Fasting: A Path to Spiritual Growth and Devotion
Summary
### Summary
This week, we explored the spiritual discipline of fasting, a practice that is often foreign to our culture of abundance. Fasting, as described in the Bible, is the intentional abstaining from food to devote time to spiritual focus and prayer. Jesus sets the expectation that His followers will fast, just as they pray. Fasting is not a hunger strike or a way to manipulate God into answering prayers in a specific way. Instead, it is a private and personal act of humility and devotion to God.
We examined various biblical examples of fasting, such as Jesus fasting before His public ministry, Nehemiah fasting for personal and national repentance, and David fasting in response to injustice and personal sin. These examples show that fasting is appropriate in times of significant spiritual need, whether for guidance, repentance, or intercession.
Fasting helps us confront the reality that our decisions are often driven by physical desires. It allows the Holy Spirit to reveal our true spiritual condition, leading to brokenness, repentance, and transformation. Fasting strengthens our faith and confidence in God, making us feel spiritually, mentally, and physically refreshed.
We discussed different types of fasting, including partial fasting (abstaining from certain foods) and complete fasting (drinking only water). It is crucial to approach fasting responsibly, especially if you have health issues or are on medication. Always consult a doctor before starting a fast. If fasting from food is not an option, consider abstaining from other activities that consume your time and focus, such as social media or video games, and redirect that time to spiritual pursuits.
Ultimately, fasting is about deepening our relationship with God. It is a private act of devotion that should not be done for public recognition. As we fast, we should use the time to pray, reflect, and seek God's guidance and transformation in our lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. Fasting as a Spiritual Discipline: Fasting is an intentional abstaining from food to focus on spiritual growth and prayer. It is an expectation for believers, not a command, and should be done privately and humbly, not for public recognition. [29:50]
2. Biblical Examples of Fasting: Jesus, Nehemiah, David, and the early church all fasted in times of significant spiritual need. These examples show that fasting is appropriate for seeking guidance, repentance, and intercession. [38:00]
3. Confronting Physical Desires: Fasting helps us confront the reality that our decisions are often driven by physical desires. It allows the Holy Spirit to reveal our true spiritual condition, leading to brokenness, repentance, and transformation. [45:01]
4. Types of Fasting: There are different types of fasting, including partial fasting (abstaining from certain foods) and complete fasting (drinking only water). It is crucial to approach fasting responsibly, especially if you have health issues or are on medication. [46:05]
5. Substituting Activities: If fasting from food is not an option, consider abstaining from other activities that consume your time and focus, such as social media or video games. Redirect that time to spiritual pursuits, deepening your relationship with God. [53:24]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[21:37] - The Pizza Story
[27:17] - The Concept of Fasting
[29:19] - Jesus' Teaching on Fasting
[31:39] - Private vs. Public Fasting
[34:42] - What Fasting is Not
[38:00] - Biblical Examples of Fasting
[44:26] - Benefits of Fasting
[46:05] - Types of Fasting
[50:09] - Practical Tips for Fasting
[53:24] - Alternative Fasting Options
[55:56] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
[01:02:00] - Announcements and Upcoming Events
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- 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."
### Observation Questions
1. According to Matthew 6:16-18, what instructions does Jesus give about the manner in which we should fast?
2. What are some examples of fasting from the Bible mentioned in the sermon? ([38:00])
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between prayer and fasting? ([30:23])
4. What are the different types of fasting discussed in the sermon? ([46:05])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus emphasize the importance of fasting in secret rather than making it a public display? ([32:25])
2. How can fasting help us confront our physical desires and lead to spiritual growth, according to the sermon? ([45:01])
3. What are the potential benefits of fasting as described in the sermon, and how do they align with the teachings of Matthew 6:16-18? ([44:26])
4. How does the sermon suggest we should approach fasting if we have health issues or are on medication? ([48:06])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there physical desires or habits that often drive your decisions? How might fasting help you confront these desires? ([45:01])
2. Have you ever fasted before? If so, what was your experience like? If not, what might be a good starting point for you, such as a partial fast or abstaining from a non-food activity? ([46:34])
3. The sermon mentions substituting activities like social media or video games if fasting from food is not an option. What activity could you consider abstaining from to deepen your spiritual focus? ([53:24])
4. How can you ensure that your fasting remains a private act of devotion rather than seeking public recognition? ([32:25])
5. Think about a significant spiritual need in your life, such as seeking guidance or repentance. How could you incorporate fasting into your prayer life to address this need? ([38:00])
6. The sermon discusses the importance of consulting a doctor before starting a fast if you have health issues. Have you considered the practical steps you need to take to fast responsibly? ([48:06])
7. How can you use the time you would normally spend on the activity you are fasting from to pray, reflect, and seek God's guidance? ([51:44])
Devotional
Day 1: Fasting as a Spiritual Discipline
Fasting is an intentional abstaining from food to focus on spiritual growth and prayer. It is an expectation for believers, not a command, and should be done privately and humbly, not for public recognition. Fasting is a way to humble ourselves before God, acknowledging our dependence on Him. It is not about showing off our piety to others but about deepening our relationship with God. Jesus taught that when we fast, we should not look somber as the hypocrites do, but instead, we should anoint our head and wash our face so that our fasting may not be seen by others but by our Father who is in secret. This private act of devotion is a powerful way to seek God's presence and guidance in our lives.
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that helps us to focus on God and His will for our lives. It is a time to set aside our physical needs and desires to seek God's face and listen to His voice. When we fast, we are reminded of our dependence on God and our need for His grace and mercy. It is a time to humble ourselves before God, confess our sins, and seek His forgiveness. Fasting is not about earning God's favor or manipulating Him to answer our prayers in a specific way. Instead, it is about aligning our hearts with His and seeking His will for our lives. [29:50]
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 is one area of your life where you need to humble yourself before God and seek His guidance? How can you incorporate fasting into your spiritual practice to deepen your relationship with Him?
Day 2: Biblical Examples of Fasting
Throughout the Bible, we see many examples of fasting in times of significant spiritual need. Jesus fasted for forty days and nights before beginning His public ministry, seeking God's strength and guidance. Nehemiah fasted and prayed for the repentance of his people and the restoration of Jerusalem. David fasted in response to personal sin and injustice, seeking God's mercy and forgiveness. These examples show that fasting is appropriate for seeking guidance, repentance, and intercession. It is a way to draw closer to God and seek His will in times of need.
Fasting is a powerful way to seek God's guidance and direction in our lives. It is a time to humble ourselves before God and seek His wisdom and understanding. When we fast, we are reminded of our dependence on God and our need for His grace and mercy. Fasting is also a time to intercede for others, seeking God's intervention and blessing in their lives. It is a way to stand in the gap for those who are in need and to seek God's will for their lives. [38:00]
Ezra 8:21-23 (ESV): Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, "The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him." So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.
Reflection: Think of a significant spiritual need in your life or the life of someone you know. How can you incorporate fasting into your prayer life to seek God's guidance and intervention in this situation?
Day 3: Confronting Physical Desires
Fasting helps us confront the reality that our decisions are often driven by physical desires. It allows the Holy Spirit to reveal our true spiritual condition, leading to brokenness, repentance, and transformation. When we fast, we are reminded of our dependence on God and our need for His grace and mercy. It is a time to humble ourselves before God and seek His will for our lives. Fasting is not about earning God's favor or manipulating Him to answer our prayers in a specific way. Instead, it is about aligning our hearts with His and seeking His will for our lives.
Fasting is a powerful way to confront our physical desires and seek God's will for our lives. It is a time to set aside our physical needs and desires to focus on God and His will for our lives. When we fast, we are reminded of our dependence on God and our need for His grace and mercy. It is a time to humble ourselves before God, confess our sins, and seek His forgiveness. Fasting is not about earning God's favor or manipulating Him to answer our prayers in a specific way. Instead, it is about aligning our hearts with His and seeking His will for our lives. [45:01]
Isaiah 58:6-7 (ESV): "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 physical desires or habits are driving your decisions and actions? How can you use fasting to confront these desires and seek God's will for your life?
Day 4: Types of Fasting
There are different types of fasting, including partial fasting (abstaining from certain foods) and complete fasting (drinking only water). It is crucial to approach fasting responsibly, especially if you have health issues or are on medication. Always consult a doctor before starting a fast. If fasting from food is not an option, consider abstaining from other activities that consume your time and focus, such as social media or video games, and redirect that time to spiritual pursuits. Fasting is about deepening our relationship with God and seeking His will for our lives.
Fasting is a powerful way to seek God's presence and guidance in our lives. It is a time to set aside our physical needs and desires to focus on God and His will for our lives. There are different types of fasting, including partial fasting (abstaining from certain foods) and complete fasting (drinking only water). It is important to approach fasting responsibly, especially if you have health issues or are on medication. Always consult a doctor before starting a fast. If fasting from food is not an option, consider abstaining from other activities that consume your time and focus, such as social media or video games, and redirect that time to spiritual pursuits. [46:05]
Daniel 10:2-3 (ESV): In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.
Reflection: What type of fasting can you incorporate into your spiritual practice to seek God's presence and guidance in your life? How can you approach fasting responsibly and with a focus on deepening your relationship with God?
Day 5: Substituting Activities
If fasting from food is not an option, consider abstaining from other activities that consume your time and focus, such as social media or video games. Redirect that time to spiritual pursuits, deepening your relationship with God. Fasting is about setting aside our physical needs and desires to focus on God and His will for our lives. It is a time to humble ourselves before God and seek His presence and guidance. When we fast, we are reminded of our dependence on God and our need for His grace and mercy. It is a time to align our hearts with His and seek His will for our lives.
Fasting is a powerful way to seek God's presence and guidance in our lives. It is a time to set aside our physical needs and desires to focus on God and His will for our lives. If fasting from food is not an option, consider abstaining from other activities that consume your time and focus, such as social media or video games. Redirect that time to spiritual pursuits, deepening your relationship with God. Fasting is about setting aside our physical needs and desires to focus on God and His will for our lives. It is a time to humble ourselves before God and seek His presence and guidance. [53:24]
1 Corinthians 7:5 (ESV): Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Reflection: What activities consume your time and focus, distracting you from your relationship with God? How can you abstain from these activities and redirect that time to spiritual pursuits to deepen your relationship with God?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "The idea of not eating in our culture is something that is foreign to us. It's foreign to us. We have excess in a lot of ways in our culture and certainly one of those ways is food. The idea of going hungry, the idea of not eating, is an idea that we don't give a lot of thought to because it's not a reality that any of us really have to face on a day-to-day basis." [27:17] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Fasting is the intentional abstaining from food and devoting that time to spiritual focus in prayer instead of eating. Instead of eating. So when we see scripture, prayer always accompanies fasting, but fasting doesn't always accompany prayer." [30:23] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Biblical fasting is not a hunger strike. It is not a hunger strike between us and God. It can be easy to think of fasting as a way to add extra oomph to our prayers, but biblical fasting is not so much about how God responds to us." [35:23] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Fasting is a biblical way to truly humble ourselves in the sight of God. King David said that in Psalm chapter 3, 'I humbled myself with fasting.' That's Psalm 35:13. It's a sign of humility. It also forces us to confront the reality so often our decisions and our choices are driven by the physical aspect of our beings." [44:26] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Our confidence and faith in God will be strengthened when we do this. We will feel mentally, spiritually, and physically refreshed if we go about doing this." [46:05] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Jesus says if you actually want it to matter, then make it private and make it personal between you and God. Then he goes on to verse 17, 'But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face.' We see it again here. We see it again here. When we fast, that's the expectation. The expectation is this is something that we are going to do." [36:28] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "David fasted and asked God for miraculous healing, and God did not answer that prayer in the way that David asked for it. What I find is fascinating about that is this: that David did this on the heels of his adultery with Bathsheba. And what's fascinating to me is right there in the midst of a season of rebellion, in the midst of a defining moment in his life where he strayed from God's plan and he stepped outside of what God had called him to do." [41:03] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Frequently we try to do the same thing when we sin, when we rebel against God. We try to, 'Well, I'm not going to go towards God. I'm going to try to run away from God.' And what we see in David is just the opposite, that here he is in the midst of rebellion, and what does he do? He fasts and he prays, and that should be our posture as well." [42:17] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The early church in Acts 13 and Acts 14, they fasted while worshiping and committing their ministry to the Lord, and they also sought the Lord through fasting for guidance when they appointed new leaders. They recognized the weight of their responsibility. They recognized the weight of their choices and the implications that their choices would have, and they took them very seriously." [43:51] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If fasting, especially if it is a new idea for you, it is going to be really stupid for you to try to go 40 days without eating. Okay, I am just going to tell you. I am not saying you can't work your way up to that, but you are not Jesus, and so be wise about how you do this. If you are going to fast and when you are going to fast, make sure you are staying hydrated." [49:05] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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