Lenten Fast

b. These things started out of an immense love and desire for holiness but as the reason vanished or was forgotten the rule became legalistic instead of redemptive

3. Example dancing: not dancing started out having to do more with where than with the actual act of dancing

a. in 1908 most took place in brothels or were hosed by wealthy members of society

b. with an emphasis on generosity to the poor, you didn’t go hob-knobing with the rich and famous and holiness people don’t go to brothels

c. you sacrificed in order that you might be made more holy

d. church still has a stance against dancing but it’s about the actual act of dancing not where

1) 1952 & 1968 General Assembly “That we go on record as being opposed to modern or folk dancing, in either ballrooms or other places, even under the guise of physical education classes.

2) (latest manual) “All forms of dancing that detract from spiritual growth and break down proper moral inhibitions and reserve.”

4. when the reason for the rule is forgotten, it is replaced with harsh judgment that leads to legalism

a. can be seen throughout society

b. giving up, sacrifice becomes a source of pride (I’m doing it, your not)

B. Reason for Fasting

1.Forgetting the reason for a rule is nothing new

2. Sin has a way of twisting good things and good intent, turning them into damaging things

3. This was the issue with the Pharisees, “Why aren’t your disciples fasting?”

4. They viewed their ability to fast not as an act to draw closer to God (original intent), but as a legalistic tool - a way to judge others and to check boxes for themselves

5. If we’re not careful we like to check boxes forgetting the intent of the exercise

a. read my Bible, check; prayed, check; went to church, check; sang a song, check;

b. we get to checking the boxes forgetting the real intent - to worship and draw closer to God

6. Fasting is to be an act of worship expressing dependence on God

7. Fasting can be twisted into an act of trying to earn God’s favor instead of about God’s grace

8. one of the dangers in of fasting to gain God’s favor is we focus so much on fasting we lose the ability to feast.

a. the Pharisees had lost it and so can we

b. fasting is not supposed to be practiced at the expense of the feast

c. fasting should draw us closer to the Lord during both the sacrifice and the time of praise, the feasting

II. The Pharisees and Fasting

A. The Pharisees added to the law

1. The Pharisees followed a strict interpretation of the law but they also added to it making it difficult for people to follow

a. the law called for certain fast to take place

1) annual fast on the Day of Atonement

2) four others added after the return from exile

3) the annual fast found in Esther

b. Pharisees fasted twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday)

2. The Pharisees were doing more than law commanded, which isn’t bad (OT mentions all kinds of reasons to fast)

a. they began to sin when they commanded others to follow an example not mandated by the law and then judge them if they didn’t

b. They prided themselves in doing the right thing but they interpreted what was right

c. Their practice was not helping in the worship of God

3. They were practicing what they deemed right, fasting but Jesus and His disciples were not

B. The Pharisees didn’t understand what was happening

1. Jesus came to fulfill the law (Matt 5:17) which means he embodies the intent of the Law (see it in him)

a. What the Pharisees saw a Jesus breaking the law (the Sabbath) was really Jesus getting back to the heart of the law, which is about love, grace and connecting with God in a meaningful way

b. The law is about loving God and loving others

c. Galatians 5:14 (NIV) — 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

d. The focus of The Ten Commandments is on love for God and others

e. Love is the heart of the Law but with love forgotten it was misinterpreted and twisted into legalism

2. The Pharisees and John’s disciples were so busy trying to work out the law they missed the presence of the Messiah in their midst

a. Jesus told them his disciples were not fasting because the bridegroom was with them

b. this was not a time of mourning or sorrow, it was a time to celebrate and feast because that is what you do at a wedding

c. It was a new day, a new reality had come

1) can’t put a new cloth on an old garment or new wine in old wineskins

2) Can’t put what is on or into what is

3) Jesus had come fulfilling the law

d. The Pharisees were fasting because they saw no reason to feast

1) they were looking for someone to meet their expectations and missed Jesus

2) wanted a political or religious leader to overthrow Rome

3) wanted a Messiah to come in grandeur, riding on a white stallion, but He came in humility and they missed it

4) They wanted the kingdom to come the way they wanted and desired

5) they thought by working hard to keep the law they would have a relationship with God

3. Do we miss God because of our unmet expectations?

a. we expect God to do a certain thing, act a certain way, that we miss what God is doing

b. we really don’t have room to criticize the Pharisees

1) They were trying to seek after God thinking their legalism was honoring God

2) Remember Saul/Paul, the Pharisee of Pharisees who thought he was doing the will of God persecuting the church

c. They didn’t understand but they were trying to honor God the best way they knew how

1) Their issue wasn’t with the original intent - the desire to honor God

2) The problem was they lost sight of the original intent

3) their focus was not on love and grace but who was right

4) they worked harder and did more than was expected from the law because holiness was a competition to be won when in reality its about a state of relationship with God

III. God desires a people of love

A. Following rules won’t make us holy

1. Sometimes, like the Pharisees, we believe our actions will make us holy

2. We layout the rules to create a sense of holiness

3. You got to keep the rules

4. When the rules are not kept, we see people as needing to be fixed rather than seeing them as created in the image of God

5. The rules present a standard that is impossible to keep so we can’t have a relationship with God because we can’t keep the rule

6. God becomes a vindictive, punishing judge

7. Problem is it’s about keeping the rules - about our effort not God’s grace

8. We have a life to live but it’s to be lived in love

B. Holiness is rooted in love, not in our effort

1. Mildred Bangs Wynkoop said in her book A Theology of Love: “Love takes the harshness out of holiness. Love takes the incredibility out of Perfection. Love takes the antinomianism out of faith. Love takes the moralism out of obedience. Love takes the gnosticism out of cleaning. Love takes the abstraction out of truth. Love puts the personal into truth. Love puts the ethical into holiness. Love puts process into life. Love puts urgency into crisis. Love puts seriousness into sin. Love puts fellowship into perfection.”

2. Love and holiness lead us to action

a. not action to earn something

b. action motivated by our relationship with God

3. The primary action toward holiness is the action of God toward humanity.

4. The Holy Spirit brings about holiness in the lives of people

a. Prevenient grace draws people to the heart of God

b. Saving grace draws people into relationship with God

c. Sanctifying grace transforms people into holy people who reflect God

d. The incarnation of Jesus shows us God will go to any length to have a relationship with us

e. God desires to restore humanity, relationships and all of creation

f. The Kingdom of God comes making all things new and holy

5. When we focus on our effort, we miss God working in our world

a. the Kingdom of God is already here because of Jesus but it is not yet complete

b. It is the here but not yet kingdom

c. Jesus initiated the new kingdom, and we bring the kingdom on earth when we act in love, do what is just and live lives of humility and grace, and exhibit righteousness

C. We must temper fasting with feasting

1. In a time set aside for fasting, like Lent, we don’t fast our of guilt or legalism or to check the box but out of a desire to be formed more like Christ

a. Our fasting should cause us to reflect on how deeply God loves us and on our love for God

b. Our fasting should move us at act in love toward those around us

c. Our fasting should be a way we see the kingdom of God lived out in our world

d. our fasting is to be an act of worship

2. During the season of Lent, every Sunday is a feasting day

a. feasting is as much a part of Lent as fasting

b. feasting reminds us the bridegroom has come and Christ has left the Holy Spirit to be present with us

c. feasting also reminds us Christ will come again to restore all things

3. Feasting is also a spiritual disciple

a. We need to learn to celebrate well, to receive and praise the goodness of God

b. we’re quick to share our misery, darkness but slow to celebrate the light, the love the goodness of God

c. God desires to redeem us and all things, making all things holy

d. when we feast, we celebrate the hope and love of God for ourselves and our world

D. We feast and fast for the fulfillment of the kingdom of God

1. Jesus’ disciples didn’t fast because Jesus was with them

a. In the same way, we feast because of the hope we have in the confidence that Christ has come

b. We feast because of the hope Christ’s resurrection brings

c. We feast because of the hope of Christ’s return

2. We fast as well because the Kingdom of God has not yet been fully realized

a. we fast to draw closer to Christ while we wait for his return

b. we fast to create space to hear God more clearly

c. we fast to make room for God to work in His way in the world

d. we fast for our world that all things will be redeemed

e. we fast to commune with God who loves us very much

IV. We are to fast and feast

A. Do you remember why you started fasting in the first place?

Is it to just check the box and say I did it

2. Is it to try to earn some favor with God?

3. Are you fasting out of legalism/

4. Are you fasting to have communion with God and experience His grace and love in a fresh new way in your life

B. We fast for a reason but we also need to feast during the fast

God is with us

the bridegroom has come and is coming again

We need to celebrate the goodness and graciousness of God reminding ourselves and others of just how much God loves us

C. As you journey through Lent, a time of fasting, may you be reminded of God love for you and enter in sweet fellowship with Him that result in you breaking out in celebration and feasting in His presence.

D. A sacred invitation has been offered to you to fast and feast in the presence of God.

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