3. The Practice of Fasting
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
I’m so glad that you are here for part three of our series, Less of Me-More of Him. Here’s the big idea behind this series: God wants to supply the power we need to follow Jesus. Imagine you are on one side of a huge lake in a sailboat. You need to get to the other side and their is a nice, strong and steady wind blowing at your back. Will you pull out a paddle and starting paddling to reach the other side? Or will you raise the sail and catch the wind and allow it to power you to the other side?
We say this often here at our church: We believe that following Jesus is the best way to live life. We believe that with all our heart, knowing full well that it’s far from easy. Living a counter cultural life is a struggle. Being salt and light as Jesus teaches is not going to happen automatically. This is why our Heavenly Father provides us with the resources, wisdom and the power to propel our lives forward…following Jesus. In this series we are focusing on two spiritual disciplines that Jesus talked about to help us “raise the sails” of our lives to tap into his power and Spirit.
The previous two Sundays we talked about prayer, and I hope you have been able to carry out some next steps in developing the practice of prayer in your life.
Today we are going to move into the spiritual discipline of fasting. I’ve never preached on fasting. I’m not a great or consistent faster. For some of you, the only time you have intentionally fasted was when the doctor’s office called and told you not to eat anything before surgery. Fasting as a spiritual discipline seems archaic, and out of touch. But what if it isn’t? What if fasting is exactly what we need to refocus our mind and bodies upon the power of the Holy Spirit?
I read this quote this week by Dallas Willard in his book Divine Conspiracy:
“It is left unexplained how it is possible that one can rely on Christ for the next life without doing so for this one, trust him for one’s eternal destiny without trusting him for “the things that relate to Christian life.” Is this really possible? Surely it is not! Not within one life.” ~ Dallas Willard
Following Jesus means that what he teaches and models is the best way for us to live life now and forever. So what does Jesus teach us about fasting?
If you have a Bible or device, find Matthew 6. If you are using the YouVersion Bible app, go to Events. Look for Iowa City Church. All of the sermon notes, and scriptures, as well as a reading plan on fasting should be available there.
In The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is teaching his disciples (are you a disciple?) about what it looks like to live as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven…now. He taught on the spiritual disciplines of generosity and on prayer. Then he shifts to fasting.
“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.
Next Sunday, we are going to focus in on how to fast. This morning I just want to focus on why we should fast. What is Jesus assuming in teaching his disciples? He says it twice. “When you fast.”
Jesus expects his disciples to continue to practice fasting.
So, what exactly is fasting?
Ronnie Floyd describes fasting as “the abstinence from food with a spiritual goal in mind of for a spiritual purpose.”
Donald Whitney gives this definition: “A biblical definition of fasting is a Christian’s voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes.”
The most common intended item from which someone fasts in typically food. We will talk about why in just a moment. However, it needs to be said that medically, this is not always possible for some people. Whether it’s blood sugar or other issues, food fasting may be nearly impossible. So fasting isn’t limited only to food.
Thus, Richard Foster gives this helpful definition:
Fasting is “the voluntary denial of an otherwise normal function for the sake of intense spiritual activity.” ~ Richard Foster
Fasting then could in our day include fasting from certain meals, food items, social media, electronics, all forms of entertainment, etc. The key however is that in the void that has been created by the absence of a normal everyday function, in it’s place one prays, reads Scripture or serves in ministry. The focus is to take away a normal activity to better tune into God. Thus the title of this series, Less of Me and More of Him.
So why focus on removing food?
In a recent study conducted by the University of Michigan, up to 20% of people have a food addiction problem. The number is even higher among people who are obese. Food addiction involves being addicted to food in the same way as someone with a substance use disorder demonstrates addiction to a particular substance.
In the same study, they determined the most addictive and the least addictive foods. Let’s do the top five of both.
Top Five Most Addictive Foods:
Pizza
Chocolate
Chips
Cookies
Ice Cream
Top Five Least Addictive Foods:
Cucumbers
Carrots
Beans
Apples
Brown Rice
How cauliflower didn’t make the top five I have no idea! Here’s the point, as American’s we love our food, probably a bit too much. Think about how your entire daily schedule is built around eating. Food is a central part of our lives.
Let’s be very clear, we are supposed to eat. We need food. God intended food for our nourishment and even our pleasure. Some of our most memorable and meaningful moments happen around a table eating with our friends and family. Many of you celebrated those moments during the last week. Last Sunday, many of us gathered together in this room and eat a delicious meal together…all focused on food.
Food is good. In fact, all good things come from God. The problem comes when we take the good things of God and make them the focus…or make them gods. The word for that is idolatry. As humans we are notorious for taking good things and making them god things. Food, sex, relationships, work, money, talents, and people. It’s kind of what gets us in trouble.
It’s strange to say, but if one steps back and is honest, for some people, maybe even you, food and eating has taken over a place in your life where God is supposed to be.
All of a sudden we are put into this tension: Am I more dependent upon God or food for my life?
So after Jesus is baptized, he goes out into the wilderness where he is tested. Keep in mind that he has been fasting for forty days. Here is first test from the devil.
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.’”
What Jesus is doing is quoting from Deuteronomy 8. Moses is reminding Israel how God not only rescued them but he provided for them. Here’s the direct quote.
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.
Here’s the point: Where does our life come from? The Word of God or from food? Moses’ point as well as Jesus’ point is that our lives are sustained firstly by consuming the Word of God and then through his provision.
So here is what’s happening when we intentionally fast from a meal and in that space instead, pray, read Scripture and seek God: We become dependent upon him for life.
Jesus says this John 4:34
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
We know that food is the energy source for our daily lives. Jesus shifts the focus and says that the driving force for our lives is to seek God and do what he wants us to do.
Here is the big takeaway I want you to get today:
Fasting is a gift given to us to help shift our dependence from ourselves to God and his will.
Next Sunday we are going to get into the very practical, application of how to fast…how to put this all into practice. But for today I simply want you to consider what would happen if you intentionally gave up food or some other daily routine to seek the will of God?
What would happen if you have up your lunches all next week and instead listened to worship music and prayed?
Are you facing a very difficult decision, with work or a relationship or career? Have you considered taking a day to skip food and instead pray and listen for God’s direction?
Are you experiencing a spiritually dry or confusing time? Maybe you’re in a funk and you don’t know how to shake it? Maybe try fasting from electronics and social media and take those extra hours to read Scripture, pray and take a walk to stop and listen to God’s voice?
Maybe you are finding yourself more and more dependent upon a food, beverage or substance. So dependent that you can’t get throughout a day without it. This is your wake up call to remind you that your life is not dependent upon that substance or food. If you can’t take a day to fast from the food, beverage or substance then you most likely need help. Just so you know you are in a good place to help find help. We all struggle with dependence issues, you are not alone. Please talk with one of us and let us assist you with help you need to find your dependence on God, either again or maybe for the very first time.
Fasting is a gift given to us to help shift our dependence from ourselves to God and his will.
Maybe your not quite convinced that fasting matters, that it’s something that is important when it comes to following Jesus. How about I let Jesus answer that question.
Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
While Jesus was physically present, he compared it to a wedding celebration. No need to fast, the groom is present. But after his crucifixion, resurrection and the commissioning of his followers…we now carry out his work, minus his physical presence. It’s so easy to get distracted, it’s so easy to become disengaged, it’s so easy to begin to make idols of things that don’t matter and it’s easy to give up because things become difficult.
Here’s the thing, as you read into the book of Acts you see exactly what Jesus says happening; the apostles fasting, the elders, fasting, and the church fasting why?
Fasting is a gift given to us to help shift our dependence from ourselves to God and his will.