Based on how I read Matt 6 when we fast we're not to do it in a public way; otherwise, we've already gotten our reward. Matt 6 "That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly."
So when everyone in church is encouraged to go on a fast for a specific time, have we already gotten our reward? I've looked for any verses about letting others know when we fast and been unsuccessful but I could have overlooked it. What am I missing? Is individual fasting looked at differently than corporate fasting? Or is this part of the body being united together for a common purpose and that overrides the above verse?
So when everyone in church is encouraged to go on a fast for a specific time, have we already gotten our reward? I've looked for any verses about letting others know when we fast and been unsuccessful but I could have overlooked it. What am I missing? Is individual fasting looked at differently than corporate fasting? Or is this part of the body being united together for a common purpose and that overrides the above verse?