Print

MATTHEW 6

"FASTING"

I. CHRISTIAN LIFE DIVIDED INTO THREE SECTIONS.
        A. Alms giving (my relation with others).
        B. Praying (my relation with God..
        C. Fasting (my relation to myself - disciplined..

II. ORIGIN OF FASTING.
        A. Ore day a year under law.
        B. Special occasions.
        C. Taught indirectly by Christ.
                1. Matthew 9, Pharisee's question.
                2. "But when ye fast."
                3. Church of Antioch fasted before sending out Paul and Barnabus.
        D. What is fasting?
                1. Abstinence of food for spiritual purposes.
                        a. Daniel.

Ill. WRONG WAYS OF FASTING.
        A. Fasting in a mechanical manner just for the sake of doing so.
                1. If fasting becomes an end in itself.
                2. We prefer to be under law, told what to do and what not to do.
                        a. Don't eat meat certain day of week.
                        b. Certain seasons of year abstain. 
        B. Don't fast for self discipline.
                1. Discipline should be continual.
                2. Fasting is something I do in order to reach a higher spiritual realm in
                   prayer or meditation.
        C. Fasting for direct immediate results.
                1. Mechanical view.
                        a. After 5 days mind clear.
                        b. After 7 days hunger gone.
                        c. After 10 days visions begin.
                        d. "I want a blessing so I will fast."
                2. The minute we say if you will do this you will get that, we are putting the
                   blessings of God into a sovereignty of God.
                3. Value of fasting is indirect not direct.
        D. Calling attention to our fast.
                1. Any drawing of attention to our piety.

Ill. RIGHT WAY TO FAST.
        A. As a means to an end, not an end in itself.
                1. I must discipline myself at all times, I should fast only as led by the
                   Spirit.
        B. Be natural.
                1. People afraid of being regarded as miserable because a Christian go to
                   other extreme.
                2. In order not to look sad you need not put a grin on your face.
        C. The interest in the opinion of others is wrong. Don't worry about impressions you
           are making just give yourself entirely to God. Be concerned about pleasing Him.