Is it only the exceptionally spiritual people who fast or is it a good discipline for all of us? In this part of his sermon on the mount Jesus addresses this question and that attitudes that make for productive fasting.
Matthew 5
16. “When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,
18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
So what is fasting and where does it fit onto our lives as Christians?
What Fasting is not…
a) Fasting is not a time management trick
I was over-committed this week and this conversation took place with Ros, my wife:
Ian “I don’t quite know how I’m going to get time to prepare for Sunday – I’m speaking on fasting”
Rosi “you’d better do it – then you can carry on working over lunchtime!”
b) Fasting is not dieting
eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we diet!
We will see that the purposes of dieting and fasting are entirely different
Dieting we do (usually) because of our health – or our beauty
Fasting is done to communicate with God
- One is for temporal advantage
- the other is for spiritual power
both are good!
Why don’t we fast?
Why has fasting got such a bad reputation?
a) because early in the development of the Christian church we developed a warped view of suffering
- called asceticism – I do things to myself that hurt me in order to gain spiritual rewards.
- e.g. wearing hair shirts, sleeping in cold cells etc.
- self-inflicted suffering is never held up in the Bible as beneficial – it has no spiritual power – and fasting was seen as self-inflicted suffering – often used as a method.
The problem? – the focus in the Christian practise had moved away from the heart an into the realm of practise – what I do instead of who I am.
b) because of today’s attitude to food
If I don’t have 3 large meals and several snacks in between I’m on the verge of starvation!
Survey published this week – TV advertising results in children eating too much fatty and sugary food.
- they are made to think that they need it and their young minds are a soft target for advertising propaganda.
- Is it any wonder that more children that ever before are attending obesity clinics in Britain
And then I read my Bible and hear Jesus saying “When you fast…”
- my inner reaction is “that was OK then but today – forget it!”
In this part of the sermon on mount Jesus is talking about three of the key spiritual disciplines practised by faithful Jews
- giving / praying / fasting
I was surprised at how little material I had in my library on fasting.
- surprising because when I come to my Bible I find numerous references to it.
- Fasting was clearly an important part of the Jews relationship with God in the O.T. and the early Christians in the New.
59 references!
- often associated with great times of spiritual awakening or renewal.
- If I’m serious about desiring to see God at work then fasting is no longer and optional extra.
BUT – Pharisees engaged in these activities in order to get glory from men.
16. “When you fast, …
Jesus obviously expected us to do it
he regarded it as a normal part of the Christian life
WHEN IS FASTING APPROPRIATE?
a) times of urgent national need
2Chronicles 20 tells of a time when the people of Israel were in desperate need.
- faced with a military threat
- King Jehoshaphat calls the nation to prayer and fasting
2Chronicles 20:3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to enquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.
notice it was corporate (even included children) >>>
14. Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel, as he stood in the assembly. He said, “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: `Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.
The Lord then reveals a military strategy to Jehoshaphat which brought them the victory
The conclusion we’re intended to draw from this is very obvious:
- Had they not prayed and not fasted the word of the Lord would not have come to them.
- Oh that our nation would fast and pray to seek God’s guidance and deliverance.
In 1756 the King of Britain called for a day of solemn prayer and fasting because of the threatened invasion by the French. John Wesley’s journal for Feb 6th:
“The fast day was a glorious day, such as London has scarce seen since the restoration. Every church in the city was more than full, and a solemn seriousness sat on every face. Surely God hears prayer – and there will be a lengthening of our tranquillity.
In a footnote , inserted later, he wrote
Humility was turned into national rejoicing for the threatened invasion by the French was averted.
Our nation today faces unprecedented challenges with our our financial stability – and we need people who will pray for our nation and its future
b) times of urgent personal prayer
Nehemiah (chapter 1)
- heard news that rocked him!
- his home city in ruins – people scattered.
- God’s reputation was at stake!
“ When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.”
Actually – 4 months.
c) when we hit a spiritual blockage
Disciples couldn’t cast out a demon
Matthew 17:18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. – this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.
Jesus actively engaged in prayer and fasting.
So what is effective fasting and how can we go about it?
CONDITIONS FOR EFFECTIVE FASTING
a) authenticity
Israel in the time of Isaiah
prayed & fasted and nothing happened – they started asking ‘WHY’
the Word from Lord …
Isaiah 58:3. `Why have we fasted,’ they say, `and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarrelling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.
Devastating words form the Lord!
- authenticity is a prerequisite to effective fasting and prayer
- they thought God didn’t notice!
BUT – when these things put right …
“ Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “
b) wholeheartedness
Joel 2:12. “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments (outward show irrelevant). Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.
c) humility
Matt6 – Pharisees wanted to show off their spirituality
Jesus says “when you fast” twice
There are two different nuances
First, emphasis on ‘When’ => fasting as assumed
16. “When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
like us saying “When you cross the road” – We all do it, so here is something to take notice of when it happens”
Second time: the emphasis is on the ‘you‘
17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,
18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
When you fast you’re going to do it differently from the Pharisees.
And the difference Jesus is pointing out (in both verses) is ostentation – showing off
Q: should it always be done in private?
Not necessarily
it wasn’t private in Israel – it was a national policy!
it wasn’t in the life of Jesus – otherwise we wouldn’t know about it
e.g. It is difficult to fast in secret if you live in a family – because the others family members will notice that you’re not eating!
But Jesus is pointing out that we need to beware of our motives for making it public!
- this was where the Pharisees slipped up
- it is very subtle & easy to fall into this trap
Jesus is telling us here that if our motives for making our fasting public is to parade my spirituality to other people (basically to show off) then my fasting and prayer are robbed of their power.
IS FASTING COMMANDED?
Do I need to bother – isn’t this just for people in the spiritual super-league? (missionaries / saints / ministers and small group leaders etc.!!)
Jesus assumes we would fast
When you fast…
This is included in Jesus sermon on the mount alongside giving and praying – we don’t have any doubts about those!
- we have no more reason to exclude fasting from our walk with the Lord as we do giving or praying.
Martin Luther “It was not Christ’s intention to reject or despise fasting, it was his intention to restore proper fasting”
- Jesus did not say “if you fast” (optional extra” nor did he say “you must fast” (specific command)
- but he set us an example to follow.
HOW TO FAST
Do’s and don’ts
- do begin gradually – Don’t run before you can walk
- fast from food, but not from drink
- try missing just one meal and use the time for meditation and prayer – you may want to choose a particular prayer project or target.
- Bible indicates the benefit of regular fasting (once a week for example)
Don’t
- do it if you’re pregnant
- do it if you suffer from diabetes
Check with your GP
“If My People” concert in the Albert Hall (many years ago)
- many national Christian leaders present
- Nation in financial straits & political turmoil
- Ted Heath was in power and we were suffering the effect of the 3-day week
- the leaders felt that God was telling them that at this concert (the culmination of a national tour) we were to ask the then prime minister (Ted Heath) to call the nation to prayer and fasting
- great groundswell of feeling that this was right.
- signed a petition on the way out (several thousand signatures)
- petition taken to Downing Street
- answer: NO. Point blank
- Within a matter of weeks Ted Heath was suddenly and unexpectedly out of office.
now historians may interpret things differently
but I cannot avoid the conclusion that we had a part to play in that.
Brother and sisters in Christ
God has called us, as his people to pray and to add spiritual power to our praying as we fast.
AND WHEN WE PRAY AND FAST LIKE THIS
WE MOVE THE HAND
THAT MOVES THE WORLD.
