2

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Types Of Fasts In The Bible

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jun 15, 2025

In the Old and New Testaments, we see different types of fasts that brought about supernatural results. Each fast had a distinct purpose and pattern, but all had one common factor: they were directed toward God and done with sincerity of heart.

TYPES OF FASTS IN THE BIBLE By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Matthew 6:16-18 Supporting Texts: Isaiah 58:6-9, Esther 4:16, Daniel 10:2-3, Joel 2:12, Acts 13:1-3 INTRODUCTION: Fasting is one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines in the Bible. It is a God-ordained means of humbling ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Assembly Of God