Fasting For God

Fasting For God.

Mark 2:18-20, Matthew 5:6

Happy New Year!

Let's give God an offering of praise! Come on, tell Him how great He is, and thank Him for all He has done to get us THROUGH these last two years. And for what He will do in 2022.

Amen!!!

Prayer

As we begin a New Year, it is always my heart's desire to start the year off right. What about you?

Wouldn't you agree that to end the year right, you have to start it with the right focus and determination?

Isn't that what new years resolutions are all about? A resolution is made to change something about you or your life to make it better.

New Years Resolutions began in biblical days some 4000 years ago by the Babylonians.

According to history, The Babylonians were the first to celebrate the new year. During the 12-day religious festival the Babylonians would crown a new king or reaffirm their loyalty to the reigning king. They also promised their gods to pay their debts and return any objects they had borrowed. The Babylonians thought if they kept to their word, their (pagan) gods would favor them for the coming year.

Of course, New Year resolutions have evolved over the years to not only for financial relief but also for health and prosperity.

Most people see the need to at least try to begin the year off right, Therefore at the beginning of the year I take the time to discuss some of the things that are not typically addressed in a year's time frame, what I would call the "Essentials of faith."

These essentials need to be in our tool box as things we do as believers throughout our life.

This year we will have those sermons such as fasting, prayer, giving, and more about what the Bible tells us that are essentials of our faith.

Today we begin with that not so practiced or taught about discipline known as fasting.

I know many of you here and watching have questions or you deal with certain medications and or health issues that you might think will preclude you from fasting. But before you shut me out. Before you say to yourself, I don't need to hear this; you will want to hear this. I will be getting into that next week when I combine our fasting with prayers.

I fast at the beginning of the year because I know I have an inability and a lack of doing what God has called me to do. I want to get closer and more intimate with God.

I heard them all, I heard every excuse out there, and I say this to you that for all those who have all the reasons not to fast, they often have no idea what fasting is or what the purpose fasting is for.

I fast at the beginning of the year because I know I have an inability and a lack of doing what God has called me to do. I want to get closer and more intimate with God.

Sure I can do things on my own, but what good are they if God doest touch and anoint them.

It often brings me back to my confession when I became a believer;

"God, I know you are calling me to do something, but I can't because of these strongholds; I can't do it without you."

Fast helps us acknowledge our dependence on God. Not of our own selves or of this world, but God.

Fasting tells God, I need you! I can't do it without you. It is acknowledging Him as Lord and King.

My wife and I and the churches I have led have always began the year with fasting. Because it is important that we want to start the year off right putting God first as we humble ourselves before Him.

Saying to God here are the things we cannot possibly do without you. Claiming our dependence and total need for Him.

Well, if you have your Bible with you today, I hope you do. Open your Bible with me to the New Testament book of Mark, Mark Chapter 2; Mark is the 2nd book of the New Testament; it comes after Matthew and before the book of Luke, Mark Chapter 2.

To understand fasting, we must understand the definition of fasting.

Fasting is a believer's voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes.

In a broader sense according to Martin Lloyd Jones, "fasting" is "abstinence from anything that is legitimate in and of itself, for some special spiritual purpose."

Notice that this is a spiritual discipline is for believers. When non-believers fast, it has no Godly value for them, and because of that, it is called "Dieting." Now fasting is more than not eating; it is giving up something to focus on God.

If you look throughout the Bible, you will discover from the Old Testament to the New God's people fasted. Everyone of importance in the Bible practiced fasting, Moses, David, Elijah, Daniel, Esther, Paul, Barnabas, the Church and even Jesus fasted for 40 days.

The truth is fasting is mentioned more times in the Bible than baptism.

The purpose of fasting is to disconnect ourselves from those things in life that distract us from God.

Therefore, as we fast, our connection to God becomes stronger, because we don't have distractions holding us back.

One of my favorite teachers on fasting, Jentezen Franklin, said this:

"Fasting isn't you getting more of God, but God getting more of you."

I know that for most of you, deep down inside, you want to have a better relationship with God than what you have right now. I also know that something is holding you back from obtaining that.

Most people are afraid of what will happen to them if they have that deeper relationship with God. With a deeper relationship comes change, and I understand that many don't like change, and I can be honest when I tell you I know what you are going through. Because of that fear of change, the fear of what God might call you to do, that is what stopped me so many years ago.

As I have said before I literally was afraid that God would send me to a far-off country to become a missionary, and because of that, I was not willing to get closer. But something happened one day where I got tired of the rat race, playing the game, and truly surrendered my life to God.

I have found that through my study and time of fasting and prayer, I have felt God telling me He wants me closer to Him than I have ever been before. Each year, I know that I am reconnecting with God on a different level than before when I take this time.

And the truth is fasting opens the door to a deeper, more intimate, powerful relationship with God, and God wants us to have that with Him. Listen, folks, God has never told anyone that they have gotten too close to HIM. Jesus never said to the disciples; that's close enough- Jesus never told the disciples, you're getting too close.

Jesus was always drawing them in closer and closer preparing them for what was to come.

But no matter how close you seem to be or how spiritually mature you think you are: GOD WANTS US IN A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. By giving up what sustains our bodies, what nourishes our bodies, those things that distract us from God it brings us closer to God.

Remember it was Jesus who said in Matthew 6:33, "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness."

When you fast you are putting God first and making Him the priority in your life.

If you are there in the book of Mark chapter 2, begin reading with me from verse 18. This is the Word of God, and it begins like this.

"The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"

19 And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days."

John had a couple of goals in his ministry, and his disciples were part of that ministry. One was to lead people to repent of their sins. The second was to prepare them for the coming of the Messiah, and fasting does both, so Johns were fasting disciples as well as the Pharisees disciples .

Which brings us to our Take-Home Truth today.

The Take-Home Truth is this:

FASTING IS AN ACT OF WORSHIP TO GOD.

God expects us to fast as worship to Him.

All Believers are called to worship God. Worship however is more than Songs or a WORSHIP SERVICE. Jesus said that God is searching for people to worship Him in “spirit and truth”. Therefore true worship takes place on the inside, in the heart or spirit of the worshiper (Psalm 45:1. ). Worship pleasing to God must be transparent, offered with a humble and pure heart (Psalm 24:3-4 ; Isa 66:2 ).

But this is not enough. Worship "in truth" connects the heart or spirit of worship with the truth about God and his work of redemption as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ and the Scriptures.

As we fast we are letting go of the immediate need for our bodies and seeking God spiritually In worship.

In our scripture John's disciples asked an important question; why don't the disciples of Jesus fast?

But notice Jesus' answer in verse 20 "But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days."

Jesus' answer is crucial for us today because the Bible describes the Church as the Bride of Christ and Jesus, as the Bridegroom.

So, when Jesus says there will be a time when the bridegroom is taken away. Jesus knew there would come a time when He would not be physically present any longer with His disciples. Hard times would come when they would long for Jesus and need supernatural strength. Then Jesus said, "Then they will fast IN THOSE DAYS."

Jesus not only predicted His death, but also the need for the disciples to connect to God through fasting.

Folks, we live in such days today the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ is physically absent from this world, and our need for spiritual power is great. Jesus intends for us to seek after God in these days through the worship of fasting.

Well today, I want to share with you three ways that fasting produces worship.

You see, many people think that fasting only helps them get what they want; while God does move powerfully during fasting, we must remember that fasting is an act of worship to God.

Three ways that fasting produces worship.

FIRST, FASTING CREATES A HUNGER FOR GOD.

If you hunger for God, you will please God. Jesus addresses this point in the Be-Attitudes in Matthew chapter 5.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6)

We have a natural desire to be filled, don't we? Here is the thing, we have this deep desire to be filled nutritionally or physically. We all have this gnawing hunger pain that comes to us from the pit of our stomachs. There is a hormone in our body that is produced to tell us we are hungry- it yells at us FEED ME, FILL ME.

We all have experienced those hunger pains? Our stomach begins to growl and, there is that pain.

Listen, when you fast, there will be times when you might not think you can make it. Times when the nostalgia wears off, your mind will begin to say to you; why am I doing this, just eat.

When those hunger pains begin, the enemy will try to make it easy on you to tell you it's OK to cheat. It's OK to get-go after the things you desire, things you are fasting from and because of that, fasting is often not easy But it is essential to our faith.

The Bible tells us that everyone- all people, whether they believe today or don't believe today, agnostic or atheist, Disciples of Jesus or not, we all have a deep desire from our soul as well- this nagging – gnawing desire is for our soul to be filled. That, my friends, is a desire to be filled with the very presence of God.

Fasting is hungering for God and its critical that we hunger for Him. When we seek God and His righteousness, we recognize our true hunger, and that is for God.

Listen, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are the only ones who find it and are filled. Just like those who fast to get closer to God are the ones who are getting intimate closer to God.

In Matthew chapter 6, we find three disciplines of a believer. Giving- prayer and fasting

Listen to what Jesus says to us about fasting:

"But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face, 18 so that you don't show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you".

All through Jesus contrasts those who practice their righteousness in front of others versus those who are genuinely seeking God. He states, "But when you fast.. your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” As a result of seeking God first- not for your own glory or for your own agenda – not so you can be big and boast about your fast, but when you truly hunger and thirst for God – through fasting, God the Father will reward you.

It is a reward that comes from Him, from heaven, not an earthy reward. It is the hunger that pushes you, and it drives you to the place that God has for you.

I don't know what that reward will be other than what we are asking for God to do in our lives. I do know that this is a promise from God.

Fasting creates a hunger for God and as we Hungering for Him, He has a greater reward for us than anything on this earth.

The Second way that fasting produces worship is this:

FASTING PREPARES US FOR THE WORK OF GOD.

Looking back at verse 20 of our text, Jesus said, "There will come a time when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast."

For the disciples of Jesus, there was no reason to fast because He was there teaching them, guiding them. God was physically with them as they were being prepared for the work. Which we know was the start of the Church, but also it's an explosion as it gained momentum.

As such, God wants us to be prepared for HIS work, not just personally but also corporately as a church body. Fasting helps prepare us for the work ahead. That is why we like to begin the year with fasting.

In the Book of Acts, there is the story of the Antioch Church. And the church began in the 11th chapter of Acts, Verse 19.

It tells us that the church began because of the persecution of believers because of Stephen's death. And as you might know, Stephen was stoned to death in Act's chapter 7.

The Apostle Paul was named Saul at the time, and he was the one who signed off on Stephens's death. In other words, he may not have thrown a rock, but as a Pharisee with authority, he approved it.

As a result, the Church scattered, and Paul threatened the Church on the way to Damascus. It was on that Damascus Road that he met Jesus. After their discussion, he was blinded by the Light of God and taken to the city of Damascus, where He, listen to this, fasted for three days. You need to know that each time we find the word fast or fasting in the Bible, it means that the person or persons abstained from food for some time as they were seeking God.

Paul fasted for three days. Once regaining his sight and strength, he immediately began preaching the Gospel. During this time, the church began to gather in Antioch. Barnabas was sent to them by the church in Jerusalem. The Bible says a large number of people were added to them, and Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Paul and brought him back to the Church in Antioch.

Notice how God works, Barnabas brought Paul back to the same church that began because of his persecution and the stoning death of Stephen.

In chapter 13, the Bible tells us that the Church in Antioch had prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon, Niger, and others, including Saul (who we know as the Apostle Paul) were all there and listened to what happened.

"As they were ministering (meaning praying) to the Lord and fasting, (SO they while they were praying and fasting) the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them to."

During the course of prayer and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke to the church and called Barnabas and Paul to become the first missionaries to come out of the church.

As called missionaries, they went out and began to do the work of God. And what we know now about the Apostle Paul- he has written 1/3 of the New Testament and went to numerous cities and started churches. We are a remnant of what God did through the Apostle Paul over 2000 years ago.

I want you to see how Paul was fasting for three days at his conversion, then was at the church in Antioch and prayed and fasted, and it was the beginning of the work that God called him to do. Fasting prepared him for God's work through prayer and fasting.

I don't know what your prayer life is like, how you spend time with the Lord each day- but you need that time to confess to the Lord- it is not a laundry list of things – it is surrendering to God. Every day- telling the things that are going on in your life and giving them over to Him- HE already knows it- but you're surrendering them over to Him. I mention this because prayer and fasting go hand in hand.

I'm not saying that fasting will be easy because the truth is there will be obstacles to overcome.

The Bible teaches us that the flesh is a continual obstacle we must overcome-Mark 26:41 Jesus told the disciples at the garden, "The Spirit is willing – but the flesh is weak"

What I am saying is this: when we are worship God first through fasting and prayer, it prepares us to do the work of God and when we do that work we are worshiping the Lord.

FASTING CREATES A HUNGER FOR GOD THAT PREPARES US FOR GOD'S WORK.

THEN THEN THE THIRD WAY FASTING PRODUCES WORSHIP IS:

CORPORATE FASTING UNITES THE CHURCH THROUGH GOD'S POWER.

Folks listen to me, understand that there is power in corporate prayer and fasting.

I was told recently in a meeting that our church wont fast and that disappoints me that a person would say that because the truth is God’s people are called to fast corporately.

Look back at verse 20 Jesus said: “then they will fast.” Jesus is speaking that at the time they will fast, this means each of them and together they will fast.

Throughout the Bible and history, we find examples of corporate fasting for various reasons, that united God’s people.

In I Samuel 7:5-6 "And Samuel said, Gather all Israel ... and they gathered ... and fasted" for one day and the result they had victory over the Philistines.

Ezra 8:21-23 "I proclaimed a fast so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us, our children, and all our possessions. 23 So we fasted and pleaded with our God about this" the result- scripture said, "and He granted our request."

Nehemiah 9:1-3 "On the twenty-fourth day of this month the Israelites assembled; they were fasting, wearing sackcloth, and had put dust on their heads.”

Joel 2:15-16 "Blow the horn in Zion! Announce a sacred fast; proclaim an assembly."

Jonah 3:5-10 "the people ... proclaimed a fast ... from the greatest of them even to the least," and the result, God forgave them of their sin.

Acts 13:1-2, the church in Antioch and the Holy Spirit selected the two men as missionaries.

On March 6, 1799, President John Adams called the United States of America for a national Fast day.

President Abraham Lincoln called the Nation to a Day of National Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer in his 97th proclamation in 1863,

He said; We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us. In the deceitfulness of our hearts, we have vainly imagined that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. 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!"

Soon after fasting, America struck the deal to purchase Alaska from Russia for 2 cents an acre-purchase price of 7.2 million dollars.

When the people of God come together in a time of fasting it unites God’s people for a purpose. God releases His power ONLY WHEN our focus is on Him and not on us.

There is power in corporate fasting from the Old Testament to the New Testament throughout history to even today that unites the the Church. It’s worship to God when His people come together and fast seeking His guidance, His victory over the enemy, safety, forgiveness, and much more.

If fasting were not necessary, then Jesus would not have modeled it during the 40 days in the wilderness.

Let’s quit playing church and be broken people before Him And worship Gdo in spirit and truth through fasting.

TODAY I AM CALLING ON THE CHURCH TO ENTER INTO A CORPORATE FAST SETTING GOD FIRST AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR.

Beginning Jan 10th lasting 14 days to seek the guidance and strength of the Lord our God, to accomplish His will in our lives and the church.

BY the end of next week you will have all the information to worship God through prayer and fasting.

As such I want to close by sharing with you the four types of fasting.

First is the full fast- This is abstaining from everything and drinking only water for a certain period of time. You select the length of the fast through prayer and seeking God. This is the type of fast your doctor requests before blood work.

Second, the partial fast- The diet is limited, though some food is allowed. You may give up certain foods, such as meat, bread, or sugar. The most common fasts are partial fasts which include the Daniel fast.

Then third the absolute fast. This fast consists of a time when there are no foods or liquids taken into the body in any way. Jesus did an Absolute Fast for 40 days and nights after He was baptized (Luke 4:2). However before taking on this fast unless truly called by God you must see your doctor before beginning.

Lastly this fast is the fast for the world we live in today: electronic fasting; from your favorite TV show, games, social media, you can include as part of your fast taking the time to focus on God.

Let me be clear the motive of fasting is to be God-focused. God expects us to worship Him as we fast.

Fasting creates a hunger for God that prepares us for the work ahead and corporate fasting unites the church through God’s power. There is incredible power in corporate fasting.

Invitation