Fasting and the Modern Day Christian
Introduction
Matthew 6: 16 – 18 - "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." (KJV)
Someone Else
Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, Someone Else.
Someone's passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person's share of the work. Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone's list, "Let Someone Else do it." Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results; "Someone Else can work with that group."
It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most liberal givers in our church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference.
Someone Else was a wonderful person; sometimes appearing superhuman. Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do.
Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did?
When you are asked to help this year, remember -- we can't depend on Someone Else anymore.
Church Announcement
Announcement in the church bulletin for a National PRAYER & FASTING conference: "The cost for attending the Fasting and Prayer conference includes meals."
I – The Mention of Fasting in the Bible
A) Fasting is Mandated Notable Times in the Bible
1 – Fasting is Required
Mar 2:18 KJV - And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
Mar 2:19 KJV - And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
Mar 2:20 KJV - But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
2 – Fasting is Rewarded
Mat 6:16 KJV - Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mat 6:17 KJV - But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
Mat 6:18 KJV - That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
B) Fasting is Mentioned Numerous Times in the Bible
Isa 58:6 KJV - Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Joe 1:14 KJV - Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,
“Our greatest victories are won on our knees and with empty stomachs.” Julio C. Ruibal
1 – Hannah fasted (I Samuel 1: 7 – 8)
1Sa 1:7 KJV - And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
1Sa 1:8 KJV - Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
2 – David fasted (II Samuel 12: 15, 16, 21)
2Sa 12:15 KJV - And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
2Sa 12:16 KJV - David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
2Sa 12:21 KJV - Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
3 – Moses fasted (Deut. 9: 9, 18)
Deu 9:9 KJV - When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water:
Deu 9:18 KJV - And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
4 – Jesus fasted (Matthew 4: 1 – 2)
Mat 4:1 KJV - Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Mat 4:2 KJV - And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
5 – Paul fasted (Acts 9: 9, 11)
Act 9:9 KJV - And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
Act 9:11 KJV - And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
The Fasting Pastor
A new member of a church is talking to the Pastor: "You have such a small congregation. How can they afford to pay you?"
The Pastor said, "Well, I only earn $60 a week."
The man is dumbfounded. "Pastor, how in the world can you get by on an amount that small?"
"Well, I tell ya. If I wasn't such a religious man and didn't fast three days a week, I'd probably starve to death."
9 Fold Benefits of Fasting
Isa 58:6 KJV - Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Isa 58:7 KJV - Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Isa 58:8 KJV - Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
God says in Isaiah 58: 6-8 that he has chosen fasts that (1) loosen the chains of injustice, (2) untie cords of the yoke, (3) set the oppressed free, (4) break every yoke, (5) give bread to the hungry and provide the poor with clothes and housing, (6) allow the people’s light to break forth like the morning, (7) cause their health to quickly appear, (8) cause their righteousness to go before them and (9) cause the glory of the Lord to be their rear guard.
Meeting of the “Bored”
There will be a meeting of the Board immediately after the service," announced the pastor.
After the close of the service, the Church Board gathered at the back of the auditorium for the announced meeting. But there was a stranger in their midst -- a visitor who had never attended their church before.
"My friend," said the pastor, "Didn't you understand that this is a meeting of the Board?"
"Yes," said the visitor, "and after today's sermon, I suppose I'm just about as bored as anyone else who came to this meeting."
II – The Meaning of Fasting in the Bible
“When the stomach is full, it is easy to talk of fasting.”
St. Jerome
A) Fasting is a Mindful Discipline
1 – Disciplined Choice
2 – Disciplined Course
B) Fasting is a Physical Deprivation
1 – Deprivation of Food
2 – Deprivation of Fulfillment
C) Fasting is a Spiritual Desire
1 – Clearness and Clarity
2 – Openness and Obedience
Head Hog
Fred called a church and asked to speak to the Head Hog of the Trough.
Secretary: How rude! I'll have you know we would NEVER EVER refer to our pastor as a hog.
Fred: Okay, then just take a message. Tell him I've come into a bit of money so I was calling to give your church $10,000.
Secretary: Well hold the phone, dearie! I think I see that big fat pig coming down the hall right now.
III – The Model of Fasting in the Bible
A) Jesus Explained Fasting
1 – His Wilderness Example (Luke 4: 1 – 2)
2 – His Welcomed Exhortation (Mt. 6: 16/17, 9: 14/18, 17: 20/21)
B) Early Church Exampled Fasting
1 – The Church at Antioch (Acts 13: 1 – 3)
2 – The Churches of Galatia (Acts 14: 21 – 23)
C) Paul Experienced Fasting
1 – Paul Fasted Immediately (Acts 9: 9)
2 – Paul Fasted Immensely (II Cor. 11: 23 – 28)
To better illustrate and reveal the significance of these nine reasons for fasting, I have chosen nine biblical characters whose life personifies the literal or figurative theme of each of the nine aspects highlighted in Isaiah 58:6-8. Each fast has a different name and accomplishes a different purpose.
Purpose of Fast Person Passage
1. Intimacy with God Jesus Luke 4:1-13
2. Burdens Nehemiah Nehemiah 1:1-11
3. Revival Joel Joel 2:12-25
4. Deliverance Elijah 1 Kings 19:3-18
5. Needs Ezra Ezra 8:21-23
6. Guidance Paul Acts 9:9 -19
7. Health Daniel Daniel 1:8-17
8. Ministry Church Acts 13:1-5
9. Protection Esther Esther 4:8-16
These nine fasts are not the only kind of fasts and they are not totally separate from each other. Also, there is more than one type of fast for a particular need. These are just suggestions to help you on your way.
IV – The Methods of Fasting in the Bible
A) Normal - abstaining from food – no food water only.
Example: Jesus “ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them was hungry” (Luke 4:2).
B) Absolute - abstaining from food and water; normally no more than 3 days.
Examples: For three days Paul was blind, and did not eat or drink anything” (Acts 9:9), Moses (Deut. 9:9), Israel (Ezra 10:6), Israel (Esther 4:16).
C) Partial - restricting diet of certain foods or a meal a day.
Examples: Daniel “so the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead” (Daniel 1:16), (Daniel 10:3).
D) Regular - fast days that commemorate an event or weekly fasts on a regular day.
Examples: Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:27; Ps. 35:13; Is. 58:5), a fast day (Jer. 36:6); four separate festivals (Zech 8:19); twice a week (Luke 18:11-12).
E) Public - fasts called to times of special need and emergency. Almost all regular fasts were public fasts, but all public fasts are not necessarily regular ones.
Examples: King Jehoshaphat when Judah was invaded (2 Chron. 20:1-4), Ezra returning the exiles (Ezra 8:21-23) Ninevah, as a result of Jonah’s preaching (Jonah 3:5,10).
F) Involuntary -no desire for food because of anxiety, sorrow, or mental distress (Dan. 6:18), and where a person finds themselves in a situation where no food is available (Matt. 15:32; 2 Cor. 6:5, 11:27)
G) Fasting times for Jews was from 6 p.m to 6 p.m.