Last Sunday evening in our evening service, we discussed in detail the importance of having a quiet time with the Lord. We talked about how often we should do it, how to plan for it, and to actually put together your own private quiet time. With that knowledge under our belt, let’s look at Matthew 6:5-8; 16-18. READ.
Today, I want to share with you the SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES OF FASTING AND PRAYER.
The problem with that title is the difficult word, DISCIPLINE! For a Baptist, the problem word is probably FASTING. (Going without eating) Yes, fasting and
prayer are what we call spiritual disciplines that by their very nature require hard work and training. But please don’t misunderstand me - both fasting and prayer as spiritual disciplines are not energized nor accomplished by our will power or determination but rather prompted and powered by the Spirit of God.
When we talked about having a quiet time last Sunday, we were introduced to it as a discipline. That means for it to be a discipline, it is not something that comes naturally, but something we must learn to do and work at accomplishing it.
When I think of discipline and training, I think of the OLYMPICS and all that discipline and training that is undertaken by each Olympic athlete. So, think of it this way—the Holy Spirit is the Trainer and Coach who is able to make each one of us an Olympian when it comes to fasting and prayer.
Let’s first of all look at FASTING and see why it is such a vital spiritual discipline. By the way, fasting is mentioned more in Scripture than baptism. Fasting is simply the denial of food for a specific period of time. I think that fasting can be easily misunderstood. When we talk about fasting, most everyone thinks we have to go days without eating. Do you realize that most all of us fast every day? When you eat your last meal of the day, you usually fast all night. That is why the next morning your meal is called Breakfast. You are breaking your fast. So you can get up in the morning and before you eat, have your quiet time. You are, at that point, fasting. So, don’t let that word discourage you.
Now the words discipline and denial are not exactly key words in our over-indulgent culture, so why in the passage does Jesus encourage his disciples to fast? Let me give you three reasons this morning why our Lord encourages us to fast:
First, realize that as a spiritual discipline, fasting is not an end in itself but rather a means to a greater end as it precedes either the spiritual discipline of studying the Word of God or the spiritual discipline that we will talk about in a few minutes - that of prayer. Fasting is not just an exercise in self-denial. So, don’t think of fasting as going without food. Rather, think of fasting as a re-investment of time and energy into time spent with the Lord in either prayer or Bible Study. The bottom line is that fasting ENRICHES our time spent with the Lord.
Second, there is also a sense in which food dulls our spirits and the absence of food quickens our spirits. You know how after a large meal you feel kind of content comfortable and perhaps even lethargic? That’s why we have church BEFORE lunch. It’s hard enough keeping some of you awake as it is. Think of that as kind of being DRUNK WITH FOOD.
Fasting then is a way in which our spirits are super-charged for the very presence of God. It’s like prayer and our time in the Word being similar to driving a car and then when you add fasting, it is like adding a super-charger under the hood and you experience a whole new driving excitement. Fasting serves like the practice before the big “prayer game.”
Third, Fasting clears away the distactions and allows us to clearly hear the voice of the Lord for DIRECTION in our lives through the Word of God or Prayer. So, try fasting before your quiet time. See the difference it makes.
Now let’s talk about the spiritual discipline of PRAYER! In the passage this morning, Jesus says that prayer is SINCERE because it is to be offered to God. You say, “that’s obvious, isn’t it?” Then why at times are we so concerned about what others think of our prayer - what words we use? -how it sounds? Jesus isn’t saying here that we should not pray in our times of public worship - I believe that He is saying that the effectiveness of our public prayer is determined by the SECRET prayer in the closet.
We all have a sorts of routine prayer in our system and once we get rid of that, real praying begins. So, the spiritual discipline of prayer is sincere, secret and also SPIRIT PROMPTED! That’s what Paul is talking about in Romans 8:26-27. READ “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
We live in a world of instant everything and so we often are looking for instant prayer - you know. Big Blessings for Small Installments. We even feel like we need to have an instant start when we begin to pray.
Here’s some advice: We should never utter a single syllable in prayer until we are conscious that we are in the presence of God and that sometimes requires a “holy pause.” Sometimes that holy pause requires that we clear the desktop of our lives - we get rid of the clutter and trash that seems to accumulate through the week.
I was tempted today to put a big trash can in the middle of the foyer with a big sign on it to remind us all that it was time to make a deposit of anything that would interfere with the holy pause that was needed for proper worship and prayer in coming into the presence of God.
Spirit-prompted prayer is where there is no rush to leave the presence of the Lord and where we do not do all the talking but give Him time to speak with us.
One time a pastor, to make a point, brought a prop to his sermon. He had hack-sawed off the ear piece of a telephone as a reminder of the kind of phone we sometimes use to call heaven - you know the kind where it is impossible to listen and we do all the talking.
Spirit-prompted prayer doesn’t ask for that which is just an Extension of our own ABILITIES or what we can accomplish. We don’t ask for PEANUTS when we serve a God who majors in the impossible.
So, how can the Spirit of God prompt us to pray? Do ever wonder what to pray for? Let me get practical this morning and give you some EXAMPLES of how you can cooperate with the Spirit of God in prayer being prompted in your life. The Holy Spirit authored Scripture - Right? Then why not PRAY THE SCRIPTURE - you can pray a verse or even a whole chapter - you might find this valuable if like me there are times when your mind might tend to wander as you are praying.
Turn to James 1:19-20 and let me pray this verse for me this morning - you can
listen in. (Pray James 1:19) Heavenly Father, You tell me in your Word that I should be quick to hear and slow to speak as well as slow to anger. Your Word reminds me that the anger of a man doesn’t even get close to the righteousness of God. Father, as I take this time to get alone with You, will You help me to quiet my soul and stop talking so much and allow you to speak to my heart. Take away any ill feelings I may have toward anyone or anything that I might be closer to you in righteousness.
So, you can pray the Scripture to enhance your quiet time and your prayer life.
Have you ever thought about praying the alphabet? You let the Spirit prompt you with each letter of the alphabet. In a pray like that you would begin to pray and let the Spirit of God prompt you of who to pray for. For instance, Lord, I lift up in prayer my friend Anna. And then allow the Spirit to lead you as to what to pray for. Then pray for Bill, and Caleb, and Don, and Earl, as so on. Please note that the Holy Spirit will prompt you to pray for family, friends, missionaries, people who need to know the Lord and your pastors.
The Spirit will also prompt prayers of PRAISE - Again, let’s use the alphabet.
God you are Awesome, Beautiful, Caring, for your Direction, Eternal Life, Faithfulness, Grace, Your Humbleness, your Incarnation, your justification, your knowledge, and so on.
Prayer that is Spirit-prompted is also prayer that comes from a HEART THAT IS BROKEN by God. The Spirit makes sure that what breaks the heart of God also breaks our hearts. Sometimes that means that we come to tears when we pray - we weep - we cry out to God because He has implanted His heart in ours as we especially pray for those who need the Savior.
Do you see how easy prayer can be? Do you understand how important a personal quiet time is? Can you see how fasting plays a big part in that prayer time and quiet time?
Sometimes, I think we don’t take prayer seriously enough. Jesus tells us in our Scripture passage not to be a hypocrite and pray just so others will be impressed with out prayer, using big religious words and catchy phrases. He says, No, go off by yourself to pray in secret. Jesus tells us that the Lord knows what we pray in secret and that’s all that matters.
To simplify it, just pray your heart. Let the Spirit of God guide you as to what to pray for. That is the most meaningful prayer you can ever pray.
I want to close with something that I found that really gives us a clear picture of what prayer really is. It’s told by a pastor. He says:
One evening several years ago, we were sitting in the living room. We had just finished celebrating our son Kevin’s 30th birthday. He was sitting in this big stuffed chair holding grandson #3 – Nate, who is eight months old. Number two grandson - Caleb - age 3 - came over and crawled into his dad’s lap and finally number
One grandson - Josiah - age five crawled into Kevin’s lap as well. All three of my grandsons fit into that lap; they were all talking at once and seeking Dad’s attention
Kevin was not only giving his full attention to all three of his sons at once; He was also cuddling them, hugging them and miraculously responding verbally to each one of his sons. Each of the boys were simply enjoying being there in dad’s lap and dad was enjoying them all being there together.
It was dad’s time with the boys and I got a picture of what prayer really is. Prayer is simply crawling up into God’s lap and enjoying being there and enjoying the fact that God enjoys us being there.
So, take some time with God every day. Even if it’s only 4-5 minutes. Spend some time alone with God. Talk to Him. Share your previous day with Him. Share your plans for the day coming up. And the, more important that anything else, “Be still, and know that He is God.” Sit quietly and listen. Don’t say a word. Listen closely as God speaks to your heart.
Fasting and Prayer. Two important spiritual disciplines that will change your life if you will allow God to do so. Try it. You’ll like it.
