WEBVTT

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 Okay, well, morning folks. Lovely to see you. Please do have your Bibles open. I know that's only three verses today, but boy, this is going to pack a punch.

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 So please have your Bibles open. Remember that this is not just routine. This is not just something we do on a Sunday morning. This is about encountering the living God who has made himself known in his word.

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 So please have that open in front of you as we get into this topic today, these verses today. To try and get us into this, can I tell you about my favourite dad joke?

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 Had it a few weeks ago, summer holiday, in the car, up and down, down to Bath, back up to Edinburgh. Inevitably, the call comes from the back. Do you know the one of you who are a parent?

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 And I'm hungry. At which point, I know it's coming and I love to reply, hi, hungry. I'm dad. Which never goes down quite well.

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 But here's the thing you recognise, you realise along car journeys. One of the worst things imaginable for a child, where they cannot get their head around, is the thought of being hungry.

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 Can I suggest though, if you're like me, adults aren't much better. Yeah, watching the World Cup just a few weeks ago, it felt like every second advert was for McDonald's or Uber Eats or Domino's Pizza.

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 Our meals, they come microwavable ready. We talk about people, maybe you're one of these people, people who are foodies.

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 At work, I remember this in the office. We always look forward to our elevenses.

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 We've even invented a term that describes somebody who's both tired and hungry.

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 What do we call them? Hangry.

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 We don't do well as adults, do we, with the thought of being hungry.

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 Which is why what Jesus is going to say today in these verses, it might seem really odd.

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 Because in these verses, if you've got it there, come with me, you get the distinct impression that this whole idea of denying yourself food for spiritual purposes,

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 which is what fasting is at a functional level.

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 As you see Jesus here talking, he's saying, do you see it when you fast, not if you fast.

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 He's talking about fasting like it's a really good thing.

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 Problem is, it can be done for all the wrong reasons.

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 Which I don't know about you, but that doubly intrigues me.

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 And we're going to spend the rest of our time getting our teeth into why.

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 And before we get there, and because some of us will hear this, and this concept is totally alien to us.

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 Others of us will hear this, and we're suspicious.

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 Others of us will hear this, and we'll maybe think our minds will go to some of the similar sounding alternatives,

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 which are out there on the market.

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 It's worth us clarifying what Jesus isn't talking about here.

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 So on the one hand, in our increasingly health conscious culture,

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 we need to appreciate that this is not Jesus promoting some kind of bodily detox.

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 Right?

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 It's our world that we live in today.

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 It's true, isn't it, that we're growing more conscious of what we're putting into our bodies.

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 Didn't surprise me this read to week that, get this,

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 8 million more pints of non-alcoholic beer were poured in the UK this year than at this point last year.

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 But that's not what Jesus has in mind here.

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 And on the other hand, in our increasingly multicultural culture,

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 we need to appreciate that this is different from what our Muslim friends would do at Ramadan,

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 and our Catholic friends would do when they fast,

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 which, as I understand it, has as part of that practice,

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 this idea of trying to make amends for our wrongs.

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 Again, this is not what Jesus has in mind here.

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 And so, in the time that we have together,

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 as we try and enter the atmosphere of these verses in Matthew chapter 6,

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 I want to kind of frame this in terms of four distinct reasons why God's people fast,

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 as we get into this.

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 You with me?

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 Here's number one.

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 First reason.

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 This is all about feeling our need.

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 If you're a note taker, four things.

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 Here's the first one.

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 Feeling our need.

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 So, fasting, depriving yourself of food for the sake of spiritual purposes,

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 which we'll come on to see right at the top of that,

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 what's Jesus talking about?

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 He's talking about seeking the face of the Father, right?

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 Number one reason we do this,

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 it acutely reminds us of the creature-creator distinction.

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 And here's the thing.

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 It does not matter whether you're at the beginning of life,

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 or you're at the middle of life,

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 or that you're at the end of your life.

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 We are still wholly dependent beings.

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 We never stop being wholly dependent beings.

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 I think our problem,

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 this is where the slide background has come from,

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 our problem is that we run around every day

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 acting as if it's not true.

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 But on the other side to this than us,

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 we've got to understand that while we are needy and dependent,

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 our God is wholly other.

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 He is wholly other.

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 He is dependent on no one.

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 He is entirely self-sufficient.

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 Our God has no equal.

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 Him and the devil.

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 It's not like God has his nemesis.

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 Right?

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 This is not Messi versus Ronaldo.

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 This is not Luke versus Darth.

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 God and this is not two equals playing it out.

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 Our God is entirely other.

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 He has no equal.

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 He has no rival.

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 He is, to quote that TV show if you watch it,

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 he is in a league of his own.

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 And he is the provider.

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 He's the sustainer of all things.

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 See that breath you just took?

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 He gave you it.

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 And that's baked into what we saw last week

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 as Jesus taught his disciples how to pray.

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 Did you pick that up?

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 Give us each day our daily bread.

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 Here's the point.

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 Fasting doesn't make us weak and dependent.

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 Fasting just reveals how weak and dependent

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 we've been all along.

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 I take it as good, friends, isn't it?

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 To feel our need at times.

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 Number one, it's about feeling our need.

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 Number two, it's about focusing on truth.

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 So according to the Bible, we're not just bodies.

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 We're just matter.

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 We are body and soul beings.

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 That really matters.

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 Body and soul.

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 So fasting is a way of reminding ourselves

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 that there's so much more to life

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 than just our physical needs.

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 Again, we've seen that already in Matthew's gospel

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 with Jesus' temptation back at chapter four.

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 Jesus is led, not by the devil,

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 he is led by the spirit into the wilderness.

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 Huge is symbolic.

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 But Jesus, what does he do there?

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 Jesus fasted.

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 So Jesus is there humbled by taking on human flesh.

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 And he, as it were,

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 humbles himself further

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 by entering that place of utter dependency,

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 doing what Adam and Israel before him

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 failed to do in terms of obedience

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 to the word of the Father.

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 And so his fasting is unique in a sense.

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 But he still sets us that pattern

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 as he responds to the devil by saying,

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 man shall not live by bread alone,

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 but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

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 So here's the thing.

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 See, when we deprive our bodies of food,

00:09:13.179 --> 00:09:15.319
 it is for the express purpose

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 of allowing our souls to feast on the word of God.

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 Will I say that again?

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 When we deprive ourselves of food,

00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:23.479
 it is for the express purpose

00:09:23.479 --> 00:09:26.500
 of feasting our souls on the word of God.

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 And you'll find all sorts of different people

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 through the Bible story

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 choosing to fast for different reasons.

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 But what's really interesting with all this stuff

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 is that there was one day in particular

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 in the Old Testament

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 that God told his people to fast.

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 This is great.

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 You with me?

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 One day in particular,

00:09:50.939 --> 00:09:52.580
 he commanded his people to fast.

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 This day that was central

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 to the lives of God's people

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 that we read about in Leviticus 16

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 called the Day of Atonement.

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 A day that happened once a year

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 featuring one man and two goats.

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 There's your formation.

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 Once a year, one man, two goats.

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 The man, the high priest,

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 he would go into, by himself,

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 into the holy place.

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 He would take goat number one

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 and he would kill the goat.

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 The goat being sacrificed

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 in the place of the people.

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 And then he would come out

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 and he would come out of the holy place

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 where he would meet goat number two

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 and he'd take his hands

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 and he'd place his hands on this goat,

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 symbolically confessing

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 all of the sins of the people

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 on this goat

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 and he would set it to run

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 as far away as possible

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 into the wilderness.

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 And God was teaching his people

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 in shadow form

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 that the effect of blood being shed

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 was that their sins were gone for good.

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 And isn't it interesting

00:11:01.079 --> 00:11:03.179
 that it's on this one day

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 that God calls his people

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 to fast.

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 It's almost as if God is saying,

00:11:10.339 --> 00:11:12.259
 you've got to stop what you're doing.

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 Have I got your attention?

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 You need to get this.

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 And a lot of friends down south

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 who got that text this week,

00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:21.559
 you know, everybody got the text

00:11:21.559 --> 00:11:22.579
 about the weather warning,

00:11:22.699 --> 00:11:24.539
 heat warning, right?

00:11:24.539 --> 00:11:25.639
 This is not advice.

00:11:26.379 --> 00:11:27.539
 You've got to get this.

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 And so here is God calling his people

00:11:30.199 --> 00:11:31.019
 to fast.

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 Put away your pots and pans for the day.

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 Right?

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 Pause your to-do list.

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 Because you've got to lift your eyes,

00:11:40.699 --> 00:11:42.139
 you've got to still your souls,

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 you've got to focus your minds

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 on this central thing

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 that's right at the heart

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 of what it means to be mine.

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 And what is God teaching his people

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 as they fast?

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 He's teaching them

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 that their greatest need

00:11:55.639 --> 00:11:56.600
 is forgiveness.

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 And because their greatest need

00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:01.040
 is forgiveness

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 and he's provided a way,

00:12:02.680 --> 00:12:04.100
 it opens up the possibility

00:12:04.100 --> 00:12:05.759
 to their greatest privilege,

00:12:05.940 --> 00:12:06.980
 which is fellowship.

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 And so the invitation is to come

00:12:11.800 --> 00:12:12.800
 and receive it all

00:12:12.800 --> 00:12:14.920
 by faith.

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 And friends,

00:12:18.539 --> 00:12:20.100
 everything that the day of atonement

00:12:20.100 --> 00:12:22.279
 symbolized in these two goats,

00:12:23.340 --> 00:12:24.960
 Jesus did through his work

00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:25.820
 on the cross.

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 In other words,

00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:29.039
 Jesus did both.

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 Isn't that amazing?

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 It's the gospel.

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 Jesus did,

00:12:35.939 --> 00:12:37.199
 through his work on the cross,

00:12:37.319 --> 00:12:38.960
 he did both.

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 We've got to understand

00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:40.500
 that on the cross,

00:12:40.620 --> 00:12:42.419
 Jesus is not twisting the arm

00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:43.639
 of a reluctant father.

00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:46.600
 What is the cross

00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:47.460
 but the display

00:12:47.460 --> 00:12:48.600
 of the beating heart

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 of the father

00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:51.000
 to win a people for himself,

00:12:51.340 --> 00:12:52.639
 to make a way for them

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 to be his

00:12:53.319 --> 00:12:54.980
 and to display his glory

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 to the watching world?

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 Because of what Jesus has done,

00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:04.460
 the greatest privilege is ours,

00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:07.179
 that we can be reconciled,

00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:08.259
 our sins forgiven,

00:13:08.580 --> 00:13:09.360
 united to him,

00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:10.500
 we can be reconciled.

00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:11.500
 We are reconciled

00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:11.940
 from the moment

00:13:11.940 --> 00:13:12.940
 we put our faith in him.

00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:14.600
 We are reconciled

00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:16.259
 to our creator.

00:13:16.620 --> 00:13:18.139
 And the greatest privilege

00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:19.120
 known to man

00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:21.080
 is opened up.

00:13:21.980 --> 00:13:23.320
 The privilege of calling

00:13:23.320 --> 00:13:24.679
 our creator God,

00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:26.199
 calling him

00:13:26.199 --> 00:13:27.359
 and knowing him

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 as our father.

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 Which when you think about it,

00:13:33.559 --> 00:13:35.299
 is that not the ultimate name drop?

00:13:37.779 --> 00:13:39.539
 To say that the creator

00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:40.599
 of all things,

00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:41.679
 I know him.

00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:44.439
 Personally,

00:13:44.699 --> 00:13:45.319
 I know him.

00:13:45.419 --> 00:13:45.979
 Do you know what?

00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:48.179
 He knows me.

00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:51.319
 It's the ultimate name drop.

00:13:52.059 --> 00:13:53.139
 Which takes us

00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:54.419
 to the third reason, friends,

00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:55.120
 that we fast.

00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:55.599
 And I recognize

00:13:55.599 --> 00:13:56.559
 we're going through this quickly,

00:13:56.699 --> 00:13:58.740
 but we'll get into the text

00:13:58.740 --> 00:13:59.360
 with this one.

00:14:00.059 --> 00:14:01.559
 Third reason that we fast

00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:02.740
 is simply to seek

00:14:02.740 --> 00:14:03.719
 the face

00:14:03.719 --> 00:14:05.740
 of the father.

00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:07.240
 You know,

00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:08.399
 there was a recent survey

00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:09.179
 done in the UK

00:14:09.179 --> 00:14:10.360
 that revealed that

00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:12.360
 30%

00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:13.500
 of men and women

00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:14.299
 in this country

00:14:14.299 --> 00:14:15.559
 feel like

00:14:15.559 --> 00:14:16.639
 they lack purpose.

00:14:17.579 --> 00:14:19.019
 And 25%

00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:20.039
 of young adults

00:14:20.039 --> 00:14:21.419
 feel that they lack

00:14:21.419 --> 00:14:22.779
 security and love.

00:14:22.779 --> 00:14:24.480
 not quite alarming,

00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:24.919
 actually.

00:14:26.079 --> 00:14:26.879
 Maybe that is

00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:27.860
 exactly where

00:14:27.860 --> 00:14:29.100
 you're at today.

00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:31.079
 But see,

00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:32.179
 for the Christian believer,

00:14:32.319 --> 00:14:33.059
 the bedrock

00:14:33.059 --> 00:14:34.059
 of our identity

00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:35.279
 is entirely

00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:36.159
 caught up

00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:37.480
 in that word

00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:38.740
 father.

00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:42.759
 United to Christ,

00:14:42.839 --> 00:14:44.019
 it is the birthright

00:14:44.019 --> 00:14:45.959
 of every single believer

00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:48.620
 to call him

00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:49.240
 that.

00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:52.560
 You know,

00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:53.180
 last week, friends,

00:14:53.220 --> 00:14:53.660
 my soul,

00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:54.340
 see if you just skim

00:14:54.340 --> 00:14:55.000
 your eyes back

00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:56.280
 to verse 8.

00:14:58.500 --> 00:14:59.360
 And at the end of the day,

00:14:59.420 --> 00:14:59.740
 honestly,

00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:00.900
 I'm just one sheep

00:15:00.900 --> 00:15:02.180
 telling you how

00:15:02.180 --> 00:15:04.139
 I fed on green grass.

00:15:04.920 --> 00:15:05.840
 Telling another sheep,

00:15:06.019 --> 00:15:06.220
 right.

00:15:06.580 --> 00:15:07.360
 My soul

00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:07.960
 was so

00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:08.960
 encouraged

00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:12.480
 by verse 8.

00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:13.220
 I needed to be reminded

00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:13.700
 of this,

00:15:13.700 --> 00:15:15.340
 of my father's

00:15:15.340 --> 00:15:16.060
 complete knowledge

00:15:16.060 --> 00:15:16.780
 and love for me.

00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:17.280
 Do you see that

00:15:17.280 --> 00:15:17.879
 when we pray?

00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:18.860
 Notice verse 8.

00:15:20.560 --> 00:15:21.920
 Because my mind

00:15:21.920 --> 00:15:22.720
 so often goes

00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:23.280
 like my phone

00:15:23.280 --> 00:15:24.460
 into predictive

00:15:24.460 --> 00:15:25.240
 text mode.

00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:26.600
 Right?

00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:27.980
 I read that

00:15:27.980 --> 00:15:28.560
 and I thought

00:15:28.560 --> 00:15:29.540
 it should say

00:15:29.540 --> 00:15:30.340
 my father knows

00:15:30.340 --> 00:15:31.000
 what I'm going to say

00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:31.879
 before I say it.

00:15:32.780 --> 00:15:33.060
 Right?

00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:35.080
 But see,

00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:35.780
 it's so much deeper

00:15:35.780 --> 00:15:36.280
 than that.

00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:37.700
 Right?

00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:39.160
 He's not in the business

00:15:39.160 --> 00:15:39.720
 of finishing

00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:40.560
 my sentences.

00:15:41.160 --> 00:15:41.540
 It's what old

00:15:41.540 --> 00:15:42.160
 couples do.

00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:43.699
 Isn't it?

00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:44.839
 Remember that song

00:15:44.839 --> 00:15:45.319
 in Frozen?

00:15:46.259 --> 00:15:47.139
 It's crazy how we

00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:48.620
 finish each other's

00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:49.059
 sandwiches.

00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:50.179
 That's not what

00:15:50.179 --> 00:15:50.779
 this is saying.

00:15:51.179 --> 00:15:51.679
 Do you see it?

00:15:52.319 --> 00:15:53.500
 So comprehensive

00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.459
 is his commitment

00:15:54.459 --> 00:15:55.360
 to his children.

00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:57.539
 He knows what I need

00:15:57.539 --> 00:15:58.819
 before I even ask.

00:15:58.919 --> 00:15:59.579
 Do you see that?

00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:01.759
 And it's amazing

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.199
 to think

00:16:02.199 --> 00:16:03.120
 when I call

00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:03.600
 on him

00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:04.399
 at any time

00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:04.980
 of the day

00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:06.159
 like Derek read

00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:06.659
 earlier,

00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:07.600
 in Christ

00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.980
 drawn by the Spirit

00:16:08.980 --> 00:16:09.759
 to the throne

00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.259
 of the Father.

00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:11.299
 When I cry out

00:16:11.299 --> 00:16:11.600
 to him

00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:12.340
 because he loves me

00:16:12.340 --> 00:16:13.379
 I'll never get voicemail.

00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:17.819
 He loves us.

00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:21.620
 I always loved

00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:22.439
 that old Puritan

00:16:22.439 --> 00:16:22.939
 saying

00:16:22.939 --> 00:16:24.059
 to live often

00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:24.659
 in the smiles

00:16:24.659 --> 00:16:25.159
 of God.

00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:28.960
 In fact,

00:16:29.019 --> 00:16:29.519
 see if we did

00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:30.519
 a kind of heat map

00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:31.080
 for the word

00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:31.559
 Father

00:16:31.559 --> 00:16:32.399
 in the Sermon

00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:32.919
 of the Mount

00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:34.139
 it would go

00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:34.960
 really red

00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:35.600
 at this point.

00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:37.019
 Right?

00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:37.559
 See when you

00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:38.079
 take in

00:16:38.079 --> 00:16:40.899
 the first

00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:42.000
 18 verses

00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:42.859
 of chapter 6

00:16:42.859 --> 00:16:43.419
 heat map

00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:43.839
 the word

00:16:43.839 --> 00:16:44.179
 Father

00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:44.879
 it comes up

00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:46.000
 all the time

00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:46.319
 here.

00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:47.119
 Jesus is talking

00:16:47.119 --> 00:16:47.659
 about giving

00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:48.699
 and praying.

00:16:48.979 --> 00:16:49.439
 Craig did

00:16:49.439 --> 00:16:50.179
 such a good job

00:16:50.179 --> 00:16:50.759
 of taking us

00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:51.319
 through that

00:16:51.319 --> 00:16:52.039
 last few weeks.

00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:53.319
 Today we're

00:16:53.319 --> 00:16:53.659
 thinking about

00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:54.019
 fasting.

00:16:54.239 --> 00:16:54.759
 What connects

00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:55.159
 to these three

00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:55.959
 things is that

00:16:55.959 --> 00:16:56.439
 they are the

00:16:56.439 --> 00:16:57.219
 three great

00:16:57.219 --> 00:16:58.039
 Jewish religious

00:16:58.039 --> 00:16:58.779
 identifiers.

00:16:59.259 --> 00:16:59.739
 You want to know

00:16:59.739 --> 00:17:00.439
 somebody's really

00:17:00.439 --> 00:17:00.959
 into God?

00:17:02.079 --> 00:17:02.599
 Look for these

00:17:02.599 --> 00:17:03.139
 three things.

00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:05.879
 And Jesus

00:17:05.879 --> 00:17:06.500
 has deliberately

00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:07.240
 used that term

00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:07.920
 Father six

00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:08.579
 times already.

00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:09.099
 See if you're

00:17:09.099 --> 00:17:09.460
 counting.

00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:10.220
 And he's about

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:10.700
 to use it

00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:11.379
 twice more

00:17:11.379 --> 00:17:12.319
 in our verses

00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:12.759
 here.

00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:13.819
 And here's

00:17:13.819 --> 00:17:14.259
 why.

00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:17.079
 Because if we

00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:18.139
 aren't secure

00:17:18.139 --> 00:17:20.139
 in his love

00:17:20.139 --> 00:17:21.379
 for us

00:17:21.379 --> 00:17:21.960
 and if we're

00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:22.500
 not living

00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:23.680
 from his

00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:24.400
 love for us

00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:25.220
 if we think

00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:25.839
 it's about us

00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:26.839
 living for his

00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:27.160
 love

00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:27.680
 do you know

00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:27.920
 what's going

00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:28.359
 to happen?

00:17:28.839 --> 00:17:29.639
 Our hearts

00:17:29.639 --> 00:17:30.240
 will go looking

00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:30.940
 for praise

00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:31.480
 in all sorts

00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.359
 of places.

00:17:33.140 --> 00:17:34.420
 Yeah?

00:17:34.580 --> 00:17:35.040
 Looking for

00:17:35.040 --> 00:17:35.960
 praise in all

00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:37.200
 sorts of

00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:37.640
 places.

00:17:39.320 --> 00:17:39.960
 And that's

00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:40.259
 what's going

00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:40.820
 on in chapter

00:17:40.820 --> 00:17:41.480
 six these

00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:42.240
 verses 16

00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:42.920
 17 18

00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:43.460
 do you see?

00:17:45.520 --> 00:17:46.300
 Jesus knows

00:17:46.300 --> 00:17:46.600
 that his

00:17:46.600 --> 00:17:47.340
 disciples are

00:17:47.340 --> 00:17:47.900
 living in a

00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:48.380
 world that's

00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:49.400
 full of

00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:50.680
 fake fasting.

00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:52.380
 Do you see

00:17:52.380 --> 00:17:52.580
 it?

00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:54.180
 Because what's

00:17:54.180 --> 00:17:54.660
 happened is

00:17:54.660 --> 00:17:54.980
 that the

00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:55.759
 Pharisees

00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:56.780
 who at the

00:17:56.780 --> 00:17:57.200
 end of the

00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:58.759
 day aren't

00:17:58.759 --> 00:17:59.280
 lovers of

00:17:59.280 --> 00:17:59.640
 God.

00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:00.259
 Jesus would

00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:00.740
 say they are

00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:02.220
 lovers of

00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:02.640
 self.

00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:02.960
 They've

00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:03.860
 taken this

00:18:03.860 --> 00:18:04.680
 command.

00:18:04.820 --> 00:18:05.000
 They've

00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:05.500
 taken this

00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:06.100
 instruction

00:18:06.100 --> 00:18:07.420
 to fast.

00:18:07.860 --> 00:18:08.160
 They've

00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:08.740
 taken something

00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:09.060
 that's meant

00:18:09.060 --> 00:18:09.660
 to be God

00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:10.400
 honoring and

00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:11.080
 they've twisted

00:18:11.080 --> 00:18:11.680
 it and they've

00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:12.060
 made it

00:18:12.060 --> 00:18:13.220
 something completely

00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:14.820
 self-serving.

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.640
 That's what's

00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:17.020
 going on in

00:18:17.020 --> 00:18:17.460
 these verses.

00:18:19.060 --> 00:18:19.540
 I mean think

00:18:19.540 --> 00:18:20.120
 about it right?

00:18:20.560 --> 00:18:21.420
 If you want to

00:18:21.420 --> 00:18:22.180
 convince people

00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:23.000
 that you're a

00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:23.820
 really religious

00:18:23.820 --> 00:18:24.580
 person and

00:18:24.580 --> 00:18:25.360
 deadly serious

00:18:25.360 --> 00:18:25.940
 about it

00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:28.440
 let them see

00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:29.000
 you give.

00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:30.020
 That's not

00:18:30.020 --> 00:18:30.480
 difficult.

00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:32.240
 Let them

00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:32.660
 see you

00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:32.920
 pray.

00:18:33.059 --> 00:18:33.440
 Hear you

00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:33.680
 pray.

00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:34.299
 That's not

00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:34.779
 difficult.

00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:37.779
 Quite easy

00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:38.940
 actually.

00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:40.099
 But see if

00:18:40.099 --> 00:18:40.440
 that's the

00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:40.779
 game that

00:18:40.779 --> 00:18:41.120
 you're in.

00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:41.660
 Here's the

00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:42.039
 problem.

00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:42.519
 Think about

00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:42.940
 it that you've

00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:43.259
 got with

00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:43.720
 fasting.

00:18:45.360 --> 00:18:45.720
 Very

00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:46.319
 definition.

00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:46.860
 By very

00:18:46.860 --> 00:18:47.579
 very definition.

00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.299
 You can't

00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:49.779
 see it.

00:18:51.660 --> 00:18:52.099
 Yeah?

00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:53.420
 So what do

00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:53.920
 you do in

00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:54.640
 verse 16?

00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:56.680
 Well you

00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:57.280
 screw up your

00:18:57.280 --> 00:18:57.720
 face.

00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:58.740
 You hold

00:18:58.740 --> 00:18:59.300
 your tummy.

00:18:59.600 --> 00:19:00.240
 You groan.

00:19:00.360 --> 00:19:00.880
 You put a

00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:01.759
 little bit of

00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:02.259
 dirt under

00:19:02.259 --> 00:19:02.800
 your eyes.

00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:03.140
 I don't know

00:19:03.140 --> 00:19:03.640
 what you do.

00:19:04.080 --> 00:19:04.300
 But do you

00:19:04.300 --> 00:19:04.480
 know what

00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:04.900
 this is?

00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:05.480
 This is

00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.280
 tell me you're

00:19:06.280 --> 00:19:06.840
 fasting without

00:19:06.840 --> 00:19:07.500
 telling me you're

00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:07.860
 fasting.

00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:09.520
 Isn't it?

00:19:10.100 --> 00:19:10.700
 Tell me you're

00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:11.200
 fasting without

00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:12.400
 telling me you're

00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:12.680
 fasting.

00:19:12.780 --> 00:19:13.220
 This is what

00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:13.600
 you do.

00:19:14.360 --> 00:19:15.200
 And Jesus is

00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:15.920
 unmasking this

00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:16.580
 whole facade.

00:19:18.020 --> 00:19:18.580
 And he's

00:19:18.580 --> 00:19:19.020
 helping his

00:19:19.020 --> 00:19:19.920
 disciples see that

00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:20.460
 although the

00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.320
 world might sit

00:19:21.320 --> 00:19:22.440
 up and admire

00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:24.880
 that God's

00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:25.340
 not sitting

00:19:25.340 --> 00:19:25.660
 in heaven

00:19:25.660 --> 00:19:26.440
 applauding that.

00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:29.160
 And Jesus

00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:29.900
 says see when

00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:30.700
 you watch

00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:31.440
 somebody do

00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.200
 that know

00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:35.299
 that the

00:19:35.299 --> 00:19:36.200
 praise of

00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:36.820
 man is what

00:19:36.820 --> 00:19:37.320
 they're doing

00:19:37.320 --> 00:19:38.460
 it for and

00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:39.460
 also know

00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:40.460
 that that's

00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:40.759
 all they're

00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.019
 going to

00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:41.320
 get.

00:19:45.580 --> 00:19:46.180
 You

00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:46.620
 however

00:19:46.620 --> 00:19:49.700
 because you're

00:19:49.700 --> 00:19:50.600
 secure in the

00:19:50.600 --> 00:19:51.420
 Father's love

00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:55.080
 seek him in

00:19:55.080 --> 00:19:55.460
 secret.

00:19:57.860 --> 00:19:58.080
 You know

00:19:58.080 --> 00:20:00.200
 the big

00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:00.980
 invitation about

00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:01.700
 fasting here

00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:03.640
 is that no one

00:20:03.640 --> 00:20:04.000
 should know that

00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:04.500
 you're fasting.

00:20:06.380 --> 00:20:07.120
 You see it?

00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:08.880
 Seek him in

00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:09.160
 secret.

00:20:09.400 --> 00:20:10.060
 He might be

00:20:10.060 --> 00:20:11.200
 unseen to you

00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:12.400
 but make no

00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:13.200
 mistake that what

00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:13.860
 you're doing and

00:20:13.860 --> 00:20:14.539
 seeking him is

00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:15.980
 not unseen to

00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:16.220
 him.

00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:20.060
 Why do you

00:20:20.060 --> 00:20:20.420
 do it?

00:20:21.420 --> 00:20:23.380
 You don't do

00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:23.740
 it because you

00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:23.980
 want the

00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:24.519
 praise of

00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:24.779
 man.

00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:25.340
 Why do you

00:20:25.340 --> 00:20:25.620
 do it?

00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:26.180
 Because I

00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:27.840
 want him.

00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:30.700
 Which takes

00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:31.140
 us to the

00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:31.820
 fourth reason

00:20:31.820 --> 00:20:32.259
 that we

00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:32.740
 fast.

00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:35.420
 Why do we

00:20:35.420 --> 00:20:35.860
 fast?

00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.680
 Because friends

00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:38.700
 we are longing

00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:39.400
 for home.

00:20:41.900 --> 00:20:42.580
 Because fast

00:20:42.580 --> 00:20:43.380
 forward a few

00:20:43.380 --> 00:20:44.019
 chapters into

00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:44.980
 chapter 9 of

00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:45.720
 verse 14.

00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:46.580
 Turn there if

00:20:46.580 --> 00:20:46.880
 you want.

00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:47.960
 I'll put some

00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:48.539
 verses on the

00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:48.800
 screen.

00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:52.819
 the Pharisees

00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:53.379
 in this scene

00:20:53.379 --> 00:20:53.960
 they come to

00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:54.639
 Jesus and

00:20:54.639 --> 00:20:55.460
 they say

00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:56.539
 why don't

00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.359
 your disciples

00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.079
 fast?

00:20:58.159 --> 00:20:58.399
 And it's

00:20:58.399 --> 00:20:59.019
 almost as if

00:20:59.019 --> 00:21:00.159
 they never

00:21:00.159 --> 00:21:00.759
 quite get over

00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.159
 this.

00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:03.379
 John's

00:21:03.379 --> 00:21:04.059
 disciples come

00:21:04.059 --> 00:21:04.919
 to why don't

00:21:04.919 --> 00:21:05.619
 your disciples

00:21:05.619 --> 00:21:06.379
 fast?

00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:08.220
 And again

00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:08.819
 my mind in

00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:09.619
 predictive text

00:21:09.619 --> 00:21:09.940
 mode.

00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:12.660
 Jesus could

00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:12.980
 have said

00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.299
 they're not

00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:14.460
 fasting because

00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:15.059
 they're doing

00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:15.700
 exactly what I

00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.120
 told them to

00:21:16.120 --> 00:21:16.500
 do a few

00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:17.220
 chapters ago.

00:21:17.380 --> 00:21:18.160
 Why can't

00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:18.680
 you see them

00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:19.100
 fasting?

00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:19.580
 Because I

00:21:19.580 --> 00:21:20.220
 told them that

00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:20.740
 they shouldn't

00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.240
 let anyone

00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:21.600
 see that

00:21:21.600 --> 00:21:22.160
 they're fasting.

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:22.940
 He could

00:21:22.940 --> 00:21:23.259
 have said

00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:23.559
 that.

00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:24.759
 But that's

00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.039
 not what

00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:25.860
 Jesus says.

00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:29.039
 His disciples

00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:29.920
 aren't fasting.

00:21:30.100 --> 00:21:30.380
 Why?

00:21:32.380 --> 00:21:33.039
 Because the

00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:34.480
 groom is

00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.000
 here.

00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:38.099
 and he's

00:21:38.099 --> 00:21:38.720
 picked his

00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.279
 metaphor

00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:41.259
 splendidly.

00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:43.940
 The Bible

00:21:43.940 --> 00:21:44.259
 is,

00:21:44.420 --> 00:21:44.619
 friends,

00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:45.799
 one great

00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:46.779
 story about

00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:47.779
 God and

00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:48.859
 his pursuing

00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:50.220
 love for

00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:50.920
 his people.

00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:51.720
 So much

00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:53.859
 so that

00:21:53.859 --> 00:21:54.500
 the only

00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:55.359
 way I

00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:55.920
 take it,

00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:56.299
 that the

00:21:56.299 --> 00:21:56.980
 metaphor that

00:21:56.980 --> 00:21:57.440
 God gives

00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:57.920
 us and runs

00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:58.640
 right through

00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:59.460
 scripture is

00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:00.180
 that of a

00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:00.579
 groom and

00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:00.960
 a bride.

00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:03.900
 And here

00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:04.559
 is Jesus

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.139
 saying,

00:22:06.659 --> 00:22:07.779
 I am

00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:09.019
 that great

00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:09.339
 groom.

00:22:10.899 --> 00:22:11.579
 I've come

00:22:11.579 --> 00:22:11.960
 on a

00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:12.279
 mission.

00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:13.079
 I've come

00:22:13.079 --> 00:22:13.679
 to save

00:22:13.679 --> 00:22:14.240
 my bride.

00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:15.119
 And I'm

00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:15.619
 with them

00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:15.879
 now.

00:22:16.139 --> 00:22:16.279
 Do you

00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:16.500
 know what?

00:22:16.539 --> 00:22:17.000
 One day

00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:17.679
 my disciples

00:22:17.679 --> 00:22:18.440
 will fast.

00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:19.899
 And it will

00:22:19.899 --> 00:22:20.440
 be the day

00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:21.299
 that I go.

00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:22.899
 And then

00:22:22.899 --> 00:22:23.500
 they'll fast

00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:24.019
 because they

00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:24.759
 are waiting

00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:25.259
 for my

00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:25.619
 return.

00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:25.960
 But not

00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:26.240
 now.

00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:27.000
 I'll come

00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:27.339
 on to see

00:22:27.339 --> 00:22:27.720
 this in a

00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:28.000
 few weeks.

00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:28.460
 Not now.

00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:29.179
 I've never

00:22:29.179 --> 00:22:29.639
 been to a

00:22:29.639 --> 00:22:30.519
 wedding celebration

00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:30.960
 where we're

00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:31.519
 going there

00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:32.679
 and the

00:22:32.679 --> 00:22:33.079
 master's

00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:33.339
 ceremony

00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:33.859
 stands up

00:22:33.859 --> 00:22:34.159
 and says,

00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:34.620
 this is a

00:22:34.620 --> 00:22:35.140
 very solemn

00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:35.560
 occasion.

00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:37.720
 Yeah?

00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:38.980
 No, it's

00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:39.700
 party time.

00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:39.960
 And that's

00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:40.320
 what Jesus

00:22:40.320 --> 00:22:40.779
 is saying.

00:22:41.040 --> 00:22:41.540
 I am

00:22:41.540 --> 00:22:41.860
 here.

00:22:41.940 --> 00:22:42.259
 The groom

00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:42.860
 is here.

00:22:43.120 --> 00:22:43.700
 But one

00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:43.980
 day they

00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:44.600
 will fast.

00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:48.300
 And this

00:22:48.300 --> 00:22:48.860
 is what is

00:22:48.860 --> 00:22:49.460
 particularly,

00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.100
 friends, if I

00:22:50.100 --> 00:22:50.380
 can put it

00:22:50.380 --> 00:22:50.700
 like this,

00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:51.100
 this is

00:22:51.100 --> 00:22:51.540
 particularly

00:22:51.540 --> 00:22:51.960
 what is

00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:52.680
 New Testament

00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:53.680
 about fasting.

00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.340
 We're not

00:22:56.340 --> 00:22:56.900
 Old Testament

00:22:56.900 --> 00:22:57.480
 Israel,

00:22:58.320 --> 00:22:58.620
 right?

00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:00.000
 God doesn't

00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:01.180
 command us

00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:02.019
 to fast.

00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:02.880
 No, here

00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:03.420
 is Jesus

00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:04.519
 here encouraging

00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:05.420
 us to fast

00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:05.920
 as a way

00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:07.420
 of reorientating

00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.680
 ourselves to

00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.299
 the goodness

00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:11.000
 of the

00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:11.420
 gospel.

00:23:12.860 --> 00:23:13.080
 Now, we

00:23:13.080 --> 00:23:14.140
 always, every

00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:14.620
 night in our

00:23:14.620 --> 00:23:15.320
 house we find

00:23:15.320 --> 00:23:16.140
 it at

00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:16.740
 dinner time.

00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:18.580
 Kids, tea's

00:23:18.580 --> 00:23:18.840
 ready.

00:23:19.600 --> 00:23:20.140
 And there

00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:20.640
 they come,

00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:21.019
 right?

00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:22.279
 And no, no,

00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:22.680
 no, we need

00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:23.920
 to wait because

00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:25.080
 one of the

00:23:25.080 --> 00:23:25.560
 six of us

00:23:25.560 --> 00:23:26.120
 isn't at this

00:23:26.120 --> 00:23:26.680
 table yet.

00:23:26.840 --> 00:23:27.519
 Wait, wait,

00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:28.840
 wait, right?

00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:29.059
 And you

00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:29.379
 feel like

00:23:29.379 --> 00:23:30.179
 William Wallace

00:23:30.179 --> 00:23:30.699
 in that

00:23:30.699 --> 00:23:30.959
 brave

00:23:30.959 --> 00:23:31.240
 part of him,

00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:32.379
 hold, hold.

00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:34.959
 Waiting doesn't

00:23:34.959 --> 00:23:35.539
 come naturally.

00:23:35.639 --> 00:23:35.859
 Did you know

00:23:35.859 --> 00:23:36.399
 that feeling

00:23:36.399 --> 00:23:37.059
 when maybe you

00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:37.539
 did it as a

00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:37.759
 kid, you

00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.240
 got to wait?

00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:40.259
 There's

00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:41.019
 something of

00:23:41.019 --> 00:23:41.480
 that in what

00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:41.959
 Jesus is

00:23:41.959 --> 00:23:42.399
 saying here

00:23:42.399 --> 00:23:43.240
 about fasting.

00:23:44.359 --> 00:23:45.019
 Because in

00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:46.240
 holding ourselves,

00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:48.899
 in that moment

00:23:48.899 --> 00:23:50.339
 of salivating

00:23:50.339 --> 00:23:50.879
 for what's

00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:51.319
 about to

00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:51.720
 come, we're

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.459
 reminded that

00:23:52.459 --> 00:23:53.439
 we long not

00:23:53.439 --> 00:23:53.980
 for the dinner

00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.559
 that we'll eat

00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:54.939
 in a few

00:23:54.939 --> 00:23:55.399
 hours.

00:23:56.939 --> 00:23:57.619
 That's way

00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.659
 too short-sighted.

00:23:58.839 --> 00:24:01.039
 Friends, we

00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:01.500
 are longing

00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:01.879
 when we

00:24:01.879 --> 00:24:02.740
 fast for the

00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.459
 wedding feast

00:24:03.459 --> 00:24:04.059
 of the Lamb

00:24:04.059 --> 00:24:04.359
 and the

00:24:04.359 --> 00:24:04.959
 fellowship we'll

00:24:04.959 --> 00:24:05.599
 enjoy with

00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:06.299
 him forever

00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:07.459
 when our

00:24:07.459 --> 00:24:08.699
 groom returns.

00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:10.899
 If you're

00:24:10.899 --> 00:24:11.139
 looking for

00:24:11.139 --> 00:24:11.539
 something good

00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:11.939
 to read,

00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:12.519
 one of the

00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:12.980
 best books

00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:13.339
 I've read

00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:13.599
 over the

00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:14.220
 last year

00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:14.799
 was all

00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:15.379
 about this

00:24:15.379 --> 00:24:16.159
 book by

00:24:16.159 --> 00:24:16.359
 a guy

00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:16.859
 called Chris

00:24:16.859 --> 00:24:18.339
 Davis in

00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:19.319
 America and

00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:19.959
 it's called

00:24:19.959 --> 00:24:21.279
 Bright Hope

00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:21.980
 for Tomorrow.

00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.159
 Clearly

00:24:23.159 --> 00:24:23.740
 taken it from

00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.220
 that hymn.

00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:25.159
 But I love

00:24:25.159 --> 00:24:25.579
 this, how

00:24:25.579 --> 00:24:26.819
 anticipating Jesus'

00:24:26.819 --> 00:24:27.799
 return gives

00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:28.439
 strength for

00:24:28.439 --> 00:24:28.799
 today.

00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:30.759
 Wonderful book.

00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:32.019
 Let me just give

00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:32.839
 you one line

00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:33.199
 from it.

00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.220
 He puts it

00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:34.779
 like this.

00:24:35.639 --> 00:24:36.500
 We fast

00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:37.459
 because Jesus,

00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.599
 our bridegroom,

00:24:38.679 --> 00:24:39.419
 is not here.

00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:41.199
 And no matter

00:24:41.199 --> 00:24:42.339
 how tasty the

00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:43.059
 wedding reception

00:24:43.059 --> 00:24:44.079
 spread may be,

00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:44.899
 life is not

00:24:44.899 --> 00:24:45.959
 complete until we

00:24:45.959 --> 00:24:46.379
 are in the

00:24:46.379 --> 00:24:47.819
 presence of

00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:49.439
 the one who

00:24:49.439 --> 00:24:49.980
 loves us.

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:54.019
 And so since we

00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:54.599
 begin to wrap

00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:55.220
 this up today,

00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:55.720
 our time is

00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:56.240
 marching on,

00:24:56.299 --> 00:24:56.640
 here's two

00:24:56.640 --> 00:24:57.579
 quick bits of

00:24:57.579 --> 00:24:58.279
 advice as we

00:24:58.279 --> 00:24:58.680
 seek to

00:24:58.680 --> 00:24:59.460
 perhaps put

00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.019
 what Jesus

00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:00.620
 is saying

00:25:00.620 --> 00:25:01.220
 here into

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:02.539
 practice.

00:25:02.860 --> 00:25:03.259
 These will be

00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:03.740
 real, real

00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.220
 quick and we

00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:04.680
 can talk about

00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:05.240
 these afterwards

00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:05.640
 if you want.

00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.079
 Here's number

00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:06.640
 one, friends,

00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:06.980
 know your

00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:07.319
 body.

00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:15.579
 I'm just so conscious that as your pastor I know that that for many of us medically speaking this

00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:20.919
 might not be something for all sorts of reasons that we're able to do and I don't want you feeling

00:25:20.919 --> 00:25:27.579
 like you are missing out or in other words maybe or maybe other people you're a shift doctor at work

00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:33.119
 or you're in something where concentration is something you really need to have because of the

00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:39.719
 level of responsibility that's on you and again the name of the game is wisdom or maybe honestly just

00:25:39.719 --> 00:25:46.459
 eating is a big struggle so so conscious of that maybe eating is a big struggle whoever you are

00:25:46.459 --> 00:25:51.179
 here's my bit of advice just practically speaking speak to a doctor before you do anything

00:25:51.179 --> 00:26:00.659
 speak to a friend but if that's practically speaking maybe spiritually speaking remember

00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:08.160
 god knows how you are framed and he loves you unconditionally in christ never doubt that

00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:14.000
 but otherwise there may be here thinking where would I even start with something like this

00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:18.320
 again what I would say to you friends is don't try and go from zero to hero

00:26:18.320 --> 00:26:27.440
 start small could you maybe miss a meal could you go for a few hours without food whatever it is

00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:32.700
 friends know your body again we do this together don't we so we help one another with this stuff

00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:37.880
 know your body which takes me really quickly to the second bit of advice which is really simply have a plan

00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:44.440
 if we don't eat food if we go without food and all we can think about is how hungry we are

00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:48.840
 then can I perhaps suggest that we've missed the point of what Jesus is talking about here

00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:56.500
 our focus should be less on what we're saying no to and more on the better yes that we're saying yes to

00:26:56.500 --> 00:27:04.679
 so when we feel that pang when we feel that hunger what truth are we going to take our souls to in God's

00:27:04.679 --> 00:27:10.879
 words could you have a psalm for the morning and you just read a verse every half an hour or something

00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:17.139
 like that what are you going to pray about what are you going to lay and spread out before your father

00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:21.460
 there's something really specific that's in your mind that this is a way of just concentrating

00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:27.440
 and focusing on the Lord and laying it before him are you at the start of a new season of life

00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:31.520
 is there a big decision that you're facing in your life you think I just want to

00:27:31.520 --> 00:27:34.640
 I just want to throw this before the father who loves me

00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:43.140
 friends fasting is all about seeking the face of the father if you take one thing from this would it be

00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:49.860
 that that's what it's about you know just as we close I want to bring us back to the heart of that question

00:27:49.860 --> 00:27:55.440
 that we've seen over the last few weeks remember we said these three things are connected and Craig did a

00:27:55.440 --> 00:28:01.080
 wonderful job at bringing out the big question that's right at the heart of this not so much in what you do

00:28:01.080 --> 00:28:06.980
 it's in why you do it what was that big question remember he put it last week

00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:14.579
 whose praise are we living for whose praise are we living for whose smile drives us

00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:24.099
 and who at the end of the day are the only eyes in the room that we're seeking you know just as we

00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:28.579
 close let me just leave you with this you know I'm just finished reading the autobiography of one of my

00:28:28.579 --> 00:28:36.199
 favorite ever actors I was born in 85 look at my age so that makes me a kind of 90s kid you know

00:28:36.199 --> 00:28:41.699
 my favorite actor and this is why I loved it when his autobiography came out and it was 99p on kindle

00:28:41.699 --> 00:28:46.179
 um Will Smith still love Will Smith

00:28:46.179 --> 00:28:52.079
 Independence Day I think one of the first films that I really like whoa what a film and then

00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:58.799
 Men in Black and then Any of the State I Am Legend and then getting into Fresh Prince and the guy sings as

00:28:58.799 --> 00:29:03.899
 well this guy wasn't just at the height of his career when I was growing up he was in everything

00:29:03.899 --> 00:29:07.279
 and I'm watching it

00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:13.039
 I'm loving this guy so I'm reading this book and I'm really interested to see what

00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:20.659
 why he did it all here is what is fascinating about what he writes about why he did what he did

00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:28.300
 right he was in everything here's what he writes I didn't want to leave space between my tv show

00:29:28.300 --> 00:29:35.259
 the next movie and my next record because I didn't want to give people an opportunity to fall in love

00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:42.860
 with The Rock during my absence right so The Rock Dwayne Johnson the another actor who's trying to make

00:29:42.860 --> 00:29:48.300
 his way as well big deal I didn't want to miss a thing because I did not want people's praise to go to

00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:52.519
 him I wanted it for myself is that not really interesting about what drives people

00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:58.539
 why did he keep doing it because he didn't want people to fall in love with someone else

00:29:58.539 --> 00:30:04.799
 and is that not exactly the heart of the human condition is that not exactly what the Pharisees

00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:10.180
 are doing here whose praise do we want we want people's praise and see the minute it goes off of us

00:30:10.180 --> 00:30:17.640
 we will do anything to get it back and his book Will Smith is essentially his story of him saying

00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:26.880
 it exhausted me friends what an exhausting way to live and yet how different the Christian

00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:32.860
 here is the invitation from Jesus to live for the audience of one

00:30:32.859 --> 00:30:42.099
 and to bask in his fatherly care and his fatherly love for us see right at the end when Jesus says

00:30:42.099 --> 00:30:44.459
 the father will reward you

00:30:44.459 --> 00:30:49.919
 puzzling myself all week as to what that means can I give you my best shot

00:30:49.919 --> 00:30:53.779
 friends see knowing him better in his love for me

00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:56.759
 that's reward enough

00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:58.599
 let's pray

00:30:58.599 --> 00:31:07.559
 oh our father we thank you so much that we have the privilege to call you father

00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:15.319
 lord we are so aware of how our hearts go searching for praise in all the wrong places

00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:22.980
 and it's our prayer lord that whatever's going on in our lives today that your spirit would draw us back

00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:31.700
 to your knowledge of and care of and affection for us because we are united to your son

00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:41.019
 father simply there is no one we'd rather seek and but father I pray pastorally that wherever this is landed in our lives

00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:46.599
 father thank you that your spirit is so much more of a better pastor than I can ever be

00:31:46.599 --> 00:31:53.599
 and I pray that he would be moving amongst us this morning bringing that sense of challenge and comfort

00:31:53.599 --> 00:31:56.219
 and encouragement to our souls

00:31:56.219 --> 00:31:58.000
 lord we thank you

00:31:58.000 --> 00:32:00.919
 that we do not have to perform

00:32:00.919 --> 00:32:02.699
 to get your love

00:32:02.699 --> 00:32:06.459
 father thank you that we just place our faith in Jesus

00:32:06.459 --> 00:32:08.459
 the one as Derek read at the start

00:32:08.459 --> 00:32:10.559
 who loved us and gave himself

00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:11.759
 for us

00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:14.960
 so father be with us as we finish our time together

00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:18.960
 we pray all of these things and Jesus is worthy and in his wonderful name

00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:20.240
 Amen