1. A reminder to consider others Please:
Turn off your cell phone or set to vibrate only
Turn off sound to all electronic devices
Use the nursery or cry room if your child is fussy
Get up during the preaching only if absolutely necessary (please sit in back if you must leave early)

2. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

3. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

4. A reminder - Please: Turn off your cell phone or set to vibrate only
Turn off sound to all electronic devices
Use the nursery or cry room if your child is fussy
Get up during the preaching only if absolutely necessary (please sit in back if you must leave early)

5. The Proper Practice of Fasting Matthew 6:16-18
Biblical fasting was quickly perverted and the Evangelical Church has largely ignored it
To make you aware of fasting
To take a principle from this text that applies to every area of life

6. The Proper Practice of Fasting Matthew 6:16-18
Jesus uses fasting as the third example to illustrate the principle of practicing righteousness in Matthew 6:1

7. The Proper Practice of Fasting Matthew 6:16-18
Giving done to draw attention to yourself only receives the praise of men
Praying is to be to communicate with God, not to impress other people
Fasting done to gain the praise of men receives no reward from God

8. Fasting Then
To “fast” (nhsteu;w / nāsteuō) is to voluntarily abstain from food
There is no specific command to fast in the worship of God, yet Godly people would fast

9. Fasting Then
Examples of fasting:
Ahab - the anguish of repentance;
Jehoshaphat - distress of impending danger;
David - turmoil of soul for a loved one;
Men of Jabesh-Gilead - in mourning

10. Fasting Then
Exodus 34:28 - Moses fasted as part of His meeting with God on Mount Sinai
Daniel he fasted in conjunction with prayer in seeking to understand God’s prophetic revelations

11. Fasting Then
Jesus recognized fast as normal saying, “but you, when you fast . . .”.
The Pharisees perverted fasting into a demonstration of their supposed superior righteousness (Luke 18:12)
They made themselves look miserable in order to call attention to themselves

12. Fasting Now
Jesus considered fasting to be normal and He, His disciples and the early church are recorded as fasting
Asceticism perverted fasting into an effort to become righteous through self-abasement
Ascetics today may not be as extreme, but they still confuse outward practice with inward reality

13. Fasting Now
The reformers (& modern evangelicals) have overreacted to historical & current abuses within Catholicism
Fasting is not a means to gain heightened spiritual experience: visions, special insight, awareness, etc.
The purpose of fasting is to demonstrate humility and give full concentration to God

14. Fasting Now
There cannot be proper fasting apart from a right heart, right living and a right attitude
Fasting is not be something mechanical - it is prodded by the circumstances which burden the heart

15. Fasting Now
Jesus’ command concerning fasting is to act normally and do not call purposely attention to yourself
Nehemiah provides a good example of proper fasting
Fasting is still proper, but it must be from a right motive, with a right heart and done in a right way

16. The Principle for Godly Living
1 Corinthians 10:31 - keep your focus on the glory of God and you will walk in righteousness
A bad motive can turn a good practice into unrighteousness
This principle applies to every area of life instructing us on how to behave

17. The Principle for Godly Living
How should you sing in public worship?
as a response to God in praise of Him

18. The Principle for Godly Living
How do you serve as a leader in the church?
in humility as part of the body of Christ to the glory of God

19. The Principle for Godly Living
How do you treat your family in public?
as you do in private
with love and respect

20. Conclusions
Take heed to Jesus warning and admonition - Matthew 6:1 and 5:16
Do all for the glory of God - 1 Corinthians 10:31
Fast and pray in response to the burdens of your heart in seeking God

21. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

22. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ