(Audio and Text)
Title: Fasting (Part One)
Today we dive back into Matthew and we will be talking about a topic that most of us are familiar with, but few of us practice regularly: fasting. Before I go any further, let me say that I would count myself amongst this group. I am familiar with the concept of fasting, and there was a time, many years ago, when it was a regular part of my routine. But time and situation has changed, and now, I am ashamed to admit that fasting is grossly absent from my spiritual disciplines. So, if you think, “Fasting…uh oh..this may get a little uncomfortable for me.” Let me just say this: Try writing a sermon about it!
In all seriousness, it would be my honor to walk through this teaching with you this morning. I’d like to explain over the next two weeks what fasting is, and how it should be done biblically and spiritually, and how, in 2011 it can be done practically, even with our crazy schedules, in a way that can amplify and improve your prayer life.
(read/pray)
Why Don’t We Fast?
- Lazy/Undisciplined
- We really don’t understand what it is
- We really don’t understand the benefits
- We don’t know how or what to fast
- We love food (and the things of this world)
Others?
“When you fast”
How many of you just said, “Uh Oh.”?
Right off the bat, we are reminded of Jesus’ words earlier in 6:5 when he says, “When you pray” and the point is the same: for Jesus fasting was not so much commanded as much as it was assumed.
Where else do we see fasting in scripture?
Old Testament:
- Distress/Grief (2 Sam 3:35) Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”
- Spiritual Preparation (Exodus 34:28) Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant–the Ten Commandments.
- Repentance and Atonement (Judges 20:26) Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the LORD. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the LORD.
(Numbers 29:7) On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves and do no work
New Testament:
John the Baptist’s disciples routinely fasted according to Jewish custom, but Jesus and His disciples did not. However, Jesus said His disciples would mourn and fast after He had left them (Matthew 9:14-15; Mark 2:18-20; Luke 5:33-35). The early Christians practiced fasting at least occasionally (Acts 13:3, 14:23, 2 Corinthians 6:5, 11:27).
Despite the tradition of fasting in the Bible, and Jesus’ references to it, the New Testament teachings do not require fasting, and neither Jesus nor His disciples made fasting obligatory. However, a tradition of partial fasting on Wednesdays, and especially on Fridays dates back to the early days of Christianity.
So Our Initial Conclusions are Clear:
- Fasting, while not directly commanded, has always been an assumed practice of God’s children. (Pastors note: the goal of my sermon is not to condemn you if you don’t fast, but rather to encourage you, as a mature believer, to consider the practice of fasting and how it may help you in your walk with Christ.)
- Fasting most usually involves food, but can also involve work, or other personal sacrifices. (Ben’s two types of fasts in college: Food and Technology)
- There are various reasons for fasting, but all of them focus on giving up a physical need in order to have a spiritual need met.
Close/Prayer/QA