Why Deny?
Matthew 6:16-18
The Sermon on the Mount is a guide for how to live as followers of Jesus. Specifically, Jesus is teaching us that we have to lose some things in our religion so we can get back to a relationship with God. Religion focuses on religious practices, rules, observances, and traditions, all in an effort to find favor with God. But God calls us to so much more: he calls us to a relationship with Jesus. One of the hallmarks of a relationship with Jesus is a life of self-denial. For he said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matt. 16:24 In a culture which sells self-indulgence as a virtue, that is not exactly an alluring invitation. In fact, it’s counter to everything we've been exposed to in our society. We've been told to pursue every desire, to scratch every itch and to accumulate more and more stuff.
Think about some of the commercials that have sold the value of self-indulgence and see if you can fill in the blanks. DeBeers Diamonds tell women it's okay if you're getting older, don't worry about it. All you need is a diamond because diamonds are.... (forever). Nike say, “You know it's really all about you and achieving your goal, reaching your potential so all you need to do is “Just...” (do it). Coke said, “You need something to quench your thirst, because you need to be satisfied, so they told us that Coke is the real...” (thing). Then Miller came along and said, “For those watching their weight, Miller Lite tastes great, but it's less....” (filling). General Electric said, “You're going to need a place for your Miller Lite, your Coca Cola and all your food and we've got just what you need because “we bring good things...” (to life). And whatever you want, we were told to get it. Whatever we need to feel complete, buy it. We have been inundated with the message of self-indulgence, so why should we deny ourselves and fast?
First, Jesus tells us less is more. If we're really serious about having more life, he invites us to deny ourselves. All of that stuff you’re accumulating is just getting in the way of your relationship with Jesus. So Jesus said it’s through self-denial that you will gain what money can't buy: a closer relationship with Jesus and more obedience to God. Jesus starts off with these words this morning, “When you fast.” Notice Jesus doesn't say “If you fast” but “when,” because fasting in the Jewish faith was expected. . In the Old Testament, there were fasts that went on for various time periods -- one day, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 40 days. The length of the self-denial period varied tremendously, but what didn't vary is that fasting and self denial is a means of drawing closer to God. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that's been practiced by many throughout the ages. We remember Hannah in the Old Testament went through a fast in order that she could give birth, and Samuel was born. Daniel fasted when he discovered he would be thrown into the lion's den. David fasted when he was hunted by Saul. John Wesley, our founder, fasted twice a week. The same expectation for Jews to fast is true for followers of Jesus too, though we have sadly gotten away from that. If we desire to draw closer to God and have a deeper and more powerful relationship with Jesus, there will be a time when we will have to create space for God to come into our life.
Second, fasting is about creating time and space for God. When you fast, you take the time that would have been given to food preparation, eating and cleanup and commit it to God in prayer, silence or in His Word. That’s a significant way we can draw closer to God through fasting. There are two other ways we draw closer to God through fasting. Third, by denying ourselves, we identify with Jesus on the cross as he denied himself for the greater purposes of God. This is what the Apostle Paul found to be so significant in his walk with cross and that is identifying with and participating in Christ’s self-denial and suffering. Fourth, fasting and physical hunger reminds us of our hunger for God, which we so often try to fill by other things: people, possessions and money. Just as we try to fill our bellies with food in our hunger, so we are reminded to fill ourselves with the Word of God and His presence in our spiritual hunger.
Fifth, we fast to be led by the spirit, not the flesh. God is a Spirit and we’re made in God's image. We are spirit but we live in a body. Fasting does remind the body, “You're not in control!” It’s the spirit that is the one giving direction, not the body. It is the power of denying the body gratification through fasting that causes our Spirit to be more receptive to hear God that we might become more obedient to Him. Both the body and the spirit want to lead, and there’s a constant struggle between the two but only the spirit can lead to real life.
What is fasting? It’s the intentional denial of something that's pleasurable to the body or the mind to draw closer to God through prayer and discipline. Fasting is not limited to food. It can take on many different forms. One significant form of fasting for today is a technology fast of no cell phones, texting, tweeting, email, TV, radio or computer for a day. Some of you just went into shock at the thought of that, I know. Fasting is giving something up in your life to create more space and time for God in the midst of our busy lives. It enables us to draw closer to God, focus our attention on hearing God and then being more obedient to His will for our life.
Jesus teaches us how to have an effective fast. First, keep it to yourself. Fasting is something you do that’s between you and God. It is not meant to gain the approval or admiration of people, but to gain a deeper focus on God. So if you're fasting, keep it to yourself. As I wrote this message, Bonnie Carr, our Business Manager offered me some delicious, healthy cookies that Kandi Hinyub made and shared with her. I thanked her and said no thank you. She asked if I didn’t like the ingredients, and I just said, “I can’t have that today.” And that was that. No need to say, “I’m fasting!” If someone asks you out to lunch while you’re fasting, just tell them you have another appointment (and you do with God) but they don’t need to know what that appointment is. You don't have to lie, just keep your fast a secret between you and God.
Second, be prepared because there’s going to be a struggle. The body or your mind wants what they want. The body will say, “Gimme something!” It isn’t just going to roll over and say, “Okay, have at it, it’s all yours.” There can be a struggle to maintain the fast. When I fast, I start off well. I start with missing dinner and then get home and before I know it, I’m reaching for the leftovers. I’ll hit hour 20 and sometimes I get a headache. I just have to push through it. When you deny your body, it’s not just going to let you have at it without some struggle. Don’t be surprised if you experience mental and physical discomforts. Any sort of fast may sometimes leave you feeling impatient and irritable. Hunger pangs may plague you. For some, a fast can be physically, emotionally, and spiritually grueling, but they knew they had been called by God to fast, and completed the fast as an act of worship and God honored that.
When the struggles come, remind yourself why you're fasting in the first place. It's about spending time with God to draw closer to Him and to deepen your obedience to Jesus. Fasting is a time where God is to have your attention. It's about reminding yourself that you need something that only God can give you. Nothing and no one else will do. And when your motives are right, God will honor your seeking heart and bless your time with Him in a very special way. A renewed closeness with God and a greater sensitivity to spiritual things are usually the results of a fast. But don’t be disappointed if you do not have a "mountaintop experience.” Some feel a nearness to God that they’ve never before known, but others often don’t. So keep at it!
Third, fasting prepares us for greater challenges. Paul writes in Romans 5:3, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Fasting is like Spring training. It’s practice for when you get in the game of life and real temptations come your way. And they will. Because you have denied yourself the small things in life like food or electronics for a day, you can deny yourself when larger temptations come your way. This is what Jesus found out in his temptation in the wilderness. The devil offered him food, power and wealth but instead Jesus chose God. That prepared him to choose the cross and the Father’s will when the time came. Fasting enables us to renew priorities each week of placing God first in our life. The problem is that as you go about your week, there are going to be all types of things demanding your time and your attention as well as the first place in your life. It could be your spouse, your kids, your job, various social service organizations, fantasy football, a hobby and the list could go on and on. Fasting prepares us for these choices and prepares us to make the only choice that leads to life and that is to choose God and being obedient to His will.
Fourth, fasting gives powers for our struggles and battles, whether that be in ministry or with drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, overeating, negative attitudes or whatever. I don't know what your struggle is. But what I do know is that God wants you to overcome and be victorious in that battle. God wants to break those chains in your life so that you might be free to live in Him. Isaiah put it this way, “Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen? To loose the chains of injustice and untie the chords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” Whatever yoke or chain is in your life, I'm here to tell you that God is there to break it. No longer do you have to live in bondage but you have to draw close to Him and claim His power through fasting. In Mark 9, Jesus has a man coming to him complaining that he brought his son, who was unable to speak, to be healed by the disciples. They tried to heal the boy but could not. He brings his boy to Jesus who says to the man, “Everything is possible for one who believes.” And the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Jesus then healed boy. After the disciples privately asked Jesus, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” And Jesus replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.” Brothers and sisters, through fasting comes power for both ministry and whatever burden, illness, addiction or struggle in your life. If you need God’s power in your life, begin to fast.
calls us to fast once a week because it was one of the Means of Grace. This week, I want to challenge you to make fasting a regular part of your life. Fasting isn’t just a practice for the religious fanatic. I want to challenge you to get serious about Jesus, to deepen their relationship with Him and to become more obedient to His will. Jesus expects us to fast, and the benefits are incredible. If you’re satisfied with the status quo of your spiritual life, then just go ahead and ignore everything I’ve said today. But if you’re ready to move on to another level then start fasting this week. Don’t deny yourself the blessing of fasting or what God can do through fasting in your life. Amen.
