Fasting.

Opening:

Introduction of the Passage:

Reading of the Passage:

Luke 5:33–35 “33 Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?” 34 And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.””

Behold the Word of God.

Prayer:

Introduction: The season of Lent.

The First Sunday of Lent.

What is Lent?

40 days of prayer and fasting in order to prepare our hearts to celebrate Easter.

When Did Lent Begin?

We know it is an extremely old practice in the church, but we don’t know for certain when it began. Some say it is apostolic, but there is not really any concrete evidence for that. We know for certain it was a well established practice by the Council of Nicea in 325 AD.

Isn’t Lent just a Roman Catholic Tradition?

Short answer is no. Many protestant traditions observe lent. It is common among Lutheran, Anglican, and Reformed traditions.

But there is a difference.

Roman Catholics ascribe Merit to Lent. It is a righteous work that can pay for certain sins. And they get really odd in these practices. And often the odd practices that Rome institutes can cause us to ask:

Should we observe Lent?

This is a really interesting question. What do we mean?

Here is how I answer this:

Christians Should Fast.

Christians should fast privately.

Christians should fast corporately.

Need:

Many people are confused on what fasting even is. But because this is a historic time when many Christians do fast, it is the perfect time to study what this Christian practice is and how to do it correctly.

Sermon Idea:

This morning we will be examining what fasting is, what it isn’t, and why Christians should practice this biblical discipline.

Transition:

What is Fasting?

Explanation:

Biblically, fasting is humbling yourself by temporarily refraining from food or drink.

Fasting consists of three things: Time, Quality of food, Quantity of food.

Calvin says fasting consists of three things. Time, Quality of food, and quantity of food.

Time.

Anytime we see a fast done in Scripture it is always for a certain amount of time.

Sometimes part of day. (David and his men when they heard Saul and Jonathan died 2 Sam 1:11-12 )

A full day. (Israel when they turned away from their false God’s as Samuel’s rebuke 1 Sam 7:2-6 )

Several days. (Nehemiah when he heard the gates of Jerusalem were destroyed Neh 1:4)

Or 40 Days. (Nineveh was at least prepared for a 40 day fast Jonah 3:4-9, Moses fasted for 40 days twice Deut 9:9-21, Jesus in the wilderness Matt 4:1-2)

Quality of Food.

Sometimes fasting is not a total fast but a partial fast.

Daniel 1:8-13 Daniel and his friends did not eat the king’s delicacies.

Likely there would have been some meat they could have eaten according to God’s Law, but they fasted that and only ate fruit and vegetables and drank water. God blessed them for this and they retained their strength.

Calvin takes from this that there are fasts where we refrain from eating certain foods but only eat basic meals. Basically, no celebratory foods. No dessert, no wine, no feasting.

Quantity of Food.

Some fasts are eating nothing. We have seen this already in some of the examples listed. Moses and Jesus and Nineveh. It is a complete refraining of eating.

Transition:

Should Christians Fast?

Explanation:

Objections: Many people say we should not fast.

Some people say fasting is not explicitly commanded.

They claim that fasting is only explicitly commanded by God once, and that is in the preparation for the day of Atonement in Lev 16.

This is sort of true, but is more a manipulation of the truth.

Others say fasting is pointless.

They say that fasting does not change the will of God. So why should we engage in it? It is a pointless exercise. It is an outward display of piety but all that really matters is heart. (Gnostic) (Our souls and bodies are intimately connected. What we do in the body affects our soul)

Others say fasting is works righteousness.

Since we are justified by faith alone, we should not worry about outward signs and actions.

Still others say fasting is required in the Old Testament but not in the New Testament.

To answer these I would say:

Fasting is regularly practiced by the faithful, blessed by God, and commanded for certain times.

We can answer these objections in one passage.

Luke 5:33–35 “33 Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?” 34 And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.””

Jesus said after He ascended Christians would fast. Fasting would be a regular part of the Christian life after Jesus left. So according to the words of Christ, we should fast.

Paul fasted after coming to the Lord.

We also see the church in Acts practice this discipline.

Fasted and prayed over Paul and Barnabas. Acts 13:1-3.

Paul and Barnabas fasted and prayed while appointing elders at Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. Acts 14:21-23.

This was also a common reality in the early church.

Polycarp said that Christians should be constant in fasting Poly 7:2 Wherefore let us forsake the vain doing of the many and their false teachings, and turn unto the word which was delivered unto us from the beginning, being sober unto prayer and constant in fastings, entreating the all-seeing God with supplications that He bring us not into temptation, according as the Lord said, The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Clement said fasting was better than just praying. 2 Cl 16:4 Almsgiving therefore is a good thing, even as repentance from sin. Fasting is better than prayer, but almsgiving than both.

The Didache calls for regular fasts “But before the baptism let him that baptizeth and him that is baptized fast, and any others also who are able; and thou shalt order him that is baptized to fast a day or two before.

Not only all these, but we do not draw doctrine from the Old Testament alone. This would be the heresy of the Marcionites. God commands Christians to fast and blesses them for it.

Transition:

Why Should Christians Fast?

What is the purpose of fasting.

Explanation:

Fasting can be done for many reasons.

Fasting is a physical sign of repentance.

It is an outward sign of our inward broken heart over sin. Being internally broken by our sin we express that by fasting.

This can be corporate or private.

We see this often when the People of God would fast in sackcloth and ashes as a sign of their sorrow over their sin. God blesses this.

Fasting is used to better prepare for worshipping God or for holy days.

It is a sign of humility while preparing to worship and serve God. This is why the church fasted before installing elders.

Fasting is used to strengthen and dedicate more time to prayer.

When fasting, we cry out to God with our bodies and our words.

Often in Scripture we see the people fast when they are going into danger or when a pressing decision must be made. They fast in order to strengthen their resolve in prayer and give more time to prayer.

Fasting is used to strengthen you in mortifying sin.

In fasting we are practicing willpower over our bodily desires. This can be a great aid in fighting sin. If you can give up food, you can give up your sin.

We fast in all these various circumstances because:

Fasting is humility expressed physically.

Fasting is reminding ourselves that God is our source of all provision.

This is the attitude we should have in fasting.

It is physically reminding ourselves that we are totally dependent on God for our very lives.

This strengthens our souls because there is not a stark wall between the physical and spiritual. What we do with our bodies affects our souls.

How should Christians not fast?

Avoid superstition.

Where many Christians go wrong is to think that fasting is meritorious in and of itself.

To put it simply, they attempt to earn righteousness by doing this good work. But that is not how it works.

We don’t rack up brownie points before God. Fasting is crying out to God, not earning His favor.

Fasting does not manipulate God.

Just like with prayer, fasting does not change God.

It is not “If only I fast long enough God will give me what I want.” Sometimes God says no.

David fasted and prayed asking God to save his son. God said no. 2 Sam 12:17-23)

Do not fast to gain attention.

Fasting is crying out to God, not making yourself look Spiritual.

Matthew 6:16–18 “16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

Pharisees fasted to get praise from man. This was so bad that the Didache actually told Christians to fast on different days than the Pharisees just to make sure there was no confusion.

Note: This is not a Prohibition against outward signs. Often when the entire assembly was called to fast, they would put on sackcloth and ashes. Jesus is speaking of private fasts.

Transition:

How Should Christians Fast?

Explanation:

There are two types of fasts we see in Scripture. Private and Corporate.

Private Fasts.

Private fasts are practiced when you are broken over personal sin, or in need of God’s aid in your life.

You, in secret, lay aside food either partially or fully, in order to cry out to God in body and soul.

They are beneficial because:

They help us train our bodies to follow Christ.

They aid us in dedicating more time to prayer.

Corporate Fasts.

Corporate fasts are when the entire church, or nation, fast in repentance or in seeking God’s aid.

Both Civil and Church leaders have the authority to call the people under their authority to fast and call out to God.

They are beneficial because an entire people unite to humble themselves before God. We know that corporate prayer contains power. God uses this as a means to accomplish His will.

We see this in 2 Chronicles 7:14 “14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Fasting should be done regularly both privately and corporately.

Scripturally this should be a regular part of the Christian life.

Conclusion:

Imagine how God would move if His people regularly were willing to lay aside physical desires in order to cry out to Him.

Application:

We should fast.

We live in a hedonistic culture. We are all shaped by the culture we live in.

We should regularly be training our bodies to submit to God.

We should regularly be crying out to God in body and in soul.

Should we observe Lent?

It is within the authority of the church to to call for times of fasting.

Our fathers through the entire history of the church felt that fasting before Easter was important and beneficial.

We should observe Lent but not fall into superstition. (Lent is not an indulgence.)

Fast according to your ability.

From now until Easter join me in fasting according to your ability. (Health limitations)

How does that look?

At least once a week, give up something in order to humble yourself as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s death for us.

Total fast one day a week.

Partial fast the entire 40 days.

Maybe you cannot give up food due to health reasons. But you could give up watching TV every night in order to spend time in prayer.

You are not allowed to commit the sin of grumbling while fasting (I haven’t had my coffee is not an excuse to grumble)

The point is: We should humble ourselves before God physically and spiritually to prepare our hearts to celebrate Christ’s death on our behalf.

What might God do in our hearts if we humble ourselves and cry out to him for the next 40 days.

Closing Prayer:

Offering:

Offertory Prayer:

Benediction:

Colossians 3:12 “12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;”