Prayer Keys - Fasting by Mark Stepherson
“But when you fast, put oil on you head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men 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.” Matthew 6:17-18
Did you hear about the man who joined a monastery to become closer to God? The monastery emphasized contemplation and prayer. To aid their contemplation, to help focus all their thoughts on God, the monks took a one year vow of silence. They would abstain, they would "fast" from speaking. At the end of the year, they could speak two words about their meditations, then they were to take another one year vow of silence.
After the first year, the head monk asked, "What have you contemplated this first year?" He answered, "Bad food." Then he took an oath of silence for another year.
After the second year, the head monk asked, "What have you contemplated this second year?" He answered, "Hard bed." Then he took an oath of silence for another year.
After the third year, the head monk asked, "What have you contemplated this third year? He answered, "I quit."
The head monk said, "I’m not surprised. For three years you’ve done nothing but complain."
Fasting from speech did not improve his contemplation and prayer. It was not the experience he expected. Fasting from food was not the experience I expected.
Going into teaching this series, the Bible studies that made me most nervous were on not doubting and this one on fasting.
It is understandable that I would be nervous studying and teaching about not doubting when I have to begin with a confession that not only do I struggle with doubt, I struggle with the idea that it is possible not to doubt. My reasons for being nervous about this study may be less obvious.
First, I disagree with most of what I have read and heard about fasting. We should always be cautious when most people who study the Bible conclude one thing and we conclude something else.
Second, when I have intentionally fasted, the experience was never what I expected. I never felt closer to God, more focused on his will, or spiritually stronger. I knew I was not supposed to rely on feelings, that I was to walk by faith and not by sight, but my faith seemed to remain unchanged.
First, I disagree with most of what I have read and heard about fasting. Maybe you have heard or read some of the same things. For example:
1. Fasting takes our eyes off of the world and focuses them completely on God. It strengthens our dependence on him and deepens our fellowship with him.
2. Our physical hunger is redirected to a hunger for the things of God. We give up the natural in pursuit of the supernatural.
3. Fasting demonstrates to God and to ourselves that we want a deeper relationship with him, that we are devoted to him, that we are living in submission to him, that we trust him, that we are depending on him alone.
4. Fasting is a way to suffer or sacrifice for the Lord, and God always blesses our suffering and sacrifices.
5. Fasting cleanses the body and soul.
6. Fasting builds our faith.
7. New Testament Christians regularly practiced prayer and fasting.
Andrew Murray wrote the classic collection of books on prayer, including, “With Christ in the School of Prayer.” He said, "Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God."
Hudson Taylor spent 51 years as a missionary in China. In addition to direct mission work and aiding to translate the New Testament into one of the Chinese dialects, he founded China Inland Missions, directly responsible for sending 800 missionaries, starting 300 schools, and leading 18,000 Chinese people to Christ.
Hudson Taylor said, "Fasting is really a Divinely appointed means of grace. Perhaps the greatest hindrance to our work is our own imagined strength; and in fasting we learn what poor, weak creatures we are - dependent on a meal of meat for the little strength which we are so apt to lean upon."
My Bible study preparing for this lesson included every passage I could find on fasting or not eating. There are not as many as I expected. Nowhere does the Bible say any of the things just listed. There may be some truth in most of them, but the Bible does not confirm them. Most of them may be valid, personal experiences, but other people’s experiences should never be the source of our faith. For this study, I want to emphasize what the Bible emphasizes.
What DOES the Bible say about fasting?
God commanded the Jewish people to fast in only two books, Leviticus and Joel.
In Lev. 16:29 and 23:26-29, depending on which translation you read, they are to afflict, humble, or deny their souls on the Day of Atonement. The word carries the idea of fasting.
At the heart of the Day of Atonement was the idea of repentance followed by forgiveness. Fasting was a sign of humility accompanying repentance. Fasting without humility and repentance is just going hungry. It has no spiritual value. Jesus condemned hypocrites for fasting as a show to men instead of to God. God condemned decades of insincere, legalistic fasting in Isaiah 58.
In Joel, God commands his people to fast in response to a tragedy.
What does the Bible say about fasting?
1. It is a sign of humility and repentance.
2. It is an appropriate response to a tragedy.
Beyond these two commands, we have examples of individuals and nations humbling themselves with fasting and examples of fasting in the face of tragedy, often accompanied by grief. We have examples of God honoring these fasts in scripture.
In the New Testament, Jesus does not command us to fast, but He knows His followers will fast. In Matthew 6:17 He says, "When you fast," not, "If you fast." He does not say every one of his followers will fast, but He knows at least some of them will. When they fast, it should be to God and not as a show to men.
Suppose Bro. Steve announced Sunday morning that there will be a special choir rehearsal open to everyone in the church and said, "When you come, be prepared to make a joyful noise." He would expect some people to come, but he would not expect everyone present Sunday morning to come. In the same way, when Jesus says, "When you fast..." he is not saying every Christian will fast. That is saying more than scripture says.
In the New Testament, prayer and fasting are often linked together (for example, Luke 2:37; 5:33; Acts 14:23). So now we have more lessons the Bible does teach:
3. Jesus knows at least some of his followers will fast. Their fast should be to God and not as a show to men.
4. Prayer and fasting are often linked.
Finally:
5. Jesus fasted before beginning his ministry and the church sometimes fasted before making important ministry decisions (Acts 13:2; 14:23)
In all fairness to many people who teach, preach, and write about fasting, they include these lessons along with the host of things not found in the Bible.
Many who teach, preach, and write about fasting go too far in saying that Jesus assumes all of his followers will fast and that the church regularly or always fasted while seeking God’s will.
These five lessons tell you almost everything the Bible says about fasting. Most of the biblical references to fasting give examples of these five lessons. It is possible that the last three lessons are examples of the two commands, but it will take much more Bible study before I can say that with certainty.
I said earlier that we should always be cautious when most people who study the Bible conclude one thing and we conclude something else. I think I have been careful. I disagree with most of what I have heard and read about fasting. I do not disagree because they are all untrue, but because the Bible does not confirm them. I want to emphasize what the Bible emphasizes.
My second reason for being nervous about teaching this study is that when I have intentionally fasted, the experience was never what I expected. I never felt closer to God, more focused on his will, or spiritually stronger. I knew I was not supposed to rely on feelings, that I was to walk by faith and not by sight, but my faith remained unchanged by fasting.
The last time I practiced intentional fasting, I noticed that I often wanted to check e-mail or news on the internet. I wanted to listen to music and nap. I wanted to do anything to get my mind off being hungry. I did not notice my prayer becoming more sincere, focused, or intense.
I thought that, perhaps, the fasting was supposed to make me aware of the things that regularly get in the way of praying. Perhaps time I spend checking e-mail and news or listening to music or napping is time I should spend in prayer (at least part of it). Perhaps I should learn to "fast" from these other distractions and focus on prayer before I can learn what I should about fasting from food. That is a valid PERSONAL lesson, but the Bible does not confirm that as a lesson for all Christians any more than it confirms other things said by other people.
Through Bible study, I learned that the word "fast" does not necessarily indicate intent and it can apply to missing just one meal, as when the multitudes followed Jesus and He said He would not send them away fasting, so He fed the 5,000 with a boy’s lunch. Realizing that the word “fast” does not necessarily indicate intent and that it can apply to just one meal, that it does not have to be for one, three, or forty days, opened up a new insight into Jesus knowing that we will fast. Unlike many who teach, preach, or write on fasting, this study will focus on that spontaneous fasting. I hope to teach on intentional fasting in a future study, when I understand it better.
On some occasions, I have become so engrossed in something that I skipped a meal or two without noticing (people who have seen my incredible bulk may find that hard to believe). For me, this has usually been when I have been studying the Bible, preparing to teach. I have heard others report the same experience when consumed in ministry.
What is probably more common for most of us is to be at a hospital or funeral home, praying, and not being interested in eating, even if someone suggests it. Prayer is important to us. Food is not.
We may not feel very spiritual at those times. We may not feel very faithful. Our prayers may be, "Oh, God, why?" That prayer is important to us. Food is not. Some of you, maybe many of you, have prayed and fasted spontaneously without realizing it.
You may think that even pagans choose not to eat at times of illness or grief. That is true. I don’t know, but that may be a sign that the Spirit is working on them in their time of need.
Sometimes, situations that compel us to pray also compel us to ignore food. When we are so focused on prayer, so dependent on God, so aware of our own helplessness, prayer takes on a new urgency. Nothing competes for our attention, nothing distracts us, not even food. We may not be helping a mourner when we encourage them to eat. Unless someone has a condition like diabetes that makes not eating a health concern, encouraging a mourner to eat may make us feel better, but it may make us an annoying distraction to the mourner.
This fits the New Testament teaching on fasting. It fits Jesus’ teaching that his disciples would fast after the bridegroom was taken away (Matthew 9:14-15; Mark 2:18-20; Luke 5:33-35). For a bride to lose her groom would be a tragedy. In times of tragedy and heartache, Jesus’ disciples will fast.
We do not schedule these fasts. We do not plan or intend to fast. No one commands us to fast in these situations, but Jesus knew we would. This may not seem to fit the times of the church praying and fasting in Acts, until we remember the circumstances.
Christians were being persecuted in the Roman Empire. The few perversions of ancient Rome that exceed modern America include feeding Christians to lions in the coliseum for the amusement of the masses, mass crucifixions, and Nero having Christians dipped in oil, hung, and set on fire to light his gardens at night. Witnessing in that world was a life or death challenge. Being called to missions or being called as an elder in the church was serious business. Who would feel worthy of that responsibility under those conditions? They took those decisions seriously, praying, sometimes not caring to eat until God’s will was clear.
Sometimes, situations that compel us to pray also compel us to ignore food. When we are so focused on prayer, so dependent on God, so aware of our own helplessness, prayer takes on a new urgency. Nothing competes for our attention, nothing distracts us, not even food.
This also fits the examples of prayer and fasting that precede revival. Christians become so sick of their sin saturated society, so aware of the need for revival, so aware of their helplessness, so focused on prayer, so passionate for the lost, that their prayer takes on a new urgency. Nothing competes for their attention, nothing distracts them, not even food.
Jonathan Edwards was a man used by God in the First Great Awakening. I have read that he preached in a weak, squeaking, monotone voice and held his tiny manuscript so close to his face that people could not see his expressions. When he preached, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," in his weak, squeaking, monotone, people had to strain to hear him. It is said that he preached powerfully without the energy, eloquence or theatrics some modern “evangelists” depend on. Strong men gripped pews and pillars as if they felt themselves falling into hell. Judgment day had dawned and they were desperately holding on to life until the altar call.
For three days before he first preached that sermon, he did not eat or sleep. Claiming New England for Christ was the only thing that mattered to him. Prayer was important to him. Food and sleep were not. Nothing distracted him. I am certain he did not intend it, but people passing his room heard his weak, squeaking voice as he sobbed, "God, give me New England! Give me New England!"
He finally rose from his knees and made his way to the pulpit. He was so weak, he could barely prop himself up. Before he opened his mouth, great conviction had already fallen on the congregation.
Legalistic fasting is not a prayer key. It is just going hungry. Spiritual awareness that prompts us to pray may also prompt us to fast. May God make us more spiritually aware. May his spirit prompt us to pray, even to the point of forgetting to eat.
