Prayer & fasting - Mt.6:5-8,16-18Prayer & fasting - Mt.6:5-8,16-18

1, How not to pray1, How not to pray

a. Don’t pray to people –v.5a. Don’t pray to people –v.5

- we want to impress others- we want to impress others

- we copy others- we copy others

INSTEADINSTEAD

1. Be alone with God1. Be alone with God

2. There are rich treasures2. There are rich treasures

NB – Jesus is not against public/corporate prayingNB – Jesus is not against public/corporate praying

b. Don’t pray to impress Godb. Don’t pray to impress God

We foolishly think to impress God by:-We foolishly think to impress God by:-

1. Many words –v.71. Many words –v.7

2. Manner of our praying2. Manner of our praying

INSTEAD INSTEAD – think of who you are coming to:-– think of who you are coming to:-

1. Your father1. Your father

2. The God who sees & knows everything2. The God who sees & knows everything

2. How not to fast2. How not to fast

a. Don’t fast to impress others –v.16a. Don’t fast to impress others –v.16Fasting – humbling yourself before God – Fasting – humbling yourself before God –

repentance – Ps.35:13; Jonah 3:5,6repentance – Ps.35:13; Jonah 3:5,6b. Times of fasting – “When you fast”b. Times of fasting – “When you fast” - Day of Atonement – Lev.16:19-34- Day of Atonement – Lev.16:19-34 - National emergency – 2Chron.20:1-4; Esther4:6; - National emergency – 2Chron.20:1-4; Esther4:6;

Dan.10:2,3Dan.10:2,3 - Seeking God – Ezra8:21-23; Mt.4:1,2; Acts 9:9; - Seeking God – Ezra8:21-23; Mt.4:1,2; Acts 9:9;

13:1-313:1-3Cf. Pharisees – Lk.18:12Cf. Pharisees – Lk.18:12

c. Motives for fasting c. Motives for fasting

1. A healthy body1. A healthy body

2. To share with others2. To share with others

3. To feast on God3. To feast on God

a. Deal with desires that hinder feastinga. Deal with desires that hinder feasting

b. Receive his rich treasures – forgiveness b. Receive his rich treasures – forgiveness & grace& grace

d. The rewards of fasting- v.17,18d. The rewards of fasting- v.17,18

1. Greater freedom – v.171. Greater freedom – v.17

2. Stimulates a greater hunger for God2. Stimulates a greater hunger for God

3. Greater knowledge & enjoyment of God –3. Greater knowledge & enjoyment of God –Ps.16:11; 34:8; 63:1,3-5Ps.16:11; 34:8; 63:1,3-5

4. Increased passion for the spread of the 4. Increased passion for the spread of the GospelGospel

3. Encouragement for strugglers3. Encouragement for strugglers

a. God loves to bless & use humble, imperfect a. God loves to bless & use humble, imperfect servantsservants

b. Jesus prays for strugglers – Lk.22:31; b. Jesus prays for strugglers – Lk.22:31; John17:15; Heb.7:25John17:15; Heb.7:25

c. Come as you are, with the attitudes of:-c. Come as you are, with the attitudes of:-

1. Sincerity1. Sincerity

2. Secrecy2. Secrecy

3. Simplicity3. Simplicity

4. Expectancy - Eph.3:204. Expectancy - Eph.3:20