Fasting/Feasting (sermon

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Feasting and Fasting in the OT - Board

Regular Rituals

Impromptu Celebrations

Both are responses to and celebrations of God’s Grace

Fasting - Inside and Outside humbling

Not eating for a set period of time.

I was suprised to find...

Fasting is just about always a response to an encounter with God or event of a serious or grievous nature. There are 3 major kinds

Crossroads

Esther - resolves to talk to the king on behalf of the Jewish people, knowing that she will likely be killed for speaking up. Before her meeting she calls for a fast in the Jewish community

16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:16

Tragedy

Psalm 35:13 NIV

Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,

The New International Version Chapter 23

23 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the LORD, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.

Psalm 35:13

Conviction of Sin

. How do you Return/repent? - Fasting is a part of it

12 “Even now,” declares the LORD,

“return to me with all your heart,

with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

ALL are A response to a Serious/Grave encounter with God.

Encounter/Experience/Event - Feeling - Response

Feasting 2 kinds - Somewhat Open Tables

Regular Rituals - Like thanksgiving

The New International Version Chapter 23

23 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the LORD, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.

Impromptu Celebrations - Like getting a new job

The New International Version Chapter 8

17 In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.

Both are responses to and celebrations of God’s Grace

Encounter/Experience/Event - Feeling - Response

NOTE the order of operations! Left to Right.

Feasting and Fasting in Jesus Day - The problem - Board

In Jesus day, and some of the worst expressions of Fasting/Feasting Today . They turn everything upside down.

The order of operations is right to left.

They Feast privately in order to Get a feeling and GET RESULTS - Social Status + Religious Purity

One reason we know this is b/c religious people are always criticizing Jesu for who he eats with.

They Fast Publically to produce a feeling and GET RESULTS - Spiritual Signaling

We know this because of Jesus harsh words on fasting

One of the reasons Fasting and Feasting have dissapeared today I think is because people were practicing like this.

So what do we do?

Give it up?

Dont worry about eating?

Disconnect food from faith?

What Jesus Does

when it comes to feasting and fasting Jesus resets the table.

ReSets Fasting

ReSets Feasting

To the point that when the “CHURCH” is born in acts they are marked by 4 things

Apostle’s Teaching

Fellowship

Breaking Bread

Prayer

Central to christian worship is BREAKING BREAD

Jesus RESETS the table - Do this in remembrance of me - leads to

Jesus breaks all the rules.

He eats on the wrong days

He gets criticized for not fasting enough - He calls for secret fasting

He eats with the wrong people (CONSTANTLY) at an OPEN TABLE in public

Everywhere he goes he brings feasting, bread, fish, water to wine, and the celebration that come around the table.

His eating habits so enrage the religious gatekeepers they are one of the key factors that lead to his crucifixion.

Do this in remeberance of Me.

Jesus after spending all of his time around the wrong tables,

brings that practice into the center of Chrisitian life.

He institutes a new kind of FEAST for his followers.

Check out Lord’s supper- Read it.

You see that, that is why the disciples in acts 2 devote themselves to the breaking of bread.

JESUS says whenever Christians gather around the table to eat and drink they ought to REMEMBER they are keeping a feast. To REMEMBER his sacrifice. AND just like at passover the people eat the sacrificial lamb that is slain for them. JESUS says this BREAD is my BODY and this WINE my BLOOD. Therfore Chrisitans when they “keep the feast” at the Lords table eat the sacrifice. REMEMBERING that it is Jesus and his deah/ressureciton that sustains us in eternal life.

In eating that meal at that OPEN and PUBLIC feast, and in eating our meals togehtr in that WAY we PROCLAIM with our bodies, mouths, and even bellies the death and resureciton until he comes again!

He makes FEASTING and the TABLE the place of Christian worship, celebration, rememberance, and sustinance.

ANd when we fast in Jesus name, but especially when we eat.

Jesus Resets the table of our lives.

- The basics of Christian Assembly

If you asked the early church what was the most important thing in our church, the thing that you couldn't follow Jesus without. They would not choose the musical instrument. The building, The pastor, the pews, the stage the hymns, the announcments, or even the Bible itself. They would say it is the TABLE the FEAST.

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Trans: We need to let Jesus ReSet our tables

He is Risen, throw a party

Open your table

CELEBRATE the RESSURECTION around them

Party like the WORLD has been saved, becaue we belive it has

Reclaim Fasting

I wanted to tell you to try fasting

BUT i cant,

BUT your still not off the hook

Evalute

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TRANS: bc Christians ought to throw the best parties

If you asked the early church what was the most important thing in our church, the thing that you couldn't follow Jesus without. They would not choose the musical instrument. The building, The pastor, the pews, the stage the hymns, the announcments, or even the Bible itself. They would say it is the TABLE the FEAST.

They devoted themselves to the breaking of bread. Koinonia, the apostles teachings, prayer.

And they would be right. Because the table is where we observe the one ritual that tells the story of Jesus and reminds us who we are. The table is where we gather. To feast on Christ and his promises. And not just this table but anytime faithful people are gathered around one. Jesus said whenever you...

And when you submit this daily repeated practice of eating or not eating to God. When you make an effort to mindfully eat or not eat for God’s glory you will find that yourself growing closer to God as you let him into more areas of your life.

In fasting YOu will find yourself praying with your whole body in confession, mourning, and wonder. And growing closer to him, remembering that he is our sustainer.

In feasting You will find yourself encountering God around teh table remembering that his sacrifcese is what truly sustains eternal life.