Our Lord Jesus Invites us to Our Lord Jesus Invites us to follow Him on the journey of follow Him on the journey of

LentLent

Our Lord Jesus Our Lord Jesus Christ leads us Christ leads us to offer fasting to offer fasting

to Godto God

What is fasting?What is fasting?

It is a period of time where someone It is a period of time where someone stops eating or drinking .stops eating or drinking .

If you read the word break-fast, it If you read the word break-fast, it does mean that it is the first meal we does mean that it is the first meal we eat after fasting for a period of time. eat after fasting for a period of time. We break our fastWe break our fast

Why do we fast?Why do we fast?

Why the lent is an important fasting in Why the lent is an important fasting in our church?our church?

We fast the forty days that our Lord Jesus We fast the forty days that our Lord Jesus Christ fasted before he started his service.Christ fasted before he started his service.

It is followed by the holy week, we It is followed by the holy week, we remember the passion of Christ and the remember the passion of Christ and the salvation on the cross.salvation on the cross.

We fast before celebrating the resurrectionWe fast before celebrating the resurrection

It is an important period ,chance to get our It is an important period ,chance to get our spiritual need filledspiritual need filled

How do we fast?How do we fast? We usually abstain from eating or We usually abstain from eating or

drinking for a period of time followed drinking for a period of time followed by eating vegetarian foodby eating vegetarian food

No meats or dairy products during No meats or dairy products during the fasting time.the fasting time.

It is It is not onlynot only about food there is a about food there is a meaning for every thingmeaning for every thing

Why do we eat vegetarian food?Why do we eat vegetarian food?

Our Lord teaching about fastingOur Lord teaching about fasting Matthew 6Matthew 6 Fasting to Be Seen Only by GodFasting to Be Seen Only by God       

16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the 16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who Father who isis in the secret in the secret place;place; and your Father and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly”.who sees in secret will reward you openly”.

Why do we fast?Why do we fast? In fasting we offer ourselves and our free In fasting we offer ourselves and our free

will to God , so he can guide and control will to God , so he can guide and control my life for the better.my life for the better.

Good Fasting should be accompanied by Good Fasting should be accompanied by prayers and almsgiving prayers and almsgiving

More time we spend with God we got to More time we spend with God we got to know him better and follow his know him better and follow his commandments.commandments.

We grow spiritually so would be stronger We grow spiritually so would be stronger in facing the temptations {the temptation in facing the temptations {the temptation on the mountainon the mountain

What is the reward we will get What is the reward we will get We grow closer to God, we grow more in We grow closer to God, we grow more in

faithfaith We trust in God and his promises as Jesus We trust in God and his promises as Jesus

said in his prayer in the garden “Let it be said in his prayer in the garden “Let it be your will”.your will”.

We experience the miracles of fasting and We experience the miracles of fasting and prayers……..remember some of the prayers……..remember some of the miracles happened in the church with miracles happened in the church with fasting and prayerfasting and prayer

Of the whole church.Of the whole church.

St Peter Freed from PrisonSt Peter Freed from Prison

Acts 12:3-17Acts 12:3-17 ““he proceeded further to seize Peter he proceeded further to seize Peter

also. Now it was also. Now it was duringduring the Days of the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put arrested him, he put himhim in prison, in prison, and delivered and delivered himhim to four squads of to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after bring him before the people after Passover”. Passover”.

He means Herod the kingHe means Herod the king

Peter Freed from PrisonPeter Freed from Prison   "  "  

5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant[5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant[aa] ] prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.” immediately the angel departed from him.”

Peter Freed from PrisonPeter Freed from Prison 11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, 11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said,

“Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” 12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the 12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15 But announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15 But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” angel.” 16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they 16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep 17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place” Acts 12 :3-17departed and went to another place” Acts 12 :3-17

The miracle of moving the The miracle of moving the mountainmountain

Matthew 17:20Matthew 17:20So Jesus said to them, “Because of So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I your unbelief; for assuredly, I saysay to to you, if you have you, if you have faithfaith as a as a mustardmustard seedseed, you , you willwill saysay to this to this mountainmountain, ‘, ‘MoveMove fromfrom herehere to to there,’ and it there,’ and it willwill movemove; and nothing ; and nothing willwill be impossible for you. be impossible for you.

The miracle of moving the The miracle of moving the mountainmountain

Pope Abram prayed and fasted and Pope Abram prayed and fasted and asked all the Christians to pray and asked all the Christians to pray and fast for 3 daysfast for 3 days

At the end of the 3 days St. Mary At the end of the 3 days St. Mary appeared to him and told him that appeared to him and told him that the Lord heard your prayers and he the Lord heard your prayers and he will deliver you and all the Christians. will deliver you and all the Christians. “ “The Lord will fight for you and The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace”you shall hold your peace”

The miracle of moving the The miracle of moving the mountainmountain

You know that the You know that the Mokattam Mountain Mokattam Mountain still exists in Egypt still exists in Egypt and there is a big and there is a big church build there church build there inside the Mountaininside the Mountain

The Cathedral of St The Cathedral of St Mary and St Simon Mary and St Simon the Tanner the Tanner

The main cathedral in the The main cathedral in the Mokattam mountainMokattam mountain

Interior view of the cave inside the Interior view of the cave inside the big cathedral big cathedral

Biblical carving on Biblical carving on the wall of the the wall of the Cathedral at the Cathedral at the Monastery of St Monastery of St Mary and St Simon Mary and St Simon the tanner athe tanner a

The contemporary miracles of The contemporary miracles of fastingfasting

On 1981 persecutions happened against On 1981 persecutions happened against the Christian in Egypt they burned one the Christian in Egypt they burned one of the churches and killed the priestof the churches and killed the priest

The Pope standing by his people was The Pope standing by his people was found to be in default by the Governor found to be in default by the Governor and the presidentand the president

He exiled the Pope and limited his duty.He exiled the Pope and limited his duty. The whole church fasted and prayedThe whole church fasted and prayed

ConclusionConclusion Verse: “when you fast, anoint your head Verse: “when you fast, anoint your head

and wash your face, 18 so that you do not and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who Father who isis in the secret in the secret place; place; and your and your Father who sees in secret will reward you Father who sees in secret will reward you openlyopenly “ Mat 6:17,18 “ Mat 6:17,18

When we fast we offer ourselves to God, When we fast we offer ourselves to God, we grow closer to him and we grow in our we grow closer to him and we grow in our spirit, we experience the life of faith and spirit, we experience the life of faith and Trust, Trust,

we also experience the miracles of the life we also experience the miracles of the life of fasting and prayer [ the fraction prayer of fasting and prayer [ the fraction prayer dring lent]dring lent]