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Fasting with Purpose Dave Shaner June 2, 2002

Introduction: Many Christians seldom, if ever, fast. The list of people who have fasted is a virtual "Who's Who" of Scripture: Moses, David, Elijah, Daniel, Anna, Jesus, and Paul.

I. What is Fasting?

A. Abstaining from ____________ in order to draw closer to God.
B. Mark 7:18-23
C. Fasting by itself will not guarantee spirituality. - Luke 18:9-14

II. Is Fasting Required?

- Mathew 6:2,5,16; Matthew 9:14-15; Acts 13:2-3

III. Why Should We Fast? The Purposes of Fasting:

A. Fasting can increase ___________ ____________.
B. Fasting is good to seek God's ____________ in a specific matter. - Judges 20:26-28; Acts 14:23
C. Fasting can make our ____________ more ____________.
D. Fasting is often used to show true ______________. - I Samuel 7:6; II Samuel 12:16,21-23; Jonah 3:5
E. Fasting ______________ oneself before God. - Ezekiel 16:49; Deuteronomy 8:2-3; Jonah 3:5,10; I Kings 21:27-29
F. Fasting can help bring our ____________ under subjection.

1. I Corinthians 9:27
2. Self-imposed discipline is basic to biblical fasting.

IV. Jesus & Fasting - Matthew 4:1-11

A. 1st Temptation - Fasting affirms our ultimate reliance on God.
B. 2nd Temptation - Fasting is not piling up merits before God.
C. 3rd Temptation - Fasting has to do with our fundamental relationship to the world.

Conclusion: All the fasting in the world will not bring you closer to Christ if your heart is not right. If it is merely a ritual, learn the warning of Isaiah 58:3-9.

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