A. The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29-31; 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7)
B. Other reasons for fasting can be observed
1. War (Judges 20:26; 1 Samuel 7:6)
2. Danger (Ezra 8:21-23; Esther 4:16)
3. Illness (2 Samuel 12:16-23)
4. Death (1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 1:12)
5. Forgiveness (1 Kings 21:17-29; Jonah 3:4-10; Nehemiah 9:1-3)
C. Lengths (Judges 20:26; 1 Samuel 31:13)
II. New Testament
A. Improper reasons (Luke 18:12; Matthew 6:16)
B. Reasons for proper fasts in the New Testament
1. Ministry (Matt. 4:1-11; 2 Corinthians 6:4-10; 11:23-28)
2. Sending out missionaries (Acts 13:1-3)
3. Appointment of elders (Acts 14:21-23)
III. What about today?
A. Jesus’ expectation (Matthew 6:16-17)
B. First century examples (Acts 13:1-3; 14:21-23; 2 Cor. 6:4-10; 11:23-28)
A. Our standing in God’s presence (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 3:23; 6:23)
B. God is willing to wipe the slate clean (1 John 1:9)
C. God will “remember them no more” (Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:12)
II. The condition of God’s forgiveness
A. Repent, acknowledging wrongdoing (Acts 2:38; 8:22; 1 John 1:9)
B. Be faithful (1 John 1:7)
C. We must forgive to be forgiven (Matthew 6:12-15; 18:21-35)
III. The need for self-forgiveness
A. A Christian is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
B. There is no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1)
C. Leave the “old man” behind! (Romans 6:3-7; Ephesians 4:20-24)
A. To the patriarchs (Genesis 15:1; 26:24; 46:3)
B. To the children of Israel in the Exodus (Exodus 14:13; 20:20; Deuteronomy 1:21)
C. To Israel upon possessing the land (Joshua 1:9)
D. Through the prophets (Isaiah 41:10-13; Jeremiah 46:27; Zephaniah 3:16)
E. To the disciples (Matthew 10:28; John 14:27)
II. Look at what God has given us! (2 Timothy 1:7)
A. A spirit of power (Romans 15:13; Ephesians 3:16)
B. A spirit of love (Mark 12:30; John 13:34-35; Matthew 5:44-45; 1 John 4:18)
C. A spirit of a sound mind (Philippians 4:6-8)
III. The victory has already been won!
A. The victory of faith in God’s power (1 John 4:4; 5:4)
B. The victory of Jesus over death (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)
C. Therefore – do not fear! (Revelation 21:5-8)
A. How does God describe “a worthless person” and “a wicked man”? (Proverbs 6:12-14)
B. What does God hate? (Proverbs 6:16-19)
C. Gossip is the vocabulary of hypocritical (“godless” [ASV]), untrustworthy fools (Proverbs 10:18-19; 11:9, 13)
D. Gossip is perverted (Proverbs 16:28)
II. Think before you speak
A. How would you describe your words? (Philippians 4:8)
B. Is it something that “ought not” be said? (1 Timothy 5:13)
C. The buck stops with YOU (Proverbs 26:20-22)
III. Do your words build up, or tear down?
A. Edify, or corrupt? (Ephesians 4:29)
B. Bless, or curse? (James 3:9-12)
C. The value of encouraging speech (Proverbs 25:11)
IV. The eternal consequence of gossip
A. God will give you up (Romans 1:28-32)
B. The lake which burns with fire and brimstone (Rev. 21:8)
C. You will not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21)
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)
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