1. Prayer & fasting - Mt.6:5-8,16-18 1, How not to pray a. Don’t pray to people –v.5 a. Don’t pray to people –v.5 - we want to impress others - we want to impress others - we copy others - we copy othersINSTEAD 1. Be alone with God 1. Be alone with God 2. There are rich treasures 2. There are rich treasures NB – Jesus is not against public/corporate praying

2. b. Don’t pray to impress God We foolishly think to impress God by:- 1. Many words –v.7 2. Manner of our praying INSTEAD – think of who you are coming to:- 1. Your father 2. The God who sees & knows everything

3. 2. How not to fast a. Don’t fast to impress others –v.16 Fasting – humbling yourself before God – repentance – Ps.35:13; Jonah 3:5,6 b. Times of fasting – “When you fast” - Day of Atonement – Lev.16:19-34 - Day of Atonement – Lev.16:19-34 - National emergency – 2Chron.20:1-4; Esther4:6; Dan.10:2,3 - National emergency – 2Chron.20:1-4; Esther4:6; Dan.10:2,3 - Seeking God – Ezra8:21-23; Mt.4:1,2; Acts 9:9; 13:1-3 - Seeking God – Ezra8:21-23; Mt.4:1,2; Acts 9:9; 13:1-3 Cf. Pharisees – Lk.18:12

4. c. Motives for fasting 1. A healthy body 2. To share with others 3. To feast on God a. Deal with desires that hinder feasting a. Deal with desires that hinder feasting b. Receive his rich treasures – forgiveness & grace b. Receive his rich treasures – forgiveness & grace

5. d. The rewards of fasting- v.17,18 1. Greater freedom – v.17 2. Stimulates a greater hunger for God 3. Greater knowledge & enjoyment of God – Ps.16:11; 34:8; 63:1,3-5 4. Increased passion for the spread of the Gospel

6. 3. Encouragement for strugglers a. God loves to bless & use humble, imperfect servants b. Jesus prays for strugglers – Lk.22:31; John17:15; Heb.7:25 c. Come as you are, with the attitudes of:- 1. Sincerity 1. Sincerity 2. Secrecy 2. Secrecy 3. Simplicity 3. Simplicity 4. Expectancy - Eph.3:20 4. Expectancy - Eph.3:20