Feasting in Fasting

Bible Passage: Lk 5:33–35

Over the next few weeks we will be talking about Spiritual Disciplines. What it means to be disciplined as a believer and how disciplines will help you grow in your faith.

Tonight we will start with fasting. Has anyone here ever fasted?

What is Fasting?

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Fast, Fasting

Eating sparingly or abstaining from food altogether, either from necessity or desire. In medical terms, fasting is the detoxification of the body through the restriction of food.

Spiritual fasting entails setting aside activities as well as reducing the intake of food and replacing these activities with the exercise of prayer and preoccupation with spiritual concerns. The NT word which is translated “fasting” literally means one who has not eaten, one who is empty.

As believers we are called to follow the example of Jesus in our lives. We are called to model our daily lives after him and his word. Fasting is mentioned over 70 times throughout the bible and yet is something that most believers never practice. We let food take such an importance in our lives and we couldn’t imagine going a day or more without it.

Why are we called to fast? What is the importance of it? How do we fast and what do we fast from?

When you fast we are to give up one of the things that keeps us alive. Food. When we give up food for a certain amount of time we have the ability to seek God better and fully rely on him. Fasting is not easy but in discipling ourselves to give up food and seek God through Prayer and scripture. If were just going by scriptural examples then there are really two different types of fasts. There is a complete fast where you fast from all food and only have water and then there is the Daniel fast where he fasted from things like meat and wine. Fasts can last for a day a couple days or even 40. Its up to you to figure out what youre meant to do. Some people fast from objects, things that take your attention away from God.

Some different reasons for a fast could be seeking guidance, gratitude for God’s blessings in your life, mourning, seeking wisdom...

Summary: In this passage, Jesus addresses the practice of fasting, contrasting His joyful presence with the somber attitude of traditional fasting. His response reveals a deeper understanding of what it means to approach God, emphasizing joy and communion over ritual.

Teaching: The teaching emphasizes that fasting should be a means of drawing closer to God, a time of celebration and connection, rather than a burdensome obligation. It highlights the joy of spiritual growth and the presence of Christ who invites us into a relationship full of life.

Big Idea: Fasting is not a somber duty but a joyful celebration of our relationship with Christ, who invites us to feast on His love and presence during times of spiritual seeking.

Luke 5:33–35 ESV

And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”

1. Rituals to Relationships

Lk 5:33

Here we have a Pharisee talking with Jesus. And he just doesn’t understand why Jesus disciples don’t fast. Fasting was a very common practice in Isreal at the time and in the lives of all the super religious people they would fast up to two times a week. They had lost sight of the reason to fast though. They did it just because that was what you did if you were a pharisee. Fasting was expected of them and if you didn’t fast then you probably weren’t as holy as others. This pharisee is questioning if their disciple fast and the disciples of John the Baptist fast then why don’t Jesus disciples fast? If Jesus is supposed to be who he says he is then why don’t his disciples seek out fasting? Why should they be the ones to follow the rules and the societal expectations but the followers of the son of God didn’t. They must not be as spiritual because of that. But Jesus was there to abolish the ways that were once followed. We arent to be as legalistic as the pharisees were. They Fasted as a ritual not to have a relationship. Through fasting we strengthen our relationship with the father. We seek his kingdom above all.

2. Celebrating in Christ's Presence

Lk 5:34

Weddings are joyus occasions. After the ceremony you go into the reception and you eat cake and you dance and spend time with the people you care about. When you are at a wedding and the bridegroom is there then youre not gonna just pass up the cake for a fast. Everyone is celebrating together. There is joy. There is thanksgiving for the couple that just got married. Christ is the Bridegroom of the church. When he was with his disciples there was no need for them to fast. They were in fellowship with Jesus. They had direct access to him. Because of that there was no need for them to fast. They were already getting the benefits of a fast without the action of it. They modeled how a fast was supposed to be without having to do it at the time. Fasting is meant to be a joyus occasion. Fasting in our lives should reflect the joy of abundant life that comes with a relationship with Jesus. When we fast we aren’t supposed to draw attention to the fact that we are fasting but fast in secret and not let our face show that we are fasting.

3. Longing for the Lord

Lk 5:35

Jesus is foreshadowing his death on the cross and that he won’t physically be with his disciples forever on Earth. He is alluding to the fact that that connection that we saw that made is disciples not have to fast was going to be severed. They weren’t going to have the direct physical connection they once had. When his death on the cross did come they would have to use fasting as a tool to continue building their relationship and fellowship with the father. Fasting is a discipline that we must incorporate into our lives. We must seek out fellowship with Jesus. When we fast we intensify our desire to build the kingdom of God and follow what scripture tells us. It allows us to grow deeper in love with others. As our love for God grows then so too will our love for his creation.

Fasting is important to your spiritual growth. It is crucial to add it as a practice. Allow God to be the center of your life. Allow God to fill you instead of the things of this world. Trust in the Holy Spirit that he will provide for you everything that you need. When you fast you must suppliment your day with scripture and prayer or your just fasting to lose weight. Fast together. Hold each other accountable and help each other seek God through these disciplines.