Four Powerful Tools: Fasting

Introduction

Matthew 6:16–18 ESV

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Fasting is all about redirecting our attention to God;

It’s to gain a deeper fellowship with God

(GotQuestions.org/fasting-Christian.html)

Jesus said “when you fast”, not “if”

Fasting was a normal part of religious life; it should be part of our spiritual life today

Fasting is the abstaining from food. Period.

It is noble to abstain from other things (music, tv, etc)

Fasting is a private matter…usually…except in national calls to fast

Anyone can fast.

Why fast?

Seek God’s guidance

Israel was at war with of their own tribes and was being defeated. It was only after fasting did they have the direction from God they needed

Judges 20:26 ESV

Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.

Daniel had a vision that disturbed him. He fasted for 21 days before he received an answer

Daniel 9:3 ESV

Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

Foster a dependence upon God

At the start of his earthly ministry Jesus spend 40 days & nights fasting in solitude

Luke 4:2 ESV

for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.

King Jehoshaphat heard of the Ammonites and Moabites coming to make war. They were outnumbered and fasted as a nation for God’s deliverance

2 Chronicles 20:3–4 ESV

Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.

Intercede for others

Esther called for a fast as she went before the king in hopes of staving off the slaughter of the Jews

Esther 4:16 ESV

“Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”

The church at Antioch fasted and prayed before sending Paul & Barnabus out

Acts 13:3 ESV

Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

A short time later, Paul & Barnabus fasted & prayed over the church in Lystra before appointing elders.

Acts 14:23 ESV

And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Express humility, repentance. or sorrow

Israel had fallen yet again into idolatry but returned the Lord. Their time of fasting was part of their repentance

1 Samuel 7:6 ESV

So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.

Ahab, when confronted with his own sin, fasted and found mercy from God

1 Kings 21:27–29 ESV

And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house.”

The Ninevites were spared destruction because they heeded the words of Jonah, fasted, and repented

Jonah 3:5–9 ESV

And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”

Nehemiah 1:4–7 ESV

As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.

Helpful guidelines

Fast privately

Not for FB, but inform when necessary

Sidenote: Jesus taught the disciples (and us) that giving, praying, & fasting was to be private. I wonder why? (Hint: it’s unto God, not man)

Fast regularly

Make fasting a normal part of your spiritual life

Start slowly

A 21-day fast may sound spiritual, but you likely won’t make it. Train your physical & spiritual body

Conclusion

Fasting is all about redirecting our attention to God.