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Sermon by Pastor Dennis – “Practice the Christian Discipline of Fasting”
Matthew 6:16-18 – Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward….
As Christians we must believe and know that the Lord is our present help in time of trouble. Jesus Christ is our present help! Sometimes, we are chastened by the Lord because of our sins and rebellion. This psalm of David shows that God permitted this turmoil in David’s life due to his rebellion of murder and adultery. The Bible shows that David confessed his sins and was forgiven by God but reaped the consequences and bitterness of his sins.
Including:
•Death of the son that was born from his adultery
•The rape of his daughter
•The slaying of his sons Adonijah, Ammon and Absalom
David put his trust strong in the Lord during these times. David knew that God was his shield. Even though David brought a lot of his own troubles, he continuously sought the Lord. David was haunted by the treachery of his son Absalom. Even in the midst of all of David’s troubles he knew that the Lord would lift up his head.
We must take lesson from David to know that in times like these we must lift up our eyes in prayer. In Psalms 3:4, David cried unto the Lord with his voice and was heard from by the Lord of heaven.
In this psalm David not only prayed but expected to receive an answer from the Lord concerning victory. This should be our pattern while living here on this earth. We are constantly going through trials, tribulations, hurts and disappointments. Sometimes, these are from people that are really close to us just like David with his son Absalom. Like David we should put our trust in the Lord and run to Him in prayer. After our praying we are to expect victory and not defeat. David went as far to say that he would not be afraid of the tens of thousands of people that would set themselves against him.
Like David we should not fear our supposed enemies but stand strong to see the glory of God fulfilled. Finally we should not carry grudges against people, but should ask for God’s blessing upon them.
While Jesus was on the cross he stated to forgive his accusers and persecutors “for they know not what they do.” We also see the first martyrs Stephen in the book of Acts, asking for the forgiveness of his persecutors as he was being stoned. Only Jesus can give us this type of love in our hearts as we seek him through prayer.
Matthew 5:13: Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
While Jesus was on earth, He encouraged those that followed Him by saying “Ye are the salt of the earth”. In real life, one the most important minerals that a human being relies upon is salt. Yes, salt is a valuable to human beings, especially concerning health benefits.
This mandate that Jesus gave to believers should not be looked upon as an option. When people of the world look at a Christian there should be a desire kindled to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Salt creates thirst, and this thirst in an unbeliever’s life should be for the Living Water of the Word of God. Jesus said we are also the Light of the World and that a city set upon a hill cannot be hid. We are to be an example of Godly living to the unbeliever.
Matthew 5:14: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Daily we should seek to “see if we be of God”. Christians grow cold on the Lord on a daily basis. We must keep our relationship with the Lord on fire so that we do not compromise the Word of God. Jesus wants every person that is in sin to be able to come to Him and repent for their sins and be made whole. We as Christians are the conduit for the Lord in fulfilling the “Great Commission.”
Matthew 28:18-20: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Christians are to be evangelistic and take every opportunity to be the light of the world and lead someone to Jesus Christ.
Jesus gaining lost souls is the central message of the Gospel and we must have this message in the center of our hearts.
1 John 4:7: Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
The book of Isaiah shows us that the iniquities of man separated him from God.
Isaiah 59:2: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Mankind has been separated from God due to the sins of Adam, according to the Word of God in the book of Genesis. We can see that God look for Adam in the garden to fellowship as He did in days past and Adam was hiding from the Lord.
Genesis 3:8: And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
The displeasure and curse of God was upon Adam and all following generations because of this great sin. Man became “children of wrath” and is sentenced to eternal punishment. God had to intervene or else mankind would be lost forever. Man could never redeem himself from this great gap.
God in His great Love did for mankind what was not possible for man to do for himself. Man needed a way to reconnect with the throne of God and have fellowship. Currently, the only way that any person can have fellowship with God is through forgiveness of the sin of Adam and through blood being shed according to the Old Testament and New Testament of the Bible.
Leviticus 17:11: For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
Hebrews 9:22: And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Without a sacrifice mankind would not have been able to come to the throne of God and experience the Grace of God. This sacrifice was the offering of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. This sacrifice meant that the wrath of God against the sin of man was satisfied, man gives himself to God wholly, God is again joined in fellowship with man and is at peace with him.
In the language of the Bible we are talking about Salvation. Salvation is based on faith that is not based on anything else but Jesus Christ. After our initial profession of Christ and repentance from sin, we as Christians must be mindful to confess other sins that are committed along the way. Dedication and faithfulness to the Spirit of God is a must. Be thankful for the Lord did for you on Calvary and thank him as you earnestly seek Him on a daily basis.
