In thirty-three years of ministry I have preached on the subject of “fasting” rarely.  In fact, in one church I was instructed by the leadership not to preach on this topic, that is unnecessary. 

Strange request when you look at the New Testament.  There is MORE teaching on fasting than on repentance, confession, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.  It is now a conviction of mine that the early church, and the church throughout the centuries practiced this discipline for a reason. 

This Sunday we will look and hopefully learn about a practice that can bless our lives.  Richard Foster, in his book, Celebration Of Discipline, puts it this way:  “That [fasting] is the only way we will be saved from loving the blessing more than the Blesser.”