Fasting
Spiritual Disciplines
An Adult Christian Education Class of RCEFC
Based on Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster
Intro:
Fasting – fallen into disrepute
Out to step with the times – Fast foods
Disregard for fasting: “…I could not find a single book published on the subject of Christian fasting from 1861-1954…”
Bad reputation –excess from Middle Ages
Propaganda – 3 meals plus snacks
Hunger strike – power
Dieting – health
Superficiality – Other religions do it e.g. Month of Ramadan
Food becomes an obssession
18For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,
19whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. – Philippians 3:18-19 (NASB)
What fills us up?
18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. – Mk.4:18-19 (NLT)
Many great godly people fasted
Moses, David, Elijah, Esther, Daniel.
Anna, Paul, Jesus Christ.
Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox
John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, David Brainerd, Charles Finney.
Fasting in the Bible
“Biblical fasting always centers on spiritual purposes”
Normal – abstain from food but not water
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.”
Partial Fast
Restriction of diet but not total abstention.
“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
Absolute Fast
"Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." - Esther 4:16
“For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.” – Acts 9:9
Supernatural Fast
Moses - “I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water.” (Deut.9:9)
Do not try this!
Corporate/Public Fast
God said to Moses: "The tenth day of the seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly, fast, and offer a Fire-Gift to God. Don’t work on that day because it is a day of atonement to make atonement for you before your God. Anyone who doesn’t fast on that day must be cut off from his people. - Lev.23:26-27 (Message)
National emergency
15 Blow the ram’s horn in Jerusalem! Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. 16 Gather all the people— the elders, the children, and even the babies. Call the bridegroom from his quarters and the bride from her private room. 17 Let the priests, who minister in the Lord’s presence, stand and weep between the entry room to the Temple and the altar. Let them pray, “Spare your people, Lord! - Joel 2:15-17 (NLT)
National Emergency
After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat … Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. – 2 Chronicles 20:1-3 (NLT)
Regular Fasting Practices
Zech 8:19 -This is what the LORD Almighty says: "The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace."
Luke 18:12 – Pharisee boasted “I fast twice a week and give…”
Other regular fasts
The Didache – “But do not let your fasts be with the hypocrites. For they fast on the second day of the week and on the fifth. But you fast on the fourth day (Wed) and the day of preparation (Fri).”
John Wesley revived this practice. He refused to ordain anyone who refuses this.
Any Command to Fast?
“There simply are no biblical laws that command regular fasting.” – Foster (p.51)
Paul – “In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often…” – 2 Cor.11:27 (KJV)
Any Command to Fast?
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. - Acts 13:2-3 (ESV)
Any Command to Fast?
16"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. 17But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18that 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. - Jesus in Matthew 6:16-18 (ESV)
Foster’s conclusion
Perhaps it is best to avoid the term “command” since in the strictest sense Jesus did not command fasting. But it is obvious that he proceeded on the principle that the children of the kingdom of God would fast. (p.54)
The Purpose of Fasting
Examine the Motive
To “look” spiritual?
16"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. 17But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18that 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. - Jesus in Matthew 6:16-18 (ESV)
To bribe God?
Is fasting ever a bribe to get God to pay more attention to the petitions? No, a thousand times no. It is simply a way to make clear that we sufficiently reverence the amazing opportunity to ask help from the everlasting God…to choose to put aside and concentrate on worshipping, asking forgiveness, and making our requests known – considering His help more important than anything we could do ourselves in our own strength and with our own ideas. – Edith Schaeffer (1992,p.75-6) in The Life of Prayer.
Motive: Centered on God
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. … She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. - Luke 2:36-37 (ESV)
"Say to all the people of the land and the priests, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? – Zech.7:5 (ESV)
Motive: To depend on God alone
“…fasting reveals the things that control us. This is a wonderful benefit to the true disciple who longs to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. We cover up what is inside us with food and other good things, but in fasting these things surface.” - Foster (p.55)
But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ – Jesus in Matthew 4:4
Motive: Remain centered on Christ
Fasting not to be sorrowful – Christ has already redeemed us!
Fasting not to have strong willpower.
20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires. – Col.2:20-23 (NLT)
Motive: Fasting to Feast on God
Do I miss God?
Do I hunger for him?
Do I long for him?
Have I begun to be content with His gifts?
Have I “medicated” my struggle/pain?
Can I say with Paul “All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything”? – 1 Cor.6:12 (NASB)
How to’s
Matthew 6:16-18 (Msg) "When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don’t make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won’t make you a saint. If you ’go into training’ inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. God doesn’t require attention-getting devices. He won’t overlook what you are doing; he’ll reward you well.
Progression: Learn to walk before you run
After 2 or 3 weeks: normal fast of 24 hours. Drink only water.
Hunger pangs/discomfort – is not real hunger, it is just years of conditioning
Fast – not just with food, e.g. entertainment media, phone, speech, passing judgment, e-mails, internet
Proceed with caution
“Beware of books on fasting.” - John Piper (1997,p.9) in A Hunger for God: Desiring God Through Fasting and Prayer
Christian Liberty
Be careful of “men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth” – 1 Timothy 4:3 (NASB)
“food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.” – 1 Corinthians 8:8 (NASB)
Christian Liberty
Fasting is not a legalistic requirement but a spontaneous reaction under special circumstances… There are…godly and prayerful people who have found fasting a hindrance rather than a help. Some are so constituted physically that the lack of a minimum amount of food renders them unable to concentrate in prayer… There is no need for such to be in bondage. Let them do what most helps them to pray. – J. Oswald Sanders (1977,p.67) in Prayer Power Unlimited
Breathe –Marie Barnett
Verse 1 This is the air I breathe This is the air I breathe Your holy presence living in me Verse 2 This is my daily bread This is my daily bread Your very word spoken to me
Chorus 1 And I I’m desperate for You And I I’m lost without You
