Fasting Part Two
Mission Prayer Partner
Our mission prayer partner for this week is Community Church - a United Methodist Mission Church in Southwest Huntsville
Scripture Memory Verse
Colossians 3:12 NIV84
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Sermon Scripture
Matthew 6:16-21, Matthew 6:33 NIV84
“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. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
There is a call to fast that we must not ignore.
1. There is a call to fast that we must not ignore. - it is rooted in scripture - it is validated by tradition - it is necessitated by experience
God has called us to a good thing
2. There are also reasons to fast that help us see that God has called us to a good thing - Obedience: to obey God in what He says is always a good thing - Discipline: a value for this life and for eternity (I Cor. 9:24-27; I Tim. 4:6-8) - Warfare: we are in a battle (Eph. 6:12) and we have weapons (II Cor. 10:3-4) - Developing a growing desire for God(Mt.22:35-40; Deut.6:5) - To seek God's will (Acts 14:23) - To humble oneself before God (Ps. 35:13) - As an act of worship (Acts 13:2; Lk. 2:36-37)
Discipline
1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 1 Timothy 4:6-8 NIV84
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
Warfare
2 Corinthians 10:3-4, Ephesians 6:12 NIV84
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Developing a Growing Desire for God
Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:35-40 NIV84
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
To Seek God's Will
Acts 14:23 NIV84
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
To Humble oneself before God
Psalm 35:13 NIV84
Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
As an Act of Worship
Luke 2:36-37, Acts 13:2 NIV84
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty‑four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
The benefits or blessings of fasting for our lives
3. The benefits or blessings of fasting for our lives - Striking a spiritual blow (Daniel 10) - Mastery of fleshly desires (self control) - Reminder of our need for Christ - Greater consciousness of God (spiritual awareness) - A means of continuing prayer - A choosing of the Giver rather than the gifts.
Striking a Spritual Blow
Daniel 10:1-21 NIV84
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision. At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground. A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.” While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless. Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I am helpless. How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.” Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. “Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.” So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.
Fasting is a call from God, but one for our great benefit!
4. Fasting is a call from God, but one for our great benefit!
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