Day 9 – Friday 25th – This Blog is part of our ten days of fasting & prayer focus at Every Nation London.  

 Jesus, teaching on fasting right after teaching what is known as “The Lords Prayer in Matthew 6, gives some food for thought (excuse the pun..food seems to slip in there often!) says:  “When (note:not “if”) you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full…..

Actually, I’m going to switch over to The Message Translation…chew (there it is again!) on this from Matthew 6:16-21:

16-18“When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don’t make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won’t make you a saint. If you ‘go into training’ inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. God doesn’t require attention-getting devices. He won’t overlook what you are doing; he’ll reward you well.

 19-21“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.”

Living/fasting for the “reward” of the Father, versus the reward of the world, is what satisfies the spirit. The reward of this world is eaten (there it is again!) by moths, corroded, and stolen, but the reward of the Father is forever. Ultimately His reward is “THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” In fact, this is what tomorrows blog will be about, as we prepare around the world for the “Global Day of Prayer”,  for which we will join over 20,000 Christians in West Ham Stadium for passionate praise & prayer on Sunday afternoon.

We also end our “Lord, Teach us to pray” series this Sunday, where I will preach on “The Gospel of the Kingdom” – for Every Nation Londoners, please remember that we have a “together service” in Stratord east London this Sunday – NO WEST SERVICE.

Keep seeking His Kingdom…