Sermon Tone Analysis

January 9th 2022

Series: Basics of the Faith

Sermon Title: FASTING Basics

Topic: A message on what the Bible says about fasting and the importance of fasting in our lives.

Key Passages: Various

Sermon Blurb: Have you ever wondered about fasting?

What does the Bible/Jesus tell us about fasting?

What’s the point?

In this message we will cover the basics of fasting according to the Bible.

Sermon:

Family Moment

Hello Family Church!!!

Welcome back to week 5 of our sermon series called Basics of the Faith

If you are new, or newer, to Family Church I want to let you know that EVERY January around here... we spend the month talking about things that HEALTHY followers of Jesus do.

Because it is our goal for everyone at Family Church to be a healthy & thriving follower of Jesus.

PAUSE

So, we’re wrapping up Basics of the Faith

…and if you’ve missed any of these messages, I’d encourage you to go back and listen to each message from this month

… because it is our strong hope that none of us will allow another year to go by without growing closer to Jesus…

and we believe these Basics of the Faith are fuel for the journey

PAUSE

Today we’re going to wrap this up talking about Fasting Basics.

What is fasting?... ..How do we fast?

... What’s the point of fasting?

...And so forth.

…and right out the gate, I want to give us a working definition of fasting …if you’re filling your notes in,

Fasting is abstaining from worldly cravings to amplify your spiritual connectivity .

*repeat

PAUSE

So, as we walk through this together… let’s try to get a better understanding of Fasting and why it is important for us in becoming healthier followers of Jesus.

Matthew 6

New Person Bible Talk

App Talk

While you’re turning there… let me give some quick context...

…what we’re going to read is a part of the Sermon on the Mount

If you’re new or newer to Church, the Sermon on the Mount is a teaching, by Jesus, recorded in The Gospel of Matthew

…It is noted as the greatest sermon of all time.

…It is also the longest of Jesus’ teachings that we have recorded in our Bibles, spanning over 3 chapters in Matthew 5, 6, and 7

The Sermon on the Mount is full of principles and practices that a follower of Jesus should apply in their lives IF they want to be healthy followers of Jesus…

PAUSE

And right in the middle of this great sermon, one of the principles that Jesus mentions, is the principle of fasting

So, read along with me in Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus says….

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting.

I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Pause right there… let’s note a few things here in this passage

First, did you notice the phrasing in verses 16 and 17?

…Jesus said “when…you fast”

He didn’t say “if…you fast” but “when”

….and

He says it twice

So, right this down in your notes:

Jesus expects His followers to fast.

PAUSE

And fasting is something Jesus valued in His own life as well

Matthew 4:2 it says that [Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights]

And after fasting forty days and forty nights….

Matthew 4:2

So, Jesus taught His followers to fast, He personally valued fasting, and He expects His followers to fast

PAUSE

Now, fasting was not a New Testament phenomenon or idea, it wasn’t original to Jesus when He arrived on earth

…but fasting is all throughout the Old Testament as well

We don’t have time to go into detail with these….

But there are many great men and women of Old who fasted… Moses… Daniel… David… Esther… Ezra

…often the entire nation of Israel fasted

…The Prophet Jeremiah called a fast

…The Prophet Joel called a fast

…The Prophet Zechariah called a fast

On and on, godly men and women of Old practiced fasted

PAUSE

And they fasted for a variety of reasons…

…Fasting happened during times of mourning

People fasted to humble themselves

they fasted for protection from attacks

…or deliverance from bondage

… when approaching danger

… or going through personal afflictions

People fasted during times of grief or loss

They fasted as a point of consecrating themselves to God

People fasted to hear from God and get direction/vision

They fasted as a point of confessing sin

Fasting happened when interceding in prayer for others

…There are many reasons people fasted in the Old Testament

PAUSE

Then, as we come into the New Testament, it didn’t suddenly stop.

In fact, we are almost immediately introduced to a woman named Anna, who was fasting and awaiting the Messiah

We know Jesus fasted as He prepared for ministry

John the Baptist’s disciples fasted

The Early Church leaders fasted

The Apostle Paul fasted

…On and on and on

PAUSE

Here again, the reasons for fasting in the New Testament were also plentiful

…They fasted when appointing leaders in the Church

…They fasted when making decisions

…They fasted for divine perspective

…They fasted as intercession for others

… Jesus even said that deliverance from oppression and even demonic possession often required prayer and fasting

…The reality is, Jesus expects His followers to fast, and the list of people and reasons for fasting in the Bible is vast!

LONG PAUSE