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• Matt 9:14-17
• Have you ever had someone try to get you to do something that you don’t want to do? Some activity or hobby that they love that you just don’t? “you’ll love it” no, you love it. 
• Sometimes people try to get people to do Christian disciplines without heart change
• 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
• Serving Jesus shouldn’t be a burden. It shouldn’t feel like a punishment or a push and if it does, you might need to go back to the cross and be renewed. Be born again- find that first love
• Christian disciplines are a natural response to a submitted life towards Christ. 
• It’s a response. Its not the way you find God- it’s the response to him finding you
• Today what you’re going to see is that Jesus is going to return, you need to be born again and you need to fast. Because “The days will come” We may not be in them right now, but they are coming soon. 

1. Christ is going to return

• In this scripture, Jesus is questioned about the fasting of his disciples, and we’ll get into the nut and bolts of this- but I think an important distinction is that Jesus prophesied that he would leave- and he did – he also prophesied that he will return and he will
• Jesus was preparing his followers that he would leave- and when he did- they should fast 
• But about his departure he said-  Mark 13:32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
• they eagerly wait his return- but fasting while he was there wasn’t beneficial, because fasting prepares your heart to receive Christ– but if he was there- there’s no spiritual benefit to it
• Revelation 22:12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
• Make no mistake friend- Jesus is coming soon- people say when, soon.  He said he was leaving- he said he was coming back. You can’t separate the two. We are in a in-between period
• Matthew 24:37-39 But as the days of Noah were, READ- 
• people think they have time. Just like the days of noah- they don’t. any minute he could return
• People say “My master delays his coming” and right now he does- but we need to be ready
• John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.Heb 9:28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
• Christs return will occur when we least expect it- at a time when we are the least prepared
• Summers as a kid- mom leave a list- didn’t know when she was coming home- tried to time it
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 read
• What does it mean to you
• Are you expectantly awaiting Christs return and living as if he could return at any moment?
• I think many Christians exist and live in the here and now- not thinking of Christs return
• Whenever I see people- Lord willing see you Sunday- 1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
• Revelation 3:3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
• I don’t know if you’ve ever had your car or house broken into, but its unnerving
• Went on a walk with some church dudes, window smashed, wallet stole “if only I had” 
• That’s going to be some people spiritually- “If only I had planned” but no second chance
• 2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be [a]burned up.
• So the only answer is to be prepared at all times for the return of our savior. All day
• Titus 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IT- THE DAY OF HIS RETURN
• I have never had more of a time that I am expectantly awaiting christs return than now
• As a kid- waiting at the window to get picked up to go somewhere- couldn’t wait- 
• We should be waiting as well- waiting TOGETHER- as we worship God TOGETHER
• Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 
• Corporate worship gatherings are central to the preparation of the bride for Christ
• Luke 12:40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Matthew 24:31.Revelation 1:7

2. Regeneration is key to Christian disciplines V16-17

• 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for [e]the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. 17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins [f]break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
• This statement by Jesus is often misinterpreted and misrepresented. I have seen it used for justification for many a thing- but the application of the scripture according to its context is simple- you can’t put an old thing on a new thing and expect good things- both need to be new
• The old is the old man, old garment, old wineskins. The new garment and new wine is new man
• In the context of fasting- Jesus is saying- you can’t expect to put the practice of fasting on a unregenerate heart- because that will ruin the practice and the person- they aren’t new
• So he says- 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
• See its more than his absence that he is talking about- it’s the reality of his death, burial and resurrection. His payment for our sin. Our new life. Our regeneration
• Jesus says- With no regeneration there’s no point to spiritual discipline of fasting. 
• John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
• And fasting, or any other spiritual discipline is godly and good but its for the believer. 
• The promise of Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
• That’s a promise! And its only the regenerated heart that can follow the commands! 
• 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
• And do you know where you find love of God? At the foot of the cross. When you are at the point where you realize how wicked you truly are and how desperately you need Jesus
• And then you turn to him, he receives you, washes you, redeems you, loves you. Then YOU love him and YOU follow him and then the disciplines are not burdensome- you just do it
• What does it mean to you
• Have you been born again. Have you been saved from your sin. Been set free. Redeemed
• Now- there are people here that aren’t saved- You know it and I know it- and today is your day
• John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
• Judgment from God is awaiting those who refuse the free gift of grace that Christ provides. 
• If you want to be forgiven of past sins, and live under the freedom of Christ- turn to him. 
• Ephesians 2:8 says that it is “ not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”
• 2 Co 5:17 says you can be “ a new creation and become new .
• Acts 2:38 says you can “receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”.
• 1 John 3:14 says you can pass form “ death to life” and “  love the brethren.”
• 1 John 5:5 says we can “overcome the world” through our belief in Jesus Christ
• I’ll promise you that if you would come to Christ and receive his forgiveness- it will change you
• You might say- “I think I am doing pretty good” sin is like a cancer you can’t see
• I had a cousin- felt something was wrong- didn’t respond until too late-died in 30s of cancer
• Ephesians 4:21-24 read ONLY possible through regeneration of the Holy spirit- receive it
• You can then say- 
• Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
• He loved you enough to give himself for you while you were his enemy- you should walk in his grace- 
• Christ is returning soon. You want to be ready. You want to go to heaven. You don’t want to have to go through the realignment of the cosmos separating the sheep from the Goats
• God life- best life- I know unbelievers that look at my life and say “Must be nice” and frankly it is- I stopped fighting God at 15 and I’ve lived a blessed life in Jesus- not easy- blessed. 
• Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
• And friend- he is faithful. He protects, he guides, he loves, directs, corrects, fills and redeems. 
• Don’t be the old you. He’s not as good as you think- come to Christ and have him make you new
• For the life of me, I don’t understand why people reject the offer of forgiveness from Christ- why would you not want his free gift of grace? Why would you not want new life?
• Many people walk needlessly through pains of this life because they either haven’t been to the cross, or they need to go back to it. Go to Jesus and be regenerated
• Right now- pray- Lord- forgive me- it will change your life

3. Learn how to fast

• Lets not miss the point of this sermon- These guys want to know about Jesus disciples and their fasting- and its not that they shouldn’t fast- its that they shouldn’t fast while Jesus is there
• But Jesus isn’t saying that they shouldn’t fast- he said in Matt 6 “when you fast” and that should be your mindset. If you’re a Christian who has never fasted you are going against the Bible. 
• Matt 24:9-25 Sounds pretty difficult during those times doesn’t it?
• The time to prepare for an uncertain future is while you are not uncertain
• Do you remember last year when everyone went crazy over toilet paper?
• What exactly do you think that the end times will be like? Do you think there is going to a spirit of love and care for your fellow man that will fall over us during that time?
• Probably not- do what you need to do to prepare for you and your family- and honestly you can’t store enough food to prepare for the end times- but what you CAN do is prepare yourself spiritually to be able to endure and fasting is one of the greatest ways to do it
• Isa 58:3-5 Afflict, seek no pleasure, 
• Fasting is one of the greatest ways we prepare our hearts for the return of the bridegroom and how we inflict suffering upon ourselves. 
• Who likes to go without food? No one. Everyone I know likes to eat. 
• But crucifying the flesh and being able to endure can be self imposed- and prepare you to endure current hardship but also future hardship
• Not only does it crucify the flesh- it grows the spirit man- you call out to God 1-3 day fast
• Psalm 69:10 When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting, That became my reproach.
• Joel 2:12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord,“ Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
• When the end comes and it will, please don’t be the person who can’t endure. Its going to be hard enough without having a bunch of whiners around who can’t handle adversity
• What does it mean to you
• Build a discipline of fasting into your life- learn to go without food. Weekly or monthly. 
• Put yourself through this through the power of the Holy Spirit to prepare yourself and family. some of you you may think I’m being ridiculous- but you will thank me
• Matthew 6:18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you [a]openly.
• Fasting- Crucifies the flesh, brings the body under subjection, helps you to help others, teaches you discipline, grows you spiritually, helps you overcome the world, helps you appreciate more, require less, see more clearly, overcome sin. 
• Psalm 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick,My clothing was sackcloth;I humbled myself with fasting;And my prayer would return to my own [a]heart.
• Yes and it will help your prayer life as well. 
• Ezra 8:23 So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.
• Luke 18:12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ Is s story where Jesus shows that outward holiness wont help you
• But if you would fast as a born- again believer it would transform your life. 
• 1 Corinthians 9:27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
• Jesus said “Days will come” and they have and they will. 
• Prepare NOW- give your life to Jesus- get that new wine and that new cloth- through the power of the HS you CAN overcome the flesh and live for Jesus
• Be prepared for his return!

Pastor Matt Krachunis preaches on But Days Will Come . Please share online for others to see.

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