When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. —Matthew 6:16-18

Key Idea – Resist the temptation to live for presentation and continue surrendering to Christ for character formation. We must guard against the human tendency to drift toward religious hypocrisy.

Jesus wants us to practice the discipline of

.

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. —Matthew 6:16

“They said to him, ‘John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.’ Jesus answered, ‘Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.’” —Luke 5:33-35

Jesus prescribes a

way and a

Reveal Answer

way to fast.

But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. —Matthew 6:17-18

• Wrong way – To be seen by others, to impress others, and to seek approval from people.
• Right way – To be seen by the Father, done in secret, and for the Father’s pleasure.

Let’s realize the power of fasting.

For greater

with God.

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord. —Jeremiah 29:12-14

For greater

in situations.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” —Acts 16:2-3

For greater

from strongholds.

And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ So He said to them, ‘This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.’ —Mark 9:28-29

For greater

and dependance on God.

“Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.” —Ezra 8:21

Take Away – Dear Lord, forgive me for any religious hypocrisy in my life, and change me from the inside out.

Kingdom Living Series

June 4 Fasting (Matthew 6:16-18)

Stop… Slow down and process your thoughts:

• What have you given up to gain something that was more important/valuable?

• Have you ever wanted to win something just to get the recognition? Was it worth it?

• Are you okay getting an award for your whole team/family when you did all the work?

Think… Read Matthew 6:16-18 and think about this:

• “Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God.” -Andrew Murray Why do we fast? Why should we fast? Does fasting still work?

• “If you say, ‘I will fast when God lays it on my heart,’ you never will. You are too cold and indifferent to take the yoke upon you.” -D.L. Should being a Christian be inconvenient and difficult? When is it easy to be passionate about pursuing God? Does getting praise from important people drown out the voice of God?

• “So, we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.” Ezra 8:23 It seems, if we place our passion fully towards God and away from our pleasures and needs, that God is moved into action. Should we only fast during special occasions or when we are in great need? Should we make fasting a part of our regular disciplines?

Observe… Let’s explore Matthew 6:16-18 to see what it says:

• “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” Matthew 6:16 Give examples of individuals using their worship for God to gain praise for themselves? How easy is it to become motivated by others knowing what we did for God? Is there satisfaction in sharing what we endured for God? Why?

• “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,” Matthew 6:17 Fasting is about giving up the temporal for the eternal. Why would Jesus tell us to take care of our appearance when we fast? Does our outward appearance reveal our hearts?

• “So that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:18 What is the principle behind keeping our fasting secret? Does God look upon our appearances or upon our hearts? Does God want our show or our passion?

Pray… Ask God to guide you into the path He has for you:

• Finish this prayer: Father God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, I devote myself totally to you by…

• “And then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” Luke 2:37 Lord, teach me to be like Anna…

Plan… Write down your plan to apply this study today and this week:

• Today I am committing to Kingdom Living by secretly fasting from (activity/item) for (amount of time) to (what do you desire or what are you pursuing) …

• My reading plan for this week: Matthew 6:16-18