Why should we fast?

Rhythm

TLK 3

Bottom Line: Fasting reorients our hearts away from ourselves and towards our God

Intro

In our third week looking at the why behind some of the rhythm’s of our faith… Overview→ WK 1) why do we need to read the Bible?, WK 2) Why do we need to gather/have community?

Today we are going to look at a rhythm that has been almost completely forgotten and lost in our day but when tapped into can unlock a depth to our faith that we did not think possible… it is a secret weapon to our faith but a forgotten one… the rhythm of fasting… I don't know what comes to mind when you think about fasting… maybe you read it in your bible, had to do it before getting blood work done, or something completely new to you…

Maybe you think of dieting, suffering, or something else… Maybe you have avoided it because of those things or it seems too extreme… What if the thing you have been avoiding is actually the thing your soul has been craving?

Today we are asking the question: why should we fast?

Truth

To do this we are going to be in two different passages of Scripture… Matthew 6:16-18 and Isaiah 58:3-10

Matthew 6:16-18→ Context: Middle of the Sermon on the Mount→ Jesus is addressing three rhythms that the people have misused and abused in their day… Giving, praying, and fasting… the people have moved from devotional practice to a public performance… He addresses these three things through a pattern… 1) when you ____ don’t, 2) When you ____ do, 3) God sees you and meets you (reward)

Matthew 6:16→ whenever you fast→ fasting is a rhythm that should be alive in every disciple… the audience knows this is the practice of abstaining from food for spiritual purposes→ the Jewish faith already had rhythms in place (annual fast, fasts tied to mournings).... Jesus is not introducing a new rhythm, rather correcting the use of the rhythm

Pharisees would make their twice-a-week fast quite the spectacle→ wear make up, dress for the occasion to draw attention to themselves→ Greek: don’t take on the characters of the actors… the problem: the purpose and posture of their fasting was to be noticed by man… they equated looks to reality… if I look like I am, then I am… Same mindset as a kid in a super hero… Christian rhythms don't make you a christian… Christian adjacent

Matthew 6:17→ Jesus begins to draw a distinct contrast between his disciples and others… Oil on head→ sign of celebration… it is what you did before a feast, a joyful announcement… Jesus is saying look normal, be joyful in spirit because of what fasting is actually about

Matthew 6:18→ your fasting is not for others to see… for you to be considered more holy/in touch with God… It is to be more present with God, to have more dependency and reliance on your Creator… Fasting is giving up something good we need to draw closer to the one who provides our every need→ in this Jesus tells us of the true heart posture and reward of fasting…

Fasting reorients our hearts away from ourselves and towards our God… the reward is being more aware of His presence… This is the reward of the Christian life→ Gospel→ to dwell with God for His glory… that is His desire for His creation…

Fasting is a rhythm done for God’s glory not your own… God’s glory is made known when His people pursue His presence… Why? Isaiah answers this…

Isaiah 58:3-10→ context→ Isaiah is addressing God’s people who are being unfaithful to God while claiming to be His people→ religious hypocrisy

Isaiah 58:3→ the complaint against God from His people→ We are practicing the rhythm… why aren't you showing up God→ I said one prayer… I went to church… I gave one time… where are you? You owe me

Isaiah 58:4-5→ God exposes their hypocrisy… You fast for you… not to me and my glory… exactly what Jesus was talking about

Isaiah 58:6-10→ when you fast to me for my glory, you get the reward… ME→ to be present with the God of the universe… When you are present with God, you are transformed… when you are transformed, others benefit… these are the fruits of the reward.. The fruits of fasting lead not only to deeper dependence upon God but a movement towards what breaks God’s heart… the marginalized… the lost…

Dwelling with God leads to a transformed life… a transformed life lives to glorify God… a life lived to the glory of God leads to the flourishing of those around them

Part of the flourishing is God’s people interceding for others behalf

Isaiah also points out that God rejects religious rhythms that do not flow from a genuine pursuit of Him

We don't fast/any spiritual discipline to earn more credits, manipulate God, or be seen by others for recognition

We fast to reorient our hearts away from ourselves and towards the presence of the only One we truly need… Jesus

To summarize this… Matthew 6 asks the question: Whose glory are you pursuing? Isaiah 58 asks the question: what is the fruit of your pursuit?

Fasting reorients our hearts away from ourselves and towards our God

App

How would your relationship with God change if you became more aware of His presence?

How different would you be if you became more dependent on your Creator?

Who else would benefit from that dependence?

Christians: fasting challenge→ 24 hours→ if not food, something else… during this time

Pursue His presence→ Read His word, pray, sit in silence

Plead for your one more→ Intercede, ask God to save them

Pursue your one more with in a tangible way→ set a coffee date, etc

Non: Surrender to Jesus… The thing your soul is craving is its Creator… the only way that is satisfied is through faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.