Buffet (Buffay) or Buffet?
PPT 1 Pic of a buffet (buffay)
PPT 2 Pic of a boxer buffeting another boxers body
What are you doing with your body? Are you buffaying it or buffeting it?
PPT 3 Text
1Co 9:27 but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified. (NASB)
1Co 9:27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (NIV)
The Greek word translated disqualified is adokimos and it means reprobate, he could not have used a stronger term to describe the results of failure to rule over his flesh/fleshly desires. (See Romans 1:28; 1 Cor 9:27; 2 Cor 13:5-7; 2 Tim 3:8; Titus 1:16; Heb 6;8) It comes from the idea of coins
For example: Ro 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate (adokimos) mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Therefore when we read Paul saying that failure to keep his body in line could cause him to be disqualified, he is talking about the most serious of consequences.
So this morning I want to talk about buffeting your body, and we are going to talk about fasting. Which is just one of the ways we can buffet our bodies. When I get done you are going to be excited and motivated to go on a fast, can you believe that! (Ha ha) I know that as soon as I mentioned I am going to talk about fasting there is part of you that responded and said, "I don't want to hear this." But, by the time I get done with this message you are going to be excited about the spiritual discipline of fasting.
The English dictionary defines buffet two different ways, and it is very interesting how in our language these two radically different definitions of a word that is spelled the same can symbolize our relationship to our physical bodies.
PPT 4 Buffet defined
The first definition for buffet (meal) is a meal at which guests help themselves from a number of dishes and often eat standing up. Usually when we think of Buffet we think of a large amount of wonderful dishes loaded with food. Some of you probably already started salivating in a Pavlovian response to the word.
The second definition for buffet (beat into subjection) is to strike against or push repeatedly; to struggle with blows of hand or fist.
I would say that invariably we are applying one of those two responses, with varying shades, to our physical being. Either we are pleasing it, or denying it, or somewhere in between, but we are always doing one or the other to our flesh, pleasing it or denying it. This morning we are going to talk about denying it. Paul was an apostle and yet, he himself said that if he didn't keep his body under control he could be adokimos, a castaway, reprobate, disqualified. Strong words.
Paul was speaking about physical desires is the most panoramic of ways. In other words he was talking about every physical desire the body could have, rest, food, sex, are just three examples. In many ways these desires are natural and were given by God. But they can be used to make our lives turn hellishly downward if we are not careful and keep these desires in their God ordained boundaries.
For example, we shouldn't seek ease in a time of war, or sleep when called to prayer. That is fighting with the bodies desires to rest.
We should only express our sexual needs within biblical guidelines. That is fighting the bodies desires for sexual gratification.
We need to understand gluttony is a sin. That is fighting the bodies desire to over indulge in the pleasure of eating.
Look at this passage in Proverbs that shows the consequence of failure in some of these areas:
PPT 5 text
Pr 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe [a man] with rags.
Today I am only going to talk about the discipline of fasting, because the same discipline that helps someone to control their eating can be applied to every physical desire the body has. I am going to break it down into several areas:
PPT 6 main points of message
1. The Problem with Fasting
2. The Purpose of Fasting
3. The Pitfalls/Dangers of Fasting
4. The Promises to Faster
1. The Problem with fasting is your body.
You were born an addict to food. For many of us eating is a very emotional and troublesome subject.
Some people eat as means of dealing with anxiety, depression, boredom, etc.
Some people are very dependent on food for reasons other than physical survival, it is a way of drowning painful emotional stresses by partaking of the physical pleasure eating brings.
Going on a fast is making an enemy out of your body, and your body will always say, "I'm not going down without a fight."
Your body will fight dirty, because it is amoral the only thing it cares about is getting what it wants. Your body has no morals it only has desires. It is your mind and spirit that have morals, and either they will rule over your body, or your body will rule over them. Your physical body will use your emotions, stress, frustration and any other ally it can find, to win the battle of wills. The problem with fasting is your body is going to fight you about it, plain and simple.
2. The Purpose of Fasting?
When should you fast and what is the purpose of fasting. That question is best answered by observing when people in the bible fasted, and if any of these circumstances are similar to what your facing, then you should consider fasting.
Esther fasted because her life and her nation were in danger.
David fasted to avert an evil decree, and because his child was very ill.
Jehoshaphat fasted when a multitude of problems came against him. (Moabites, Ammonites, Meunites)
Ezra fasted when making a major decision:
PPT 7 text
Ezra 8:21 I proclaimed a fast there beside the Ahava Canal, a fast to humble ourselves before our God and pray for wise guidance for our journey—all our people and possessions.
Nehemiah fasted when he heard some bad news.
PPT 8 text
Ne 1:4 Now it came about when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Samuel fasted for a break through on a long standing source of torment and bondage by the enemy. This is important, something God wants to emphasize in this message. If you have had a problem that has persisted for a very long time in your life, perhaps God is saying to you today that fasting is the key that will unlock your victory in that area.
PPT 8,9 text
1Sa 7:5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.
1Sa 7:6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured [it] out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
1Sa 7:13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
For many many years, even though Samuel was the prophet/leader in Israel they were continually being harassed and dominated by the Philistines. They over came that with fasting and prayer. You will note the text say the Philistines were subdued, they came no more into the coast of Israel. Something they had struggled with for many years was finally and totally dealt with.
Fasting in part broke a generations long bondage that was afflicting the whole nation. There were 2 other components that also contributed, prayer and repentance. The Jews were serving God half way and baal half way. You can't get full time benefits for part time work. Whatever else I may say about fasting and its incredible benefits, you must always keep in mind that it is not a panacea for all your ills, often times it must be done in concert with other things to be effective. As you will see later, is Isaiah 58 the Jews were complaining that fasting wasn't working and God laid out the case for the reasons that it wasn't.
3. The Pitfalls/Dangers of Fasting
There are several pitfalls and dangers of fasting.
The first I want to mention is having an extreme view or approach to fasting.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism and a very Godly man noted in his day that views on fasting vary wildly. "Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all Scripture and reason, and others have utterly disregarded it." JOHN WESLEY
Some exalt fasting so much it is almost as if they say it is better than what Christ did on Calvary, and others see it as of no benefit whatsoever, or something that belongs to the old testament. Both extreme positions are wrong.
For those who fast there are 4 great dangers. For those who don't the danger is they miss the promised results and benefits of fasting.
The first danger of fasting is that it becomes for show and doesn't represent a true humbling of the soul.
PPT 10 text
Mt 6:16 "And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites [do,] for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
Mt 6:17 "But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face
Mt 6:18 so that you may not be seen fasting by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
Listen to this quote also from Wesley commenting on this passage:
PPT 11 Wesley quote
"It has been the endeavour of Satan, from the beginning of the world, to put asunder what God hath joined together; to separate inward from outward religion; to set one of these at variance with the other. And herein he has met with no small success among those who were "ignorant of his devices."
Next danger is fasting, is fasting for the wrong reasons, and or fasting while doing things that will annul a fast.
PPT 12-14 text
Isa 58:3a 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?'
Is the complaint of some Jews, God responds:
Isa 58:3b"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.
Isa 58:4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.
Isa 58:5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?
And in the next verse God explains what fasting should really be about, and seek to accomplish:
Isa 58:6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? (NIV)
The Next Pitfall/danger of Fasting is fasting with a stupid religious spirit.
Mr 2:19 And Jesus said to them, "While the bridegroom is with them, the attendants of the bridegroom do not fast, do they? So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
Mr 2:20 "But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.
Though I am a strong advocate of fasting I am not legalistic about it. For example I don't think I ruin a fast if I eat something. I can take a day off in the middle of fast. A stupid legalist religious work is very strict about how you fast. Another form of a stupid religious spirit gets legalistic about fasting and does it in a sour happiness destroying mood. You shouldn't fast at a wedding reception, or a birthday party. Don't rain on someone else's parade and claim you are being spiritual. Fasting is not about being as dour as you can. Jesus said to anoint your head and wash your face. Anointing the head with oil is a sign of celebration and blessing in biblical times. There is nothing spiritual about throwing water on someone else's time of celebration with a supposed spiritual superiority that you won't partake because you are fasting. In times of dire personal need it is Ok to fast when others are celebrating but you still should do it in a way that doesn't take away from their happiness.
Final danger/pitfall of fasting is not in the bible at all. It is a man made pitfall that is used by the devil to discourage and prevent people from fasting.
Please see your doctor before going on a fast.
The idea that thought conveys is that fasting is inherently unsafe. I reject that. Now it may be for some people, diabetics for example. But my point is simply this, that statement is used by the flesh to avoid being buffeted. Jesus never warned of the physical dangers of fasting. Are there some?, yes. But all to often it is used as an escape clause to justify not fasting.
PPT 15 Muslims kneeling in prayer
Pic thousands of Muslims kneeling, not one standing.
Do you see anyone opting out of the kneel before Allah routine Muslims do? Don't any of them have knee problems, bad backs, hmmm?
Here is what would it would look like in a typical church if we wanted people to bow like that before God.
PPT 16 Pic young man slouching in pew texting in church.
Why is it that Muslims can bow and prostrate themselves for their God and some Christians show up late for church or don't bother to stand for worship? Some people can't even give God their undivided attention for a couple hours on Sunday. Texting during service, really?!!! How will He respond to that type of person when they want His undivided attention?
Fasting puts a demand on your flesh. It can have medical consequences. The all important question is do you really have a medical situation, or are you just giving your body a hall pass to get out of a difficult class?
I can't fast. Oh yes you can. The real question is are you going to offer to God something that costs you something or only give that which is convenient. Fasting is an offering to God. I will not give the Lord that which costs me nothing. As a young Catholic body I remember thinking I will not give up beets which I hate for lent, that is not an offering that is God doing me a favor. I want to give God something that has real meaning to me.
If you think it is unsafe to fast - don't. But before you throw in the towel I want to remind you of what Paul said: I buffet my body. I strike against and push it repeatedly; I struggle with blows of hand or fist. I tell it what to do, it doesn't tell me. God can provide even brittle diabetics an avenue to fast. It doesn't have to be food.
Lastly I want to mention the Daniel fast. A lot of Christians opt for this kind of fast. But when you see their salads, they are loaded with chicken, and bacon and 3 X's the normal amount of salad dressing. Are they really fasting?
4. The Promises to Fasters
PPT 17 text
Mt 6:16 "And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites [do,] for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
Mt 6:17 "But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face
Mt 6:18 so that you may not be seen fasting by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
Fasting properly is guaranteed a return on your investment by God!
Jesus said very clearly God will repay people who fast. I like the way the KJV puts it, "He will reward thee openly." Reward that is a good word, and when the One doing the rewarding is God, it becomes a great word!
And what did Jesus say next? In the context of being rewarded for fasting what was the very next thing Jesus said:
PPT 18 text
Mt 6:19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
Mt 6:20 "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
Could it be that this is more than a subtle hint that proper fasting lays up TREASURES in heaven? Could He be implying that true fasting makes deposits in your spiritual checking account?
In verse 16 he talks about receiving your reward in full, and in v. 19 he speaks of treasures laid up. In context is Jesus telling us the true fasting adds to your checking account? I think so. Now no man can add more than Jesus already put in, if you are saved. But the way I understand it is this, fasting is not a work that earns a required payment. Instead it is one the means that God said would be the channel through which He would funnel blessings to us. It works not because we do it, but because God said it would. The difference is subtle, some of you will understand others won't. One makes fasting a work, the other makes fasting a means. A work is bad a means is good.
Let me show you some thing from Luke 4
PPT 19 text
Lu 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
Lu 4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
In verse 1 Jesus is full of the Holy Ghost, but in verse 14 there is a significant difference about His relationship with the Holy Spirit. He returned in the power of the Spirit. In verse 1 God was with Him, but in verse 14 God began to work mightily through Him, that is what is meant by He returned in the power of the Spirit. In between was 40 days of fasting. I don't think it incorrect to notice that He went from filled to flowing because of a season of fasting.
Perhaps this gives a new insight into the passage that speaks about stirring up the gift that is in you? Could it be that fasting can a means through which God releases things that He has deposited into your life? That fasting opens the storehouses of God's provision through your life? I think so.
If you don't know this already, let me say to you that it is better to be flowing than filled. Filled is the Spirit in you; flowing is Him working through you to accomplish the works of God. Those of you who want God to work through your life pay attention to this fact.
So let me list a few benefits of fasting with the hope this will motivate you. I won't list them all but just a couple to wet your appetite. I am going to go through these fast.
These are all from Isaiah 58
PPT 20 text
Isa 58:8 "Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
1. Your light will break forth like the dawn. (Darkness will leave, light will come)
2. Your healing will quickly appear
3. Your righteousness will go before you. One commentator says, "Your life after the fast will have more influence." Your influence will grow after you fast. Your circles will widen after you fast. God will cause you to move into areas that you would not have moved into if you had not fasted. Going back to the passage in Luke 4:14 that is exactly what happened to Jesus. The fame of Him went out into all the region. He gained an opportunity to speak into more peoples lives, because of increased fame.
PPT 21 text
Isa 58:9 "Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am...
3. God will answer when you call v.9
PPT 22 text
Isa 58:11 "And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.
4. The Lord will guide you always
5. He will satisfy your desire in scorched places v.11
6. He will give strength to your bones
7. You will watered like a garden with a spring that never fails
PPT 23 text
Isa 58:12 "And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.
8. You will rebuild ancient ruins
9. You will raise up age old foundations. (Think America, perhaps our 2 Chron 7:14 prayers need to be married to fasting to be efficacious?)
10. You will be called the repairer of the breach.
Repairer of the breach.
A breach is a hole in your wall of protection.
A breach is an access point for the enemy.
Last week in our church was a time of healing and repairing of breaches.
When your relationships are restored access points of bitterness anger and even hatred are repaired in your spiritual walls. When your breaches are closed up then you can focus on other things than the continual attacks of the enemy. You can build infrastructure, you can move on to your next assignment instead of always dealing with the latest attack that comes in through a breach.
I believe fasting can be a means to restore breaches in marriages. It can be a means to heal relationships between people.
I believe fasting can be a means to remove problems that have been around for years. (Rebuild ancient ruins) The list of benefits is amazing, no wonder your flesh, in concert with hell has all but removed the discipline of fasting from the modern church.
In Isaiah 58 it says these benefits are for those who feed the hungry, but it is in the context of fasting - I have less and I use what I would have had to give to others. It is still fasting.
Close: Could fasting be the key to a breakthrough you are needing?
Fasting works not because we earn something, but because it is the means by which God said He would accomplish some things.
God help me to buffet my body and to not buffet it.
(Note to pastor's I went on a fast from Jan 2nd - Jan 31st of this year. Liquids only, No juice. I was able to give testimony of several great breakthroughs for our church. We struggled for almost a year to get a mortgage on our building even though we were in excellent financial shape. We had been under a land contract. We closed within 3 weeks of the end of the fast, and our mortgage company covered the cost of our survey. They originally told us we didn't need one then changed their minds. Additionally they got one done within 3 days, which they told me nothing like that had ever happened before. Also there was a former pastor that had left a lot of heartache with his departure, I had him in to speak, he did a wonderful job and a lot of healing of breaches for him and for the church took place.)
