Fasting: A Path to Spiritual Clarity and Connection

 

Summary

In today's sermon, we delved into the profound spiritual discipline of fasting, a practice that is both ancient and vital for our spiritual growth and intimacy with God. We began by reflecting on the astonishing amount of food the average person consumes annually, which sets the stage for understanding the significance of fasting—abstaining from food to seek a deeper connection with God.

We explored the concept of fasting not just as a ritualistic act but as a means to realign our desires with God's will, rather than trying to align God to our desires. This realignment helps us see God more clearly, as fasting removes the distractions that cloud our spiritual vision. This clarity is akin to experiencing a clear night sky without the pollution of city lights, where the vastness and beauty of the creation become undeniably apparent, reminding us of God's majesty and our place within His creation.

The discussion then shifted to the practical aspects of fasting, emphasizing that it is not about appearing pious but about seeking a genuine encounter with God. We talked about different types of fasting, from complete fasts to partial fasts like the Daniel Fast, which involves abstaining from meats and sweets to focus on simpler meals. The importance of planning a fast was highlighted, including setting clear spiritual goals and preparing oneself mentally and physically for the experience.

We also considered the communal and scriptural aspects of fasting, noting how it is practiced across various faiths but with a unique significance in Christianity for spiritual purification and empowerment. Fasting, as shown through biblical examples, is a response to specific spiritual burdens or tasks, and it is always directed towards God for strength and guidance.

Finally, we connected fasting to the broader theme of the abiding life in Christ. Just as a tuned mass damper stabilizes a skyscraper during an earthquake, the Holy Spirit stabilizes our lives amidst spiritual and worldly challenges. The practice of fasting, along with other spiritual disciplines like prayer and scripture reading, fortifies our spiritual foundation, enabling us to remain steadfast and centered in Christ no matter the external pressures.

Key Takeaways:

1. Fasting as a Mirror to Our Spiritual State:
Fasting is not merely about abstaining from food but about introspection and realignment with God's will. It acts as a spiritual mirror, reflecting our true spiritual condition and prompting us to seek God's presence above all else. This discipline helps clarify our understanding of God and ourselves, stripping away illusions and distractions. [12:42]

2. The Power of Communal Fasting:
While personal fasting is powerful, fasting with others can amplify its spiritual benefits. By engaging in fasting as a community, we support and encourage one another, share insights, and grow together in faith. This collective experience not only strengthens individual resolve but also builds spiritual unity and accountability within the community. [19:48]

3. Fasting and Spiritual Clarity:
Just as a clear night sky offers a vivid view of the stars, fasting clears the spiritual smog that clouds our vision, allowing us to see God's will more clearly. This practice sharpens our spiritual senses and refocuses our priorities, making it an essential discipline for anyone seeking to deepen their relationship with God. [14:01]

4. The Role of Fasting in the Abiding Life:
Fasting is a key component of the abiding life, serving as a spiritual discipline that enhances our connection to Christ. It fortifies us against spiritual and worldly challenges, much like a tuned mass damper in a skyscraper, ensuring that we remain stable and secure in our faith despite external pressures. [23:42]

5. Intentionality in Fasting:
Effective fasting requires intentionality and purpose. It's not about the act itself but the heart behind it. Approaching fasting with a clear purpose and a humble heart ensures that the discipline is a genuine pursuit of God's presence and not just a religious exercise. This intentionality is crucial for a transformative fasting experience. [17:53]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Spiritual Discipline of Fasting

#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 6:16-18: "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."

2. Nehemiah 1:4: "When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven."

3. Daniel 10:2-3: "At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over."

#### Observation Questions
1. According to Matthew 6:16-18, what instructions does Jesus give about the manner in which we should fast?
2. In Nehemiah 1:4, what prompted Nehemiah to fast and pray?
3. What specific details are given about Daniel's fast in Daniel 10:2-3?
4. How does the sermon describe the purpose of fasting in relation to our spiritual state? ([11:15])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus emphasize the importance of not appearing somber while fasting, according to Matthew 6:16-18? How does this align with the sermon’s message about the heart behind fasting? ([08:20])
2. What can we learn from Nehemiah’s and Daniel’s reasons for fasting about the different purposes and motivations for fasting in our own lives?
3. The sermon mentions that fasting helps us see God more clearly by removing distractions. How does this concept relate to the analogy of the clear night sky used in the sermon? ([14:01])
4. How does the practice of fasting contribute to the abiding life in Christ, as described in the sermon? ([27:28])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current spiritual state. How might fasting serve as a mirror to help you see areas in your life that need realignment with God’s will? ([11:15])
2. Have you ever participated in a communal fast? If not, how might you benefit from fasting with others in your church or small group? ([19:48])
3. Think about the distractions in your life that cloud your spiritual vision. What specific steps can you take to remove these distractions through fasting? ([14:01])
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of intentionality in fasting. What specific spiritual goals would you set before starting a fast, and how would you prepare yourself mentally and physically? ([17:53])
5. How can you incorporate the practice of fasting into your regular spiritual disciplines to fortify your connection with Christ, similar to how a tuned mass damper stabilizes a skyscraper? ([27:28])
6. Consider the impact of your fasting on those around you. How can you communicate your intentions and manage your behavior to ensure that your fast is a positive experience for both you and others? ([19:03])
7. If you have health reasons that prevent you from fasting from food, what other areas (e.g., social media, television) could you fast from to seek a deeper connection with God? ([21:49])

Devotional

Day 1: Reflecting Our Spiritual Reality Through Fasting
Fasting serves as a spiritual mirror, revealing the true state of our hearts and our alignment with God's will. When we fast, we intentionally set aside earthly desires to focus solely on God, allowing us to see ourselves and our spiritual needs more clearly. This practice is not just about abstaining from food; it's about deep introspection and seeking a closer relationship with God. By removing the distractions of daily life and focusing on spiritual nourishment, we can better understand our weaknesses, strengths, and the divine direction we ought to follow. This clarity is crucial for our spiritual growth and alignment with God's purposes. [12:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkYn4btZuqs&t=747s)

Psalm 69:10 - "When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach."

Reflection: How does fasting reveal areas of your life that need realignment with God's will?

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Day 2: Strengthening Bonds Through Communal Fasting
Fasting with others in the community not only enhances individual spiritual journeys but also fortifies the bonds within the church. When we engage in communal fasting, we share a spiritual purpose that transcends personal goals, creating a powerful unity in seeking God's presence and guidance. This collective discipline provides support and accountability, which are essential for spiritual growth. As we fast together, we learn from each other's experiences and insights, which enriches our understanding of God and strengthens our resolve to live in accordance with His will. [19:48](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkYn4btZuqs&t=1173s)

Acts 13:2-3 - "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: In what ways can participating in communal fasting strengthen your spiritual life and those around you?

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Day 3: Gaining Clarity Through Spiritual Discipline
Fasting is like clearing the fog that clouds our spiritual vision, allowing us to see God's will with greater clarity. This discipline sharpens our spiritual senses, making it easier to discern God's direction and refocus our priorities. Just as a clear night sky reveals the vastness and beauty of the stars, fasting removes the distractions that obscure our spiritual perception, enabling us to appreciate the fullness of God's plan for us. This clarity is vital for anyone seeking to deepen their relationship with God and live a life that truly reflects His will. [14:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkYn4btZuqs&t=826s)

Lamentations 3:25-26 - "The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

Reflection: What distractions can you remove through fasting to better see and follow God's will?

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Day 4: Fasting as a Foundation for Spiritual Stability
Incorporating fasting into our spiritual routine helps stabilize our faith, much like a tuned mass damper stabilizes a skyscraper during strong winds or earthquakes. This practice equips us to withstand spiritual and worldly challenges by deepening our reliance on Christ. Through fasting, we invite the Holy Spirit to fortify our spiritual foundation, ensuring that we remain steadfast and centered in our faith, regardless of external pressures. This stability is crucial for maintaining spiritual integrity and growth in challenging times. [23:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkYn4btZuqs&t=1407s)

Ephesians 3:16-17 - "That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love."

Reflection: How can fasting serve as a stabilizing force in your spiritual life?

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Day 5: Intentionality and Purpose in Fasting
Approaching fasting with a clear purpose and a humble heart is essential for a transformative experience. This discipline is not merely a religious exercise but a heartfelt pursuit of God's presence. By fasting intentionally, we open ourselves to divine encounters and insights that can profoundly change our lives. This intentionality ensures that our fasting goes beyond mere abstinence from food and becomes a meaningful spiritual endeavor that fosters genuine growth and deeper communion with God. [17:53](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkYn4btZuqs&t=1058s)

Isaiah 58:6-7 - "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? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"

Reflection: What specific intentions can you set for your next period of fasting to ensure it is a genuine pursuit of God's presence?

Quotes

1. "It means that ultimately fasting is the physical act of seeing correctly ourselves before God and correctly seeing God for who he is. And so it's about us aligning with God and his will rather than trying to get God to align with our will." [12:16]( | | )

2. "I believe that's the purpose of fasting fasting. It calls us to, to pull the clutter away, pull all the things that are seen in our lives. In order that we might have clarity to see God for who he is and what he's doing in our lives." [14:01]( | | )

3. "It's when we set aside the time that we would spend on food. And we're going to talk about other things in order to pursue God. That's the key. One person wrote, if prayer is reaching out in faith for the unseen, then fasting is letting go of the seen." [08:20]( | | )

4. "Fasting isn't merely an act of self-denial. It's a spiritual discipline of setting aside. What is seen and the comforts to pursue God meaning before you start, you need to have a game plan. Not only are what you're going to do, but when and where you're going to do it." [17:53]( | | )

5. "That ball right there. That damper is still there. It's 20 feet in diameter. It consists of 41 layers of solid steel plating welded together into a gold sphere mass. It weighs 728 tons. And it's suspended inside of this building by 92 4-inch steel cables that are 140 feet in length." [26:23]( | | )

6. "It's the Holy Spirit in us through the abiding life. That serves as our tuned mass damper. When we're remaining in and connected to Christ through the abiding life. Our lives are fortified against even the harshest of elements." [27:28]( | | )

7. "My encouragement is for you to do your part. Your part is to spend time in the word. Spend time in prayer. Seek God's face. Fast. Pray. Memorize scripture. It's to do these things. So that it draws you into intimacy with God." [28:58]( | | )

8. "Fasting is not a license to be unloving. As we're seeking to love God. We should also be loving to others good fasting mingles the vertical Pursuit with horizontal concern. If anything others should feel even more loved and cared for when we're fasting." [19:48]( | | )

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?