A Compelling Testimony: Maintaining a Disciplined Walk, Christlike Character, and Godly Relationships as God's Servant

Ses s i on 4: Cu l t i vat i ng Our Commun i on: The I nward Di sc i p l i nes 145

h. Leaders of the Antioch fellowship, Acts 13.2

i. The Apostles of the Lord, 2 Cor. 6.5

j. Paul, 2 Cor. 11.27

5. What about the fasting of those whose lives were not righteous before God?: fasting of the unrighteous

a. The elders of Jezreel at the scheming of Jezebel, 1 Kings 21.12

b. An uncharacteristic act of humility by Ahab, 1 Kings 21.27-29 – And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. [28] And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, [29] “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house.”

c. The ostentatious (i.e., desiring to be seen by others) Pharisees, Mark 2.18; Luke 18.12

C. The Corporate Dimensions: fasting as a sign of our corporate humility before the Lord

1. The Day of Atonement: a day of Sabbath and affliction, Lev. 23.26-32 – And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, [27] “Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the Lord. [28] And you shall not do