Fasting

Introduction

We are not given explicit instructions about how to fast because fasting is pretty simple. It’s not eating to show humility and devotion to God.

Why don’t Christians grow? According to JC Ryle, “They are careless and slovenly about their private prayers. They read their Bibles but little, and with very little hardiness of spirit. They give themselves no to time for self-inquiry and quiet thought about the state of their souls.” He goes further to explain, “It is useless to conceal from ourselves that the age we live in is full of peculiar dangers. It is an age of great activity, and of much hurry, bustle, and excitement in religion. Thousands are ready for public meetings, sermon-hearing, or anything else in which there is “sensation.” Few appear to remember the absolute necessity of making time to “Commune with our hearts and be still (as it says in Psalm 4:4).””

Private religion, as Ryle calls it, must receive our first attention if we are to see spiritual growth.

Ryle feared that he was living in an age where people were distracted and seeking out sensation. He argued too many appeared to have a Sunday religion - that is they came to church and wore the write clothes, but cared nothing for their own spiritual growth.

Ryle wrote this in the late 19th Century. It would not be difficult to argue that this is even more true of the age we live in now.

Do you seek spiritual growth? If you don’t, it’s time to look deep to discern if you are a Sunday Christian.

Your desire should be to seek spiritual growth. 1 Peter 2:2–3 “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

What is fasting?

Fasting is the voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes. Don Green

Today we’ll look briefly at fasting in the Old Testament, and save other passages for later. The Old Testament had only one commanded fast, which was found in Leviticus for the Day of Atonement. All other fasts were voluntary. Since the command to fast was directed to the nation Israel, and since the Day of Atonement was fulfilled in Christ, I want to focus on the voluntary fasts of the Old Testament.

That’s simple enough. But let’s ask a more penetrating question. Why did the saints fast in the Old Testament? In summary, we can say that voluntary fasting in the Old Testament expressed a mournful, urgent seeking of God in distressing circumstances. Consider some illustrations from the Old Testament.

2 Samuel 12: 16-18: David fasted and wept for his dying child. Esther 4:3, 16: The Jews fasted when threatened with extermination at the hands of Haman. Jonah 3:6-10: Nineveh fasted when Jonah pronounced judgment on them.

Greatly distressed and conscious of their utter helplessness, they suspended their normal eating habits in an urgent, extraordinary seeking of God who alone could deliver them from their distress.

In other words, their fasting naturally flowed from profound spiritual urgency. It was not the product of routine spiritual ritual. It expressed deep dependence on God in times of uncommon anguish. In Joel 2:12-13 we read:

“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil.

Fasting was an outward expression of the inward reality of a shattered heart. It was an urgent response of repentance and great humility. It was the seeking of deliverance from a gracious God in profoundly desperate situations.

What does that mean for you today? Ask yourself some serious questions. Do you turn to God in your trials or surrender to fear and grumbling? Do you repent of sin or tolerate it in your life? Are you confident in your own strength or do you see your utter need for the grace of God?

When should you fast?

Notice the important contrast between Jesus’ teaching on prayer and fasting. Jesus told us to “pray in secret” (Matthew 6:5-8) and then immediately gave extended instruction on prayer so we could pray properly (Matthew 6:9-15). He says, “Pray, then, in this way” and gives several themes that should inform our prayers. He addresses the frequency of prayer when He tells us to pray for our “daily” bread (Matthew 6:11).

But fasting? Different approach altogether. Yes, he tells those who fast to fast in secret (Matthew 6:18). But he does not say, “Fast, then, in this way.” He does not give any instruction on fasting. He does not address frequency. He does not address diet. He does not address drinking liquids while fasting.

Why should you fast?

Okay, so you’ve told me what fasting is: that it is voluntarily abstaining from food for spiritual purposes, such as prayer.

You’ve also explained when to fast: during times of distress or helplessness. In the face of an important decision. When you feel compelled to seek God’s direction.

But you might be saying, “You haven’t really convinced me to add fasting to my faith practises.

This is where we will talk about why we fast.

The Pharisees in Jesus’ day turned that principle of concealment on its head. Jesus condemned the smug self-righteousness of the Pharisee who prayed, “I fast twice a week, I tithe of all that I get” (Luke 18:9-14). Although the Old Testament required only one fast a year (Leviticus 16:29), history tells us the Pharisees fasted on Monday and Thursday to multiply their religious observances. The Pharisee in Luke 18 was really saying, “God, I’m more righteous than even You require.”

Twice a week! One hundred fasts a year! Wow! How impressive is that?

Not impressive at all. They were only adding tasks of their own invention, which they carried out in a way to maximize their attention from men. Looked great on the outside.

Totally rejected by God who looks on the inside. Colossians 2:23 says:

These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

While the New Testament seems to de-emphasize fasting, I think it would be a mistake to say fasting has been completely eliminated from the life of the church. After all, Jesus did say, “Whenever you fast,” which could almost be translated “if and when you fast”; and in Matthew 9:15, he does say his disciples will fast after he is taken away from them. But Jesus gives no other detail.

I believe that’s instructive for us. Rather than follow some guru who wants to make up rules Jesus didn’t find necessary, I think you’re better off guided by biblical principle. Here’s a summary statement to launch the discussion:

Summary: Fasting is left to the discretion of an individual believer in times of distress.

Regarding that qualifying phrase, “in times of distress,” I like what the 19th century commentator John Broadus said:

Fasting is right only when [your] condition makes it natural. In a time of joy, fasting would be unnatural, and could not express a genuine feeling. But persons who are in great distress are naturally inclined to abstain from eating. Fasting can deepen those spiritual impulses toward worship and devout meditation.

For you, fasting may be an appropriate outlet for the burden of your heart. That’s what A. W. Pink was talking about when he wrote,

Private fasting must issue from an urge within and not because it is imposed from without. Private fasting should be spontaneous, the result of our being under a great stress of spirit, and the simple act itself be entirely lost sight of in the engrossing fervor which prompted it.

God appointed fasting for such times. Maybe the act of skipping a meal or two would help you express to God the spiritual urgency that is on your heart.

Don’t look for external fasting to do for you what God has appointed the Scriptures to do. Fasting is not designed to put righteous desires into you; it’s meant to be a means to express urgent desires that already exist. Fasting is an effect of a spiritual urgency, not the cause of it.

Conclusion

Why are you here?

We need to be all in. What makes movements powerful, when everyone is united in their common goal. What if everyone here was united in their desire to see real meaningful spiritual growth. The kind of growth that not only God sees, but is evident to all around you.

We want a movement where we see real spiritual growth.

*Bring out Canada jersey*

How many of you watched the 4 nations faceoff tournament? *many hands will go up*

Isn’t that crazy. Look how many of us marked that day on our calendars, set time aside and we were all in!

Isn’t it true that when the NHL season began many of you had no idea the 4 nations tournament was going to happen, or many of you had heard about it but had no real intention of committing to watching it. So what happened?

Suddenly, everyone was talking about it. It was everywhere. That movement happened quickly, out of nowhere.

*show gulf of Canada meme*

Why can’t that be us. If we can that quickly come together to commit to a movement centred around a hockey tournament, why can’t we begin a movement centred on something that matters. What if encouraging each other to fast and pray and talking about what part of Scripture your in. Why can’t that characterize this movement?

Maybe fasting is a good first step. I’m fasting Wednesday. Pick a day. Don’t wait too long. We want to be united in this.

Go without food and seek God. As Isaiah points out, confront your own sin and then get to work seeking God.

May you be pushed to action

Find healing

Find renewed strength