“Invitation to Fasting”
Sermon Title: Invitation to Fasting
Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18 ESV
Introduction
Fasting is not a spiritual gift but a spiritual discipline that invites us to offer our full dependence upon God. Fasting is not about depriving yourself of something as a means of pleasing God, nor is it a practice reserved for “super” Christians. A simple definition of fasting is: the practice of fasting is the practice of abstaining from food or something else for spiritual purposes. We are called to fast in order to intentionally feast on God. In other words, fasting is about God. The secular world has reduced fasting to a healthy lifestyle, but fasting is about relying and depending upon God. In Zechariah 7:5, God scrutinizes this situation: “Say to all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted?’ In today’s Bible passage, Jesus addresses our motivation behind fasting.
Motivation for Fasting
The sermon on the mount (Matt. 5-7) is Jesus’ teachings about life in the kingdom of heaven that is counter-cultural to society (and human intuition) with God as the center of everything we do and everything we are. Fasting is among the teaching, but he begins with a warning – don’t do it like this.
· Jesus says, “when you fast” which indicates that Jesus assumes we will fast. Fasting is to be a normal outworking of our spiritual life and discipline along with prayer and Scripture devotion. Jesus’ warning emphasizes the importance of having the right motivation for fasting.
· Jesus does not provide a specific methodology (how long, what or what is allowed, specific method), but he points out our motivation. “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others (v.16a)…” There are people who seek the attention and acknowledgement of others by demonstrating to others how “godly” they are (self-glorification). “… Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward (v.16b).” Jesus states a somber truth, that these people have received the reward they sought, the attention of others, but they forfeit the reward and blessing of God.
· “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face... (v.17)” Be normal. Present yourself to others normally as if you are not fasting. Your actions demonstrate your motivation.
Time to fast and Time to Feast
Jesus also spoke on when we should fast. In Matthew 9:14-15, people came to Jesus and asked why his disciples don’t fast. Jesus replied, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast (v.15).”
· Jesus shows us that there is a time to fast and a time to feast. There are times when we are to feast together in joy and celebration, and there are times when we need to come before God in repentance and mourning, a need for the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual discernment and dependence.
· Jesus teaches us to reject a life of self-deprivation and self-indulgence. There are many who misunderstand that being spiritual and godly is essentially about depriving ourselves of pleasures, comforts, luxuries, and appetites. On the other hand, many people and many Christians live in self-indulgence where every desire must be met. In both cases, there is no sense of discernment.
3 Big Picture Truths about Fasting
1. We are to fast so that we're not driven by our desires and appetite.
· Not every desire is bad, especially when we pursue our desires when we pay attention to what God says and how He moves through our desires. We are not to be driven by our desires. Our desires are to be filtered through God’s good and perfect will for us.
· The reality is that we often skip over the filtering process as we are easily overwhelmed and dominated by the temptation of our desires. Fasting frees us from the dominance of our desires. Fasting allows us to be led by God’s will. It’s about seeking God’s kingdom first. It is a recognition of our frailty and weakness and throw ourselves at the mercy of God.
2. Do not twist God's arm to do what we want, but to align our heart to do God's will.
· Many believe that fasting is some ritual or practice that persuades God to do something for us. That is NOT the way it works. You cannot twist God’s arm; you cannot manipulate God or your circumstances by fasting.
· In the Bible, when people experienced significant challenges, they fasted. However, their fasting was for the sake of expressing their utter dependence upon the living God. In the case of Hannah, the mother of Samuel, she was expressing her distress and utter dependance upon God. It was the same for Nehemiah who heard news of Jerusalem’s destruction, so he fasted to seek God’s wisdom and calling.
3. We fast to give expression to our individual or collective repentance.
· Fasting is frequently observed in a season of repentance. When we look in the bible, what we notice is that - fasting is most frequently mentioned when people find themselves in a season of repentance. For example, 1 Sam. 7:3-6 says: And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only. Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” In other words, we are asking for God’s forgiveness through fasting by embodying our sorrow and repentance before God.
Practical guidance for Fasting
· Traditionally, fasting is associated with refraining from the consumption of food and drinks, aside from drinking water, for a set period of time. Every time you feel hungry, you are to lift up your heart to God in a prayer of repentance and dependence on Him. There is no requirement to go into a room to kneel down and pray. Simply lift up your heart to God whenever and wherever in prayer. The point of fasting is not in just starving yourself but being intentional about connecting with God and depending on God.
· There is no set duration for fasting, but we have seen examples in the Bible, such a one day fasting, 3 days fasting, 7, 10, 14, 21 and 40 days fasting. Others choose to do it differently depending on their circumstances. Some may fast from dinner, lunch, or breakfast for a set period of time. What’s important is our intention to direct our attention and focus to God for our dependence and repentance.
· Fasting is not meant for everyone: women who are pregnant or nursing; those with eating disorders; children under 12 (teens should be supervised); those with diabetes and kidney disease or other medical conditions; frail elderly; those who require food for medication; those with temporary illnesses.
· For our modern day context, food may not be the only thing we need to fast from – smartphone addiction, ungodly shows or music, shopping, drinking, excess work, gambling, checking stock prices – the Lord invites us to take a break from these and redirect our attention and focus to God, and these are things that will not affect our medical condition.
Disclaimers in fasting
· You will find resistance within you when you fast. Fasting is engaging in spiritual warfare, and you will find that your senses and hunger are intensified. Missing a few meals, missing out on your favourite shows might normally be nothing, but during fasting the feelings will intensify because in spiritual warfare you are directing your attention and focus on God, there will be a spiritual war waged between your flesh and your spirit. This is more reason that we must depend upon God and the power of the Holy Spirit to help us.
· Don’t be legalistic in your fasting – it’s okay to make an honest mistake. For example, on day three of your fasting, you may have seen a piece of fruit on the table and without thinking you ate it out of pure habit, or you had just woken up and was still half asleep. Just keep calm and carry on. What’s important is your genuine heart towards God.
Fasting of Jesus
How do we understand and participate in fasting in a gospel-centered way? What is the link between fasting and the gospel of Jesus?
· Jesus also fasted. He was led by the Holy Spirit for 40 days and he fasted. He was led by the Spirit to have a heightened sense of reliance and dependence upon the Father before he began his ministry.
· Jesus also demonstrated a greater way of fasting – as he sacrificed his life on the cross. In the last hours and minutes of his life, Jesus fasted from his glory and authority as he was arrested and mocked. He fasted from comfort as he was beaten and tortured by the Roman soldiers. He fasted from doing his own will by obeying the Father’s will and going to the cross to be crucified (Cf. Matt. 26:39).
· Through his fast, the world is healed, rescued, and forgiven. Through his fast, those lost in darkness are found, those who are blind now see, we were bound by sin but now set free from sin and death! Through his fast, we are now sons and daughters of the Most High God, we have newness of life, and we have hope of eternal life.
Reflection and Response
We live in a society that tells us that we should do and consume whatever we want, but fasting reveals to us the things we desire and are dependent on other than God to satisfy our sense of well-being, it reveals our idols. Fasting is about recognizing your limits and the need for God’s grace and mercy. It’s about a deepening and strengthening of your relationship with God and a greater awareness of His presence.
· What are the things, compulsions, habits, idols, distractions and addictions that God is inviting you to fast from?
· How has Jesus’ fasting affected your life?