Introduction
It happened when I was rummaging through my dad’s tool box. Let me back up a moment to explain. As a child I would often “borrow” my dad’s tools without permission. And it wasn’t usually to use them for their intended purpose.
You see, I had a very active imagination as a child and my dad’s tools would become props in whatever fantasy world I had made up. Socket wrenches would turn into laser pistols. Levels would become light sabers. Electric saws would become robots.
So as I rummaged through my dad’s tool chest, I knew I shouldn’t borrow something that looked expensive or important. After a short search, I found a tool I had never seen before. It didn’t look expensive. More importantly I had never seen my dad use it. I figured I’d be safe borrowing it.
If you are curious what it was, let me explain what it looked like. It had a red handle with an aluminum ring. It kind of looked like a tiny frying pan with no bottom on it. When I grabbed the handle and pulled it, the ring would tighten.
Anyway, a few weeks later Dad was working on his truck. He was doing a routine oil change. He also wanted to change the oil filter. The problem was that the filter would not turn by hand. So he dug in his toolbox for his oil filter wrench.
How many of you know what an oil filter wrench looks like? It has a handle on it with an aluminum ring that sinches tight when you pull the handle. It kind of looks like a small frying pan without a bottom in it. Guess what. My dad didn’t find it.
Now I don’t remember what I used it for. And I don’t remember if dad went and bought another wrench or if he just didn’t change the oil filter that time. I do remember that he was not real happy about not being able to find his wrench.
Now an oil filter wrench has one job. It is a specialty tool.
As we continue our series of messages on Spiritual disciplines: The Tools in our toolbox, I want to share with you a specialty tool for spiritual growth. The tool I want to talk about today is “Fasting.”
Often when we hear the word fasting, all we think about is skipping a few meals. We are not talking about skipping meals for the sake of skipping meals. We are going deeper than that. We are talking about skipping the consumption of one thing to see the benefits of another thing of far greater value.
The other thing I realize is that fasting is such a specialty discipline that if many of see it the tool box, we might not know how to use it. What is fasting for? And if I use it, how can it help us grow in our walk with Christ?
As we explore what fasting is for and how we can use it to grow, I hope to persuade you to try fasting in your own spiritual walk. So turn with me to Nehemiah 1 as we study together one example of how fasting is used in Scripture.
Listen.
Nehemiah1:1
1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,
Context
We talked around Christmas time about how the Jews in Judah had been taken in to captivity after their war with Babylon in the year 587 B.C. Babylon’s world dominance did not last very long. In fact, in less that a Century, Babylon was defeated by the Persian Empire. Many of the Jews who were transplanted into Babylon were kept in Persia. Nehemiah is one of those Jews who lives in the capital City of Susa in Persia.
Now don’t make the mistake of reading this as some detached narrative. Nehemiah is a real person. Put yourself in his shoes. Nehemiah lives hundreds of miles away from his homeland. I think he dreams of going back. But he has little to no hope of ever returning home.
Maybe think in terms of the elderly man or woman who is forced to leave his or her home because of health to live in a nursing home and he or she wants to go home. I think that might help us to picture his anxiety and pain.
That’s when the text tells us in verse 2 that one of Nehemiah’s brothers comes from Judah to visit him in Persia. And naturally Nehemiah asks about how things are going at home. And the news he receives is terrible.
Nehemiah 1:3
3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
In O.T. days, a city without walls and gates was defenseless. They were open to attack; they were left open to have their crops pillaged. Those not killed during an attack often faced a much worse fate of starving to death. Nehemiah hears this and he is deeply impacted by the information.
Nehemiah 1:4a
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept…
Nehemiah is disturbed about how bad things are going in his homeland. The disgrace and trouble was impacting his kinsmen. The news of the circumstances of his nation was dire. This news is a very big deal. So listen to what Nehemiah does.
Nehemiah 1:4b
…For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
In his mourning, Nehemiah fasts and Nehemiah prays.
If you looked up the word fasting in a concordance or online, do you know what other word you are probably going to find with it? Prayer. It is amazing how many times in Scripture these two disciplines are combined.Last week we talked about prayer as the power tool of growth. This week we are talking about fasting as the specialty tool. Why are they so often combined?
I think it is because fasting can help to sharpen our prayers.
Fasting
I. Helps to sharpen our prayers
Sometimes our prayers can seem dull; sometimes they can feel ineffective. Sometimes it can feel like our prayers aren’t cutting through the clutter to get to God. When we read the text, it seems like Nehemiah doesn’t want this to happen. He wants to make sure he prayers are heard. Take a look at verses 5 and 6.
Nehemiah 1:5-6
5 Then I said: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel.
His focus isn’t on his own sadness. It’s not on his own plight as a captive living in Persia. His prayer is about the needs of the people, his own kinsmen in Judah. So he prays and fasts before the Lord. He wants to make sure his prayers are going through. A resolution to the circumstances of his kinsmen is really important to him. But he also wanted to make sure he was being quiet to hear God’s response.
Fasting
II. Helps us to be quiet before the Lord.
Did you know that prayer is as much about listening to God’s response as it is about sharing our needs.
Illustration:
Those who know me know that I find it interesting to study the origins of words in Biblical languages. I found something interesting in the word “fast.”
According do the Unger’s Bible Dictionary, it originally meant in O.T. Hebrew to cover one’s mouth with one’s hand. I hope you see the picture! If I cover my mouth with my hand I can prevent the intake of food right? But guess what else it does. It prevents the outflow of words. Fasting gives us intentional time to listen to God.
Perhaps the reason that a majority of churches are unhealthy and failing in the United States isn’t because of lack of resources or because of lack of skills. I think it is because we have failed to do what we need to do to listen to God. I think we care more about our own comfort than we do about really covering our mouths to hear God’s will.
Just consider this. My wife shared with me some information she is reading from her book about Spiritual Disciplines. I think it is proof that Americans by and large don’t EVER fast! It was noted in my wife’s book that since the 1950’s, there have been very few books written on the topic. There is an overabundance of Christian books written on other topics: marriage, leadership, inspiration, handling money, church growth strategies… Christian Fiction, but even now you would be hard pressed to find one on fasting.
Why Not? Books on fasting aren’t published because they don’t sell. It is very hard to sell intentional denial of ones self in a culture that worships comfort, self fulfillment, and happiness. Nehemiah had no such aversion as he prays for his people.
And the very first thing he does as he fasts and prays is he confesses his own sin and the sins of his nation.
Nehemiah 1:6b
I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
Now stop and consider what Nehemiah is doing. He is exploring a deeper spiritual need as he fasts. It is key that Nehemiah asks for forgiveness as he confesses. He confesses his own contribution of evil that led to Judah’s defeat and their continued captivity. Here is the amazing part. Nehemiah was written more than 100 years after Jerusalem was destroyed. If my math is correct, Nehemiah was even born yet when Judah was defeated and Jerusalem was destroyed. Yet in prayer and fasting, he includes himself in the list of those who have contributed to the sins that led to Judah’s captivity. I think in fasting, Nehemiah has seen past his physical needs to a deeper spiritual need. Fasting does this.
III. Fasting helps us explore our own deeper spiritual needs (forgiveness.)
Do you see in our text that Nehemiah includes himself amongst the sinners.
How many of us have ever prayed for our country? How many of us desire a revival in this country? How many of us want to see our country return to God? That’s great! I have the same desire. But let me ask this. How many of us when we confess how bad the sins of our country are put ourselves on the list of evil doers?
How many of us talk to God about when we are apathetic (without feeling) instead of compassionate (feeling with someone). How many of us confess to doing the easiest thing rather than the right thing. The right thing is often more difficult (more time and effort!) How many of us want to be comfortable instead of obedient and trusting?
I’m not saying we shouldn’t pray for a national revival. What I am saying is that a national revival will only take place when we individually confess our own sins before God. It will only take place when we individually admit our need for Jesus and the cross. It starts with you and me being revived.
Let me throw this out as an example. It is one of many social issues we could talk about. Now I think legalized abortion is a horrendous evil. I cannot wrap my brain around how killing an innocent baby can be as a solution to any problem. As a pastor, I would never advise abortion as a solution to an “unwanted” pregnancy. I have been part of the life chain every year. I could say I’m not part of the problem.
However, maybe I haven’t taken serious my call as a follower of Jesus to help that unwed pregnant woman who comes in looking for help. Maybe we have given her judgmental looks. Maybe we have time to help at a crisis pregnancy center, but it complicates our own life. Maybe we haven’t loved children the same way Jesus did when he said, “Let them come unhindered to me.”
It is easier to put a bumper sticker on my car that says, “Abortion is evil” and ignore our own contribution, not matter how subtle, to the problem. I want abortion to end, but what am I and what are you really doing about it? Revival must take place in us individually before we can see it take place nationally. Fasting helps us to see our deeper spiritual need for forgiveness.
In our text, Nehemiah then begins to ask God about his vision and dream. I think through prayer and fasting, Nehemiah has had a vision for how he can help his kinsmen in Judah and Jerusalem. And as he continues to fast, he goes before God in prayer to confirm if it is the right path.
Nehemiah 1:8
8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ 10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king.
Nehemiah sees God’s faithfulness and his promises. God will act. He will act in ways we find pleasing and he will act to discipline his children. Nehemiah is asking God to act by granting him favor in the presence of “this man.” The man he is seeking favor from is the King of Persia.
In chapter two Nehemiah is in the presence of the King. We see in chapter one that he was cupbearer. He would have had access to the ear of the King of Persia. And Nehemiah goes to King Artexerxes with an outrageous request.
Let me summarize chapter two for you. Nehemiah says, “King sir…my people in my homeland are starving. They are in terrible trouble because they have no way to defend themselves. Would you allow me to go back to my homeland to rebuild the walls? (You know … that city that rebelled against the King of Babylon and was destroyed?) Oh, and would you give me the materials I need to do so. And would you give me letters of protection so that other nations who have been raiding them will know that if they mess with me, they will have to deal with the might of Persia?”
It’s an outlandish request. Nehemiah could have had his head taken off his shoulders right there on the spot. He could have been ridiculed for the request. He could have been tossed into prison to rot. Why would the King of Persia even think about it?
Read Nehemiah (chapter two) sometime. Every one of Nehemiah’s requests is granted.
Nehemiah returns and if you read the rest of the book, he rebuilds the walls around the entire city in less than 2 two months. It’s an amazing accomplishment that he could only have pulled off with God’s direction. Now let me ask you. … Do you remember how Nehemiah started the whole process once he heard the terrible news? He started with prayer coupled with fasting.
Fasting was his specialty tool.
Now don’t go way thinking that this specialty tool is a get what I want card. That is not true -- if you and I try fasting to manipulate God we will certainly fail. We don’t practice fasting to manipulate God into doing things our way. Instead, like Nehemiah, we should fast so that we can remove distractions to HEAR God speak more clearly. WE remove physical food to recieve spiritual food. We fast so that we can better listen. We cover our mouths to open our hearts to God’s plans.
It’s a really cool discipline that far too many followers avoid. But if we practice the discipline of fasting,, we will put into practice the art of what Jesus said was part of being a true follower. We deny ourselves.
Mark 8:34
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
So really quick let me give you a few times in our lives when breaking out this specialty tool might be wise.
When we should Fast
I. When we are facing are major crisis that might overwhelm us spiritually.
Nehemiah was brought to his knees by the news of his kinsmen in Jerusalem. His response was to fast. Sometimes we face spiritual battles that feel like they could overwhelm us. Fasting is a tool we can use to combat that crisis. When someone we care about is sick. When we are let go from a job in a bad economy. When our marriage or our family is falling apart around us. When our business or our church is running out of money. Anytime we are facing a crisis that might overwhelm us spiritually.
(Second)
When we should Fast
II. When we have a big decision to make and we desire to hear the Lord’s direction.
Sometimes decisions are too big for us to make without God’s help. Fasting is not for every decision. To go on a fast to decide whether we should switch to generic grape juice instead of Welches might be using the wrong tool. But to fast when we are developing a vision for the church might be a good idea. To fasting when we are selecting men as Elders might be appropriate. To fast when we are planning an event to reach out to our community might be a good idea.
There are times don’t you think that it would be wise to intentionally seek God’s direction and to make sure we hear him more clearly?
That’s time number two.
Number three is this.
When we should Fast
III. When we are repenting of sin
To this end, fasting isn’t just a tool for believers Anyone can use fasting … from the one who calls himself/herself a follower of Christ to the one just now finding out about sin.
Ponder this: “Can you think of anytime where clarity from God is more important personally that when we are dealing with personal sin? Sin is when we’ve lied to others and to ourselves about it. Sin is when we like to play the blame game saying my sin isn’t really that bad. Do you think God, the source and author of truth, will help you and me cut through that clutter?
Fasting and prayer in times of repentance can be a powerful use of this specialty tool in helping us toward recovery.
The last one is a general use of fasting.
When we should Fast
IV. Anytime, we want to remove distractions to grow as a follower.
To this end, fasting doesn’t have to be skipping meals. In Scripture it is almost always giving up food. But the Apostle Paul writes that we can give up sex for a time for prayer. 1 Corinthians 7:5.
I suggest that fatting can mean giving up that which is distracting for a season. I have a friend who fasted for 5 months – NO he didn’t starve. He gave up watching NFL football for an entire season so he cold grow closer to God. And boy did he grow spiritually!
God wants our attention. God wants us to rely on him. Fasting helps us to do that.
Conclusion:
As we conclude I want to show another specialty tool. I learned about this tool from Jerry Osterholt.. What you see, is a battery post cleaner. Its sole job is to clean the corrosion off the posts on a car battery so that the leads have a better connection with the battery. It is used so that electricity from the battery can flow more efficiently to the parts of the car that need it. Jerry used this tool one time when my car battery wasn’t charging correctly. After he was done, the battery recharged when we ran the car.
Fasting is like the battery post cleaner. It is a special tool It removes corrosion; it improves our contact with God so that his power can flow through us more efficiently.
