10 Principles of Godly Living Message 8

10 Principles of Godly Living

Message 8

Fasting

Are you hungry?

a. What’s your favorite food?

ii. We are going to talk about fasting today.

iii. Not something you hear much about.

Fasts in the bible.

Moses

fasted before receiving the 10 commandments.

i. Exodus 34:27–28 (GW) — 27 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write down these words, because on the basis of these words I’m making a promise to Israel and to you.” 28 Moses was there with the Lord 40 days and 40 nights without food or water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the promise, the ten commandments.

Exodus 34:27–28 GW

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write down these words, because on the basis of these words I’m making a promise to Israel and to you.”  Moses was there with the Lord 40 days and 40 nights without food or water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the promise, the ten commandments. 

Israel

b. The Israelites Fast at Bethel for Victory in Battle.

i. Judges 20:26-28 records a one fast.

Hannah

Fasts to Conceive a Child.

i. Hannah was barren and fasted and gave birth to Samuel. 1 Samuel 1:17-18

King David

Fasts for the Life of His Child

i. David fasted because of the death his and Bathsheba’s child.

ii. 2 Samuel 12:15–23

Elijah

Fasts to Commune with God at Mount Horeb

i. 1 Kings 19:7–18

ii. Cave, Earthquake, Fire, Wind.

iii. Verse 12 says this “And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.”

Nehemiah

Fasts in Repentance for His People

i. In Daniel you will find the same thing.

ii. Fasting leads to repentance

Paul

Fasts After Being Struck on the Damascus Road

i. Acts 9:8–12

ii. Paul is struck blind and fast for three days.

iii. Ananias in vision lays hands on Paul and God heals his blindness.

Church Leaders

Fast for Guidance from the Holy Spirit.

i. Acts 13:2 (NLT) — 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”

Acts 13:2 NLT

One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”

Jesus

Fasts and Overcomes Temptation

i. Luke 4:3–4 (NASB 2020) — 3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

Luke 4:3–4 NASB 2020

And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’ ”

ii. Get it?

3. Sharpening the ax

a. The lumber jack contest.

i. I think a lot of us are like the young man chopping trees with a dull ax.

ii. A lot of us chop away all the time, and then wonder why the trees aren’t falling.

iii. We look at other people who don’t seem to be working half as hard as we are, yet they seem to be making a lot more progress spiritually.

iv. Just maybe the difference is they have taken the time out to sharpen their axes.

v. That’s what the spiritual discipline of fasting is all about—sharpening the “ax” of our inner person so we can achieve spiritual victory.

vi. I preach all the time about prayer.

vii. I say almost nothing about fasting.

viii. Fasting is not just an aside to the Christian life, but essential to the life that pleases God.

ix. Let’s put fasting on the same level as prayer.

A definition.

i. Fasting is the deliberate abstinence from some form of physical gratification, for a period of time, in order to achieve a greater spiritual goal.

ii. You can fast from anything.

The principle of fasting

i. When you are hungry what do you do?

1. You become on a mission.

2. My stomach says feed me!!

3. We are obedient.

ii. But when we fast, God says,

iii. “This is for Me.”

1. Just as food satisfies us, fasting satisfies God.

iv. We are saying to God.

1. The cry of my soul for You is greater than the cry of my stomach for food or anything else.

2. Fasting gets God attention like nothing else.

v. What do we do so often?

1. We feed the body while we starve the soul. (A dull ax)

4. What fasting does for you.

Fasting brings spiritual renewal

i. Joel 2:12 (NLT) — 12 That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

Joel 2:12 NLT

That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

Fasting will help you know God’s will.

i. Fasting can be a means to seek God's guidance and discern His will in our lives.

ii. It was often practiced when making important decisions or facing challenges.

iii. Acts 13:2 (NASB 2020) — 2 While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for Me for the work to which I have called them.”

Acts 13:2 NASB 2020

While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for Me for the work to which I have called them.”

Fasting brings self-discipline.

i. Fasting requires self-control and discipline, helping us overcome our earthly desires and weaknesses.

ii. 1 Corinthians 9:27 (NLT) — 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:27 NLT

I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Fasting brings about a heart transformation.

i. Fasting is a time to examine our motives, repent of sin, and open our hearts to God and let him work in our hearts.

ii. Jeremiah 24:7 (NIV) — 7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

Jeremiah 24:7 NIV

I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

It’s not magic.

It’s a heartfelt expression.

i. Fasting draws us closer.

ii. Pause get the file and sharpen the ax.

One finial instruction.

6. Matthew 6:16–18 (GW) — 16 “When you fast, stop looking sad like hypocrites. They put on sad faces to make it obvious that they’re fasting. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward. 17 When you fast, wash your face and comb your hair. 18 Then your fasting won’t be obvious. Instead, it will be obvious to your Father who is with you in private. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.

Matthew 6:16–18 GW

“When you fast, stop looking sad like hypocrites. They put on sad faces to make it obvious that they’re fasting. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward. When you fast, wash your face and comb your hair. Then your fasting won’t be obvious. Instead, it will be obvious to your Father who is with you in private. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.