Fasting

I enjoy a good cup of tea. Tea is so different from coffee. To me, at least, it is much easier on my stomach – even though tea has plenty of caffeine, I find that tea helps me to relax – especially an herbal tea with a little honey and lemon in it.

Suppose I were to make you a cup of tea this morning. I have hot water and a tea bag. The British, for whom tea is something akin to a religious experience, insist that to make a proper cup of tea, I place the tea in the cup, and allow the hot water to flow over the tea. I must allow the tea to remain in the water, or “steep,” for 1 minute. If I were to just plunge a bag in once or twice, it would not make for very good tea. If, instead, I continuously submerge the tea bag into the water, the flavor of the tea will grow much stronger. The longer the tea leaves are immersed into the water, the more the water gets into the tea and the more the tea is released into the water.

This is the way it is with our spiritual life. Some are content to just “dip” themselves in the spiritual realm a time or two on Sunday morning, and as a result their spiritual existence is week and diluted. But if we allow the Spirit of God to flow over us, and through us, our spiritual lives become deep and rich. The more we are immersed into the spiritual, the more the spiritual life is developed within us and the more we are released into the spiritual life. Spiritual disciplines are like the act of dipping the tea into the water. In these weeks, we are examining 12 Spiritual Disciplines. The Spiritual Disciplines are “Spiritual activities that only we can do that allow God to do what only He can do.” It is through the spiritual disciplines that we immerse ourselves into the spiritual realm. The more we practice the various disciplines, the stronger we grow spiritually. The disciplines allow God to do His work within us – by practicing the disciplines we open ourselves to His presence more and more.

When the water comes over the tea, the tea is dispersed into the water and has no identity of its own – the entire liquid is referred to as “tea.” In the same way, when we are purchased by the forgiveness of Jesus Christ, our life is not our own – the Bible says, “You are not your own, you are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body.” (I Corinthians 6:19-20). Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his classic work The Cost of Discipleship, said, "We have to practice strictest daily discipline; only so can the flesh learn the painful lesson that it has no rights of its own."

In these early days of this study, we are examining inner disciplines – spiritual activities that occur and effect the inner person – we’ve talked about meditation – setting aside times of complete focus on the Lord, seeking to be filled with an awareness of His presence in our lives through the Holy Spirit. Last week we discussed the discipline of prayer – the practice of communing with God, listening to Him, aligning our hearts with His own, and experiencing intimate connection with Him.

Today we are going to study another inward discipline. It is a discipline that has been largely neglected in the modern church, but has a deep rich legacy among God’s people – it is the discipline of fasting.

Fasting is one of the most neglected spiritual admonitions. In fact, it has been ignored for so long that it is difficult to find information on the "how-to's" of this life-changing experience. Richard Foster, in his book, “Celebration of Discipline,” notes that when he was doing research for his book, he found that there was not a single book published on fasting from 1861 to 1954 – nearly 100 years!

The lack of attention in writing and preaching on the topic of fasting has resulted in a general lack of knowledge about it in the church. We have had, over the 11 years of this church, several occasions where we have had corporate fasts – a few days, 21 days, or 40 days, with people signing up for specific meals or entire days that they would fast. But even though we have engaged in fasting as a church, I think that there are a fair number of us who have questions about it – in fact, one honest person sent me an email during our most recent time of fasting in November and confessed that they had heard of fasting, and understood that it meant going without food, but they really didn’t understand what it was all about. What is a fast? Why do we fast? Are Christians expected to fast, and what can we expect from a fast?

We’re going to take a look, for the next 20 minutes or so, at this topic. As with all the disciplines we are studying in this series, we will not be able to do an exhaustive study of the topic. To assist you in your personal development of these disciplines, I am including a study guide with each one so that you can do an in-depth Bible study, and read more on the topic from other teachers.

Fasting is defined as “the self-denial of normal necessities in order to intentionally attend to God in prayer.”[1] In the Bible fasting usually refers to abstaining from food for spiritual purposes. Occasionally fasting involves self-denial of other needs of the body. For example, Paul, in First Corinthians gives guidelines for married couples who fast from sexual relations for the purposes of prayer. The rationale behind fasting is to let go of a normal human appetite, in order to seek God on matters of deep concern for myself, others or the world at large. When my cravings and desires are brought to the surface, I am able to realize the strong bonds the world has on me, and I recognize my emptiness and weakness and purposely turn to Jesus who can satisfy my deepest longings. I use the time usually devoted to those natural cravings to devote myself instead to God – through prayer, study, meditation or some other means.

Fasting causes us to be aware of the hungers that are at the center of our souls. Through self-denial we begin to see just what it is that controls us – what consumes us. Ask an alcoholic if the drink controls him, he will probably say, “no.” But have him go for days or weeks without a drink, and he becomes painfully aware of the strength of that addiction. It is only when we deny ourselves the so-called “normal comforts” of life that we recognize just how much those comforts have become idols. It can be anything – even things that on their own are not sinful – food, marital sex, news and information, television or computer entertainment, shopping, music or even cell phones can be given up in a fast – as long as it is for the purpose of focusing our attention of God.

Fasting is Biblical. Fasting has been part of the life of God followers for thousands of years. Both the Old and New Testaments are filled with examples of people who fasted for a variety of reasons.

In the Old Testament, people fasted when they were mourning a death or great loss. They fasted when they were convicted of sin to show the depth of their sorrow and repentance. They fasted when they needed strength or direction. The list of people in the Old Testament who fasted is a “Who’s Who” list of spiritual giants, people used mightily of God: Moses, Elijah, Esther, Daniel, and David. Not to mention times when the entire nation was called to fast and pray.

In Jesus day, and throughout the New Testament, fasting is seen as a regular part of the life of God’s people. Jesus fasted for 40 days before he began His earthly ministry. (Matthew 4:2) John the Baptist is described as one who fasted, and taught his disciples to fast as well. (Mark 2:18-19) Paul fasted for three days after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. (Acts 9) The church in Antioch fasted before selecting Paul and Barnabas to serve as the first missionaries. (Acts 13:2-3)

Again, fasting is defined as “the self-denial of normal necessities in order to intentionally attend to God in prayer.” We’ve seen what fasting is technically, and that it is Biblical now let’s take a look at the motivations behind fasting.

Why do we fast? It’s all about motives – we must fast for the right reasons.

This is the most important part of this mornings message – for most of us, defining fasting as “not eating” is nothing new. Most people are aware of fasting – they’ve heard of hunger strikes, spiritual fasts by Gandhi or some other spiritual leader, or we’ve been told to fast for 24 hours before some medical procedure or test. It’s not defining fasting that is important – it’s the motivation for fasting that makes all the difference. The passage of Scripture that was read at the beginning of the service was Jesus’ first and longest teaching on fasting – and it deals with motives.

16 "When you fast, do not look somber 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.

By Jesus’ day, fasting for the Jews had become a hollow religious ritual. In our day we have “American Idol,” back then they had “Israeli Pompous.” The religious leaders made a big deal out of their pious acts. All their efforts were done to be noticed by the people around them, and as such it meant nothing to God. Jesus starts off this chapter with a cautionary statement, “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

Jesus then touches on a number of things that can easily be done for the wrong motives – giving money to the poor, praying and fasting. In each case – and in fact in anything we do, if we are doing it for the wrong motives it means NOTHING to God. The preacher who preaches for the accolades, and admiration of people will receive no reward from the Lord for his efforts – he’s already gotten what he wanted – the hollow praise of men. The writer who writes great works on spiritual matters with the goal of wanting only to see his name in print will receive no eternal reward for his work – because he’s already received that which he desired.

The religious leaders in Israel made much of the fact that they fasted multiple times every week (Luke 18:12), and gave a tenth of everything they made to God, but they did it for the wrong motives and as a result it meant nothing of eternal consequence. Jesus calls them “hypocrites,” because when they fasted, they would purposefully walk around in an exaggerated state of weakness, their’ faces all distorted with hunger, making sure everyone knew what they were doing. Because they did it for the notice praise and applause of people, Jesus says, they have all the reward they will get.

So why do we fast? Fasting must be done with a sole purpose of focusing our attention on the Lord. We fast as a discipline to heighten our awareness of the need of God’s presence in our lives. We fast to have a deeper and fuller knowledge of His provision, sacrifice and love for us. We fast because our hearts have been burdened to such a degree that we willingly suppress our fleshly desires to focus our entire being – body, mind and spirit - on spiritual matters. During a fast, we are offering to God the time and attention that we would otherwise be giving to eating, or playing, or being distracted.

It’s all about motives. You can fast for 40 days but if your motivation is not pure, it means nothing. In Isaiah chapter 58, God chastises the people of Israel not because the were neglecting to fast – but because their were fasting and neglecting Him! Listen:

'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?' 4 Your fasting ends in quarreling 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. 5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? 6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

The people of Israel were willing to go without food for a meal or two, but they were not willing to live for God! They were willing to walk around with their heads bowed down, and make a big show of their humility before God, but they were unwilling to focus their hearts on the Lord. If they had, they would have changed their behavior – they would have seen others as God sees them, and their heart would have been aligned with God’s heart.

I was in the middle of a rather lengthy fast a few years ago when I read these verses. I realized that I was not eating – but I was not fasting. I simply stayed as busy as I could so that I wouldn’t think about the fact that I was not eating. I didn’t focus my attention of my time on the things of God – in fact I tried to fill every moment with some activity so I wouldn’t eat. I wasn’t eating, but I was substituting busyness for the food – instead of allowing the Lord to fill that void.

There are lots of bad motives for fasting. Some fast to lose a few pounds. Some fast to get God to do what they want Him to do – it’s about my will – not His. “If I fast, then God has to do what I ask.” I would send people who believe that to 2 Samuel 12:16-20, where David fasted and prayed for God to spare the life of his sick child, but the child died. Some fast because they think that they can get God to force a person to change if they fast. Folks, fasting is not about me, my agenda, my desires. It’s about emptying myself of myself so that I can seek GOD’S WILL – not mine – in a way that goes beyond the normal prayer and worship routine.

Why do we fast? We fast to focus on God. We fast to focus on God. We fast to focus on God. We want to know His heart. We want to know His will. We want to know His plans. Fasting is not a tool by which we get God to conform to our desires and plans. It is a tool by which I conform to His desires and plans. Any other motivation and the fast is not a spiritual discipline – it is just a really bad way to diet.

A quick note here – as human beings, our motives will never be 100% pure. If you fast for a week, I guarantee that at some point in that week, you will be tempted to step on a scale, or look into a mirror, or notice that your clothes fit a little looser – it just happens. Your human pride will cause you to “accidentally” mention that you are not watching TV for a month, for example – people who wouldn’t otherwise have needed to know. Those things happen. When they do, ask the Holy Spirit to purify your motives. Discipline yourself to reign in those thoughts and actions – and place your focus back on the Lord.

First and foremost, fasting is to be between God and us alone. The only people who need to know that we are fasting are those who are directly affected by it – our immediate family if they cook for us, for example, or if we are asking them to understand that we will not be a the dinner table for the length of the fast. Jesus says, “When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to people that you are fasting.”

With that being said, here are some practical guidelines. These focus on fasting from food, because that is the most common biblical example of fasting, but you can adjust them to any fast you feel led to take:

We fast to immerse ourselves in the Lord – to go beyond a quick plunge or two below the surface of his mercy and grace. When we fast, we allow him to fill the void – to flow in us, over us, through us. We allow His presence to so permeate our souls that every molecule of our being is affected. We feed our souls on the living water and the bread of life, instead of the junk food of the soul that the world offers. I encourage you to explore this important Spiritual Discipline in your own life, for the glory of God alone.

Richard J. Foster: Celebration of Discipline (Harper Collins, San Francisco, 1998)

David R. Smith: Fasting: A Neglected Discipline (Christian Literature Crusade: Fort Washington, PA, 1969)

Adele Ahlberg Calhoun: Spiritual Disciplines Handbook (InterVarsity Press, 2005)

Arthur Wallis: God’s Chosen Fast (Christian Literature Crusade: Fort Washington, PA, 1971)