3. In God's Family, We Remind Ourselves of What Really Matters

Introduction

Review

In God’s Family, We Remember: Communion

In God’s Family, We Celebrate New Birth: Baptism

Sighting in a deer rifle… These practices are “sighting in” our souls.

This morning we’re going to talk about fasting (more a teaching than a preaching).

Clearing Up Misconceptions (from Got Questions: 712,372 questions answered)

Fasting is not a way to get God to do what you want.

Fasting should not be used to punish the flesh.

In Colossians 2, Paul says that harsh treatment of our bodies has no value whatsoever in restraining sinful desires.

Fasting should be a humble and private practice (see Matt 6:16-18, NLT).

Scripture does not command Christians to fast, but it does present fasting as beneficial.

In Acts 13; 14, believers prayed and fasted before making important decisions.

What is the purpose of fasting? (Isaiah 58, NLT)

Big Idea: Fasting reminds us of what really matters: loving God and loving others. Fasting reorders our priorities to align with God’s priorities.

We fast to redirect our attention to God. We fast to remind ourselves that the most important thing in life is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.

Exposition

God rebukes the Israelites for their false, self-centered piety (Isa 58:2-3, 5).

Not self, self-care, self-help, self-love, or self-actualization… not who won the mid-term elections, who’s on the Supreme Court, what decisions they’re making, or who’s in the White House.

The purpose of fasting is to lift your eyes off of yourself and the things of this world, and draw near to God.

Illustration: Close your eyes, and your other senses will be sharpened… Fasting is putting away the distractions of this world so that our spiritual senses can be sharpened and our hearts aware of God’s presence with us.

Application: That’s why they fasted before making important decisions.

We fast to see the world with God’s heart. We fast to remind ourselves that the second most important thing in life is to love your neighbor as yourself.

Exposition: Isaiah 58:6-7, 9-10.

Illustration

The food pantry, CareNet Pregnancy Center, START, Toys for Tots, mentor a kid, making a meal for a family with a new baby

Celebrate LakeView’s generosity: 40 Thanksgiving boxes,

Christmas Offering to help the nine Ukrainian refugee families that were resettled in Stoughton.

Application: I don’t know about you, but I can tell you there are times when I get really focused on myself and my goals, my plans, my hopes, my agenda, and my situation in life. I’ve found that fasting is a helpful practice to recalibrate my heart. In God’s family, we remind ourselves of what really matters in life: loving God and loving others.

Interview Gary

Who are you?

Is there anything you’d like to add about why you would recommend people to try fasting?

Why did you begin fasting?

What has your experience of fasting been like—benefits, challenges, blessings, etc.?

Hoes does somebody who’s never fasted before get started with this practice?

Conclusion: Gary prays a blessing over LakeView.