Embracing Communion and Fasting for Spiritual Growth

Devotional

Day 1: The Significance of Communion

Communion is a powerful reminder of Jesus' sacrifice and the hope of His return. It connects the past, present, and future of our faith, from the Passover to the Lord's Supper and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. This practice helps us remember and celebrate the profound love and sacrifice of Christ. Jesus' earnest desire to partake in the Passover with His disciples underscores the deep connection between these events and our salvation. By participating in communion, we are reminded of the continuity of God's redemptive plan and our place within it. [03:21]

Exodus 12:14 (ESV): "This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast."

Reflection: How does participating in communion help you connect with the broader narrative of God's redemptive plan? Take a moment to reflect on the significance of Jesus' sacrifice and how it impacts your daily life.

Day 2: Fasting as a Spiritual Discipline

Fasting is more than just abstaining from food; it is a spiritual discipline that aligns our will with God's will. By denying our physical desires, we create space to seek God's presence and direction more intensely. This practice helps us grow in spiritual maturity and dependence on God. Fasting is often misunderstood in modern times, with many equating it to giving up non-food items like social media. However, biblical fasting specifically involves abstaining from food to intensify our need for God. This practice helps us train our will to prioritize spiritual nourishment over physical desires. [37:15]

Joel 2:12-13 (ESV): "Yet even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

Reflection: What physical desires or distractions are currently hindering your spiritual growth? Consider setting aside a specific time to fast and seek God's presence more deeply.

Day 3: Combining Fasting with Prayer and Worship

Fasting should not be done in isolation but in conjunction with prayer and worship. This combination creates a powerful spiritual discipline that draws us closer to God and strengthens our faith. It is through this holistic approach that we experience the full benefits of fasting. When we fast, pray, and worship together, we open ourselves up to a deeper relationship with God and a greater sensitivity to His guidance. This practice not only helps us grow spiritually but also equips us to face spiritual battles with greater strength and clarity. [57:06]

Nehemiah 1:4 (ESV): "As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven."

Reflection: How can you incorporate prayer and worship into your fasting routine? Plan a specific time this week to combine these practices and observe how it impacts your spiritual life.

Day 4: Training Our Will Through Fasting

Fasting helps us train our will to prioritize spiritual nourishment over physical desires. By practicing self-control in our eating habits, we learn to submit our will to God's Spirit, which helps us resist temptation and grow in spiritual strength. This discipline requires intentionality and commitment but yields profound spiritual benefits. As we train our will through fasting, we become more attuned to God's voice and more capable of aligning our actions with His purposes. This practice not only strengthens our spiritual resolve but also deepens our dependence on God. [55:23]

1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV): "But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with self-control? How can fasting help you develop greater discipline and reliance on God's strength?

Day 5: The Early Church's Practice of Fasting

The early church practiced fasting regularly, recognizing its importance in the Christian life. This historical practice serves as a model for us today, encouraging us to incorporate fasting into our spiritual routines to draw closer to God and seek His guidance. The early Christians understood that fasting was a vital part of their spiritual journey, helping them to remain focused on God's will and to prepare for the challenges they faced. By following their example, we can experience the same spiritual growth and closeness to God that they did. [03:23]

Acts 13:2-3 (ESV): "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off."

Reflection: How can you incorporate the practice of fasting into your spiritual routine? Consider setting a regular time for fasting and prayer to seek God's guidance and draw closer to Him.

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound significance of communion and fasting in our spiritual lives. We began by reflecting on the three pivotal events in the Bible: the Passover, the Lord's Supper, and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. These events illustrate the journey from the Old Testament foreshadowing of Christ's sacrifice to the New Testament fulfillment and the future hope of His return. Jesus' earnest desire to partake in the Passover with His disciples underscores the deep connection between these events and our salvation.

We then transitioned to the practice of fasting, emphasizing its importance in the Christian life. Fasting is not merely abstaining from food but a spiritual discipline that aligns our will with God's will. It is a way to humble ourselves, seek God's direction, and prepare for spiritual battles. We discussed various types of fasts mentioned in the Bible, from one-day fasts to 40-day fasts, and their purposes, such as repentance, seeking God's favor, and healing.

Fasting is often misunderstood in modern times, with many equating it to giving up non-food items like social media. However, biblical fasting specifically involves abstaining from food to intensify our need for God. This practice helps us train our will to prioritize spiritual nourishment over physical desires. We also highlighted the importance of combining fasting with prayer and worship, as these elements together create a powerful spiritual discipline.

In conclusion, fasting is a vital practice that helps us draw closer to God, battle temptation, and align our lives with His purposes. It is a discipline that requires intentionality and commitment but yields profound spiritual benefits.

###

Key Takeaways

1. control in our eating habits, we learn to submit our will to God's Spirit, which helps us resist temptation and grow in spiritual strength. [55:23]
5. The Early Church's Practice of Fasting: The early church practiced fasting regularly, recognizing its importance in the Christian life. This historical practice serves as a model for us today, encouraging us to incorporate fasting into our spiritual routines to draw closer to God and seek His guidance.

### [55:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:26] - Introduction to Communion
[02:21] - Jesus' Earnest Desire
[03:21] - Three Pictures of Communion
[04:02] - Looking Back at the Cross
[04:28] - The Hope of Jesus' Return
[05:27] - The Significance of Jesus' Sacrifice
[12:36] - Paul's Teaching on Communion
[15:44] - The New Covenant in Jesus' Blood
[19:15] - Prayer and Reflection
[23:31] - Introduction to Fasting
[24:44] - The Importance of Tangible Bible Reading
[25:37] - Distractions of Modern Technology
[27:07] - Tactile Memory and Scripture
[28:13] - Jesus' Teaching on Fasting
[29:13] - The Spiritual Life of Giving, Prayer, and Fasting
[30:22] - The Biblical Basis for Fasting
[31:27] - Different Types of Fasts in the Bible
[32:03] - The Day of Atonement
[33:35] - The Picture of Christ in the Day of Atonement
[34:41] - The Principle of Fasting
[35:10] - Examples of Fasting in the Bible
[37:15] - What is Fasting?
[38:16] - John Piper's Definition of Fasting
[39:25] - What Fasting is Not
[40:13] - The Hebrew Meaning of Fasting
[41:48] - The Daniel Fast
[42:52] - The Importance of True Fasting
[43:19] - Sowing and Reaping
[44:22] - Training Our Will Through Fasting
[45:51] - The Significance of Physical Training
[47:25] - The Spiritual Implications of Fasting
[49:30] - Paul's Teaching on Self-Control
[50:32] - The Disconnect Between Desire and Will
[52:11] - Disciplining Our Bodies
[53:18] - The Spiritual Battle of Fasting
[54:53] - Jesus' Teaching on Fasting
[55:23] - The Importance of Spiritual Discipline
[57:06] - Linking Fasting with Prayer and Worship
[58:10] - Daniel's Example of Fasting and Prayer
[59:45] - Ezra's Example of Fasting and Prayer
[60:21] - Jesus' Teaching on Dealing with the Enemy
[61:34] - Battling Temptation Through Fasting
[62:46] - The Early Church's Practice of Fasting
[63:23] - The Decline of Fasting in the Modern Church
[64:01] - The Spiritual Benefits of Fasting
[65:17] - Practical Steps to Start Fasting
[67:03] - Growing in the Discipline of Fasting
[68:07] - Conclusion and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading

Matthew 6:16-18 (NIV)

> "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others 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."

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NIV)

> "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."

Joel 2:12-13 (NIV)

> "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. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."

#### Observation Questions

What are the three significant events related to communion mentioned in the sermon? ([03:21])
According to Matthew 6:16-18, how should one behave when fasting?
What does Jesus say about the new covenant in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26?
In Joel 2:12-13, what does God ask His people to do, and what is His promise?

#### Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus emphasize the importance of not showing off when fasting in Matthew 6:16-18? How does this align with the sermon’s teaching on the purpose of fasting? ([28:13])
How does the practice of communion connect the past, present, and future aspects of our faith according to the sermon? ([03:21])
What does Joel 2:12-13 suggest about the relationship between fasting and repentance? How does this relate to the sermon’s discussion on the purposes of fasting? ([35:42])
How does the sermon explain the connection between fasting and spiritual battles? ([47:25])

#### Application Questions

Reflect on your current understanding and practice of communion. How does the sermon’s explanation of the three significant events (Passover, the Lord's Supper, and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb) deepen your appreciation for this sacrament? ([03:21])
Have you ever fasted before? If so, what was your experience like? If not, what are your thoughts on starting a fast as described in the sermon? ([30:22])
The sermon mentioned that fasting should be combined with prayer and worship. How can you incorporate these elements into your fasting practice to make it more spiritually enriching? ([57:06])
The sermon highlighted the importance of training our will through fasting. What are some practical steps you can take to prioritize spiritual nourishment over physical desires in your daily life? ([55:23])
The early church practiced fasting regularly. How can you incorporate fasting into your spiritual routine to draw closer to God and seek His guidance? ([03:23])
The sermon discussed the modern misunderstanding of fasting, such as equating it with giving up non-food items. How can you ensure that your fasting practice aligns with the biblical definition and purpose? ([39:25])
Consider the sermon’s teaching on the spiritual benefits of fasting. What specific spiritual battles or temptations are you currently facing, and how might fasting help you overcome them? ([54:53])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for outreach

1. "Jesus is broken body. Jesus is shed blood that encompasses our salvation and it also encompasses the hope of glory, the hope of a future, the hope that allows us to carry through this life as we look at his death, burial, resurrection and his promise that he will come again." [05:27] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Fasting is a temporary renunciation of something that in and of itself is good, like food, in order to intensify our expression of need for something greater, namely God and his work in our life." [38:16] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Fasting allows us to draw near to that place to be in a spot where we can subject our flesh and subject our appetites and subject our hunger to the spirit of God and say I want the Lord more than I want Job said in Job chapter 23 he said that I have desired the words of the Lord sustenance more than having food every day." [04:01] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "If you will give up food for lunch one day this week and spend that time instead of eating worshiping and praying and reading your Bible God will meet you there and you can begin to grow in this." [07:03] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Fasting and prayer helps us battle the enemy fasting and prayer helps us battle temptation fasting is not prominent in the church today statistically most Christians have never fasted about 21% say that they have fasted and 79% never have maybe that's you today." [02:46] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for members

1. "We see three pictures here. We see Jesus celebrating Passover, the foreshadowing, the foreshadowing of what was to come in his death, his burial, his resurrection. We see him instituting the Lord's supper, which for us and from, for all of Christianity that came through Christ, from Christ until his return, we come to this table and we're not, we're not looking forward. We're looking backward." [04:02] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Fasting is the abstinence of consuming food. And in the Hebrew, the word for fast actually means to shut up your mouth to the point that you can't put anything in there. This is the idea of what an actual biblical fast is." [40:13] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Fasting is not a standalone activity. In other words if you fast and you separate fasting from worship and prayer and the word of God you are doing nothing but dieting. And hey there are physical health aspects to fasting. Studies have proven it that when you fast you reset your metabolism your body begins to work a little bit better." [56:36] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Jesus actually links the two at the end of prayer at the beginning of this passage of fasting. He says this word that we translate more over. Now more over you might just think of that as a word that might mean and. Except it's not the word that means and. We talked about the word that means and a couple of weeks ago as we were going through the Lord's Prayer. It's actually a word that means and also." [57:37] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Fasting and prayer helps us battle the enemy fasting and prayer helps us battle temptation fasting is not prominent in the church today statistically most Christians have never fasted about 21% say that they have fasted and 79% never have maybe that's you today I've never gone without eating for the purpose of drawing near to God for the purpose of subjecting my will to the spirit of God rather than to the appetites and desires that I may have." [02:46] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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