the Discipline of “Fasting”

2. the Discipline of “Fasting” Matthew 6:2, 5, 16 “...when you give to the poor...when you pray...whenever you fast....”

3. the Discipline of “Fasting” Definition: “[Fasting is] abstinence from anything which is legitimate in and of itself for the sake of some special spiritual purpose. There are many bodily functions which are right and normal and perfectly legitimate, but which for special peculiar reasons in certain circumstances should be controlled.” D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

4. the Discipline of “Fasting” 1 Corinthians 7:5 Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

5. the Discipline of “Fasting” Definition: “[Fasting is] abstinence from anything which is legitimate in and of itself for the sake of some special spiritual purpose.” D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

6. the Discipline of “Fasting” • False fasting • For others’ approval • For self-righteous pride

7. the Discipline of “Fasting” • False fasting • The fasting of Jesus • The value of Spirit-directed self-denial “…hunger for God is spiritual, not physical. And we are less sensitive to spiritual appetites when we are in bondage to physical ones. This means that fasting is a way of awakening us to latent spiritual appetites by pushing the domination of physical forces from the center of our lives.” John Piper

8. the Discipline of “Fasting” • False fasting • The fasting of Jesus • The value of Spirit-directed self-denial Fasting helps us to... • Expose our sin “Normally we meet God in his good gifts and turn every enjoyment into worship with thanksgiving. But from time to time we need to test ourselves to see if we have begun to love his gifts in place of God.” John Piper

9. the Discipline of “Fasting” • False fasting • The fasting of Jesus • The value of Spirit-directed self-denial Fasting helps us to... • Expose our sin • Express our grief Joel 2:12–13 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments.”

10. the Discipline of “Fasting” • False fasting • The fasting of Jesus • The value of Spirit-directed self-denial Fasting helps us to... • Expose our sin • Express our grief • Overcome our enslavement Philippians 3:19 ...their god is their belly... 1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.

11. the Discipline of “Fasting” • False fasting • The fasting of Jesus • The value of Spirit-directed self-denial Fasting helps us to... • Expose our sin • Express our grief • Overcome our enslavement • Receive God’s guidance

12. Applying the Discipline of “Fasting” - Check your motives - - Start small - - Listen -

13. the Discipline of “Fasting” • Heightens perception and strengthens the will • Helps us to perceive and to control our physical appetites • Helps us to perceive and to ignore our hunger for the things of the world • Helps to arouse within us a deeper hunger for God

14. “Fasting is calculated to bring a note of urgency… into our praying, and to give force to our pleading in the court of heaven. The man who prays with fasting is giving heaven notice that he is truly in earnest…. Not only so, but he is expressing his earnestness in a divinely-appointed way. He is using a means that God has chosen to make his voice to be heard on high.” Arthur Wallis, God’s Chosen Fast