// Benefits of Biblical Fasting // Matthew 6:16-18, Isaiah 58
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Father has bestowed your word now me your word not return void. May your word do exactly what you have purpose for it to do in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. So this morning I want to talk to you about the benefits of biblical fasting last week. We looked at a Biblical fasting what fasting is were looked at the who what when where how and why questions of fasting this morning. I want to talk about the benefits of fasting and to conclude our time. So it will be Matthew 6 and also in Isaiah 58 For our time this morning.
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Fasting so biblical fasting what are some of the benefits of biblical fasting so Wayne grudem tells us that most western Christians do not fast, but if we were willing to fast more regularly, even for one or two meals we might be surprised how much more spiritual power and strength we would have in our lives and in our churches. And I completely agree with ring. Gordon says that most of us don't faster remembering this section here in chapter 6 Jesus. He was talking about our religious righteousness. And that's why inverse one of chapter 6, it says beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them for then you will have no reward from your father who is in heaven. So here when he talked about our religious righteousness it to recap a bit. He's talking about giving prayer and fasting and hear. Jesus is telling us they're using those three areas that Jesus highlighted. He's telling us a dose things. We should not do them just for a show and then invoice 16th. It says When you fast do not look gloomy like the Hypocrites for they disfigure their faces that they are fasting may be seen by others. But Jesus says to truly I say to you they have received their Rewards or Jesus say if you would just fasting for show some people know that you are fasting Jesus says you already have your reward but it says but when you fast anoint your head wash your face that you're fast thing may not be seen by others, but by your father who sees in secret and your father was season secret real reward you so when we fast it needs to be for the Lord when we fast is for the Lord's, so let's recap a bit. What is fasting for fasting is the discipline of Acts? 4 time from all or certain food and in the Bible we've seen that fasting always accompany a player. It's not like when we do fasting in the culture when we just fasting like to lose weight, but Christian fasting biblical fasting has nothing to do with losing weight when we fast it's for the purpose of intensive prayer of repentance worship and seeking guidance from God. So why we fast so the first one is to draw attention of God for a particular situation a problem. When we Face a very difficult situation, let's say that we have children. We do not know God that calls for a fast because the Bible says that
It says there is one way to get it says that's the only way that you get to heaven is through Jesus Christ. Jesus says I am the way I am the truth and I am the life. So things like that when you have a loved one would do not know Christ you that calls for a fast you drawing God's attention to a particular situation or problem that you face and when you bring that to God you commit that prayer you showing God, he's telling God a I am very serious about this. God. Please hear me help me through this situation now, let's be Clear now because we go before God infesting the tree fasting you do for for dear Dad on material things here and there is not a way of twisting God's arm to get what we want now. We cannot waste get arm to get what we want. But we know there are some things in the Bible like praying for loved ones. We know that God desires that everyone should be save the God wants to answer those prayers, but God want us to show that they were serious about this. I didn't receive when we face that great problem. For example in Book of Esther. He was facing death. Because if she goes before the king without being invited her punishment can be deaf and for things like this it calls for a fast and that's why people called on the people to come and fast so that she can find God's favor. See when we keep repeating the same song over and over that also calls for a fax it cost for repentance. That's why we going inside to seeing the Book of Joel. It says yet even now declares the Lord return to me with all your heart with fasting with weeping and we're good morning. So God is saying don't toy with sin and when you keep falling into the same person over and over God is saying this is a time for 5. Fasting and repenting of your sin. Another reason for fasting is for worship for worship. We saw an example with had a low profile prophetess in the New Testament. So she spend her time in the temple. She did not depart from the temple worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day you see fasting floors us closer to God and lastly. We saw a fasting when we fast is seeking God's guidance seeking God's guidance regarding a particular situation. Is there something that we desire to happen in our life and for some reason it just never happens that calls for a fast would we see God's wisdom because the Book of James says if any of you lack wisdom let him Do what I ask and God will give us the wisdom that we need. We need to seek guidance and we see in the New Testament before selecting church leaders. They would fast they would pray before they appoint leaders see in Acts 14:23 says and when they had appointed Elders for them in every church with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in home. They had believed and now how should you fax which we see in our text here. It's very simple. The first one is we should not fast to impress. We should never fast to impress. Our fasting is Beats. Us and the Lord. Yes God calls for corporate fast at times and when we do again, we just come to drain forces together, but not to impress others remember growing up in the church. They used to have a fast I believe every Saturday or like once a month. They would have a sprayer service of prayer and fasting and then you delete it would not eat but over time I get to as the regulars and faster until then. Okay, you can you can drink a liquid. That's that's fine. But when you come in fast cuz they will be there for a long time on Saturday morning and then ice and then one time the pastor saw somebody like with Boehner, you know, you would think that it's a drink and then he was just curious nothing to think about any family. Just ask her. What do you have there? What are you drinking and then come to find out it was do you think she was coming to the prayer and fasting service why Simply to Impress? Because I'm mine wasn't food her mom. I was like I cannot do this without any food, but she could have just prayed. But she wanted to show people that you was coming to the fast you was part of the fast but really well, she was not really fast thing. So don't fast to impress and when you fast do not look gloomy like the Hypocrites for they disfigure their faces that they are fasting may be seen by others the Pharisees would fast on Mondays and Thursdays because those were Market days and they would disfigure their faces and when they go to the marketplace and people could see them and see if I can eat email. Yeah, you know how I'm trying to really be close to God. No, no, no. No, you are not fasting then you just fasting to be seen but Jesus says truly I say to you they have received their reward in its second thing is that Fasting is not optional fasting is expected. All believers are expected to fast at one point or another Denver 16 pieces and when you fast verse 17, but when you first see you it is an expectation that all believers at some point in their life will fast. So if you've never fasted yet today, probably you need to take some time this week and fast. I don't have any problem. You just haven't looked deep enough.
Cuz all of us have deep problems that we've learned to ignore Dover time. We've learned that to deal with them would put them in the back burner. We just turn it off so that we don't deal with it. But in reality all of us have some serious problems that we all face. if we would take some time to actually reflect and think it would call for a fast. And then lastly fasting is a matter of the heart. You have to be real. It's a matter of the heart. Now you just trying to show up for 17 says but when you fax anoint your head wash your face, I mean nobody needs to know that you are fasting last week already. We're all Christians so fast with sing Daniel and his companions when they had gun into Excel. They wanted them to eat the king's Choice food, but they decided to do a partial fast and eating only vegetable and water. We're seeing the faster than a full Fast called The People Too Fast for several days. That way they did not eat or drink David fasted when he had lost his son and Moses fasted for 40 days Elijah fasted for 40 days. And of course the Lord Jesus Christ also fasted for 40 days. Give Jesus The Living Word of God saw that it was necessary to fast. Do you think we need to fast? When is Pizza Hut's as well? And God causes that agents time to get serious fasting means it's time to get serious the early church to time out and fasted but we have become masters of turning off our problems. So we don't have to deal with them. And when you see a problem keep cycling over and over and over and then you can never overcome that. It is called it's the time for a fast. We saw the early Church Pastor. So all of us should fast. When do you fast whenever you face with something very serious in your life and whenever you prompted by the spirit, the spirit says hey, I think you need to spend some more time with me and be serious about your walk. Where should you pass Heather you need to fast in secret when nobody needs to know and also when corporately we have something we need to deal with we can come and get together as a church family and fast and pray over a particular situation. So corporate fast you receive discipline were group of Believers such as a family or church come together to fast and pray in unity. To address serious situations that we face. And again, if you want a serious situation, you just need to really look deep within and you will find reasons to fast is the Esther there when it says 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 and I and my young women will also fast as you do then I will go to the king do it is against the law and if I perish I perish see she was faced a life-and-death situation and she admitted that to prayer and call on the other Jewish people to come and fast on her behalf. As well, what are some benefits to fasting our topic this morning some benefits to fasting on ash are six with you benefits to fasting. So the first one of fasting increases our sense of humility and dependence on God when God calls us to fast God calls us to him humble ourselves before him. It's a call to Humble ourselves before God when I come and fast about a particular situation that I might face. What I'm telling God is that God I am totally dependent on you. I am telling God that father I can't deal with that issue that I faced. I cannot deal with that situation that I faced and father. I'm coming before you I am denying myself of food because Lord I know only you can answer this problem that I face whether you going to answer the problem for me or prepare me for the answer that you're going to give me that may not be what I'm looking for. Then the second one is fasting allows us to give more attention to prayer. If you don't fast there are some things that you'll never pray about cuz when you set some time aside to pray it strengthen your prayer life because it you if you get time to really sit to reflect to thank and dig deep and then once you do that, then you will see all of a sudden God will bring other things in your mind that you need to pray about some of you just need to do it fast to ask God. What should you be fasting about?
Because we're so busy in our culture today. We moved from this to Dad. We moved from that to Dad. We moved from that to Dad and then we never have time to reflect and do you want to examine life is not worth living?
So it's time of deep reflection to take some time to really self-examine and then asking God. Help me to know what I need to be fasting about. If I feel like I don't need to fast about anything fasting allows us to give more attention to prayer and fasting is a continual reminder that we need to give all ourselves to God fasting is a constant reminder to give ourselves to God when we fast when we humble ourselves before God, we are saying to God a God and I am giving all of me to you because all of us love food. But when we deny ourselves the food we telling God a God you are more important to me then food. I want to focus my attention on you. and before freezing 4th benefit of fasting according to Wayne grudem is that is fasting disciplines are sit sit sit it grows up in our self-discipline because you strengthen our ability to say no to send just like we say no to food if you never learn to say no to certain things and then you will fall into every kind of said so when we discipline our self to say no to food, which we like which we enjoy which we depend on then we will be more prone when we faced with sin to have the power to say no because we haven't learn to say no to food then the other reason the benefit of fasting is that it raises its height in our spiritual and mental alertness now we I'm more sensitive to the spirit. We are more sensitive to the spirit leading because we set aside some time. Just thinking on God just faking Godly thoughts just faking on the things that matter to God we become more alert as we are spending time with God not so busy with the hustle and bustle of life. But we take time to sit defang to reflect you talk to God for a prolonged period of time and by the way, the the the typical duration of fast is for a whole day. So let's say from 6 p.m. To 6 p.m. The next day typical fast in the Bible we've seen is been for a whole day. But when you starting it doesn't have to be for a whole day.
Just up to show that God. I am serious about what I'm seeking and lastly again it express. Stress is earnestness and a sense of urgency in our prayer when we fast as opposed to just regular praying. We are telling my God, I'm really desperate and God. I'm really serious about what I'm asking you and I really need you to intervene or prepare me for the answer that you are about to give me that I will be fine with it and that you will Draw Me Closer to You the really centrally fasting is it cold to walk in the spirit fasting is a call to walk in the spirit. If you look at delicious 5/16 and 17 it says but I say read with me. Walk by the spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. See when you call a fast when you turn to God you fasting your turning to God. You are seeking God's face.
You're saying. I want to walk by the spirits not gratify the desires of the flesh not just doing the things that feels good to me. But I want to learn to say no. I want to work by what your word says. I want to walk by the spirit cuz Chronicles tells us if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray his I will hear their land and Jesus said that egg When you pray, you humble yourself before me. I will show up see and then it gives us some examples there about the desires of the phases for the desires of the flesh are against the spirit the desires of the spirit are against flesh. That's why we need to do our flight another voice to really walk in the spirit. But if we always say yes to the flash we are not working to the spirit and if we always saying yes, and if we don't learn to Say no in the spirit. We will always say yes to the flash board. These are opposed to each other to keep you from doing the things you want to do the fasting help you to say no and in our culture, it's hard to say. No we wanted to always be. Yes. You should kids with parents everything they say yes. Yes. Yes, that doesn't make for a good kid. They going to give problems in school because when the teacher says no, is that why they don't because I said no and I'm the parent teacher says no I said See, these are opposed to each other to keep you from doing the things that you want to do. We say now now here the examples now the works of the flesh are evident. What are the sexual immorality replete? That's what we do in Purity sensuality idolatry sorcery and the t-strife jealousy fits of anger. We have no problem with that. I'm sure rivalries dissensions divisions inv drunkenness orgies and things like this. I warned you as I warned you before that doze would do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God feed those fangs other things that come naturally to us. And God is saying if you know the things that we are doing where will not inherit the kingdom of God and that's why we need to fast to show got a I'm serious God. This is not how I want to live. But we're not missing. This is how I want to live because I want to live by the spirit because that's the only way that I can leave the way that God wants me to do because it says the fruit of the spirit is love joy peace, patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness and self-control does against such things. There is no law to God. It's another for you to live by the spirit. You need to learn to the 9th. When you denied The Flash and fasting the now you can be more loving you can't have experienced true Joy. You can experience God's peace. You can be more patient with people you can be more time. You can be good to others. You can be more faithful to God and faithful to one another we can be more gentle and we can exercise self-control more and when we walk by the spirit when we fast we go we humble ourselves before God and God says 8 and you can truly walk by the spirit and in verse 24 in those who belong to Christ have crucified The Flash see when you deny yourself of food, you are crucifying the flesh you saying no to the Flash in its passions and its desires so that you can be More like God and live by the spirit and verse 25. It says if we live by the spirit, let us also keep in step with the spirit. Let us not become conceited provoking one another and being one another. So God says another for us not to leave like the world not to the defense that come naturally to us. God says we need to Humble ourselves before him and Isaiah 58 here, which is a talk about true fasting. Isaiah 58 starting in verse 1 It's a shout with the voice of a trumpet blast shout aloud don't be timid that God talking to Isaiah and telling him tell My People Israel of their sin. God is telling I said, hey as a prophet, I want you to tell the people what they do wrong. You see why they killed all the prophets and nobody likes preachers today because you get into people's Grill and you tell them what they doing wrong and I think the call to Isaiah was tell people what they're doing wrong. Tell them about their sin. And right now we don't want to open anybody and then worse to it says yet. They act so pious. They come to the temple every day and seemed delighted to learn all about me. They act like righteous righteous nation, that would never abandon the law of his guys. They asked me to take action on their behalf pretending they want to be near me to gases, you know, there's a little people because they show up to church because they pretended to have an appearance of godliness, but that doesn't mean that it is true. They just pretending they just pretend to be there me just like 2nd Timothy 3 tells us they have an appearance of godliness, but deny its power because they refused to obey God's word. And fasting is a time to come before God. We humble ourselves before God and say that God. I want to live the way you want me to leave. I want to submit myself to your work but not pretending verse 3 we have fasted before you that the people speaking. Why aren't you impress? We have been very hard on ourselves and you don't even notice it. I will tell you why people are saying am fasting I'm fasting but again for looking most churches when they tell people by fasting it's about twisting his arm to get something from God and got those the true fast is walking with me is walking in obedience that I can answer your prayer because in some 86, it says no good thing those God withhold from those who walk uprightly. So I got those when you walk with me. I will give you the things that you need that doesn't mean that's going to be free from problem as we know from our reading this week in The Book of Mark. We will be persecuted but God says I will tell you why it's because you are fasting to please yourselves. See if you come to God. I'm fasting to get a house. It's about you. I'm fasting to get this or that it's about you. I'm fasting to lose weight. It's about you. Fasting is a time to Humble ourselves before God and let God changes mold us to be like him. Even while you fast. You keep oppressing your workers. So goddess AC it's about the living day today. Some of you will say I don't have any worker. I don't have any business. How am I a person workers? What about when you go to a restaurant to get a waiter and then take care of you you give them a nice fit?
That's some of them come to really depend on.
You say you working I just put that only on the business people, but also all of us have people working for us the way we treat people see words for what you do best thing when you keep on fighting and quarrelling. When you don't have any good relationship with anybody what's good is your fasting you just fighting and quarrelling with everybody got this you called us a fact. No wonder why I'm not answering your phone. I cannot even hear what you have to say when you keep on fighting and quarrelling with everybody this kind of fasting will never get you. Amy where you see fasting as a matter of the heart between you and God and change and submitting yourself to God's will submitting yourself to God's word and do what God had called you to do we live in the Bible Belt everybody's used to church and everybody knows about fasting and then go twist get home to get something that's the teaching fasting is about twisting that time to get something fasting is about verse five humble yourselves by going bye-bye humbling yourself before God and it says your you humble yourselves by going through what the Motions of penance Bowing your head like reads bending in the wind you dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes is this what you call fast thing the God is saying I don't care about the pendants about to just denying yourself of of just food, but you not to Livingston me. Do you really think this will please the Lord? And versus versus 6. It tells us what you fasting. You know, this is the kind of fasting I want. Free those who are wrongly imprisoned. That means seek Justice speak for those who cannot speak for themselves Advocate on behalf of those who cannot advocate for themselves says lighten the burden of those who work for you again. I don't have a business Jose. What about when you get to the restaurant you don't believe the tables such a mess that when you live at but you actually do a little clean up so that you make it easier on the server when they about to pick up your plates or I'm paying the queen know. What about you act like a Christian just think if it was like your sister or your mother that was serving. That's what but you go ahead and clean up after yourself. You leave a nice table for the stove or any night.
Will there be a good testimony of you having a mess? They having everything on the floor or I'm playing so they better clean. No longer tells us this is lighten the burden of those will work for you. Let the oppressed Go free and remove the chains that bind people people who don't know God are in the chains. They are bound cuz they don't understand that their students will not get them to Heaven. They are oppressed. The thing that everything that there is is just in this life, but when you share the gospel with people you teach them about God then they receive Christ you have freed them. And a lot of people are literally oppressed by sin where they cannot get away from sin. The seven share your food with the hungry. That's very clear, right? Give shelter to the homeless give close to those who need them and do not hide from relatives when they need your help.
Of this one strike a chord some of us we hide from our relatives when they need help.
Try to stay away. You don't pick up the call or you just don't call at all for a while. You just stay away if you're out of town, you don't go visit.
Jesus and this is the real fast and says a do not hide from relatives. We need your help. You give them help give shelter to the homeless. Now, let me help you on that doesn't mean you bring them in your house. It might be that you get a hotel for somebody get some people that cannot get into your house. Got it. Just got you some wisdom here. So when it says share your food to give shelter to give clothes and you do not hide from your relatives you help then look at it benefits. That's why I love that. Anytime God calls us to do something with a small hard. There are benefits attached to them. But again, do we do it for the better? We don't do it for the feed the benefit become a byproduct of what God has called us to do. But if we doing it for the benefits, we already got it all wrong. Let me season for State then your salvation will come like that. I mean your deliverance will come like doing like in the morning and your wounds will heal quickly and some of us may not be Sick physically, but mentally we have all kinds of problems that needs to be built within God says your wounds will heal quickly some of us bear the burdens of relationship problems. And God says 8 I will kill you quickly from them when you walk uprightly when you humble yourself before me. It says your godliness will lead you forward and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind the God will protect you. God will bless you here very much. And there's a blessing in Walking with God God blessing will be upon you his protection will be upon you and look here until 9 then when you call the Lord. Will answer. Oh my God is calling us to walk with him doesn't say when you walk with me. I will answer Proverbs 11 23 it says. Why does it say, that's our family verse really really y'all can help me?
Proverbs 11 23 Oh, man. I'm doing a great job as a parent and husband Proverbs 11 23.
Desires of the righteous and only in good thank you for coming to the rescue problems 1123 in the desire of the righteous and only in good. Are you kids now y'all need to write this a hundred times? Okay. That's what they used to do to me as a kid. So that's your assignment for today write this worth a hundred times the desires of the Bride shoes and only in good then you called the Lord will answer. Yes. I am here. He will quickly reply beautiful when you talked again and got to say I'm here. All of us struggle with patients right to the guidance is quickly than this is good remove the heavy yoke of Oppression. Stop pointing your fingers and spreading vicious Rumors in the Bible. That's why they stopped at gossiping. Stop spreading rumors, since you are a Christian those things are not for you been divorced and just focus on what's important feed the hungry help those in trouble if he's circling back again, right didn't we already see that? Spelling of this is important feed the hungry help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness. Isn't that what we see in the New Testament in Matthew? 5:16. It says let your light shine before men so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father in Heaven and the Darkness around you will be as bright as noon. University 11 the Lord will guide you continually do we need guidance the Lord will guide you continually giving you water when you are you're all I got. I got your back and restoring your strength. God will strengthen you you will be like a well-watered garden. It makes a difference when a garden is well why they're door look at your flower bed. All my stuff are dead now because I don't want it then cuz it's so busy yesterday. I put some water. I can already see a difference but God says that's how you will be. You will be like a well-watered garden like on ever-flowing spring. So that means people will come to you because you have the source. But that's why God says guessing that's a hate when you fast when you walk with me you deny self. That's what I'm going to do for you. Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilding of walls and restores of home. That means you will make an impact in your community. M13 keep the Sabbath day. Holy don't pursue your own interest on that day. But enjoy the Sabbath. Can I come inside with fasting you resting but you also praying you fasting and speak of it will with delight as the Lord's. Holy day honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day and don't follow your own desires or talk highly this is considered the thing just like a Sabbath day. You rest you pray. You don't seek your own desires. It's not time to catch up on email texting, but it's time to just relax and just focus on God focus on him on that day. You don't talk nonsense, you know, but just focus on God time to go. Serious, and God says you will be blessed then. The Lord will be your Delight. I will give you great honor and what satisfy you with the inheritance. I promise to your ancestors. Jacob remembered will give the Israelites milk flowing with honey and milk. Land flowing with honey and milk. I the Lord have spoken. So God says hey don't complain or get lightheaded.
Okay, keep eating your food and then very soon you're going to let that foot go right in a place. Where you go sit, right? brugada saying got the better thing. Deny yourself and food. And focus on me the food cannot save you or the food you do is just going to Paris but God says 8 when you come to me, you humble yourself, you will find me and you will be glad that you do and God says I will satisfy you when you come to me and give yourself to me. You see through fasting is about living out the Christian Life and Center our life on him. When we live at such as raising good and put it with might be surprised how much more spiritual?
Power and strength we would have in our lives and in our churches if we would take time to fast and focus our attention on the Lord. Isn't that what Micah 6:8 says this is what the lord requires of you. do what is right to love mercy and to walk humbly before your God and God says when you do this thing's I will hear your prayer and my blessing will be upon you now remember in this section as we look at The Sermon on the Mount in the Book of Matthew.
5:20 says why I tell you unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of God. So in chapter 6 when it's talking about our religious righteousness and then using the three examples of giving of praying and a fasting God says a don't do it as a show like the Pharisees did it. God says 81 you give you give generously When you pray don't pray for sure pray in secret privately first before you pray publicly and God says when it comes to fasting you go ahead and fast regularly. Just like you give you pray. God says do not ignore fasting either, but it's so interesting. God picks. Those three are the only 5% of people give Faithfully when it comes to diving when it come to prayer. Most of us neglect brain when it comes to fasting most of us totally ignore fasting, but Jesus says we need to do all three and Jesus says we need to do all three well, so may we give generously may we pray regularly and may often we set time aside to fast because Jesus calls us to do all three. Amen father. Thank you for your grace. May you help us today? To take our really just righteousness seriously our spiritual activities. Seriously that you call this to you. It may you help us father to take you at your word and do those things that you have called us to do the father helped all of us you father to learn to deny ourselves of the things that we want.
but your jets what you want for us? and we know father all alone when we put Our needs on hold and focus on you. We know that you have a way of Meeting those needs that we were after all along. So bother me, we focus on you the author and Perfecter of our faith, but we know father when we focus on you. You take care of us to Father me. We have faith today and believe that you are able to do far more abundantly above all we could ever ask or imagine the father help us to trust you and honor you. In our fasting in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. What is your stand as we sing the last song together and close our time?
