The Practice of Fasting

Transformed - Incorporating the Practices of Jesus: The Practice of Fasting Matthew 4:1-4; 6:16-18 | July 28, 2024 This probably doesn't come as a surprise, but I like to eat. Summer has been rough, for some reason or another, I've had two lunches multiple times in a week. With this economy, that's just bad stewardship, isn't it? In my defense, first lunch is leftovers ... so, I'm helping really, by not wasting food. Right? Let's just go with that. In the end, I do not miss many meals, and I'm grateful that I do not need to. But this morning, I'm going to argue that there are some good reasons to miss a meal, and it's not just for your physical health. In our current sermon series, we're reviewing and discussing practices of Jesus that we can - and should - incorporate into our lives as His followers. This morning, as you may have guessed, we're discussing the practice or discipline of fasting. This is an interesting topic. And I'll be honest with you, when I began studying for this sermon last month, most of the sermons that I came across were from very charismatic preachers. In fact, one guy has - seemingly - based his whole ministry on this practice. So, I want to be careful on how I discuss this topic this morning. Since, we're talking about specific practices of Jesus, we should probably identify where Jesus practiced fasting. We can do that by heading to the book of Matthew, where we see that Jesus began His public ministry with fasting. If you're unfamiliar, John the Baptist was sent out prior to Jesus to "pave the way" for Him. He preached the coming of the Savior and of repentance. Once people came to believe, he baptized them, and eventually he also baptized Jesus - which of course was symbolic of what Jesus was going to do in His earthly ministry. Matthew records these words following Jesus's Baptism in Matthew 4 (1-4): 1 THEN JESUS WAS LED UP BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO BE TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL. 2 AND AFTER FASTING FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS, HE WAS HUNGRY. 3 AND THE TEMPTER CAME AND SAID TO HIM, "IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD, COMMAND THESE STONES TO BECOME LOAVES OF BREAD." 4 BUT HE ANSWERED, "IT IS WRITTEN, " 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT COMES FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.' " While the full account takes us through verse 11, I want to stop here, because the response from Jesus may be the key - in so many ways - to understanding fasting. Because when we fast - which we'll define in just a moment - it reminds us of our dependance on God, not food as the devil was trying to tempt Jesus with. So, WHAT IS FASTING? Well, I do like the way Thomas Tarranston from the C.S. Lewis Institute defined it, which will act as our main idea for the message: Fasting is simply going without food in order to seek God for some special reason. Notice that I mentioned "food" in this definition. Both the Hebrew word and the Greek word for fasting in the bible both refer to abstaining from food and eating. There seems to be at least two instances in the Scriptures where there is a modification to that. First ... * In Daniel 1:8-14, Daniel and his friends chose to consume only vegetables and water, as they were convicted in eating the luxurious foods. This would be an example of a modified, or partial fast. Another example comes from ... * 1 Corinthians 7:5 where Paul states that it is permissible for married couples to refrain from sexual relations for the purpose of coming together in prayer. However, it is no secret that there are other religions and other reasons why people fast. For example, in Judaism, the command of fasting is directly associated with the Day of Atonement - or Yom Kippur - in Leviticus 23. In Islam, it is considered one of the 5 pillars of their faith, and for both the Hindus and Buddhists, they recognize fasting as a way of spiritual cleansing and practicing self-control. Many people will fast for various health reasons, including weight loss, blood sugar control, and inflammation. And others will "fast" from media or other vices for a specific period of time. Today, we'll focus on Biblical fasting, which is the abstinence of food. This isn't to say, "fasting" from social media or TV is a bad practice, it's simply not a biblical fast. Jesus, not only participated in fasting, but we see also that He taught about fasting in Matthew 6:16-18. Here's what He said: 16 "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. 17 BUT WHEN YOU FAST, ANOINT YOUR HEAD AND WASH YOUR FACE, 18 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. You may be like me, and when we see the word "WHEN" it seems to imply that this is a command from Jesus, and that all Christians are commanded to fast. But after studying this a little more, I came to realize that the "WHEN" is presupposing that these first followers of Jesus, and some of the religious people, were already practicing this discipline. However, just like we see with other "when" commands from Jesus - like praying and giving in the same chapter - Jesus is emphasizing that He expects us to practice these things. Naturally, there were some issues on how some were practicing this discipline. In short, they were making it known that they were fasting, by messing up their hair, and not washing their faces. Why would they do that? To show others how holy they were. Jesus is not saying don't do it, rather, when you do, make sure it's between you and God. So, I suppose there are several questions to ask about this practice. First ... Let's explore ... WHY WE SHOULD FAST Biblically, there are many reasons why we should fast. I'll only cover a few. First: * I should fast to strengthen my prayers. o Author Donald Miller wrote: "Fasting does not change God's hearing; it changes our praying." o This is to say, by fasting we are not opening a secret door that causes God to act, rather, fasting provides a more focused dependance on Him. o A popular example of this is found in Ezra 8, where Ezra was about to lead the exiles back to Jerusalem. He prayed to God for safe passage, here is what Ezra 8:21-23 says: 21 THEN I PROCLAIMED A FAST THERE, AT THE RIVER AHAVA, THAT WE MIGHT HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE OUR GOD, TO SEEK FROM HIM A SAFE JOURNEY FOR OURSELVES, OUR CHILDREN, AND ALL OUR GOODS. 22 FOR I WAS ASHAMED TO ASK THE KING FOR A BAND OF SOLDIERS AND HORSEMEN TO PROTECT US AGAINST THE ENEMY ON OUR WAY, SINCE WE HAD TOLD THE KING, "THE HAND OF OUR GOD IS FOR GOOD ON ALL WHO SEEK HIM, AND THE POWER OF HIS WRATH IS AGAINST ALL WHO FORSAKE HIM." 23 SO WE FASTED AND IMPLORED OUR GOD FOR THIS, AND HE LISTENED TO OUR ENTREATY. o The Christian fasts when there is a strong, Spiritual need. Some have said that they fast anytime they are getting ready to make a big decision. o Next, * I should fast to deny myself. o This may be the most fundamental reason for fasting. o Think about what Paul wrote to the Galatians in Galatians 5:16-17 about the desires of the flesh. Here's what he wrote: 16 BUT I SAY, WALK BY THE SPIRIT, AND YOU WILL NOT GRATIFY THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH. 17 FOR THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH ARE AGAINST THE SPIRIT, AND THE DESIRES OF THE SPIRIT ARE AGAINST THE FLESH, FOR THESE ARE OPPOSED TO EACH OTHER, TO KEEP YOU FROM DOING THE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO. o What happens when we're hungry and we have immediate access to food? We go and get something to satisfy that urge. o Guess what? That's the flesh. So, fundamentally, when we fast, we are denying the flesh. Not for the purpose of torturing ourselves, but for the purpose of using that denial as an opportunity to connect with the Lord. When you search the Scriptures on fasting, it is almost always connected with prayer. Frankly, they go hand and hand. o It's the same practice, denying the flesh, and refocusing that desire into prayer and communion with God. o This is why many times fasting is recommended to people who are struggling with sin or temptation. o So, when your lives start to become very self-centered, it's possible that you may need to set aside a time to fast. o Let me give you one more reason why we should fast ... * I should fast to seek God's guidance o We see this in Acts 13:1-3, when Paul and Barnabas were sent for their missionary work, here's what Luke records: 1 NOW THERE WERE IN THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH PROPHETS AND TEACHERS, BARNABAS, SIMEON WHO WAS CALLED NIGER, LUCIUS OF CYRENE, MANAEN A LIFELONG FRIEND OF HEROD THE TETRARCH, AND SAUL. 2 WHILE THEY WERE WORSHIPING THE LORD AND FASTING, THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID, "SET APART FOR ME BARNABAS AND SAUL FOR THE WORK TO WHICH I HAVE CALLED THEM." 3 THEN AFTER FASTING AND PRAYING THEY LAID THEIR HANDS ON THEM AND SENT THEM OFF. o Did you catch that? While they were praying and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke to them, and they responded by sending out Barnabas and Paul. o Later in chapter 14 of Acts, when Barnabas and Paul appointed elders, they do so with prayer and fasting as well. o While we battle our flesh, and shift our minds and hearts to the Lord, we are drawn closer to God. o Here's what pastor and writer Donald Whitney says about this: "Fasting does not ensure the certainty of receiving clear guidance from God. Rightly practiced, however, it does make us more receptive to the One who loves to guide us." o Notice here that we are the ones changed in this practice. o Other reasons Christians should fast include: * Humbling yourself before God * To prepare for ministry * To express grief * To seek God's protection, and * To express love and worship to God So far, we've answered two questions about fasting. First, what is it? We determined that fasting is going without food in order to seek God for some special reason. We then answered the why and saw that there are many reasons we should fast, each of which draw us closer to God in prayer and communion. Next, I want to discuss some possible ... QUESTIONS I SHOULD ASK BEFORE I FAST I do want to make this practical, so I think these few questions are very relevant. I also want to put out a disclaimer. It's likely that some of you - medically speaking - should not fast. So, talk to your doctor if you feel compelled to begin a fast. First question to ask yourself is ... * Why are you fasting? o This almost seems obvious. o If you go home and decide to fast because you were so moved by my message (unlikely, I know), but don't have purpose, then don't. o The first time I fasted, I was facing some tempting thoughts, I had moments of depression and dissatisfaction, and I happened to be reading a book for pastors on the discipline of prayer by E.M. Bounds. In reading his book, I was convicted and felt a strong urge and need to fast. So, I skipped breakfast and lunch. Every time I had a hunger pain, I either prayed or picked up my Bible. o For me, I needed to refocus and seek the Lord. That was my reason. o Here are some other biblical examples: * David fasted and prayed when his son was dying, asking for God to spare him. * In Jonah 3, the people of Nineveh came to believe in God's warning about their destruction, and they called for a fast as they prayed for God's mercy. o We must have a clear reason to fast. o Another question to ask before fasting is ... * What kind of fast will I do? o This is to say, will I abstain from all food? Maybe a partial fast? Maybe intermittent fasting is the option. Maybe liquid only? o Again, refer back to the first question ... why am I doing this? What's the purpose? o You may have heard of the Daniel fast, which was made popular back in 2007. Obviously, it is based on Daniel's stand against the king's food in Daniel 1. His conviction was that food would defile him, and that it dishonored the Lord. This fast is designed to encourage the participant to pray, meditate, and reflect for a period of 21 days while eating only vegetables and drinking water. o The kind of fast you do is not as important as why you are fasting. Secondarily, your desire should be on glorifying God and drawing nearer to Him. o Next question is ... * How long should I fast? o Again, what is the purpose? o Maybe you are facing an important decision in your life. Maybe you need to come to a decision within 7 days, so mirror your fast during that period of time. o I read an article from a man who was fasting for his child who had cancer, so he predetermined a period of time to which he would commit to fasting as he prayed for his son while he was getting treatment. o Frankly, if we were to go to the Scriptures for this answer, there is not one specific prescription for this. * The example of Jesus when we opened this morning was 40 days, * We just saw that Daniel fasted for 21 days, * Twice, Moses fasted for 40 days when he was up on Mt. Sinai receiving the Law from the Lord * David's fast that I mentioned earlier was 7 days o How long may be determined on the purpose. o You also have to consider your health and other limitations. o I read somewhere that your body can only be without water for 3 days and going without food or water for 3-5 days should likely be discussed first with a medical expert. We talk about this often, but as Christians, much of what we do - if not everything we do - must have the right motivation, one that is driven by a change of heart because of the saving work of Jesus. When it is not, then these practices, or disciplines, are "worthless." As we close, let's consider ... HOW TO FAST * Pray o Pray about this practice and discipline. o God may be moving within you and urging you to fast - but you won't know that until you spend time with Him. o Are you stuck in a continuous prayer that doesn't seem to be moving? o Are you feeling disconnected from God or from other Christians? o Are you needing God's guidance on an important decision or direction in your life? o Are you grieving? o Are you struggling on how to personally worship and praise God? o Are you struggling with sin? o If you answered yes to any of those questions, then God may be calling you to a biblical fast, where you are abstaining from food, so you can seek Him. * Start small o If you have never fasted before, I would not recommend a weeklong fast, begin with a meal, then maybe the next time, a second meal o If you do want to do a weeklong, do one meal each day, not the full day o Experts say that you need to be sure to stay hydrated o Others warn that you may feel sick and even a little cranky - or as I like to call it "hangry" o Remember, those are the times where we need to be denying ourselves and seeking God o Finally, * End well o Many make the mistake of eating a big meal after a fast, but experts say that it is best for your first meal to be small, maybe a juice and gradually add fruits and vegetables, as your body needs time to readjust. o If you have a prayer journal, log some of your learnings and blessings from your fast and refer back to it often. This morning, we learned about the practice of fasting. We defined biblical fasting, we answered the question of why, and we even answered some questions about fasting. Finally, we reviewed how to fast. The Scriptures have many examples of fasting. But with Jesus's example, He made it clear with His disciples that there is an expectation of His followers to fast, which includes you and me. So the question is, are you ready to take this next step in your spiritual journey? Let's pray. 2