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The Pilgrim Path (6-27-2020)

The Pilgrim Path---Matthew 6: 16—18 

And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their face that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 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.

MORE OF GOD

When you read Lloyd-Jones, Piper, Whitney, Mathis---Carmichael, you realize that one of the chief concerns in fasting is that I’ve come to the place where it’s apparent: my affections for HIM are not as fervent as they were. Other matters---have mattered more. I need God. He must become preeminent. His kingdom must become the chief concern of my life. Is that important to me?

Note: The Lord Jesus said, “When you fast.” He believed there would be times when it would be necessary for me to forgo food (or perhaps other seemingly necessary things), in order to seek God and pray. This devotion is learned and lived over time. It adds fabric to the soul and genuine substance to faith. Check with your doctor if necessary but begin to understand the spiritual value and soul obligation of this discipline.

John Piper says fasting is the, “hungry handmaiden of prayer---that reveals and remedies” ---

“She reveals the measure of food’s mastery over us---or television or computers or whatever we submit to again and again to conceal the weakness of our hunger for God. And she remedies by intensifying the earnestness of our prayer and saying with our whole body what prayer says with the heart: I long to be satisfied in God alone!”

FASTING---DONE FOR A PURPOSE / Dr. Donald Whitney

---strengthen prayer---Ezra 8:23 / Joel 2: 12-17

---seek God’s guidance ---Acts---14: 23

---express grief for sin---Judges 20: 26

---seek deliverance or protection---II Chronicles 20: 3, 4

---express repentance and return to God---Jonah 3: 5-8

---humble oneself before God---Psalm 35: 15

---express concern for the work of God---Daniel 9: 3 / Nehemiah 1: 3, 4

---minister to the needs of others---Isaiah 58: 6, 7

---overcome temptation / dedicate yourself to God---Matthew 4: 1-11

---express love and worship to God---Luke 2: 37

SOME HELPS IN FASTING:

---Start small / one meal a week—work your way up to a day long (David Mathis)

---Plan what you will do---design a “focus” to replace your eating time

---Consider how your “fast” will affect others (family—schedules, etc.,)

---Try different kinds of fasts---private / corporate / partial / small group

---You might “fast” from something beside food: TV---Social Media…

---Do not be in bondage to place (Amy Carmichael)

---Do not be discouraged if you do not at “first” seem to get anywhere---Psalm 46: 10

---Do not feel it necessary to pray the whole time / Listen to God—by The Word / I Kings 3: 9

---Do not forget: the devil likes to distract us. Send him away (Matthew 4: 4, 7, 10)

---Do not feel like a failure: You will have spent time with the LORD---Psalm 63: 9

“It is our folly to divide our narrow and little love. It is best to give it all to Christ. Lay no more on the earthly, than it can carry. Lay your soul and your weights upon God; make him your only and best beloved. Your errand in this life is to make sure an eternity of glory for your soul, and to match your soul with Christ. Your love, if it could be more than all the angels in one, would be Christ’s due. Look up to him and love him. O, love and live! My counsel is, that you come out and leave the multitude, and let Christ have your company. Let those who love this present world have it, but Christ is a more worthy and noble portion; blessed are those who have him.” Samuel Rutherford

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ Our Risen LORD, Pastor Jason