Don't be that guy at the party!

Book of Luke  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Service Notes
Video will introduce baptism after the choir special.
My family will go to the spanish service for a moment after the baptism
Greg will lead the Back-to-School portion of the service.
Sermon Introduction
Even though I rarely announce a title for a sermon for the fun of it I was name them.
Today we see people rejoicing when others dont understand why and we will learn somethings about the purpose of fasting. We will rejoice in the new work that God has done in this world through Jesus Christ.
Review:
The Catching of a Fish v.1-11
The Cleaning of Leprosy v.12-26
The Curing of Paralysis v.17-26
The Calling of Matthew v.27-32
The Criticizing of Christ v.33-39
Luke 5:33–34
And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

I. Different kind of disciple

Luke 5:33–34
And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
A. So, why aren’t you guys fasting?
1. But in the law, God only commanded it to be done once a year.
Leviticus 16:29 (AV)
And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:
2. Reminder was the Old Testament law that made Pharisees not fun at a party, it was their wrong application to them.
B. · The Disciples of the Pharisees
1. Were seeking men’s approval
Matthew 6:16 (AV)
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
2. Were following the traditions of men
3. Were more concerned with shame than guilt
a. Man-Focused Shame - afraid of sin being found out
b. God-Focused Guilt - concerned with offending God
4. Were living according to man’s conscience
C. The Disciples of John
1. Were seeking the Messiah
John 1:35–37 (AV)
Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
2. They were living according to the Word of God
3. They were more concerned with their guilt before God than shame before man
4. Were living out their faith
Matthew 3:6–8 (AV)
And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
D. The Disciples of Jesus
1. Had found the Messiah and were rejoicing at a table of tax collectors.
2. Were living with the Word of God
Matthew 17:21 (AV)
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

The disciples of Jesus were a new kind of disciple. The world didn’t know what to do with them. They know we are something new in this broken world and don’t know what to do with us.

II. When the groom is gone we will fast.

Luke 5:35
But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
A. Jesus Assumes you will fast.
1. We have 77 references to fasting in the Bible. What is the biggest reason we don’t fast? Food! (anti-joke)
2. Fasting may be done cooperatively with fellow believers.
Acts 13:2 (AV)
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3. Typically it is private in nature and shouldn’t be evident to others .
Matthew 6:16–18 (AV)
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
4. Should Christians fast today.
Luke 5:35
But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those day
a. Objection: We have the Holy Spirit so do not need to.
i. Importantly: We see it throughout the NT.
ii. Less Important but note worthy: We see it throughout history though practice very little now.
b. We fast awaiting Jesus return. Fast in “those days” are “these days”
Fasting is a physical exclamation point at the end of the sentences: “I need you! I want you! I long for you! You are my treasure! I want more of you! Oh, for the day when you would return! Come, Lord Jesus!”
i. You do know we are to long for his appearing dont you?
ii. Our eyes should always be upwards.
Philippians 3:20 (AV)
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Illustration: Will we not eat ice cream again.
B. Prayer and fasting need a purpose. (Whitley / encouraged read classics and not new stuff - full of Bible references)
Your hunger actually serves you during a fast in that it is a constant reminder about your biblical purpose, in this case to pray.
1. Strengthening prayer
Ezra 8:23 AV
So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
2. Seeking God’s guidance
Acts 14:23 AV
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
3. Expressing grief
1 Samuel 31:13 AV
And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
4. Seeking deliverance or protection
2 Chronicles 20:3–4 AV
And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
5.Expressing repentance and returning to God
1 Samuel 7:6 AV
And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
6. Humbling oneself before God
Psalm 35:13 AV
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
7. Expressing concern for the work of God
Daniel 9:3 AV
And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
8. Ministering to the needs of others
Isaiah 58:3 AV
Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
9. Overcoming temptation and dedicating yourself to God
Matthew 4:1–2 AV
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
10.Expressing love and worship to God
Luke 2:37 AV
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
C. Additionally fasting will help you with your vocabulary of Biblical expressions.
1. Hunger and thirst for God
Psalm 34:8
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Matthew 5:6 (AV)
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
2. Fasting is a temporary physical demonstration that we believe the truth declared by the gospel.
Luke 4:4 (AV)
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Fasting reveals the measure of food’s mastery over us — or television or computers or whatever we submit to again and again to conceal the weakness of our hunger for God. Fasting remedies by intensifying the earnestness of our prayer and saying with our whole body what prayer says with the heart: I long to be satisfied in God alone!
D. Fasting can help us really know what is going on in our hearts.
1. Not only as a positive expression of longing in prayer, but also a negative exposure of the heart so we can deal with these things as they come up.
Eating can be an anesthesia of sadness
2. We should join the world in groaning for the redemption that Jesus’ return will bring.
Romans 8:17–20 (AV)
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Join all of God’s creation and long for a day that God brings all healing. Long for a day He sets all things right. It is more than okay to acknowledge this is not how things ought to be and long for a day they will be made new.
E. When should you fast?
1. Times of special need, when important decisions must be made, or occasions when spiritual longings are especially intense, are often times to enter into a fast.
2. In one regard our whole life should be an intermittent fast. / occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady.

This passage does not only cause us to long for something in the future but rejoice in something we have now that is new and wonderful!

III. Behold all things are new.

Luke 5:35–39
But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
A. Misunderstanding of fasting occurs when people fail to through their understanding of the Gospel. (you could put anything in that blank)
1. Wrong belief: fasting can impress God enough that He will open the door of heaven for those who deny themselves in this way.
a. I believe the confusion for me and others is we held this view of fasting while understanding the Gospel so we just didn’t know what to do with fasting in our lives.
b. We should fast not with confidence in the work of fasting rather than in the finished work of Christ.
B. Three pictures that help us see that God has done something new
1. Waiting for the groom.
2. The new cloth and old cloth
a. The new cloth would be damaged by a part being removed
b. The new cloth would shrink and tear the old cloth
c. The old cloth and the new will not “agree”match
2. The new wine and old skins
a. The neck of the animal became the neck of the wineskin.
b. Wine, after fermentation, can be put into any bottle, old or new
c. Unfermented wine can only be put in new bottles
C. Jesus’ point is simple: One cannot mix what Jesus brings with the old ways without creating a destructive mix. His new way needs new ways of doing things.
We fast but not like the pharisees of even the disciples of John. We fast a NT saints awaiting his appearing.
a. What do the works of the law do to grace?
b. Trying to keep the law frustrates grace
Galatians 2:14–16
But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
c. Drunk on old wine
1. The Pharisees were drunk on old wine
2. John the Baptist came to tell the people that a new era and change was coming, but Jesus knows that some do not want change.
3. They did not see the glory of the new
4. “False religion deadens the senses” – MacArthur
Conclusion:
Luke 5:34 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
Jesus’ teaching was considered by the Pharisees and religious leaders to be like new wine, and they wanted no part in it
There is a new way of life that is so much better than dead religion!
We are people who can rejoice when other’s do not understand.
We are people who can have a feast with tax collectors.
We are a people who can miss meals and find our happiness and purpose in God alone.
We are people who look to heaven for our satisifation and not this world.
We are people they long for his return.
We are people they long for the day He makes all things rights.
We are a people who join creation and long for the day he does his full and complete restoring work in this world.
Post sermon: Psalm 84:2
Reading & Resources
The Discipline of Fasting by Donald Whitney
Different Kind of Disciple by Martin Wickens
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