Detoxing Our Souls: Fasting for Spiritual Growth
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound impact of distractions and noise in our lives, particularly how they hinder our relationship with Jesus. We often run to various idols and distractions, such as social media, gaming, or even food, to fill the void of loneliness and insecurity. This epidemic of loneliness is more dangerous than many physical ailments, as it leads to a host of mental and emotional issues. We are called to examine what we run to when we are bored or afraid and to lay aside these weights and sins that cling so closely, as described in Hebrews 12:1-3.
The focus of our discussion was on the practice of fasting, a discipline that Jesus himself modeled. Fasting is not merely abstaining from food; it is a spiritual practice that allows us to meet with God daily, declaring our dependence on Him. It is a way to say no to something we love to say yes to something we love even more—our relationship with God. We looked at various biblical examples of fasting, from Jesus to Esther, and how fasting reveals what controls us, helping us to regain balance and sensitivity to life.
Fasting is not about earning God's favor or the approval of others. It is about deepening our relationship with God, discerning His will, and preparing for the mission He has called us to. As we embark on this six-week series, we are invited to consider what God might be calling us to give up, not out of guilt or shame, but as a chance to walk closer with Jesus. This week, we focus on fasting, and I encourage you to join us in this journey of detoxing our souls and aligning our lives with the ways of Jesus.
Key Takeaways:
- The Epidemic of Loneliness: Loneliness is a pervasive issue in our culture, often masked by distractions like social media and entertainment. It leads to increased risks of heart disease, stroke, and dementia. We must confront the fear and insecurity that lie beneath our loneliness and seek genuine connection with God and others. [02:00]
- The Practice of Fasting: Fasting is a spiritual discipline that involves abstaining from food to focus on God. It is a declaration that our ultimate dependence is on Him, not on the things of this world. Fasting helps us to recognize what controls us and to realign our priorities with God's will. [13:22]
- Laying Aside Weights and Sins: Hebrews 12:1-3 calls us to lay aside every weight and sin that hinders our relationship with Jesus. These weights may not be inherently sinful but become detrimental when they distract us from God. We must identify and remove these distractions to run the race set before us with endurance. [09:33]
- The Importance of Solitude: Jesus modeled the importance of solitude and silence, especially before significant moments in His ministry. We, too, need to create space for silence and solitude in our lives to hear God's voice and prepare for the mission He has for us. [16:51]
- Fasting for Spiritual Growth: Fasting is not about earning God's favor but about deepening our relationship with Him. It is a time to seek God's guidance, grieve, and intercede for others. By fasting, we open ourselves to God's transformative work in our lives and align ourselves with His purposes. [20:55]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:00] - The Epidemic of Loneliness
- [04:30] - Distractions and Idols
- [06:45] - The Call to Fasting
- [09:33] - Laying Aside Weights and Sins
- [11:50] - Jesus' Example of Fasting
- [13:22] - The Practice of Fasting
- [16:51] - The Importance of Solitude
- [18:30] - Biblical Examples of Fasting
- [20:55] - Fasting for Spiritual Growth
- [23:22] - Personal Reflections on Distractions
- [25:40] - The Barnacles of Our Souls
- [28:15] - Reordering Our Priorities
- [30:00] - Different Types of Fasting
- [32:45] - Invitation to Join the Journey
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Hebrews 12:1-3
- Matthew 4:1-4
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#### Observation Questions
1. According to Hebrews 12:1-3, what are we encouraged to lay aside, and why is this important for our spiritual journey? [09:33]
2. In Matthew 4:1-4, what significant event does Jesus undergo, and how does He respond to temptation during this time? [13:22]
3. The sermon mentions various distractions that can hinder our relationship with Jesus. What are some examples given, and how do they impact our spiritual lives? [09:33]
4. How does the sermon describe the practice of fasting, and what is its primary purpose according to the pastor? [20:55]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. Hebrews 12:1-3 speaks about laying aside weights and sins. How might these "weights" differ from sins, and why is it crucial to identify them in our lives? [09:33]
2. In the context of Matthew 4:1-4, why is Jesus' response to temptation significant for understanding the role of Scripture in spiritual battles? [13:22]
3. The sermon highlights the epidemic of loneliness and its dangers. How does this issue relate to the distractions and idols mentioned, and what does it reveal about our need for genuine connection? [02:00]
4. The pastor discusses fasting as a way to declare dependence on God. How does this practice help believers realign their priorities with God's will? [20:55]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily routine. What are some specific distractions or "weights" that you need to lay aside to focus more on your relationship with Jesus? How can you start addressing them this week? [09:33]
2. Jesus used Scripture to combat temptation in the wilderness. How can you incorporate more Scripture into your daily life to strengthen your spiritual resilience? [13:22]
3. The sermon mentions the dangers of loneliness masked by distractions. How can you foster genuine connections with others and with God to combat loneliness in your life? [02:00]
4. Consider the practice of fasting. Is there something specific God might be calling you to give up temporarily to deepen your relationship with Him? What steps will you take to begin this practice? [20:55]
5. The pastor shared personal examples of distractions like social media and gaming. Identify one area in your life where you might be seeking comfort or security outside of God. How can you redirect that need towards Him? [23:22]
6. The sermon encourages creating space for solitude and silence. What practical changes can you make in your schedule to incorporate moments of silence and solitude to hear God's voice? [16:51]
7. Reflect on the idea of "barnacles" on the soul. What are some hidden issues or habits that might be weighing you down spiritually, and how can you begin the process of removing them? [25:40]
Devotional
Day 1: Confronting the Epidemic of Loneliness
Loneliness is a pervasive issue in our culture, often masked by distractions like social media and entertainment. It leads to increased risks of heart disease, stroke, and dementia. We must confront the fear and insecurity that lie beneath our loneliness and seek genuine connection with God and others. [02:00]
"Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses." (Psalm 25:16-17, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one distraction you use to mask loneliness. How can you replace it with a meaningful connection with God or someone else today?
Day 2: Embracing the Practice of Fasting
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that involves abstaining from food to focus on God. It is a declaration that our ultimate dependence is on Him, not on the things of this world. Fasting helps us to recognize what controls us and to realign our priorities with God's will. [13:22]
"Yet even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." (Joel 2:12, ESV)
Reflection: What is one thing you rely on more than God? Consider fasting from it for a day to refocus your dependence on Him.
Day 3: Laying Aside Weights and Sins
Hebrews 12:1-3 calls us to lay aside every weight and sin that hinders our relationship with Jesus. These weights may not be inherently sinful but become detrimental when they distract us from God. We must identify and remove these distractions to run the race set before us with endurance. [09:33]
"Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven." (Lamentations 3:40-41, ESV)
Reflection: What is one non-sinful weight in your life that distracts you from God? How can you begin to lay it aside this week?
Day 4: The Importance of Solitude
Jesus modeled the importance of solitude and silence, especially before significant moments in His ministry. We, too, need to create space for silence and solitude in our lives to hear God's voice and prepare for the mission He has for us. [16:51]
"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." (Luke 5:16, ESV)
Reflection: Schedule a specific time this week to be alone with God in silence. What do you hope to hear from Him during this time?
Day 5: Fasting for Spiritual Growth
Fasting is not about earning God's favor but about deepening our relationship with Him. It is a time to seek God's guidance, grieve, and intercede for others. By fasting, we open ourselves to God's transformative work in our lives and align ourselves with His purposes. [20:55]
"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?" (Isaiah 58:6, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a specific area in your life where you need God's guidance. How can fasting help you seek His direction and align with His purposes?
Quotes
"According to the Surgeon General what we're going to talk about today is more dangerous than heart disease cancer the possibility of of a stroke smoking 15 cigarettes a day it's an epidemic running through our nation and through our culture it's the epidemic of loneliness beneath the surface of that is often fear and insecurity afraid of what we will find if we just sit long enough by ourselves loneliness includes a 29 % increase of risk of heart disease 32 % risk of a stroke 50 % risk of dementia why it's because there's this thing called comparison when we open up our phones and we scroll on social media we're looking at things that we don't have with people we don't know comparing them with relationships we might even be dreaming of what's happening in our society is this experiment for the last 20 to 25 years of this influx of media the average American spends seven hours and four minutes of screen time of screen time every day that's not including work around the world it's six hours and 40 minutes so like most things America is winning in that category it's not good what the recent research is showing when it comes to the amount of time that we're spending on media and for anybody older in the room you might be pointing your finger at the younger generation but yet you might have cable TV news blaring all day long in the background of your home" [00:00:52] (109 seconds)
"Jesus longs to spend time with you. He longs to deal with the scars of our soul. And so we're told in Scripture in Hebrews 12, let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, what did he do? He endured the cross. What was the joy? You were the joy. You were the joy. Why did he go to the cross? For you. It gave him great joy to go to the cross. And I'm not calling all of us to go to the cross. We don't need to go to the cross because Jesus already went to the cross. But he desires to have a personal relationship with each and every one of us. And yet, we run. We run to the things that this world will never, ever fulfill us. Hebrews 12, 1 through 3." [00:11:00] (65 seconds)
"As we talk about fasting today, biblical definition of fasting is not eating food. All right, that's the biblical definition of food. That is the only fasting we find in the Bible. I'm gonna propose another one to you. But the biblical definition of fasting is to go without food for a period of time, to declare that although God meets my daily needs, fasting is my time to meet with God daily. It's an opportunity. It's declaring God meets my all my provisions are met through God. But fasting is a chance to recognize and meet with him on a daily basis. It's saying no to something I love and saying yes to something I love in a much greater way." [00:11:44] (46 seconds)
"At the baptism, the Spirit rests upon him like a dove. He goes to the wilderness. It is the Spirit leading him to the wilderness. The voice of the Father calls out, this is my Son in whom I am well pleased. He goes from that to the wilderness where he hears the hiss of the Satan, of the serpent, the tempter. He goes from being anointed to being attacked. He goes from the water of baptism to the fire of temptation. At his baptism, heavens opened. In the wilderness, hell opened. What does Jesus do? Matthew chapter 4. He was led to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting 40 days, this is verse 2. And after fasting 40 days and 40 nights, he was hungry. I love the simplicity and clarity of Scripture sometimes. Did you catch that? Duh. After 40 days, he was hungry. The humanity of Jesus. You and I would be hungry after 40 days. So was Jesus. After 40 days. Why is this so important? He is preparing for the greatest mission that the world has ever seen. To go to the cross." [00:13:51] (78 seconds)
"Fasting is meeting with God daily. It's saying no to something that this world offers, so that I might spend more time in prayer, in meditation, in solitude, in silence. It might be instead of sitting down preparing a meal and going and eating that, taking that hour, and I'm going to go for a walk, and I'm going to spend time in prayer with my Heavenly Father. That's what fasting looks like. Why do we fast? Not because your pastor is doing a sermon on it, but because God is calling you specifically to a fast. That's number one. Number two, why do we fast? We fast because it reveals, and I love this. This hit me hard this week. Fasting reveals to us what controls us. When you give something up, you'll be a fast. You'll be amazed how much control that that has over you. You will feel it. It will be difficult, but I encourage you to consider what is it that has control over you. It might be a sin issue. It might be just a good thing that you have taken far to an extreme and has become an idol in your life." [00:19:37] (75 seconds)
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