Fasting for the Right Reason

Matthew 6:16–18 ESV

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

A Biblical Case for Fasting

Fasting is a physical display of our desperate need for God.

We fast when we see our sin, and long for God’s mercy.

Leviticus 16:29–31 ESV

“And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you. For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins. It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; it is a statute forever.

3. We fast when we face sins’s consequences, and long for God’s grace.

Jonah 3:4–9 ESV

Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”

4. We fast to demonstrate that God is our only hope.

2 Samuel 12:17–23 ESV

And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

5. Fasting is how we show God how desperately we need him to act.

In personal crisis (2 Samuel 12)

In community crisis (Esther 4)

In national crisis (Nehemiah 9)

6. The faithful fast because they urgently need God.

They long for his rescue... (Luke 2)

…and his return… (Matthew 9)

…and his strength... (Matthew 4)

… and his Spirit. (Acts 13)

Fasting — A Definition

What is fasting?

Setting aside what sustains your life, to remember and reflect that God is your only hope for life.

Why do we fast?

To reflect our desperate need for God to act.

How do we fast?

We set aside food for a time. The hunger we feel is a symbol of our desperation for God’s grace.

When do we fast?

As often as we feel that desperation. And especially if we don’t feel it at all.

Who should fast?

Anyone who desperately needs God’s grace.

An Important Caveat

Matthew 9:14–15 ESV

Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Fasting ≈ Mourning | Fasting ≠ Celebration

There is a place for feasting...

We celebrate Christ’s work — ALREADY

…and a place for fasting.

We long for Christ’s work — NOT YET

Christians do both.

Fasting the Wrong Way

Matthew 6:16 ESV

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

The inverse of biblical fasting.

The point show your helplessness to God.

You’re modeling your desperate need for his attention, for his action.

The point of this guy’s fast is to show your righteousness to men.

You’re modeling your holiness for their attention, for their praise.

Corrupts a humble reflection of seeking God into a proud display to steal his glory.

Fasting the Right Way

Matthew 6:17–18 ESV

But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Biblical fasting is secret.

Refusing to compromise God’s attention for man’s attention.

Biblical fasting is pointed at the Father.

Single-minded appeal to the Father sees in secret.

Biblical fasting is driven by hope.

Fueled by a certainty in God’s generosity and grace.