What Is The Meaning Of Hungering, Fasting And Touching God Introduction? Series

A. HUNGER TO KNOW GOD

1. Definition: The painful sensation, or state of weakness caused by need, or a craving appetite, or eager desire for food, or an empty physical feeling. Synonym: ravenous, famishing, starved. Slang: “hungry as a bear” or “starved to death.”

2. The process of fasting is described as a hungering for God’s presence or intervention. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

3. Jesus became hungry after fasting. “Jesus ate nothing for forty days and became very hungry” (Luke 4:2). As God, Jesus could have performed a miracle to satisfy hunger, but as a man He suffered hunger symptoms.

4. I, Elmer Towns, fasted 40 days, ate nothing, but drank only orange and/or apple juice once a day.

a. Not famished at end.

b. Had to force myself to eat.

c. Had to reprogram my body to the cycle of eating – hungering.

5. You live off the nutrients and fat that is stored up in your body when you fast. But be careful, no food for 60 days will lead to death or permanent physical problems.

6. Biblical hungering and fasting is not about a diet or weight loss, it desires spiritual intimacy with God to receive a distinct answer to prayer.

7. “The true bread of God is the one who comes down from Heaven, and gives life to the world. Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whosoever comes to me will never be hunger again” (John 6:33-35), NLT). Jesus satisfies your hunger or longing.

B. FASTING TO KNOW GOD

1. Fasting is a spiritual discipline where you voluntary withdraw from enjoyment and necessity of food (water) to seek answers to prayer and find the presence of God.

2. Many lengths, i.e., 1 day, 3 days, 10 days, 21 days, 40 days.

3. Many formulas:

a. Water only.

b. Liquids, including juice.

c. Daniel Fast, vegetables.

d. Rotational, Mayo Clinic.

e. John Wesley, bread, and water.

f. Supernatural (not today).

4. Physical fasting leads to spiritual fasting when you separate yourself from pleasures, entertainment, etc. to focus your mind and soul on God.

C. TOUCHING IS COMMUNICATION

1. Can you touch God?

a. He is not physical.

b. He is the wholly other one (there are spiritual barriers)

2. Four parts to the definition of touching.

a. Intent to make connection.

b. Meaning of actual encounter.

c. Understanding of listener.

d. Response of listener.

3. Original – French, touché, acknowledge of hit in fencing.

4. Norse tradition from noc, to knock for entrance and purpose.

5. Today Jesus can be touched in our time of need. “Seeing we have a great High Priest who ascended into Heaven – Jesus, the Son of God – let us hold firmly to what we believe, because He can be touched with our intercession … Therefore, let us come boldly to the Father’s throne to receive mercy and help in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16, ELT).

D. WOMAN TOUCHED JESUS: MARK 5:25-34

1. Her motive:

a. Twelve years of suffering.

b. Unsuccessful healing attempts.

c. Jesus was her solution.

d. Privately.

2. What was different about her touch? “People followed … crowding around Him” (v. 24, NLT).

a. Her previous failures.

b. Her persistent thoughts.

c. Her faith (v. 34).

3. Alternative. Just to be near Jesus and hear Him, but He didn’t know she was there/needy (v. 30). Touch change everything.

a. Healed.

b. Acceptance back into culture.

c. She influenced others by example (Mark 6:56).

4. What was the result?

a. Initial not know (v. 30).

b. She got His attention.

c. She got His concern.

d. Jesus met her needs, physically and socially.

e. Gave her a new future, “Go in peace, your suffering is over” (v. 34).

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.

Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.

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