Jesus’ Teaching
In the sermon on the Mount Jesus addresses a number of important spiritual practices including giving (6:1-4), praying (6:5-15) and fasting (6:16-18). In each case he places his main emphasis upon the motive. When we observe these spiritual practices it shouldn’t be to impress people nor are they a measure of our spiritual maturity. Practices such as giving, praying and fasting are important because God can use them to lead us in life and He will reward us.
Matthew 6:5-8 (NLT) read;
“When you pray don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth that is all the reward they will ever get.”
When you pray, not if but when you pray. It’s a given that all of us should pray. We need to take the initiative, stir ourselves up to pray. In Acts 16, we find Paul as he went from city to city strengthening churches in their faith and also spreading the gospel, the first place he sought was where prayer was happening. Before anything else, he will go to the places where the people were already praying. Situations opened up as a result of prayer. (Acts 16:13, 16, 25).
Paul like Jesus lived in an atmosphere of prayer. The spirit of prayer preceded breakthroughs and opened up opportunities to share the gospel and release the supernatural power of God. We too need to live in this atmosphere of prayer, where we are easily moved to pray for different things we encounter.
Matthew 6:16-18 (NLT)
And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth that is the only reward they will ever get……”
When you fast … implying we should. The bible clearly tells us that spiritual fasting intensifies prayer. Jesus himself fasted for 40 days at the beginning of his ministry, releasing great power into his ministry. So He expects his followers would fast from time to time too. Paul enunciates fasting as a vital part of his life in (2Cor 6:1-6 and 11:27 – in fasting often).
What is Fasting?
Fasting is voluntarily abstaining from food or other legitimate enjoyments, for a specified period, and for spiritual purposes. We can fast from food, technology or entertainment. Fasting is willing to set aside legitimate appetites of the body, whether its food, entertainment or technology for a specified period of time and concentrate on praying and seeking God. It not only lends a note of urgency and persistence to our praying but it is also a powerful personal discipline to train our will, to develop self-control and tune our spiritual sensitivity towards God. We don’t fast to try to manipulate or force God into action. God answers according to His will (1 Jn.5:14-15).
Instead fasting and praying aligns us to the purpose God has for us. Though we may not fully understand the mystery of fasting and prayer, I believe when we willingly set aside ‘appetites’ of the flesh to seek God:
- (a) we are clearing the space for Him to come and speak with us
- (b) we are calling out to Him to quench our thirsty hearts with His Presence
Spiritual Benefits of Fasting
Fasting can:
1. Help initiate revival and spiritual growth.
(Joel 2:12 read this) (Jonah 3:5-10) (2Chr 7:14)
Whenever the people of God became dull and complacent and they responded to the call of prayer and fasting they experienced revival. Spiritual fires lit up once more. From time to time when we find ourselves becoming complacent, dull in our spiritual lives, feel far away from God, the best thing we can do is to fast and pray for our own spiritual vitality to be restored. God never moves away from us. We are the ones who drift away from Him as we get distracted with the cares of the world.
2. Help us receive clear revelation and direction from God.
(Acts 13:2)
Church at Antioch Acts 13:1-3 and Acts 14:21-23 as the people worshipped and fasted together collectively, they received direction and revelation from the Holy Spirit for decisions or tasks ahead of them. The collective prayer and fasting played a vital role in the growth and development of the New Testament church. Over this weeks as we prepare to fast and pray collectively as a church, be expectant that God will speak clearly into the life of our church for this season.
3. Help free people from spiritual bondages.
(Mark 9:28-29)
Jesus has just returned from Mt. Transfiguration and found his disciples frustrated because of their unsuccessful efforts to cast out a demon from a local boy. Jesus delivers him and then later when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?” Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer & fasting”. I believe God wants us to be ready to set people free from all sorts of spiritual bondages, especially in the days we are living in where the practice of occult, legalized witch as religion. As we fast and pray God will give us power and wisdom to move in spiritual authority.
4. Help push back or loosen the demonic powers over a situation.
(Daniel 10)
God had revealed to Daniel great prophetic promises and grand disclosures of His purposes for his people but the bible says “they were a long time in coming about”. Daniel began to fast and pray and as he was praying the Angel appeared said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.” I wonder how many situations today are awaiting us as a church where we begin to recognize:
- (a) that maybe God’s appointed time for deliverance has come for some of our extended family members or spouse or children or parents, who are in need of Christ 61
- (b) that as we take to prayer and fasting collectively as a church, the powers of darkness holding people captive can be pushed back or loosened 62
The hearts of people are the battleground where the enemy seeks to keep them locked up in darkness and our fasting and praying in agreement during this season can bring about the promised deliverance we have been longing for63.
5. Help us navigate the journey ahead with confidence.
(Ezra 8:21-23)
I proclaimed a fast so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. The corporate prayer and fasting that Ezra undertook with his people helped them navigate the journey ahead with confidence. This action would have been a testimony for the future generations (their little ones) who accompanied them. At Living water, as we begin a period of fasting and praying, like Ezra, we want God to help us navigate the journey ahead of us with confidence. Not only for us but the next generation who will come after us.
6. Help deepen our intimacy with Jesus.
(Matt 9:14-15)
One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and they asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often but your disciples do not fast? Jesus answered “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them then they will fast.”
Jesus was saying, since I am with them they don’t need to mourn or fast, however when the bridegroom is taken away (Jesus ascended to the Father) and before he comes a second time there is going to be fasting for the disciples. The context of fasting here is to convey our ‘deep longing for His Presence’. There will always be this ache in the heart of God’s people for the ‘not yet kingdom of His Presence & Power” to manifest. Fasting here is a powerful statement that says to Jesus “I want you more than my food, entertainment and technology. You are more important to me than all these things”. I want to pursue you with all of my heart. I long for Your presence! You are my treasure Jesus! I long for the day when you will return. Fasting here is an exclamation point, expressing our ache, hunger and desire for Jesus.
7. Fasting consecrates us to the lord
Acts 13:2 quotes the Holy Spirit as saying, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul…” Do you see the passion here? God set aside these men for Himself. They are His85. The Lord desired Saul and Barnabas to be set apart. He did not want them to mix with the world. God intended for them to be set apart to fulfill His purposes. A fast assists us in consecrating ourselves to the Lord, in surrendering ourselves wholly to Him.
Romans 12:1 Walking in righteousness is an act of worship on our part. Such behavior is indicative of our devotion to God.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 we are called to be distinct from the world in which we live. We are to be pure and consecrated to the Lord, so that we may impact the world, not the other way around. Read John 17:14-18 Fasting helps us to separate ourselves from the world and respond to God’s call to spiritual consecration. Through fasting and prayer, we walk in the light, not in darkness, in righteousness and not in lawlessness.
8. Fasting prepares us for what god has in store for us.
According to Acts 13:2, the Holy Spirit says, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them”. Fasting humbles us and shapes our character so that we are prepared for what we have been called to do. The toxic elements are eliminated, and the Holy Spirit pours in.
In Isaiah 58, God reproached His people for making fasting into something that it was not. The majority of them would only fast physically, refusing to undergo any transformation in their lives. Their lives remained unchanged. Consequently, they continued to engage in the same sinful behaviors. That was not the fast that God had instructed them to observe. The fast that consists of simply skipping meals without any sort of transformation is insufficient. In order for our fasting to be accepted by the Lord, He must come and minister to us. He must transform our thinking, our behavior, and our character.
In Matthew 6:16, Jesus cautions us not to fast simply to be noticed by others; otherwise, our reward will simply be their attention. Would you prefer to be congratulated by men or by God?
I have found that the most dangerous period for all of us, and especially leaders, is when God is blessing us. We get complacent and stop seeking Him with all our heart. When we are weak with God, temptation is strong. When we are strong in our relationship with God, temptation is weak. That’s why Jesus didn’t fall for the trap when Satan came to Him in the wilderness with extreme temptations. Jesus instead defeated Satan in the wilderness with His own extremes: extreme fasting, extreme prayer and extreme focus on the Word of God.
Discipline Is Required
Fasting breaks the monotony of the weekly schedule and your focus shifts to the things that matter most. Fasting requires the discipline of extra time and focus on Jesus, His Word and His presence. When you do that, you become a disciple, a disciplined one. When you discipline yourself like this, look out! God will raise you up because you have humbled yourself before the mighty hand of God and, in due season, He will raise you up. He will promote you and He will open doors that you once thought were walls. He will give solutions and answers where there was only confusion, silence and doubt because you will have the hand of God on your life in a dimension you’ve never experienced. Some will even see miracles.
Victories are not won in public, but in private. Where there is little private discipline, there will be little public reward. Whenever there is private fasting and prayer in the secret places of our life there will be public rewards! If you want a stronger relationship with God, you have to seek it. There is a secret source to our power, and it always accompanies the discipline of fasting and prayer.
Fasting is not for the strong. Fasting is for the weak. Fasting is for the common. Fasting is for the frail and for the ordinary. Fasting is for people of all ages and all cultures who realize that they desperately need more of God in their life. Fasting is for you.
If you’ve never fasted before, I encourage you to begin this journey, maybe even this week. Start with one day or possibly three days. Or, if you’ve fasted many times, maybe go a little longer but always with this warning – consult your physician before taking on a longer fast.