Ash Wednesday 2018
Joel 2:12-13 – “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. CALL FOR REPENTANCE
Prayer connects you to God… Fasting disconnects you from the world
Types of Fast:
• Full – only have liquid
• Daniel – no meat, no sweets, no bread
• 3-Day – can be Full fast, Daniel Fast, or removal of few items as fast
• Partial – only for a set amount of time for the day (ex: 6am-3pm)
Moses fasted before receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34)
Daniel fasted for guidance (Daniel 9)
Nehemiah fasted before his mission (Nehemiah 1)
Jesus fasted in the Wilderness (Luke 4)
Matthew 6:16-18 – “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. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 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.
True Fasting [Isaiah 58] … read v. 3-11
Isn’t this the fast I choose:
To break the chains of wickedness, —– to break the chains of injustice,
To untie the ropes of the yoke, —– get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
To set the oppressed free, —– free the oppressed,
And to tear off every yoke? —– cancel debts
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, —– sharing your food with the hungry,
To bring the poor and homeless into your house, —– inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
To clothe the naked when you see him, —– putting clothing on the shivering ill-clad,
And not to ignore your own flesh and blood? —– be available to your own families
Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once (v.58:8a)
Tania Gutekunst 