4. Learning to Shift Our Dependance to God

Welcome to part four and the conclusion of our sermon series, Less of Me and More of Him. Next Sunday we will begin a three part Advent series preparing us for our Christmas Eve service. It’s going to be really good, so make plans to be a part of celebrating Christmas with us this year.

If this is your first time with us, I would really encourage you to go back and listen to the first three parts this series. However, if I could sum up everything in one sentence it would be this: God wants to empower us on our journey of following Jesus.

God is constantly calling us to a new level of growth and forward movement. Like any other loving parent, His desire for each child is that they grow to a positive level of maturity. Spiritual disciplines like prayer and fasting are gifts given to us to help us push forward on our journey of pursuing King Jesus.

The metaphor I have been using throughout this series, and one I really hope you don’t forget is the image of a sailboat. Sometimes we feel like our life as a Christian is so hard, and it feels like God is absent. It’s kind of like a person sitting in a sailboat using a paddle, instead of raising the sails and grabbing hold of the wind and allowing God’s power to move our lives forward. Or maybe you are in a state of apathy or just in a funk spiritually. That’s kind of just letting the current or the waves take you wherever. Maybe raising the sails of a spiritual discipline like prayer or fasting will help you tap into God’s wisdom and will for your life? I would sum it up this way: Prayer and fasting are gifts given to help shift our dependence from ourselves to God and his will.

Today we are going to continue our focus on the spiritual discipline of fasting. Last week we talked about the spiritual purpose of fasting…and today we are going to look at how to put fasting into practice. So, let’s go a quick review about what fasting is.

“Fasting is the voluntary denial of an otherwise normal function for the sake of intense spiritual activity.” ~ Richard Foster

Fasting is most commonly focused on food. Why food? Well, our entire daily schedule is built upon eating food. Not only is our schedule built upon food, it can become a daily obsession. I read this story this week:

A woman from Omsk, Russia, is reportedly suing McDonald's over an advertisement featuring cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets, which she said caused her to break her fast during Lent. Ksenia Ovchinnikova, an Orthodox Christian, said she was trying to stay away from meat and other animal products during the six-week period leading up to Easter.

She said, “When I saw an advertising banner, I could not help myself. I visited McDonald's and bought a cheeseburger.”

We love our food! However, fasting could in 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. We will get into a variety of different types of fasts here in just a little bit.

Before we get into the types of fast, let’s take a quick dive into what Jesus teaches us about fasting. If you have a Bible or device, go to The Sermon on The Mount, specifically Matthew chapter six. If you are using the YouVersion Bible App, find Events. Then look for Iowa City Church. All of the Scriptures, Sermon Notes, and a helpful Bible Reading plan will all be available for you there. Just a heads up here as well. A lot of the content I am teaching on is covered in greater detail in the book, Prayer & Fasting by David Roadcup and Michael Eagle.

Jesus is teaching his disciples how to live as Citizens of the Kingdom of God, here on earth. In this section Jesus has been teaching on how they are to correctly live out the spiritual disciplines of generosity, prayer, and in this section fasting. Here is what he teaches.

Matthew 6:16 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.

Jesus doesn’t command his disciples to fast…he assumes that they will fast. Much like he said, “When you pray”. Planned fasting days were very much a part of the religious culture and pattern of the temple leaders of Israel in Jesus’ day. Luke 18:12 tells us that the Pharisees fasted two complete days a week. Other rabbis and their disciples fasted on a regular basis. The average Jew not only understood fasting, the probably fasted on a regular basis. Instead of commanding them to fast, Jesus simply assumed that they would continue this practice into their regular spiritual rhythm. This is why fasting is a spiritual rhythm we as his followers should consider as well.

Matthew 6:16 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.

In Jesus’ day their were a wide variety of religious leaders, Pharisees, Sadducees, and priests among others who simply went through the outward motions of givings, prayer and fasting…not with the purpose of deepening their devotion to God, but to instead put on a show. Part of the show was to make themselves look as miserable as possible; uncombed hair, disheveled appearance, some would even sprinkle themselves with ashes to make themselves even more haggard looking. Jesus calls this act what it is hypocrisy…it’s where we get the word for the actor with a mask. Their spiritual discipline has become a show for the masses.

Jesus says the same thing he did for the religious leaders who used prayer as a time for showmanship…the applause of the crowd would be their only reward. Likewise, the “oohhs and aahhs” of the crowd over their fasting performance would be their only reward. Essentially they are lifting their sails not for the wind of God…but for the applause of the crowd. That wind will take one nowhere!

Instead, Jesus gives these important directions about fasting.

Matthew 6:17–18 NIV

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.

In Jesus day, the regular routine was to put a little oil in one’s hair, wash their face and go about one’s day. Jesus’ point is that fasting is not for the crowd or for others…but instead it is done for our Father in Heaven. Just as generosity is to be done with little fanfare, and the discipline of prayer is done in secret, so fasting is to be unseen to others, because the motive isn’t to impress a crowd but to humble one’s self before God. Here’s the best part: God will reward our fasting. In our moments of humility, repentance and fasting…God will reward our desire to seek him.

Ronnie Floyd writes:

“Fasting and prayer seasons are meant for reflection, celebration, and gratitude, carried out in a spirit of quietness—an unseen, unnoticed activity kept from the prying eyes of others, an experience to be enjoyed alone with God.” ~ Ronnie Floyd

So what is Jesus point? He desires his followers to fast, just as long as their motivation is to deepen their devotion to God.

This raises a good point. What are some reasons why someone would fast? Because of time, let’s look at some reasons from Scripture why people fasted.

To Fortify Our Prayers - Throughout Scripture, praying and fasting are often linked together. Fasting has a way of humbling us and focusing our prayers to our Heavenly Father.

To Repent from Sin - Another reason for fasting is in repenting and dealing with sin. King David of the OT mentions this a multiple occasions in the Psalms. The people Nineveh fasted as an act of repentance of their sin. Dealing with sin? Maybe fasting would be a helpful response in dealing with it.

To Spiritually Prepare for Ministry - Jesus fasted before he began his public ministry. Nervous about embarking on a new ministry, job or task? Take a day or two to fast.

To Discover God’s Will - It is always appropriate to seek the Lord concerning certain, specific areas of our lives. As we pray for wisdom and discernment, we pray and add fasting to the act of seeking the Lord’s will for that particular situation. Which school to go to. Should you enter into a relationship with someone? Should you marry? Should you take that job? God cares about your life, ask, pray and fast. Listen for his guidance. The church in Antioch prayed and fasted about sending out Paul and Barnabas on their first mission trip. They sought the Lord’s guidance before they acted.

To Mourn or Deal with Grief - Mourning and grieving are appropriate times to fast. King David, on multiple occasions fasted when he learned of the death of his family or friends.

Those are five good reasons or motivations to fast. Now comes the question: What type of fast? There are different way to fast, which one would be the best one to try? Last week I mentioned that physically some of you might be unable to fast from food. What are different ways that one can fast. As mentioned in the Prayer & Fasting book here are a few options to consider.

Normal Fast - This fast involves setting aside food, but not water. In Luke 4:2 “where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.” We are told that Jesus, “he ate nothing”. However it doesn’t say that he didn’t drink anything. Afterwards it says that he was hungry, but not that he was thirsty. This suggests that the fast was abstaining from food, but not from water. Since the human body cannot go more than several days without water, it is assumed that Jesus drank water during this time. This was the typical or normal way a fast was observed in Jesus’ day.

The Partial Fast - The partial fast involves the giving up of certain foods or types of drink for a specific period of time. This is sometimes referred to as the Daniel Fast. The the OT, Daniel and his friends are taken into Babylonian exile and kept in the royal palace. Daniel makes a decision not to eat the royal foods placed before him. “I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.” ~ Daniel 10:3 This is similar to the discipline some Christians practice during Lent. It may mean giving up desserts, chocolate, coffee, caffeine, soda, alcohol, or any food that is a central part of your diet.

Complete Fast - This is the exclusion of all food and drink for a short period of time. Simply because the body cant’ survive more then three days without water. There are actually a number of examples of this is Scripture. Ezra did a complete fast when mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiled Israelites. Queen Esther did a complete fast before going to see the King.

Individual/Group Fasts - There are times when individuals fasted for personal issues…King David for example fasted on numerous occasions. However, there are times when entire nations fasted. For example in our previous series, the Assyrian city of Nineveh repented of their sin and fasted together as a city. As a church, we are going to pray and fast together as we begin the month of January…seeking God’s direction and guidance for our church.

Fasting from Things Other Then Food - Historically, fasting involves depriving oneself of food and drink. However, there are also additional ways to fast from things. Sacrificing things that are important and meaningful to us can provide a worthy substitution for food. This could include electronics, social media, entertainment, relationships, books or even hobbies.

Here are some steps in planning a fast:

Why Are You Fasting? Is there a spiritual issue that needs addressed? Are you seeking God’s will? Are you dealing with sin or hurt? Identify why you are going to fast.

Make a Commitment to Follow Through with the Fast

Communicate to Those Who Need to Know

Determine the Length and Type of Fast

Start The Fast with Repentance and Confession

Fill Your Heart with Scripture

Seek Solitude and Silence

Know That God Will Reward You

The spiritual discipline of fasting, when practiced, helps create forward movement in our journey of following Jesus.

So here is what I want you to do. I want you to write an “I will” statement. With what you have learned…what will you do this week to put it into practice.

While you contemplate that, let me read you a few words from Abraham Lincoln.

In 1863 President Lincoln designated April 30th as a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer. Keep in mind that on January first of 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, freeing slaves. Let me read a portion of his proclamation on that occasion:

"It is the duty of nations, as well as of men, who owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by a history that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord. The awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has grown, but we have forgotten God."

These words of Lincoln describe me very well. As a Christian, as a pastor. Dependent upon my own strength and abilities. Trying to live my life dependent upon my own strength. Trying to lead a church with my own cleverness, wisdom, and ability. What Lincoln says is absolutely true about my life: I have been intoxicated with my own unbroken success.

As a church, the driving force behind us carrying out the mission Jesus has given us, isn’t going to be our resources, cool venues, fancy marketing or clever talks. Instead, we want to humble ourselves before our God and invite him to be the driving force for our ministry here in Iowa City.

Over the next few weeks, practice these spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting. Then, as we turn the calendar to January 2022, we as a church family are going to commit 21 days in January to prayer and fasting…humbling ourselves before God and calling on him to lead, direct and power our church for our mission here in Iowa City.

The spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting, when practiced, helps create forward movement in our journey of following Jesus.