Fasting
Notes
Transcript
Doxology:
This is my Bible. It is God’s Holy Word. It is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path, and I will hide its words within my heart, that I might not sin against God. Amen!
Scripture Reference: Jeremiah 29.13
Context
Context
We are going to be finishing up our series on Experiencing God today. As I said when we started, there are other spiritual disciplines to be utilized, but these 5 particular disciplines deal specifically with experiencing God on a deeper level in a very personal way: Bible Intake, Prayer, Worship, Silence & S
We have already discussed Bible Intake and Prayer. We have already discussed Worship and Silence & Solitude.
Today, we will be discussing the topic of fasting.
The idea of fasting is still very much alive today. We hear of fasting from the medical professionals. We hear of fasting from the diet specialists. We hear of fasting from the exercise guru’s. But here we are speaking on a biblical fast. So even though the idea of fasting is alive and well today, the practice of biblical fasting seems all but lost.
But let me be clear on this. Though the act of fasting may be the same across all of these different applications, any fast that does not have Jesus Christ as the central focus point is not a biblical fast.
A biblical fast is done when we voluntarily abstain from food and/or drink for biblical purposes.
That means during our fast, we are purposefully and intentionally seeking the Lord for one reason or another.
Now that doesn’t mean that these other types of fasting are sinful, or wrong. There are tons of studies showing the health benefits of regularly fasting.
But what it does mean, is that all of these other types of fasts cannot help you spiritually, and should not be used as a means to make you appear more spiritual, when they had no spiritual meaning to begin with.
If you got it, say “Got it.”
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.
Content
Content
What Is Fasting?
What Is Fasting?
The Greek word from which we get the word “fast”, literally means “to abstain”. In context, the word is always used in reference to abstaining from food and/or drink.
So to reiterate: a true biblical fast is when someone voluntarily abstains from food and/or drink for spiritual purposes.
How Do I Fast?
How Do I Fast?
First, let me say that there are no commanded regulations for fasting in general in all of Scripture.
In the Old and New Testaments, we see examples of where many people fasted together. In one instance, God even commanded the entire nation of Israel to fast. So group fasting is not wrong, if done so in a spiritual way for spiritual purposes.
26 Then all the children of Israel, that is, all the people, went up and came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
Both of these examples, one from the OT and one from the NT, show us that fasting was observed by a group of people for a spiritual purpose. This is not wrong.
But here in this text of Matthew 6, Jesus is speaking directly of a personal fast. This is when an individual is stirred in their own heart, for spiritual reasons known only between them and God, and is led to fast.
The only stipulations, make sure to keep it private. It is between you and God. Do not make a show of it. Do not broadcast it.
But even in a personal fast, there is much liberty. Some in Scripture fasted for an evening, some for a day, some for three days, some for seven days, some for fourteen days, some for forty days. None of them were wrong. Your fast will be determined by you and God. Only you know why you are fasting and only you can determine when the fast has been enough. It is completely personal and private.
On another note. Sometimes in Scripture, we see a complete fast, to where they neither ate food nor drank water. Other times the fast was only of food while water was permitted. There are no commandments that stipulate what your fast should look like in this regard. This is important to note, because many people have blood sugar issues, blood pressure issues, and other health reasons for why they might not be able to perform a complete fast. If they ate or drank nothing for a day, they might pass out, or worse.
Listen, God knows your heart. He knows what you are doing and why you are doing it. Maybe your fast has to be from a certain type of food for a specific amount of time. Maybe you fast from sodas for a week; maybe you let go of the sweets for a week; maybe you do the Daniel Fast for 40 days.
Let me also address this. Many people ask if a biblical fast can be done if they choose to fast from something other than food. Maybe they are choosing to fast from their cell phone for a given amount of time because they have noticed that it has become a problem in their life. Maybe they are fasting from TV, because they know in their heart that they are simply spending too much time in front of the screen.
I believe in my heart that these types of fasts are biblical, if led by the Lord to do so, and even more than that, necessary for our spiritual growth. If God opens our eyes to something that has taken His place in our hearts, why we would not want to abstain from those things for a period of time as we seek the Lord and give Him back the throne of our hearts.
Even in Scripture, just in one place that I know of, we see where a husband and wife might abstain from intimacy for a given time for the purpose of seek the Lord.
5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
So here we actually see where something outside of food and drink was refrained from for the purpose of seeking the Lord. So yes, I would say that these types of fasts are biblical as well, as long as they are done responsibly and under the leadership of God.
Is Fasting Commanded?
Is Fasting Commanded?
The only time fasting was commanded in Scripture, it was attached to a yearly feast. Israel was commanded by God to keep certain feasts throughout the year, and to prepare their hearts, fasting was a part of that preparation.
29 “This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you.
This phrase, “you shall afflict your souls” meant that they were to fast. On this Day of Atonement, every person in Israel was to fast before the Lord as atonement for their sin was made upon the altar.
When Jesus came, He completely fulfilled all ceremonial Law. We no longer have these feasts, because they all pointed forward to Him. After the person has come, in which all of these feasts looked forward to, the feasts are no longer necessary. So the only place where a fast was commanded by God has been completely fulfilled in Jesus, rendering the command of fasting that was attached to it fulfilled as well. No where else in Scripture is there a command to fast.
With that being said, fasting should not be viewed in this way. “Do I have to fast?” is the wrong attitude in which one should approach fasting. It should rather be, “Do I get to fast?”
As we look down throughout the ages of those whom we look up to, to spiritual leaders of their day, those who left a lasting spiritual impact upon their generation for the cause of Christ, what we find is that fasting was a natural part of their lives. They all sought the Lord intentionally through the fast, and the fact that we too have the opportunity to join them in diligently seeking the Lord through fasting is a blessing beyond words.
17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
Notice in text for this morning, Jesus said, “When you fast...”
This implies that fasting was an expected part of their lives. Though not commanded, it is implied.
There are no stipulations concerning how often one should fast, but there are plenty of examples in Scripture that give us reasons for why someone fasted:
Fasting in times of sorrow:
David fasted when his firstborn child became sick unto death (2 Samuel 12:16)
David fasted when Abner died (2 Samuel 3:35)
David even fasted on behalf of his enemies (Psalm 35:13)
In times of danger:
King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a national fast in Judah when they were threatened with attack from the Moabites and the Ammonites (2 Chronicles 20:3)
Queen Esther commanded that all the Jews in Susa fast with her for three days before she went into the presence of the king (Esther 4:16)
When the exiles were about to leave Babylon for the return to Jerusalem, Ezra declared a fast asking for God to keep them safe (Ezra 8:21)
In times of repentance:
David fasted once Nathan the prophet brought his sin before his eyes
Daniel fasted as he prayed for God to forgive the sins of his people
Ahab fasted when Elijah prophetically announced God’s judgment upon his sin
Ezra fasted as he proclaimed the sins of Israel before them and God (Ezra 10:6)
The entire nation of Nineveh repented and fasted before God when Johan brought a message of destruction before them (Jonah 3:5-7)
In seeking wisdom and understanding:
As Daniel contemplated the prophecies of Jeremiah he fasted (Daniel 9:2-3)
Daniel also performed a partial fast for three weeks in receiving another vision (Daniel 10:3)
For the purpose of ministry:
The early church at Antioch fasted as they sought guidance from God in ministry (Acts 13:2-3)
After the Holy Spirit called and commissioned Saul and Barnabas for a particular ministry, they both fasted before the Lord (Acts 14:23)
Jesus fasted for 40 days before stepping into His ministry as the Christ, the savior of the world.
In each of these examples, these people were seeking the Lord diligently for one reason or another. Here is what we need to see. If you are struggling in your spiritual walk, fasting should become part of your normal routine.
How Does It Work?
How Does It Work?
All throughout the Scriptures, we see this tug-of-war so to speak between our flesh and our spirit. We can see this in almost every single leader and influential person in all of Scripture, even the bad ones.
Judas was so at odds with himself. He was angry at Jesus over trivial issues, even to the point of betraying Him and handing Him over to the officials. We also see that after He did this, he was so angry and broken over what he had done that he took the money they had paid him and tried to give it back. When that didn’t work, he ultimately ended up taking his own life.
We all know this struggle. It is the struggle between right and wrong. It is the struggle of good and bad. It is the struggle of the flesh and the spirit.
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Our spirit is that part of us that is most in tune with God and His will. Our flesh is that part of us that is most in tune with the world and sinful things.
As long as we live in this body of flesh, this struggle will be real. It will never go away.
With that being said, fasting is one of those things, like the other spiritual disciplines that we have already discussed, that helps to move things in the right direction. It is by practicing these spiritual disciplines that we learn to do what Paul tells us here, which is to walk in the Spirit, so that we do not fulfill the lust, or desires, of our flesh.
Every time we fast, we are telling the flesh no.
Your flesh wants to eat, but you say NO!
Your flesh says I’m thirsty, but you say NO!
Your flesh wants to play on the phone, but you say NO!
Your flesh wants to watch TV, but you say NO!
… And each time you tell your flesh NO, you spend some time in prayer with the Lord instead.
Fasting helps you to build the wonderful habit of telling your flesh NO. And like anything else, the more you do it, the better you get at it.
Then, when the pretty lady walks by in the short, short dress, it is easier for you to say NO!
When you are sitting there watching TV by yourself, and there is a temptation to watch something not fitting for a Christian’s eyes, it is easier for you to say NO!
When you are in a difficult situation and your flesh is telling you to lost all since of dignity and just let that person have it, You say NO!
When Sunday comes around, and everything in the world seems to be keeping you from getting to church, you say, NO!
Fasting equips me to walk in the Spirit and say NO to the flesh.
Furthermore, each time we say NO to the flesh, it brings us that much closer to God. We begin to realize that we can live without these unhealthy things in our lives. Matter of fact, we find out that we are so much happier, so much more at peace, and simply in a better mood all the way around without these things in our lives.
Most importantly, it brings us closer to the Lord.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…
This is exactly where God wants us to be, and this is exactly where we need to be… in close proximity to Him.
Fasting is a form of selflessness, and the best example we have of that is Jesus Christ Himself. He refrained from so many things in coming to this earth as a man. He set aside so many things to be here among us.
He refrained His power while hanging upon that cross on Golgotha’s hill. The word tells us that He could have called on twelve legions of angels to come down and deliver Him from that experience, but He chose not to. He went through the pain and suffering and even death, so that we might experience life in Him.
So when we grow weary, we have the greatest example of selflessness known to man to look at as our example of how to keep pushing, and keep striving for the glory of God.
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
Commitment
Commitment
Friend, my encouragement to you today is to fast regularly.
When you are broken… fast!
When you are full… fast!
When you are confused… fast!
When you are lost… fast!
When you are at war… fast!
When you are mourning… fast!
When you need answers… fast!
When you need help… fast!
When you need wisdom… fast!
Fast as you seek the Lord, and see how it transforms your lives.
Before we close, I want to speak to the ultimate battle that we have to fight between our flesh and the spirit. That is the battle of the eternal condition of our souls.
Our flesh will pull no punches when it comes to submitting our lives to Jesus as Lord. But today, I urge you to push beyond the flesh. I urge you to be brave and come to the foot of the cross. I urge you to say NO to the flesh and yes to the Spirit of Almighty God.
You don’t know how badly you need this until you have experienced it for yourself. You need Jesus in your life.
Start today by saying YES to Jesus!
