Sermon Tone Analysis

Overall tone of the sermon

This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.06UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.08UNLIKELY
Fear
0.11UNLIKELY
Joy
0.63LIKELY
Sadness
0.53LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.57LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.29UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.74LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.79LIKELY
Extraversion
0.13UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.46UNLIKELY
Emotional Range
0.56LIKELY

Tone of specific sentences

Tones
Emotion
Anger
Disgust
Fear
Joy
Sadness
Language
Analytical
Confident
Tentative
Social Tendencies
Openness
Conscientiousness
Extraversion
Agreeableness
Emotional Range
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others.
Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 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.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.
(2016).
().
Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Prayer
Why Should we Fast?
To begin, let’s consider two broad definitions of fasting:
There are 2 types of fasting that we can see in Christianity today:
The most inclusive definition of “fasting” is “abstinence from anything that is legitimate in and of itself, for some special spiritual purpose” (Martin Lloyd Jones).
So, we could be fasting from food, but it could also include sports, TV, telephone, etc.
Fasting from food or drink
A narrower definition of fasting is voluntary abstinence from physical nourishment—food and drink—for special spiritual purposes.
This study will deal only with this type of fasting, which is what the Bible refers to.
Fasting from anything that could take our focus from God
A. Fasting in the Old Testament
Why is this even a topic?
1.
Israel fasted on the Day of Atonement
Why is this even a topic
It’s a big deal Throughout the Bible
OT
1. Israel fasted on the Day of Atonement
This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or an alien living among you.
Israel fasted on the Day of Atonement
2. After the Exile, four other annual fasts were observed on particular months
This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or an alien living among you.
This is what the LORD Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah.
Therefore love truth and peace.”
2. After the Exile, four other annual fasts were observed on particular months
3. Sometimes, individuals or the nation would fast in relation to specific circumstances
Individual:
This is what the LORD Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah.
Therefore love truth and peace.”
3. Sometimes, individuals or the nation would fast in relation to specific circumstances
He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept.
I thought, ‘Who
Individual:
Knows?
The LORD may be gracious to meand let the child live.””
(David Hoping his child wouldn’t die
Corporate:
22 He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.
(2016).
().
Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Knows?
The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.””
Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the LORD.
They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the LORD.
Corporate:
A narrower definition of fasting is voluntary abstinence from physical nourishment—food and drink—for special spiritual purposes.
This study will deal only with this type of fasting, which is what the Bible refers to.
4. At times, fasting gave expression to various heart attitudes
Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the LORD.
They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the LORD.
Grief
NT
Jesus fasted in to show us that we can overcome temptation even in the worst of circumstances.
They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
A. THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH -
THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH -
Penitence
1.
They were fasting as a group while ministering to the Lord
2. They fasted and prayed in preparation to sending out Barnabas and Saul
.
They fasted and prayed in preparation to sending out Barnabas and Saul -- Fasting, when accompanied with prayer, can done as a group when involved in serving the Lord
3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.
c. Paul Fasted in to receive God’s guidance
It takes away distractions to bring us closer to God
Every time you read about fasting in the Bible, it goes with someone wanting to get closer with God or get wisdom from God
Jesus (praying about His upcoming ministry)
Paul to receive God’s guidance
Church at antioch (to decide for church leadership)
David (TO plead with God not to take his son)
Whenever you see fasting in the Bible it is usually accompanied by prayer—fasting takes away secondary things so that our view can be on God
We’re choosing not to do something that we enjoy or a desire that God has put inside of us, so that we can grow in our relationship with God.
We’er choosing not to play video games so we can have more time to pray
we’re choosing not to watch tv
not to be with friends
not to do any of our desires, so we can become closer to God!
When should we fast?
Jesus didn’t command us to fast, but he did imply it when He said ““And when you fast”
The Bible has a lot of different times when people fast…it’s really up to you!
Maybe you want to do it when you have to make a big decision about something
Maybe you want to do it when you have a big trial in your life and you want to completely have your focus on God
Maybe you want to do it when you’re inside temptation, and instead of focusing on yourself, you want to remind yourself that God will lead you out of temptation
Maybe you haven’t been in the word recently, and you want to do this to get back into the word!
That’s a fantastic reason.
There are a lot of reasons to fast, just make sure you’re doing it!
4 I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed:
“O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, 5 we have sinned and done wrong.
We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.
How should we fast?
Don’t make it known (do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others.
Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.)—Our
natural tendency would be to let other people, this is between you and God…other people don’t need to know.
Humility
Fasting shouldn’t just be not eating something because then it could become temptation to sin and go overboard with what we are depriving ourselves of.
Rather, we must be using this time to grow closer to God
Fasting helps to discipline the appetites of the body (Luke 21:34) and keep our spiritual priorities straight.
But fasting must never become an opportunity for temptation (1 Cor.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9