2. Building on last week’s discussion; today we will look at Jesus’ commands on fasting, as well as praying to our loving God with audacious faith.

3. Matthew 6: 16-18
As He has regarding giving to the needy and praying in general; Jesus now instructs His disciples to fast in a private and humble manner…not looking for the praise of others, but from God who sees and knows our true motives in fasting.

4. Reasons and Seasons to Fast
Repentance
Mourning
Crisis
Inquiry
Preparation
Worship

5. Joel 2: 12-13
12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,  “return to me with all your heart,  with fasting and weeping
and mourning.
13 Rend your heart and
not your garments…”

6. Luke 11: 5-8 “The Parable of A Friend at Midnight”

7. “Anadeia” * “A sense of shame, modesty, reverence
or respect towards others” + “NOT”
* Shameless Audacity
* bold, brash, brazen, cheeky, fresh, impertinent, nervy, insolent, saucy, sassy

8. Luke 11: 9-10 (Matt. 7: 7-8) 9 “So I say to you:
Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;
and to the one who knocks,
the door will be opened.”

9. Luke 11: (Matt. 7: 9-11)
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg,
will give him a scorpion?
13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father
in Heaven give the Holy Spirit [good gifts]
to those who ask Him!”

11. He asks that we persevere in prayer.
This parable is really a “twin” of The Parable of the Persistent Widow in that it contrasts a bad human example (a friend & a judge) with the perfect, loving & good God that we pray to.
He asks that we persevere in prayer.

12. -------------------------------
In our modern culture, where we value speed and “ease of access”, it is common to get discouraged when the answers to our prayers don’t come quickly and easily as we pray.
Prayer is waiting and depending on God.

13. James 1:6 “When you ask for something you must
have faith and not doubt.”

14. Sometimes, one of those comes easier to us than the other…
Audacious prayers are ones that come from believers in God who chose to “pray big” and “pray consistently”.
Sometimes, one of those comes easier to us than the other…
but BOTH matter greatly!

15. May we all pray with… Shameless audacity, fueled by our faith in God
Persistent perseverance, resting in God’s love for us
Fasting, choosing to empty ourselves of what is interfering with God’s Voice

16. “Oh, God may we be focused on ‘the least’… the fasting and the feast.
“Kingdom
and A King”
“Oh, God may we be focused on ‘the least’…
a people balancing
the fasting and the feast.
A Call to give, to serve, and celebrate for You are great, oh, my God, You are great!”