WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:04.559 Fasting is basically where we say no to the physical to say yes to the spiritual. 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:06.559 And fasting is where we say, you know what? 00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:12.160 I'm not going to eat this day because I want to focus and think about spiritual things, not just physical things. 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:13.199 But here's the other thing. 00:00:13.279 --> 00:00:16.480 The Bible calls us to fasting and feasting. 00:00:16.800 --> 00:00:18.239 Fasting and feasting. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:19.920 And Jesus is a great example. 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:21.359 Jesus fasted. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:24.000 He one time he fasted for 40 days. 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:27.920 And then I love the Bible says, and Jesus was hungry. 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:29.679 I'm like, Doug, go figure. 00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:36.000 But he also enjoyed food and wine so much that people called him a glutton and a wine bibber. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:44.159 This podcast is brought to you by Grand Parkway Baptist Church, helping people to know, enjoy, and glorify God. 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:50.000 For more information about Grand Parkway, visit our website at grandparkway.org. 00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:52.000 Amen. 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:53.600 Amen, church. 00:00:53.679 --> 00:00:54.320 Let's pray together. 00:00:54.479 --> 00:01:02.399 Oh, Lord Jesus, we here to confess that when we say you brought us back to life, you didn't come to make bad people good people or good people better people. 00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:04.879 You came to make dead people alive people. 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:05.840 That's the gospel. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:18.799 And so all glory goes to God who had mercy because you're rich in mercy, and you saw us when we were dead in our trespasses and sins, incapable of doing anything to change our status and standing before God. 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:21.120 And you poured out mercy on us. 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:25.359 And so that's why we say, just like Lazarus, we're not over-exaggerating. 00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:28.079 We're magnifying your glory today, God. 00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:30.879 Thank you, Lord, that you're you're rich in mercy. 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:36.400 So there's no one in this room who has sinned so much that God cannot and will not forgive them. 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:37.599 That's a lie. 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:43.359 And so today, the Holy Spirit is just walking up and down these roads saying, Ollie, Ollie and free. 00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:45.120 Come out, come out wherever you are. 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:47.599 Because this God is rich in mercy. 00:01:47.760 --> 00:02:00.480 And so, Lord, let your mercy find us today and unwind us, illuminate the text today, Lord, as we alter and affect what we do with our body because we want to posture and position ourselves to hear and taste and see that the Lord is good. 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:02.480 And so, Holy Spirit, speak now. 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:05.439 We ask it in Jesus' name when all God's people said. 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:06.400 Amen. 00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:07.200 You can have a seat. 00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:10.719 If you've got a Bible, I invite you to take it and open it up to Matthew chapter six. 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:13.280 If you're a guest, we're preaching to the book of Matthew. 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:15.199 Uh, and we've been in chapter six. 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:16.639 This will be now our third week. 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:19.520 And I want to talk to you today about the freedom of fasting. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:20.800 The freedom of fasting. 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:22.560 And just put my cards on the table. 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:24.800 We have a churchwide fast on Thursday. 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:26.960 It's not mandatory, it's optional. 00:02:27.039 --> 00:02:30.000 You can fast for a meal, two meals the whole day. 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:31.840 That's between you and the Holy Spirit. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:34.719 Uh, but this is where we are in Matthew. 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:37.280 Uh, and let me just say a couple things about fasting. 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:42.080 Uh, fasting is basically where we say no to the physical to say yes to the spiritual. 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:49.680 And fasting is where we say, you know what, I'm not gonna eat this day because I want to focus and think about spiritual things, not just physical things. 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:54.000 But here's the other thing the Bible calls us to fasting and feasting. 00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:55.759 Fasting and feasting. 00:02:55.919 --> 00:02:57.439 And Jesus is a great example. 00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:01.520 Jesus fasted, he one time he fasted for 40 days. 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:05.520 Uh, and and and then I love the Bible says, and Jesus was hungry. 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:07.199 I'm like, Doug, go figure. 00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:13.599 Uh but he also enjoyed food and wine so much that people called him a glutton and a wine bibber. 00:03:13.919 --> 00:03:15.599 So here's what I want you to do. 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:18.479 I want you to be a person who fasts and feasts. 00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:29.280 I want people before you die to go, man, there's something about you that's really powerful, and you have a conversation about fasting, but I also want you to enjoy food and wine so much that people call you a glutton and a wine bibber. 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:31.039 There you go, there's your assignment. 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:32.800 Now you've got your goal in life, okay? 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:36.479 Now I just want to read and I'm gonna just point to what the text says. 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:40.319 So, uh Matthew chapter 6, starting in verse uh 16. 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:47.280 And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. 00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:50.000 Truly I say to you, they've received their reward. 00:03:50.159 --> 00:04:00.879 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others, but by your father who is in secret, and your father who sees in secret will reward you. 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:09.840 Now, we'll get to that part in just a little bit, because somebody stopped me last week and they said, Hey, for two weeks you've talked about that, you've read it, you didn't talk about it, how God will reward us, God will reward us. 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:11.039 How does God reward us? 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:14.319 And I said, I'll tell you next Sunday, one of the ways God rewards. 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:17.519 Now, it's not our motivation, but it is our understanding. 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:21.519 But one of the ways that God rewards you when you fast, we'll get we'll end on that today. 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:23.600 But I just want to talk about the freedom of fasting. 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:28.560 The first thing I want you to see in the text is number one, is it is assumed that Christians fast. 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:30.560 It is assumed that Christians fast. 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:32.720 I'm not saying if you don't fast, you're not a Christian. 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:37.199 Some people can't fast for medical reasons, or I take medication, or I'm diabetic, or whatever. 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:39.920 I don't want to put you back under the law with that statement. 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:41.120 So let me clarify. 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:45.120 The goal of any spiritual discipline is more freedom. 00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:53.680 The goal of any spiritual discipline is that you come out of that just understanding your freedom in Christ a little more than you did before. 00:04:53.839 --> 00:04:57.600 Uh, and so you what do you mean it's assumed that Christians fast? 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:02.240 Three times in Matthew 6, Jesus says, and win and win and win. 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:07.600 He doesn't say, and if, uh, and if you want the Texans to win today, you should fast on Saturday. 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:09.439 Uh yes, yes. 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:14.079 I saw somebody, no names, Kovak wearing his throwback JJ Watt jersey. 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:18.079 Hey, newsflash, JJ doesn't play for the Texans anymore. 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:19.279 But I digress. 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:21.839 But anyway, yeah, yeah, see, here's the thing. 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:24.000 If you're not careful, fasting can get twisted. 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:27.600 It's kind of where we think we can manipulate God into doing what we want God to do. 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:31.120 And I just want to say it's assumed that Christians will fast. 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:34.480 And there's three behaviors, I call it the assumed life. 00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:41.839 Three behaviors in Matthew 60 says, when you give to the needy, what's that big pile of clothes out there that is men in our church they're saying, you know what? 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:44.720 These are just the crumbs that have fallen from a rich man's table. 00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:46.079 I don't need these anymore. 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:47.600 Thank God for GLP. 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:49.680 I've shrunk down, I can't wear these anymore. 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:52.079 Whatever your motivation is, it's piling up. 00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:54.319 We've taken two loads, we'll take another load this week. 00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:56.240 Next week is the last Sunday. 00:05:56.319 --> 00:06:03.920 Uh, but when you give to the needy, when you pray and when you fast, it is assumed that these are behaviors that Christians engage in. 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:05.600 Let me give you a couple things about fasting. 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:10.800 Number one, we fast to nourish our hunger for God and to reduce our hunger for the world. 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:15.920 We fast to nourish our hunger for God and reduce our hunger for the world. 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:23.279 Because our hunger for the world, it is pumped and promoted at us in advertising all day, every day, 24-7. 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:28.480 You ever notice you search for something on your phone and then 30 minutes later you get an ad about that same product? 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:30.079 Yes, yeah. 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:35.759 They they are you they are hardwired, and you are hardwired uh to increase your hunger for the world. 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:37.839 Here's the second thing I would say about fasting. 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:43.519 We fast because our physical appetites are so intense that they threaten to overwhelm our hunger for God. 00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:47.279 Our physical appetites, like you want to have an interesting lunch conversation? 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:48.319 Ask somebody this. 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:51.439 Hey, do you have any physical appetites that concern you? 00:06:52.319 --> 00:07:00.800 Do you have any physical appetites that are so big, so deeply ingrained in you by your behavior that, man, I should be a little concerned about this. 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:03.040 My posture towards food is not healthy. 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:04.160 What does that mean? 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:06.800 That means you don't just, you know, I'm hungry, I eat. 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:08.879 I'm lonely, I'm sad, I eat. 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:10.959 That's comfort-based behavior, okay? 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:14.399 Here's the third thing, and this may be a little abstract to some of you. 00:07:14.639 --> 00:07:21.199 Fasting allows you to take control of your physical appetite, which allows you to then take control of your emotional appetite. 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:28.399 Fasting allows you to take control of your physical appetite, so you can then take control of your emotional appetite. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:33.680 A lot of what we do in the physical is really a response to what we don't understand about our emotions. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:35.120 They drive us. 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:39.519 Like, that's why if you go to counseling or therapy, you get asked a lot, well, how'd that make you feel? 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:40.720 How'd that make you feel? 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:41.920 How'd that make you feel? 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:47.199 And at some point you're like, I didn't pay$175, you'd asked me the same question 50 times. 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:52.160 What they're trying to get you to do is say, hey, get out of the physical and get into the emotional. 00:07:52.319 --> 00:08:00.079 And when you fast, it allows you to take control of the physical appetite, which allows you to then take control of your emotional appetite. 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:04.000 Because a lot of times what we do in the physical is driven by our emotions. 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:10.399 Even if we can't access or get in touch with those emotions, they have incredibly power over our behavior. 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:13.600 I love what John Piper said in his book, The A Hunger for God. 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:18.879 He said, the greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:20.879 Yeah. 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:24.720 The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:32.080 It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetites for heaven, but mindless nibbling at the table of the world. 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:33.600 Hear that last part. 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:36.559 Mindless nibbling at the table of the world. 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:37.519 What does that look like? 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:38.799 It looks like this. 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:41.919 For hours. 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:51.679 When you work somewhere and you're on your phone, instead of giving me customer service, you're just nibbling at the table of the world. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:57.919 And by the way, the world is hardwired to inform and influence your appetites. 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:01.519 This is why fasting is such a powerful reality. 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:03.039 Now, here's what I also know. 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:06.720 I'm probably not going to say anything to any of you today that's going to make you go, you know what? 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:08.080 I'm going to fast on Thursday. 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:10.720 I've never done it before, but that teaching was so powerful. 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:17.440 Matter of fact, it's typically an experience and not a teaching that changes your mind or makes your mind up about fasting. 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:21.200 For me, it happened in uh June of 1991. 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:29.519 I'm at a youth camp in Florida, uh, and and they said, Hey, you're speaking at night, and then uh our kids are in Bible study tracks in the morning. 00:09:29.679 --> 00:09:30.960 Would you speak to our youth workers? 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:31.840 I said, Absolutely. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:32.879 What do you want me to talk about? 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:34.240 They said, anything. 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:35.679 So I prayed. 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:39.200 One of the mornings, I very clearly heard the Lord say, I want you to talk to him about fasting. 00:09:39.279 --> 00:09:41.200 And I was like, that's not very sexy. 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:42.159 And these are youth workers. 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:45.039 I gotta pump them up and tell them, hey, you're you're shape of the next generation. 00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:47.279 The Holy Spirit's like, nope, talk about fasting. 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:49.200 So that morning I talked about fasting. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:52.399 After it was over, Sam, the worship leader, said, Hey, you want to go for a walk? 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:53.279 And I said, Yeah. 00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:59.519 We're walking, we walk out of the camp ground down this down this road, uh, and there's a trailer park right there. 00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:04.240 And you never see movement out of the corner of your eye, and right when you see it, you're like, there's something different about that. 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:06.159 That ain't right, that ain't normal. 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:08.960 On this day, it was that's headed for me. 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:20.960 And what was headed for me was an old woman in a snap-up moo moo, she got at Walmart for like$6.97, and she was hunched over like a question mark with feet, and she had the angle on us. 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:29.840 She had us cut off, and we're on the left side of the road, just kind of walking out of the campground out into the world, and I see her, and I'm kind of like, I'm gonna give her some room and hey, let's just cross over. 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:35.200 And we crossed over, and she just flattened out her route and went on a deep, skinny post to the end zone. 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:43.519 And I'm like, she is coming for us, and we're having a conversation, and my friend Sam's like, hey, I never heard anybody talking about fasting at a youth camp. 00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:45.519 Matter of fact, I don't think I've ever heard any sermon about fasting. 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:46.720 So we're talking about fasting. 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:52.559 And I'm like, hey man, this is I I don't know how to describe her other than she was like someone's gypsy grandma. 00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:58.639 Wrinkled up, about 110 years old, very, very beautiful, dark olive complexion. 00:10:58.879 --> 00:11:03.039 And she she's walking and she, and I'm like, just pick up the pace, and he's like, oh dude. 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:06.000 And finally she cuts us off and she just looks up. 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:13.759 Never seen this woman in my she looks up and said, fasting is where God releases his power and walked off. 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:19.200 And my friend Sam grabbed my arm and he went, What? 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:21.279 What just happened? 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:23.200 And I said, I think that's confirmation. 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:25.759 Because when I was teaching, I was like, they don't care about this. 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:28.639 I mean, they want me to tell them how to be better youth workers. 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:33.440 And she just walked off, and I was like, I opened my mouth to say something, nothing came out. 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:36.960 And she's walking off, and she looks back over her shoulder and goes. 00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:41.759 And like, I want whatever she's drinking, okay? 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:44.639 That was June of 1991. 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:47.279 I've never thought the same about fasting since then. 00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:54.399 And so, what you should pray, uh ideally, teaching does it, uh, but but usually it's an experience. 00:11:54.559 --> 00:12:00.480 Have you had an experience in and around fasting that has forever changed the way you think about it? 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:02.480 Here's the second thing I want you to see in the text. 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:04.159 Facts fasting is for God. 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:05.279 Fasting is for God. 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:13.360 He said, When you fast, so soon behavior, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces, that their fasting may be seen by others. 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:16.879 Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:18.799 Now, what do you mean fasting is for God? 00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:20.080 Hear that part again. 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:23.200 They disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:28.879 Basically, they become unrecognizable so that somebody will recognize them. 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:30.240 Hear it again. 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:31.279 They become unrecognized. 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:31.840 What do you do? 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:42.799 They wouldn't fix their hair, the hair would be messed up, their clothes would be all tattered, uh, they'd look sad, neglected, they put ashes, smear ashes on their face, or put dirt on their head. 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:48.720 It's kind of like you don't walk into work on Thursday and you're just like, Bob, sorry, I'm a little bit late. 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:50.159 I'm fasting today. 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:51.600 I'm a little peckish. 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:52.799 Bear down and pray for me. 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:54.960 Can I get wheelchair assists, get to my office? 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:56.480 I don't think I can make it. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:13:01.440 No, no, but this is what people did because they wanted everyone to know what they were doing. 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:05.039 Fasting for them was to manage people's impression of them. 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:08.480 And the Bible says fasting, when we fast, it is for God. 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:14.879 We're saying, hey, I got some hungers in me that only God understands and only God can speak to. 00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:18.399 So I'm saying no to the physical to say yes to the spiritual. 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:21.440 And this is what I mean when I say fasting is for God. 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:33.279 Now, this is easy to say to hard to do because it's increasingly difficult for this to be a behavior that is between Christians and their God because our culture has discovered this thing called intermittent fasting. 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:34.080 Okay? 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:35.919 Now stay with me, okay? 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:40.000 Because a lot of people in our church are doing it, a lot of people in our church have lost a lot of weight, feel better. 00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:42.320 A man stopped me this morning and said, I've been doing it for eight years. 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:43.759 I want to talk to you about it sometime. 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:46.080 I'm like, I can't hear another talk about it, okay? 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:47.279 I know all about it. 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:50.799 Intermittent fasting is where you you you you you don't eat all the time. 00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:52.639 I'm like, does anybody eat all the time? 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:53.600 But we'll stop there. 00:13:53.759 --> 00:14:01.519 Uh you don't eat, and so your bodies are hardwired by God to for the molecular structure to rid your cells of the toxins, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:05.600 My favorite is somebody in our church told me, was tell me about intermittent fasting. 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:07.039 And I was like, I think it's great. 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:07.679 You lost weight. 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:10.639 And he goes, Yeah, I'm killing two birds with one stone. 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:16.639 And I said, Because I'm full of hope, not really. 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:18.240 No. 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:21.200 Intermittent fasting is for you. 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:24.480 Fasting that the Bible talks about is for God. 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:26.480 Nothing wrong with intermittent fasting. 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:33.200 But you can't say, hey, I'm down 47 pounds, and God, break me off a blessing, reward me because I'm fasting. 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:35.360 I lost you right there. 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:36.399 Did you feel it? 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:37.519 Marco. 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:41.759 Y'all are like, where'd you go? 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:44.480 Again, nothing wrong with intermittent fasting. 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:46.080 I think it's wonderful. 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:48.720 That's not the kind of fasting the Bible talks about. 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:50.080 It's a different motive. 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:52.080 This fasting is for God. 00:14:52.240 --> 00:15:00.399 So when people talk to me about the cell structure and how the cells are wired by God to cleanse the body of the other toxins, I'm not listening. 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:08.720 All I hear and see in my spirit is this old gypsy grandma sinking up on me and going, fasting is where God releases his power. 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:11.759 She might as well spit in my hair and walked off. 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:14.960 It so dysregulated me. 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:19.440 I was like, you are crazy, and I want to have lunch with you, lady. 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:24.159 When we embrace the simple truth that fasting is for God, two things happen. 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:26.960 Number one, it eliminates anybody having to know. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:31.440 Nobody has to know about this part of your life. 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:32.879 Ask yourself this question. 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:37.840 In this social media culture, how much of your life remains hidden? 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:39.440 Nobody knows about. 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:44.320 And I don't mean in a bad way, I mean in a good way. 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:48.320 Like I did a good thing and I didn't put it on social media. 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:52.879 I did the right thing and I didn't tell anybody. 00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:56.879 See, that that's not the way we are. 00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:59.600 We are a publicity uh uh culture. 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:03.279 And so when you embrace the truth that fasting is for God, two things happen. 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:05.600 Number one, it eliminates anybody having to know. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:08.320 Secondly, it affects what I do while I fast. 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:13.840 It affects what I do while I fast because there's fasting and there's what you do on that day while you fast. 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:23.440 Because historically in the Bible and in history, people have done the right things for the wrong reasons, and it has no record, God has no record of He didn't even recognize it. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:24.399 Let me say it again. 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:26.080 I'll show you two examples in the Bible. 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:35.200 People have historically and for a long time done the right things for the wrong reason, for the wrong motive, and God does not even recognize it. 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:37.360 You say, What do you mean? 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:48.639 This is from Zachariah, Old Testament, chapter 7, in the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Kizlev. 00:16:48.879 --> 00:17:03.279 Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharesar and Regamelech and their men to entreat the favor of the Lord, saying to the priests of the house of the Lord of hosts and the prophets, Should I weep and abstain in the fifth month as I've done for so many years? 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:04.720 Now, stop right there, look at me. 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:06.160 You hear what they're saying? 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:10.400 Sometimes the Bible talks in a way it's kind of like I'm trying to follow what he's saying. 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:19.279 Basically, they said, We've been weeping, we've been sad, and we have been abstaining, we've been fasting in this fifth month for years. 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:21.519 Should we keep doing what we're doing? 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:23.359 And here's why they're asking that. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:29.440 They're starting to wonder, hey God, is this making any kind of difference to anybody but us? 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:36.960 Because we're weeping and fasting and eating cough drops and all this stuff. 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:44.880 And they just said, Hey, would you guys go ask God, you prophets, you preachers to hear from God, go ask God if this is moving the needle at all? 00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:46.400 And this is what God says. 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:47.200 Verse 4. 00:17:47.359 --> 00:18:00.640 Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me to say, say to all the people of the land and the priest, when you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh month for these 70 years, stop. 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:03.759 Seventy years. 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:08.880 Some of you in this room have been doing the right thing for the wrong reasons for so long. 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:11.200 You've you're you're tempted to quit. 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:14.400 And it's not, hey, stop doing this. 00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:17.680 It's get below behavior to motive. 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:20.000 Why am I doing this? 00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:27.119 He said, when you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh for these 70 years, was it for me that you fasted? 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:32.079 And when you eat and when you drink, did you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves? 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:37.119 See, when I say fasting is for God, it's because the Old Testament is full of examples of people. 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:38.480 It was for them. 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:40.160 I'm doing this for me. 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:44.799 This distinguishes me from all the other people that aren't as spiritual as I am. 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:47.599 Here's another example, Isaiah 58. 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:52.000 He that the people ask this question why have we fasted and you see it not? 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:55.279 Why have we humbled ourselves and you take no knowledge of it? 00:18:55.519 --> 00:19:01.039 Behold, in the day of your fast, you seek your own pleasure and you oppress all your workers. 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:07.200 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with the wicked with a wicked fist. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:13.920 Because when you fast, your body is physically a little bit peckish and you can get hangry real quick. 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:18.079 Like I have a friend when he fasts, he's not around anybody. 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:20.000 And I said, Why not? 00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:22.240 He goes, Because I'm really critical. 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:24.720 I'm short-tempered. 00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:27.440 He said, My wife caught on to it before anybody else did. 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:29.680 And she said, Why don't you be alone when you fast? 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:33.680 He said, And if I do a protracted fast, I'm almost unbearable. 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:37.359 And I said, That's not the kind of fast that God desires. 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:38.559 But look at what they said. 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:43.039 They said, Um, you fast only to quarrel and fight and to hit with a wicked fist. 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:48.960 Fasting like yours, this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:50.079 Hear that again. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:55.039 Fasting like your fasting this day will not make your voice be heard on high. 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:57.200 Is such the fast that I choose? 00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:59.279 A day for a person to humble himself? 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:04.160 Is it to bow down his head like a reed and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:08.880 Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the Lord? 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:09.519 Look at me. 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:10.720 It's that last sentence. 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:15.440 Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the Lord? 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:21.839 When you fast on Thursday when we fast, it's not just that we're not eating, it's what are we doing with the day? 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:24.079 You have to keep those two connected. 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:27.920 Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the Lord? 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:32.000 Anytime you fast, that's that's in the context of the day. 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:34.960 Make sure, be mindful of what you do with the day. 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:37.759 Not just at mealtime when I don't eat. 00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:43.039 But oh, it's a fast and a day that is acceptable to the Lord. 00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:45.039 Here's the third thing about fasting. 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:46.400 Fasting is in secret. 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:48.720 Fasting is in is in secret. 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:50.160 It's verse 18. 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:51.759 Hear this part. 00:20:52.400 --> 00:21:01.599 He says, But you when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others, but by your father who's in secret. 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:05.920 And your father who sees in secret will reward you. 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:07.039 Now hear that part. 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:09.359 And your father who sees in secret. 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:12.880 Now that cuts both ways for the Christian and the non-Christian in the room. 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:25.519 If you're here this morning, listen carefully, and you've never trusted Christ, maybe you're just exploring Christianity, maybe you had a bad experience, you're jaded, you're cynical, you're an atheist, you're an agnostic, and you're like, I don't know about any of this. 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:26.319 That's great. 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.759 I'm glad you're here. 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:37.200 But here's the thing when the Bible says, and your father who sees in secret, what that means is that God sees and knows everything about you that nobody else knows and can know. 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:45.599 And not only do you have to, hey, I gotta take credit for my life, but you've got to come up with a way to get forgiveness for all those things that you keep on the down low. 00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:48.319 Does that make sense to anybody but me? 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:53.039 And so if you're here, and I'm glad you're here, I want to be your pastor. 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:57.839 I want to take you to coffee, I want to buy you breakfast, buy you lunch, have you in my home for dinner. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.759 Because I I think we take. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:03.759 Oh well, I mean, I got things out here no one knows about, and I'm a self-made man. 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:04.640 That's great. 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:07.359 But self-made man, how are you gonna get forgiveness? 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:10.960 How are you gonna reconcile these things that are in secret that no one knows about? 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:15.200 That you've worked your whole life to keep all the down low. 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:18.319 And the Bible comes along and in one sentence blows it up. 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:21.519 And your father who sees in secret. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:33.599 This week it came out that Philip Yancey, very popular Christian writer, has been having an affair for the past eight years. 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:35.200 My phone started blowing up. 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:37.920 People are like, Oh my gosh, what do you think about this? 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:40.000 I mean, is this not devastating? 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:43.279 Not if you got your eyes on God, not man, it's not devastating at all. 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:45.440 One of my friends, like, hey, I want to have a conversation. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:46.720 I wrote back, can't talk. 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:47.359 I'm busy. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:49.279 He wrote back, what are you doing? 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:52.799 I wrote back, like you, I pastor a church. 00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:56.640 He wrote back, you got time for a phone call. 00:22:57.119 --> 00:23:00.720 I'm like, no, I'm busy. 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:02.720 What are you doing? 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:06.319 Fantasizing about hurting you. 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:11.519 When can you talk? 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:12.880 After five. 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:14.400 Why after five? 00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:19.279 Because I work too. 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:21.599 Then he calls me, 501. 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:24.559 Hey, bro, this is like, this is like devastating. 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:35.839 I've read all his books and I just said, hey, listen, if this devastates you, that a man that you don't know who's, I mean, he's a believer, but for eight years, that's not in the fair, that's a double life. 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:38.400 He said, You're not bothered by that? 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:39.119 Not at all. 00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:42.960 You can be somebody in the religious subculture and be nobody in the kingdom. 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:44.319 Look at me. 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:52.640 You should be leery of anybody that everyone loves, buys tickets to go hear them preach or sing or lead worship, and nobody knows. 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:56.960 That's what caused you to be a little like, mmm, I don't know about that. 00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:58.720 I ain't hate on that brother. 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:06.160 But it's just like, and he goes, Well, I mean, if you had to boil it down, okay, if I had to boil it down, here's what I would say. 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:06.880 Look at me. 00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:08.880 This is for all of us in this room. 00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:11.039 God sees in secret. 00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:12.640 Look at me. 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:17.119 Everything that you cover, God's gonna uncover. 00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:22.559 Everything that you uncover, God will cover with his grace and the blood of Jesus. 00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:25.279 There's nothing, there's nothing. 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:27.359 You shouldn't fear secrecy. 00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:29.119 You shouldn't fear secrecy. 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:33.759 And then the guy goes, Well, it's been a tough year for people in ministry. 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:40.000 I mean, the guy from DC talk and these preachers in Dallas, and I said, Hey, he said, Why does this not bother you? 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:41.920 I said, Because I'm talking about this Sunday. 00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:44.240