Sermon Tone Analysis

*BBC 11-18-07 THE JESUS FAST: FASTING AND FEASTING AT THE SAME TIME*

 

 

INTRO: FEASTING AND FASTING ~/ AT THE SAME TIME ~/MODERN DAYS ARE FULL OF MULTI-TASKING.

POST-MODERN GENERATION TRAVELS WHILE LISTENING TO IPODS; WALK WHILE MAKING PHONE CALLS; DRIVE WHILE THE KIDS WATCH MOVIES ON DVD; RECENT WINTER OLYMPICS THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE EXTREME SPORTS DID TRICKS AND FLOPS, IN EXCESS SPEED ON THE SKI’S HAD THEIR IPODS IN THEIR EARS...RACING TO THEIR SELECTED MUSIC OF CHOICE; COMPUTER GENERATION OF WINDOW...USERS CAN MULTI-TASK; SURF THE NET, CHECK AND SEND EMAIL WHILE DOWNLOADING A PROGRAM.

IN THE OLD DAYS ...IT WAS SAID...THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO WALK AND CHEW GUM.

IN SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES THERE IS THE PARADOX OF TURNING DOWN SO GOD SHOWS UP.

ONE PRACTICES SELF-DENIAL TO BE SPIRITUALLY SENSITIVE.

THUS BEHIND THE SCENE OF

OF FASTING, THERE IS A PARADOX OF FEASTING WHICH WE SEE IN THE JESUS FAST.

IN THE TEXT: WE ARE INTRODUCED TO JESUS AS THE KING.

BUT WE ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE OLD TESTAMENT WITH THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MIND.

FOR EXAMPLE THERE ARE FIVE BASIC BLOCKS OF TEACHING IN MATTHEW; WHICH CORRESPONDS WITH THE TORAH OR THE FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES.

ONCE WE GET PAST MATTHEW 4...THERE’S ....

MATTHEW 5-7 KNOWN AS THE BEATITUDES

MATTHEW 10 – INSTRUCTION TO THE DISCIPLES

MATTHEW 13 – TEACHING OF THE PARABLES

MATTHEW 18  - THE TEACHING OF LIVING IN COMMUNITY

MATTHEW 23-25 KNOWN AS THE MOUNT OLIVET DISCOURSE

 

THE OVERARCHING THEME IS THAT OF DISCIPLESHIP; AND DISCIPLES, LEARNERS AND FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST MUST BE...

 

READY

PREPARED

WATCHFUL

 

KEY AND CRUCIAL TO ALL IS THE JESUS FAST;

 

HERE JESUS FAST, THE SON OF GOD, CREATOR OF THE WORLD, AS THE SON OF MAN....IS DRIVEN INTO THE WILDERNESS FOR A PERIOD OF 40 DAYS~/NIGHT OF SUSTENANCE.

INTER: WHY DID HE FAST?

HOW WAS HE SUSTAINED IN THE FAST?

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FAST?

 

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM JESUS FAST THAT WILL HELP US TO EMBRACE FASTING AND FEASTING AT THE SAME TIME.

THE FAST INFORMS US OF THE...HIS IDENTIFY, HIS HUMANITY AND HIS VICTORY.

*MPI.

THE JESUS FAST INVITES US TO UNDERSTAND THE IDENTIFY OF CHRIST.

V. 1*

* *

*1* THEN JESUS WAS LED UP BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO BE TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL.

* *

JESUS WAS LEAD, COMPELLED, DIRECTED AND DRIVEN, THRUST TO A HIGHER PLACE....... INTO THE ARENA OF CHAOS TO...MAKE FULL PROOF OF HIS MINISTRY

 

IT WAS LIKE HE WAS THROWN TO THE WOLVES

IT WAS LIKE HE WAS THROWN INTO THE LIONS DEN

IT WAS LIKE HE WAS THROWN INTO THE PIT WHERE THERE WAS NO WATER.

IMP.

THE IMPLICATION IS THAT JESUS WAS MAKING IDENTIFICATION WITH THE PAST AND THE PROMISES OF GOD.

JESUS IDENTIFIES WITH ADAM...AS ADAM AND EVE WERE LED OUT OF THE GARDEN, THRUST OUT OF THE GARDEN....SENT FORTH... THUS WE SEE A PARADOX IN PARADISE LOST, AND CHRIST AS THE SECOND ADAM IN PARADISE REGAINED.

NEXT JESUS IDENTIFIES WITH ISRAEL.

ISRAEL LEFT EGYPT AND WANDERED IN THE WILDERNESS FOR 40 YEARS.

REMEMBER THE INITIAL REQUEST BY MOSES TO PHARAOH WAS FOR ISRAEL TO GO ON A THREE DAY JOURNEY INTO THE WILDERNESS SO THEY COULD SACRIFICE TO THE LORD; HOLD A FEAST FOR THE LORD.

AND WHEN EVENTUALLY WHEN ISRAEL WAS FOUND IN THE WILDERNESS....THEY FOUND NO WATER.

OH YES, THE BAPTISM PARALLELS WITH ISRAEL PASSING THROUGH THE RED SEA!

 

THUS WHEN WE IDENTIFY WITH CHRIST; THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL LEAD US, GUIDE US AND DIRECT US ...HE WILL MOVE US AND ORDER OUR STEPS.

TEXT: PS 37:23 THE STEPS OF A GOOD MAN ARE ORDERED BY THE LORD; AND HE DELIGHTS IN HIS WAY.

PS.

119:133   ORDER MY STEPS IN THY WORD; AND LET NOT ANY INIQUITY HAVE DOMINION OVER ME.

 

*LUKE 2:25-30 * 25 AND BEHOLD, THERE WAS A MAN IN JERUSALEM WHOSE NAME WAS SIMEON, AND THIS MAN WAS JUST AND DEVOUT, WAITING FOR THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS UPON HIM.  26 AND IT HAD BEEN REVEALED TO HIM BY THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT HE WOULD NOT SEE DEATH BEFORE HE HAD SEEN THE LORD'S CHRIST.

27 SO HE CAME BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE TEMPLE.

AND WHEN THE PARENTS BROUGHT IN THE CHILD JESUS, TO DO FOR HIM ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOM OF THE LAW,  28 HE TOOK HIM UP IN HIS ARMS AND BLESSED GOD AND SAID:  29 "LORD, NOW YOU ARE LETTING YOUR SERVANT DEPART IN PEACE, ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD;  30 FOR MY EYES HAVE SEEN YOUR SALVATION

 

*LUKE 2:36-38** * NOW THERE WAS ONE, ANNA, A PROPHETESS, THE DAUGHTER OF PHANUEL, OF THE TRIBE OF ASHER.

SHE WAS OF A GREAT AGE, AND HAD LIVED WITH A HUSBAND SEVEN YEARS FROM HER VIRGINITY;  37 AND THIS WOMAN /WAS /A WIDOW OF ABOUT EIGHTY-FOUR YEARS, WHO DID NOT DEPART FROM THE TEMPLE, BUT SERVED /GOD /WITH FASTING AND PRAYERS NIGHT AND DAY.  38 AND COMING IN THAT INSTANT SHE GAVE THANKS TO THE LORD, AND SPOKE OF HIM TO ALL THOSE WHO LOOKED FOR REDEMPTION IN JERUSALEM.

THEN WE SEE THIS THEME IN ACTS – AS *ACTS 3:1-7** * NOW PETER AND JOHN WENT UP TOGETHER TO THE TEMPLE AT THE HOUR OF PRAYER, THE NINTH /HOUR./  2 AND A CERTAIN MAN LAME FROM HIS MOTHER'S WOMB WAS CARRIED, WHOM THEY LAID DAILY AT THE GATE OF THE TEMPLE WHICH IS CALLED BEAUTIFUL, TO ASK ALMS FROM THOSE WHO ENTERED THE TEMPLE;  3 WHO, SEEING PETER AND JOHN ABOUT TO GO INTO THE TEMPLE, ASKED FOR ALMS.  4 AND FIXING HIS EYES ON HIM, WITH JOHN, PETER SAID, "LOOK AT US."  5 SO HE GAVE THEM HIS ATTENTION, EXPECTING TO RECEIVE SOMETHING FROM THEM.

6 THEN PETER SAID, "SILVER AND GOLD I DO NOT HAVE, BUT WHAT I DO HAVE I GIVE YOU: IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, RISE UP AND WALK."  7 AND HE TOOK HIM BY THE RIGHT HAND AND LIFTED /HIM /UP, AND IMMEDIATELY HIS FEET AND ANKLE BONES RECEIVED STRENGTH.

APPL: IF WE SAY WE IDENTIFY WITH CHRIST – THEN THE DEVIL WILL MAKE US PROVE IT...

WHEN WE IDENTIFY WITH CHRIST HE HAS A WAY OF MOVING US

INTO ARENAS OF CHAOS FOR HIS NAME SAKE

INTO THE DEEP WATERS

INTO THE LION’S DEN

 

IT IS AT THESE TIMES WHEN IN OUR DEVELOPMENT WHERE WE LEARN MORE ABOUT GOD AND MORE ABOUT OURSELVES.

YES, DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND THE DEVIL TAKES NOTICE AND WILL SHOW UP.

THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS US....AND WE ARE TO OFFER OURSELVES TO HIS GUIDANCE.

FROM LOWER TO A HIGHER PLACE; KING OF KINGS, SON OF MAN, TO LORD OF LORDS.

LEVEL I – CHAOS .TEMPTED – PERIPAZO, TRY, TEST, EXAMINE, PROVE, TEMPTATION TO DO EVIL, DISOBEY...ILL WILL, CONTEMPT, TRAP, MAKE ONE TO SIN...

 

 

ILL: IDENTITY THEFT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE HEARD MUCH ABOUT IN THE MEDIA DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS.

PERHAPS YOU PAY YOUR BILLS ON-LINE, OR JUST DO SOME CASUAL SHOPPING ON LINE FOR THE SIMPLE CONVENIENCE OF PAYING BILLS OR SHOPPING FROM THE PRIVACY AND COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME.

I HAVE GROWN COMFORTABLE PAYING MAJORITY OF BILLS ON LINE.

I FIND IT TO BE CONVENIENT.

THERE ARE MANY SAFEGUARDS CURRENTLY IN PLACE.

BUT, PERHAPS THERE WAS A PLANTED PROGRAM SOMEWHERE THAT CAPTURED YOUR VITAL INFORMATION AND PLACED IT INTO THE HANDS OF A THIEF.

ALTHOUGH IDENTITY THEFT IS A RAPIDLY ESCALATING TYPE OF CRIME, IT IS NOT NECESSARILY NEW.

INCIDENTS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF IDENTITY THEFT HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS AND NOW REPRESENT THE LEADING CONSUMER FRAUD REPORTED TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, ACCOUNTING FOR 42% OF ALL COMPLAINTS.

\\ \\ MANY IDENTITY FRAUD CASES BEGIN WITH THE SIMPLE THEFT OF A CREDIT CARD NUMBER, AS EASILY AS TAKING THE INFORMATION FROM A PAPER RECEIPT.

STOLEN CREDIT CARDS AND SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS CAN DEVASTATE YOUR LIFE.

WHEN THIEVES EFFECTIVELY STEAL YOUR IDENTITY THEY CAN DO ONE OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING: \\ • OPEN NEW CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTS USING YOUR NAME, BIRTH DATE AND SSN \\ • CALL YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY PRETENDING TO BE YOU AND CHANGE THE MAILING ADDRESS \\ • ESTABLISH CELLULAR PHONE SERVICE IN YOUR NAME \\ • OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT IN YOUR NAME AND WRITE BAD CHECKS ON THAT ACCOUNT \\ \\ THE REAL TRAGEDY WITH IDENTITY THEFT IS YOU MAY NEVER REALIZE THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU UNTIL YOU RECEIVE BILLS FOR A CREDIT CARD YOU NEVER HAD – BAD CREDIT REPORT INCLUDES DEBTS YOU NEVER CREATED – BILLING CYCLES PASS AND YOU DON’T RECEIVE A STATEMENT – CHARGES APPEAR ON YOUR BILLS THAT YOU DID NOT AUTHORIZE.

IDENTITY THEFT CAN BE VERY SUBTLE IN THE BEGINNING AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT YOU FIND YOURSELF ATTEMPTING TO PROVE YOUR IDENTITY.

CAN YOU IMAGINE YOURSELF IN THE POSITION OF HAVING TO EVER PROVE WHO YOU ARE TO CREDITORS OR SOME LOCAL AGENCY.

\\ \\ IDENTITY THEFT MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS CAN ALSO TAKE PLACE ON THE SPIRITUAL LEVEL.

MATTER OF FACT IT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE BEGINNING OF HUMAN KIND.

ONE OF THE CLASSIC, BIBLICAL WAYS TO UNDERSTAND SATAN IS AS A THIEF, JOHN THE EVANGELIST WRITES THAT THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY.

THE AUTHOR OF 1ST PETER, POSSIBLY THE APOSTLE PETER HIMSELF, WRITES THAT “YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL PROWLS AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION, SEEKING THOSE WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR.”

THE DEVIL SEEKS TO STEAL OUR LIKENESS TO CHRIST.

SATAN IS THE ORIGINAL IDENTIFY THIEF WHO WOULD LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN TO CORRUPT THE IMAGE OF GOD IN YOU, DRAIN YOUR SPIRIT, AND THEREFORE, DERAIL YOUR BECOMING LIKE CHRIST.

FOR THAT IN ITSELF IS THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTIANITY = TO BE LIKE CHRIST.

YES...

 

TO IDENTIFY WITH CHRIST, YOU MUST HAVE A CROSS. \\ \\ GOD COUNTED CROSSES: \\ \\ I COUNTED DOLLARS WHILE GOD COUNTED CROSSES \\ I COUNTED GAINS WHILE HE COUNTED LOSSES.

\\ \\ I COUNTED MY WORTH BY THINGS GAINED IN STORE \\ BUT HE SIZED ME UP BY THE SCARS THAT I BORE.

\\ \\ I COVETED HONORS AND SOUGHT FOR DEGREES \\ HE WEPT AS HE COUNTED THE HOURS ON MY KNEES.

\\ \\ I NEVER KNEW UNTIL ONE DAY BY THE GRAVE \\ HOW VAIN ARE THE THINGS WE SPEND LIFE TO SAVE.

\\ \\ I DID NOT UNDERSTAND UNTIL MY LOVED ONE WENT ABOVE \\ THAT RICHEST IS HE WHO IS RICH IN GOD’S LOVE.

*MP II.

THE JESUS FAST – MOVES US TO LOOK AT THE*

*HUMANITY OF CHRIST.

*

 

*Matthew 4:2-3 *  2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.

3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."

SAVIOR – HIS HUMANITY – OF CHRIST – THE NT SHOWS HIS HUMANITY....FROM HIS BIRTH TO HIS MINISTRY OF TIRELESS HEALING  AND STEADFAST SERVICE.

JESUS WAS GOD AS WELL AS MAN.

HE SHARED OUR PHYSICAL LIKES...AND GOT WEAK, WEARY AND WORN IN HIS WORK.

HIS FASTING RESULTED IN HIM BEING STARVED...