The Discipline of Fasting

Primary Text: Matthew 6:16–18 Supporting Texts: Isaiah 58:6–9, Joel 2:12–13, Acts 13:2–3, Matthew 4:1–11 Anchor Flow: 1. The Posture — Fasting Begins with the Heart (Joel 2:12–13) 2. The Practice — Fasting Before the Father (Matthew 6:16–18) 3. The Purpose — Fasting That Leads to Power (Matthew 4, Acts 13, Isaiah 58)

🕊️ INTRODUCTION — “The Discipline We Avoid”

“Hurry is not of the Devil; it is the Devil.” — Carl Jung, quoted by Richard Foster.

We live in a culture addicted to noise, speed, and fullness. We fill every moment with motion, yet feel spiritually empty. But what if God’s voice often waits on the other side of our hunger?

Foster writes, “More than any other discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us.” (Celebration of Discipline, p. 55). Fasting is not about punishing the body; it’s about prioritizing the soul. It is the voluntary denial of something good for the pursuit of Someone greater.

So tonight, as we open God’s Word, here’s our roadmap:

Fasting begins with the heart, practiced in humility, and leads to power.

POINT 1 — The Posture: Fasting Begins with the Heart (Joel 2:12–13)

Joel 2:12–13 NIV

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments.” — Joel 2:12–13

A. The Call: “Even Now”

FSB Insight: The prophets often called for repentance even in the face of disaster—because God’s mercy always leaves a window open (Joel 2:12

Joel 2:12 NIV

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

JFB: “Even now—what none could hope, God still invites you.” Even in failure, grace extends an invitation.

Application: You don’t fast to earn God’s love; you fast because you trust it’s still waiting for you — “even now.”

B. The Command: “Return to Me”

The Hebrew shuv (שׁוּב) means “to turn back” — repentance as reorientation. Fasting isn’t about food; it’s about focus — a turn from self to Savior.

Foster says, “Fasting must forever center on God. It must be God-initiated and God-ordained.” (Celebration of Discipline, p. 56)

C. The Contrast: “Rend Your Heart, Not Your Garments”

Tearing garments was public grief; God wants private surrender.

FSB: Internal brokenness > external display.

JFB: “Let there be inward sorrow, not mere outward manifestation.”

Application: Modern rending might look like deleting an app, skipping a meal, or pausing social media — not to prove devotion, but to return affection.

D. The Character of God

“For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” (v.13; cf. Exod. 34:6)

When you fast, you are not proving your goodness — you are leaning into His.

Transition: Joel shows the heart posture of fasting — now Jesus shows us the hidden practice.

POINT 2 — The Practice: Fasting Before the Father (Matthew 6:16–18)

Matthew 6:16–18 NIV

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do … but when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others … and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” — Matthew 6:16–18

A. The Assumption — “When You Fast”

Jesus doesn’t say if you fast, but when

Fasting isn’t optional; it’s expected.

Foster notes, “Scripture’s central idea is not whether Christians will fast, but when.” (p. 57)

B. The Warning — “Do Not Look Somber”

FSB: Hypocrites disfigured their faces to look holy.

JFB: “They made unseen—slovenly appearance, ashes sprinkled, faces twisted for pity.”

The problem? They wanted to be seen by men, not heard by God.

Jesus warns: don’t fast for attention; fast for adoration.

C. The Instruction — “Anoint and Wash”

Anointing = joy, cleanliness, celebration.

Jesus redefines fasting as hidden joy, not public misery.

Application: Fasting done right looks normal on the outside, radical on the inside.

D. The Reward — “Your Father Who Sees in Secret”

Fasting is not manipulation but intimacy.

The real feast happens in the unseen.

Foster: “Fasting reveals how much we depend on the things of this world instead of God.” (p. 56)

Reflection: What do you run to for comfort when you’re hungry? That’s your rival god.

Transition: Jesus gives the pattern — now let’s look at the purpose: what fasting produces.

POINT 3 — The Purpose: Fasting That Leads to Power

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” — Matthew 4:1

A. Fasting Prepares You for Battle (Matthew 4:1–11)

Matthew 4:1–11 NIV

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted  by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

FSB: Jesus’ 40 days mirror Israel’s 40 years; He succeeds where they failed.

JFB: The Spirit “drives” Him—this was preparation, not punishment.

Fasting isn’t withdrawal; it’s weapon training.

Each temptation attacks dependence:

Bread — trust God’s provision.

Temple — trust God’s protection.

Kingdoms — trust God’s plan.

“Man shall not live by bread alone.” (Deut 8:3)

Deuteronomy 8:3 NIV

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

The Word becomes His food.

Application: Fasting weakens the flesh so the Word can strengthen your faith.

B. Fasting Clarifies God’s Call (Acts 13:2–3)

Acts 13:2–3 NIV

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.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said…”

FSB: The Antioch church fasted to discern God’s will for mission.

JFB: The Spirit’s call was confirmed by the church’s fasting and prayer.

Fasting opens spiritual hearing; it’s like tuning your heart to God’s frequency.

Application: Don’t fast for answers; fast for awareness.

C. Fasting Awakens Compassion and Justice (Isaiah 58:6–9)

Isaiah 58:6–9 NIV

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness  will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, g

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the chains of injustice … to share your bread with the hungry?” (Isa 58:6–7)

FSB: God rejects ritual fasting that ignores the poor.

Fasting that doesn’t change your treatment of others isn’t true fasting.

JFB: “Loose the yoke” = cancel exploitative debts, free the oppressed, feed the hungry.

Real fasting unburdens others, not just yourself.

When you loosen burdens, your light breaks forth (v.8).

JFB: “Health” = bandage — God binds your wounds as you bind others’.

Application: If your fast doesn’t lead to compassion, you just went hungry.

D. Fasting Restores Communion with God

Isaiah 58:9 — “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer.”

Fasting unclogs the line of prayer.

FSB: Genuine repentance brings genuine blessing.

Foster: “Fasting reminds us that we are sustained by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (p. 54)

The goal of fasting is not empty stomachs but filled souls.

CONCLUSION — “Feasting on God”

In the wilderness, angels fed Jesus after the fast. When you fast, you find the same truth: you don’t live by bread, but by the Bread of Life.

Fasting doesn’t twist God’s arm; it trains your appetite. It says:

“Lord, I want You more than food, more than comfort, more than control.”

And when you fast this way — privately, prayerfully, purposefully — the Father who sees in secret will fill you with power, joy, and compassion.

So this week, your invitation is simple: Empty yourself — so God can fill you.

Leader Guide Highlights (for Small Groups)

Main Idea: Fasting redirects hunger from what we crave to Who we need. Memory Verse: Matthew 6:17–18 Discussion Prompts:

Why do you think fasting is so neglected in modern Christianity?

How does Joel 2:12–13 shift the motivation for fasting?

How can your group practice Isaiah 58 fasting — unburdening others, not just yourselves?

What might you “fast” from this week to seek God more intentionally?

How did Jesus’ fasting (Matt 4) prepare Him for ministry — and what can that teach us about preparation?

Practical Challenge: Pick one 24-hour period this week to fast from one thing (food, media, phone) and spend that time in prayer or service. Write down what God shows you.