As we consider what fasting is, we can see that as the Christian fasts with the right reason they are worshiping God. Why? Because the believer fasts because Christ the Bridegroom is taken away (Matt. 9:15), and their longing is for Him. The Christian's desire is to be seen fasting by the Father and not by man, so that the Father who sees them in secret will reward them.

When it comes to what it is to be worldly, isn't it interesting how we have this tendency to come up with our own definitions of what is and what isn't? We like to define worldliness in a way that doesn't touch us; that's typically what happens. Yet if the truth be known, there is worldliness to some degree in every single person in this room - and some more than others. Yet not a single one of us is overly given to admitting it.

An antichrist doesn't deny the existence of Jesus altogether, but rather they change the Truth about Him; they are opposed to the biblical Christ. They recreate who Jesus Christ is and distort Him; and if you look at every false religion you will find that they all do this.

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. - 2 Timothy 4:1-2

To deny a doctrine or alter the work or person of Jesus Christ is to attack Christ and to deny the true Christ of the Bible.

Mark 10:23 - "And Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, 'How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!'" What is it about a person's wealth that makes it difficult for them to enter heaven? The problem is an issue of trust. Men love how money makes them feel in control and they trust in it rather than God.

And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Philippians 1:6

Don Currin pastors in Tuscumbia, Alabama at http://www.providencegospelchurch.com/

The person who is unbalanced and lacks Biblical knowledge can become a "Christian fanatic" and harm both the church and the unbelieving world. To the church they lay rules on the Christian that Jesus Christ never made and they burden God's people like the Pharisees did. To the unbeliever the fanatic makes him stumble at Christianity before he ever gets to stumble at the Gospel. Yet the only thing the unbeliever should stumble at is the Gospel we proclaim. So we must know our Bible's so that it won't be said of us "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;" - Hosea 4:6.

Excerpt from the full sermon: Not Being Uninformed (1 Thes. 4:13-14)

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13 the apostle Paul tells the brethren, "we do not want you to be uninformed". As Christians we need to be growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and not to be swallowed up in ignorance. Being uninformed and ignorant in areas of the Christian life leads us to unnecessary grief.

There is only one explanation of why a person has any family resemblance to Jesus Christ; it is because they have been born of God. Righteousness characterizes the people of God and no one else can truly walk in holiness except the believer.