Fasting

Fasting - a means of Grace

I’m not sure how you feel when you hear the words “Spiritual Disciplines”? It can sound a bit hard core and demanding. I like the way John Wesley describes Spiritual Disciplines as “Means of Grace”. God has so much grace available to us. Grace to forgive, heal, give peace, bring freedom and purpose etc. Things like fasting, bible reading, prayer, worship, solitude and simplicity are the means by which we can receive God’s grace. We can’t earn God’s grace but we can position ourselves to receive it more readily.

Mark 2

18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, ‘How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not? 19 Jesus answered, ‘How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.

Jesus turns fasting into feasting

What is fasting?

NOT Asceticism (treating our body badly because it is “sinful and dirty”) or Hunger strike (twisting God’s arm to add extra pressure to our prayers)

We abstain from physical food because we know that we desperately need spiritual sustenance. Abstaining from food for spiritual purposes. Most world religions have fasting as part of their spiritual activities. There are many examples of fasting in the Old Testament linked with confession of sin and calling on God to act. Eg 1 Samuel 7v6.

In the New Testament fasting is linked with worship and guidance Acts 13.

Types of fasting in the Bible

a. Normal fast - No food

b. Absolute fast - No food or drink Esther 4v16, Acts 9v9,

c. Super fast - No food or drink for extended time Moses Deut 9v9, Elijah 1 Kings 19v8 Jesus

d. Partial fast - Restriction on certain foods Dan 1v15, 10v3

e. Special fast - Abstinence of sexual relations 1 Cor 7v 5

Jesus teaching on Fasting

Jesus never commanded his disciples to fast BUT...

Matt 6: 16 “When you fast” not “if”

Matt 9: 15 “...then they will fast” (Feast when Jesus is present, fast when absent)

Fasting brings “reward”

As with all spiritual discipline they have a linked “reward”. This could include a closer relationship with God, and increased sense of His presence, breakthrough in healing, Isaiah 58v1-11, Judges 20, Mark 9: 29, Daniel 9, Acts 13: 2, 1Cor 9: 27, 1Pet 2: 11

In Matthew 6 Jesus mentioned three spiritual disciplines (Means of Grace) and explains if we do these there is a reward from our heavenly Father

When you give to the needy... When you pray... When you fast...

and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

You may regularly give, and you may regularly pray, so why not regularly fast?