The Call: Fasting: Sermon Notes

Called to Fasting

Prayer: Father, we need you today.  You created this world for us to find You in it.  For us to bring about Love and Joy and Hope and to Walk with you all the days of our lives.  But, we need help.  We can’t do it on our own.  Our flesh, satan, and the cares of the world pull us away and distract us from  you.  We ask today that you would share with us by your Grace the tool of Fasting and Prayer, that you would call each of us into a deeper relationship with you through this practice, that you would start dissolving our excuses right now in Jesus Name.  Amen.

So, we are going to discuss fasting today, a spiritual discipline that should not be exalted as some magical cure but also should not be neglected or dismissed… so we need to find a balance together for the use and not misuse of this tool that the Lord gives us to deepen our relationship with Him.

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word used for fasting is tsom, which means “to abstain from food.  In the New Testament, the Greek word we translate as fast is nestreuo, which means “to abstain from eating.”

Throughout the Bible, when we read about fasting it is simply going without food in order to seek God.  As you might expect, in America, we prefer feasting over fasting.  

Christians today have expanded fasting to be going without anything, your phone, social media, coffee, etc… But, the original meaning of fasting was about going without food, I think, because it’s hard, it’s not going without some extra thing, it’s food, we NEED food to stay alive.  It nourishes us and sustains us and gives us energy and to go without it is to go without a necessary thing.  When you stop looking at your phone for a day that’s not the same thing, there is still a large benefit from going without these other things for a time, especially if you are humbly seeking God during that time, but I just want to be clear that it isn’t really biblical fasting.  Biblical fasting is about abstaining from food.  

A Pew Research Study showed that this year only 16% of Christians in churches like ours will fast at least once in the year.  And, this statistic is probably alot lower when  you consider that Christians now call observing Lent fasting or taking a break from Social Media fasting.  So, the real percentage is probably much lower.  Now, don’t get a big head over it if you regularly fast knowing that less than 16% of the people sitting around you do, like you’re hot stuff.  However, did you know, nearly all of the great spiritual leaders throughout church history, as well as most ordinary believers noted for their devotion to God, have practiced fasting.  So, why would less than 16% of us fast?  Because it’s not easy and there are many excuses and half-measures and things we tell ourselves that stop us.  

Right now, in this room, before we’ve looked at the Scriptures, before we have studied what Jesus has to say about fasting, you have things that you are telling yourself:

-It’s too hard.

-It will make you miserable.

-It has been abused in the past.

-It’s legalistic.

-It might harm my body.

-I just can’t for whatever reason.

-and so on.

Well, just stop giving yourself excuses before we even look at what the Word of God says about it.  

As I researched this and want to strike a proper balance, you’re supposed to say this is not health advice and if you have any concerns then talk to your doctor before beginning… but I think the problem with that is when you say it, it gives you an excuse, because you’re not gonna talk to your doctor.  If you did talk to your doctor about it that would be a great witnessing opportunity to your doctor.  

Do you have any questions? Yes, I would like to start practicing fasting as a spiritual discipline in order to hear what the Lord is telling me in my prayer life.  I just feel like I’m getting in the way and not hearing Him so I’d like to go without food and just have water for a day in order to dedicate that time to prayer instead of to cooking and eating and cleaning.  What do you think doc?

I believe that if you desire a deeper, more intimate and fruitful relationship with God, or if you need His help in a time of real need, or if  you just aren’t hearing his voice in this fast-paced world, fasting is an important discipline to practice.  But, don’t give yourself an excuse like I would have to talk to my doctor… just go talk to your doctor then. 
Don’t take my word for it, let’s look at what the Bible says about it.  Let’s look at the effect it’s had on countless Christians throughout the centuries of the Church.

Biblical Examples

Every Israelite was called to fast on the annual Day of Atonement Leviticus 23:27-28 as a sign of humbling and repentance before God as they sought His forgiveness of their sins.

Moses fasted from food and water back to back twice, lasting a total of eighty days while meeting with God on Mt. Sinai and receiving divine revelation Exodus 34:28; Deut 9:9-10:10

Daniel observed a partial fast for 21 days[]the Daniel Fast], at the end of which God gave him a revelation into important aspects of Israel’s future Daniel 10

Hannah was barren, heartbroken, and desperate for a child.  She prayed and fasted and He answered her with the birth of Samuel, one of the great leaders of the OT 1 Samuel 1:1-20

Ezra was commissioned by the king to help restore Israel and the proper worship of God.  He proclaimed a fast among the Jews in exile to ask God for safety and protection on their dangerous journey.  God answered Ezra 8:21-23

Nehemiah, deeply grieved about the condition of Jerusalem, fasted and prayed and was commissioned by the King to return to Jerusalem an rebuild the city’s walls Nehemiah 1:1-2:8

Esther called the Jews to fast to prevent their impending destruction Esther 4:16

King Jehoshaphat saw that a vast army was marching toward Judah so he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah 2 Chronicles 20:3.  God answered with extraordinary deliverance.

God even answered the fasting, prayer, and repentance of Ninevah, the cruelest, most vicious and bloodthirsty nation of the ancient Near East Jonah 3

In the New Testament:

We see prophetic words given to the prophetess Anna, who did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day Luke 2:37

Jesus himself fasted for forty days in preparation for His public ministry and for the ability to overcome the devil’s temptations Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus expected that His followers would fast Matthew 9:14-15 and said that if they did so with proper motives, God would see and reward them Matthew 6:16-18

Saul of Tarsus, after being blinded on the road to Damascus, fasted for three days.  Then Jesus sent Ananias to pray for him to recover his sight, be baptized, and filled with the Holy Spirit Acts 9:1-19

When Paul and Barnabus were set apart and sent out it was done with worshipping and fasting Acts 13:1-2 and establishing and appointing elders in every church was done with prayer and fasting Acts 14:23

Fasting in Church History

In the early church everyone fasted Wednesdays and Fridays until 3pm.

4th century with the rise of Constantine and the end of persecution also came a relaxing of fasting.  And, fasting started to be seen, due to it’s improper use as works-based.  However, it was still seen by many as an important spiritual practice when done correctly.

6th century: Fasting was made obligatory by the Second Council of Orleans; during the Middle Ages, many more fast days were added and this worsened the problems of legalism and works based righteousness for many people.

Protestant Reformers later rejected the obligatory Catholic fasting days but held onto fasting as an important practice.  Martin Luther and John Calvin praised the use of fasting, Jonathan Edwars and John Wesley strongly commended fasting to everyone.

In England in 1756, Wesley saw and praised God’s remarkable response to the king’s proclamation for a national fast that averted an imminent invasion by the French.

In the twentieth century, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and C.S. Lewis are among many leaders who practiced fasting and encouraged others to do so. In 1940 Lewis and all of England saw God’s incredible answer to the national day of prayer proclaimed by King George VI, which was manifested in the miraculous deliverance of 338,000 British troops at the Battle of Dunkirk. No doubt many of the faithful were also fasting in that desperate situation.

In all periods of history, there have been those who lacked money for alms and have fasted a day or two or three, using the food or money saved to feed those more impoverished than themselves.

Looking back over church history from his day, Princeton theologian Charles Hodge summed up the history of fasting this way: “All eminently pious persons have been more or less addicted to [i.e., often practiced] to this mode of spiritual culture.”

Why Fast Today?

In Matthew 9: As we saw earlier, Jesus clearly assumed that his followers would fast, though he gave no details about how long or how frequently. This means that it is up to the individual to discern the type, timing and length of their fast.

The reasons that we might fast today are similar to those of believers in past generations: to subdue the flesh and humble ourselves before God and draw near to Him (Ps. 69:10; 35:13); as part of a life of worship and devotion to God (Luke 2:37); to express sorrow and repentance for our sins and ask God’s help in breaking their power in our life; for power to resist demonic temptation and attack (Matt. 4:1–11); for the Holy Spirit’s vision, guidance, and empowerment in ministry (Acts 13:1–4); to seek deliverance for the oppressed (Isa. 58:6); for the revival of God’s church (2 Chron. 7:14); for protection of the nation in times of great difficulty or danger (2 Chron. 20:1–4); for national repentance and mercy when God’s judgment of sin is at hand (Jonah 3).

It is important to note that church leaders through the centuries up to the present (both Catholic and Protestant) have testified to the great value of fasting in subduing the flesh and helping one become more open and sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s operations, guidance, and strengthening.

Dangers to Avoid in Fasting

Common spiritual dangers in fasting include developing spiritual pride, which makes us think we are better or more spiritual than those who don’t fast; formalism, which turns fasting into a routine devoid of its true meaning and purpose; and hypocrisy, in which we try to impress others with our fasting – a perennial problem that Jesus especially warned about (Matt. 6:16–18).

Legalism is another common danger in fasting and involves regarding it as a means of earning a better standing before God (and thus better access to His blessings). This happens when we come to see fasting as something we do for God that obligates Him to do something for us. It is a quid pro quo mentality in which our fasting funds a heavenly debit card that we can draw upon in some transactional way.

John Wesley cautions:

Let us beware of fancying that we merit anything of God by our fasting. We cannot be too often warned of this; inasmuch as a desire to establish our own righteousness, to procure salvation of debt and not of grace is too deeply rooted in all our hearts. Fasting is only a way which God hath ordained, wherein we wait for His unmerited mercy; and wherein without any desert of ours, He hath promised freely to give us His blessing.

The Proper Approach to Fasting

Wesley gave some helpful guidance about the right way to fast:

First, let it be done unto the Lord, with our eye singly fixed on Him. Let our intention herein be this, and this alone, to glorify our Father who is in heaven; to express our sorrow and shame for our manifold transgressions of His holy law; to wait for an increase of purifying grace, drawing our affections to things above; to add seriousness and earnestness to our prayers; to avert the wrath of God; and to obtain all the great and precious promises He has made to us in Jesus Christ.

Practical Suggestions for Fasting

If you are a normal healthy person, you should have no significant physical problems in a one-day, sun-up-to-sun-down fast with water. However, if you have diabetes, blood pressure issues, heart trouble, or other significant physical problems (or suspect you may) or you are pregnant or take any kind of medication, ask your doctor whether you should fast. Also, all persons should check with their doctors about longer fasts (with water) or any fasts without water.

Ask God to guide you about when to fast and for how long, and make God the focus of your fasting, seeking Him through prayer, Scripture reading, and meditation. Although God recognizes your fast from the very beginning, it may take eighteen to twenty-four hours from your last meal before your bodily functions slow down to the point where you notice greater mental acuity and spiritual sensitivity. At this stage, you may find yourself more focused and bold in your praying. If so, be alert to the Holy Spirit’s promptings in how to pray and for any conviction of sin, personal encouragement, special guidance, and direction. Also, you may find blessing by taking some time to sit quietly before the Lord and just “gaze upon the beauty of the Lord” (Ps. 27:4) by pondering His grace and love, power and wisdom, indeed, any of His perfections.

_____________________________________________________________________

Prayer: Jehovah Jireh, our provider.  Your Grace is sufficient for me.  Show us how to use this tool of fasting and not abuse your grace in this so that we would deepen our walk with you.  Continue to shoot down our excuses and draw us in Lord.  In Jesus precious name.  Amen.

If you have never fasted or haven’t fasted for a long time, consider doing some short fasts to send your body a signal, that is, to put it on notice. Your body is accustomed to being pampered and fed tasty cuisine on a regular basis; it may grumble if its delicacies are suddenly withdrawn without notice. In some cases it can whine and complain with minor, temporary physical symptoms like hunger sensations, headaches, constant thoughts of food, feeling cold, etc. (Those who regularly use caffeine or nicotine may have withdrawal symptoms, but they will pass.) While these complaints amount to nothing and are short-lived, they may be distracting. The message you want to send your body is, I am in charge, and you will do what I say. This is important, because the body is meant to be our servant not our master. We should eat to live, not live to eat.

This points out one of the basic spiritual challenges for anyone who fasts: to exercise one’s reason and will to take authority over one’s body and its desires in order to walk by the Spirit and not the flesh.

A good way to ease into fasting is to do several one-day partial fasts. For example, you could limit your eating to one piece of toast for breakfast, lunch, and supper, or you might drink only a small glass of juice at mealtimes. Always drink plenty of water when fasting. If possible, use the time you save at mealtimes to seek God in prayer or to read or meditate on Scripture.

When you are ready to move on to a one-day fast with no food but plenty of water, a good way to start is by skipping supper. If your last meal was lunch, you would wake up the next day with your body already well into your fast. That gives you all day to seek God in prayer and the word.

Resume eating at suppertime. It will help your digestive system if you eat relatively smaller quantities of easily digested food for a couple of meals. It is important to exercise self-control and not gorge on food, which might be a temptation for some. Become comfortable with doing one-day fasts before attempting multiple-day fasts.

For fasts longer than one day, you need to pay more attention to what you eat a couple of days before and for some days afterward (depending on how long you fast). This is particularly important when breaking the fast, because your digestive system has gone on “pause” and has reduced or stopped the production of various enzymes needed to process food. If you overeat or consume the wrong foods, you will pay the price.

For a three-day fast in which you drink water but eat no food, a couple of days before you begin, eat a soft diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and other nutrients that will not clog your digestive system and are easy to expel; avoid any significant amounts of meat and cheese. Drink plenty of water during the fast. Break the fast gradually, starting with fruit or vegetable juice, then small amounts of easily digested foods, such as raw fruit (not citrus), applesauce, or yogurt. Avoid meat, greasy foods, and other foods that are hard to digest. And don’t overeat; discipline yourself to gradually resume normal eating.

In this article you have read enough to get started. However, if you want to do fasts with water longer than three days, or any fast with no food and no water, you would do well to read a good book or two on fasting and also consult a physician. If I could recommend only one book, it would be God’s Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis, which is a helpful guide to the biblical, spiritual, and practical dimensions of fasting. Also helpful is A Hunger for God by John Piper, which provides an interesting, informative, and inspirational account of fasting in the Bible and throughout history. The two complement each other very well.

If you long for a deeper relationship with God or if you face a crisis or situation of special need, adding fasting to your prayer is a way God has given us to seek Him more earnestly. If you make fasting a regular part of relationship with God, you will never regret it. For He has said, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13).