Sermon Tone Analysis

On the Spiritual Fast Track

November 10, 1996

 

Scripture:

 

Prayer:

 

Introduction:

 

          Fasting, too much neglected and ignored among us, is a good and beautiful thing.

It gives a more realistic form to the spiritual thoughts that should habitually dominate us, such as those of our unworthiness and our dependence upon God.

It restores to the mind what it takes away from the flesh, and by relieving the soul from the general oppression of fleshly burden, it facilitates the soaring freedom of the spirit towards the invisible things of greater worth.

Finally, by the voluntary deprivation it imposes, it increases our compassion for the involuntary deprivation of so many others whose life may be a perpetual fast.

/Dr.

Vinet.

/(So we fast for a spiritual purpose, to do a spiritual work, and to gain a spiritual understanding.)

Self-indulgence is the enemy of gratitude, and self-discipline usually its friend and generator.

That is why gluttony is a deadly sin.

The early desert fathers believed that a person’s appetites are linked:  full stomachs and jaded palates take the edge from our hunger and thirst for righteousness.

They spoil the appetite for God.  /Cornelius Plantinga, Jr./

There are Christians whose “flesh,” whether by its quantity or natural temperament, renders them sluggish, slothful, wavering, and physically by far too fond of the “good things” of the table---.

/Grosart.

/(The flesh and the spirit are opposed.

Continually feed the flesh, its lusts and appetites and you starve the spirit.

But temporarily starve the flesh and the spirit thrives in the midst of a symbolic and purposeful dedication of the death of the flesh to the life of the spirit.)

The object of fasting is the mortification of sin.

Is your mind distempered, your heart hard, your grace weak, and corruptions strong?

Does pride, envy, malice, the love of the world, or any other filthiness of the flesh or spirit prevail?

Fasting is then your duty.

Some demons will not come out except by fasting and much prayer.

When this is the case, fasting is the most proper remedy, and should be used as the chief means to accomplish it.

/J.

Beaumont./

Although Christians did not retire from the business of life, yet they were accustomed to devote many separate days entirely to examining their own hearts, and pouring them out before God, while they dedicated their lives anew to him with uninterrupted prayers, in order that they might again return to their ordinary occupations with a renewed spirit of zeal and seriousness.

These days of holy devotion, days of prayer and penitence, which individual Christians appointed for themselves, were often a kind of  fast-days.

They were accustomed to limit their worldly and fleshly wants on those days, or to fast entirely.

That which was spared by their abstinence was applied to the support of the poor among them.

/R.

Watson./

Jesus has many who love his heavenly kingdom, but few who bear his cross.

Many want consolation, but few desire adversity.

Many are eager to share Jesus' table, but few will join him in fasting.

Thomas À Kempis (C.

1380–1471)

 

*I.

Explanation of Fasting*

         

          The definition of fasting is to abstain from food for a period of time.

There may be either physical (health~/weight loss) or spiritual purposes for this.

The subject of this message is the spiritual fast and how to get on track with the purity of its intent, purpose and accomplishment.

This is especially important in regard to the Prayer and Fasting ‘96 initiative for our church and nation being carried out in St. Louis by many national evangelical Christian leaders this Thursday through Saturday.

As a  part of the body of Christ, we are invited to be a part of this focus on humility and intercession regarding national, corporate and individual sins that have caused our downfall and erected a barrier against the grace of God that He desires to lavish on those who are obedient.

Most Americans, and I would say many Christians, in our over indulgent and affluent society would discount, even abhor, the idea of abstaining from food for any reason.

It seems to go so radically against the flesh and the mainstream of our culture.

It is relegated to some ancient, fanatical, religious idea that has no bearing in the present day.

But the Bible does significantly mention fasting at least 77 times.

A spiritual fast can legitimately take many forms regarding length (from one meal to several days) and content (to abstain from all food and water, just solid foods, just rich foods) as well as purpose.

We might even have a fast from television, telephone or transportation.

In any case it is the voluntary self-denial of some function or privilege for the sake of spiritual devotion.

A normal fast would be to abstain from all food but to drink water or perhaps fruit juices for one to three days.

Without supernatural intervention, the body cannot go longer than three days without water.

No one should fast who has a questionable medical condition where fasting would prove to be physically harmful.

In such case there may be modifications that can be made or fasting from something other than food.

At least, the intake of food could probably be limited in some way.

The purpose of a fast can be private, congregational, or national in scope.

It could include all three, but your purpose for the fast should be specifically ironed out before God before starting.

Otherwise it becomes only a physical exercise rather than a spiritual awakening.

It is nothing new for our nation to have a time of fasting just like Jehoshaphat did for the nation of Judah in /2Chron.

20/.

And we may be in just as dire need as a nation now.

During the early days of our nation, Congress proclaimed three national fasts.

And Presidents John Adams and James Madison each called all Americans to fast.

Also Abraham Lincoln called for national fasts three separate times during the Civil War.

The early Christians had regular days of fasting each week.

This week we are calling on you to make a vow to God to fast in some way for all or part of this national time of prayer and fasting from Thursday through Saturday.

Commit your purpose to Him and ask Him to give you the strength to carry it out and to reveal to you the spiritual blessing for having done so.

Even after this week is over, I would call upon you to fast at least one day per week, preferably on Wednesdays in preparation for our weekly prayer meeting.

Fasting is never to become just a legalistic exercise to feed our spiritual pride as it did with the Pharisees as in /Luke 18:9-14/.

Spiritual fasting without a humble heart, painfully aware of our own sin, and seeking God through the spiritual purpose we have committed to Him, is useless.

\\ *II.

Expectation of Fasting*

 

          Christ Jesus expected us to fast.

In the passage in /Matthew 6:2-18/ we see this in the context that He not only expects us to give and to pray but to also fast.

And He gives us some instructions about it that it should be between us and God and not pandered about.

His instructions include a negative command, a positive command, and a promise.

There are no commands about how long or how often we should fast.

It is both a calling and an inquiry between us and the Holy Spirit.

(We see in /Acts 13:2 and Acts 14:23/ that the early Christians fasted.)

We also see Jesus’ expectation that we will fast in the passage in /Matthew 9:14-15/ where He answers John’s disciples that when He is gone there will be ample reason to fast.

And here we are still today.

Christ has not yet returned.

Spiritual reasons to fast abound.

We will review ten possible reasons that Donald S. Whitney has outlined in his book, /Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life./

* *

*III.

Purpose of Fasting*

 

          Your fast must have a spiritual purpose, otherwise it is a miserable, self-centered experience.

Fasting cannot be a way to earn God’s favor and it will not earn God’s favor.

It will not impress Him or make us acceptable to God.

That happened once and only through the work of Jesus Christ and we cannot add to it.

Fasting can have no benefit aside from repentance and faith.

* *

*          A.

To Strengthen Prayer*

 

                   Whether it can be explained or not, fasting applies a greater depth and passion to our intercession and supplication before God.

But it is not a spiritual hunger strike that compels God to do our bidding.

It will not cause God to reconsider something outside His will.

The secret of fasting lies not so much in changing God’s hearing as it does in changing our praying.

In his book /God’s Chosen Fast/, Arthur Wallis offers this insight: