22. When You Fast

Fasting has become pretty popular from a health and dieting perspective, but its primary purpose is spiritual – to draw closer to God and reduce our dependency on ourselves and the things of this world. Jesus does not say, “If you ever get around to this thing called fasting,” He says “when you fast” (Matt. 6:16). Of course, there are motives and practices to avoid, as with all spiritual disciplines. But this passage shows us four compelling reasons to fast and the Bible gives us numerous examples of when and why God’s people did fast, culminating in the life and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus himself. Why should we fast? 1) to Focus on God; 2) to Abstain from our other dependencies; 3) to Serve God’s kingdom and; 4) to come Together in love. 

Read the message here: When You Fast

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Download a fillable outline here: When You Fast outline