Fasting: A Spiritual Discipline for Deeper Intimacy with God
Summary
In today's exploration of Christian fasting, we delved into the profound spiritual discipline that is often overlooked in our modern, distraction-filled world. Fasting, as described in the Bible, is not merely about abstaining from food but is a voluntary act of setting aside physical nourishment to cultivate a deeper intimacy with God. This practice is rooted in biblical tradition, with numerous instances throughout Scripture where fasting is used to seek God's guidance, express repentance, or prepare for spiritual battles.
Fasting is a feasting of faith, a concept beautifully articulated by John Piper, where the act of denying oneself food becomes a means to feast on the Word of God and strengthen one's spiritual resolve. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, emphasized the importance of fasting with the right motives, not for public recognition but as a private act of devotion to God. This aligns with the New Testament's shift in focus from the Old Testament's mourning and repentance to a longing for Christ's return.
We examined three primary purposes of fasting: strengthening dependence on God's Word, humbling ourselves before the Lord, and intensifying our desire for Christ's return. Fasting is a tangible way to express our spiritual hunger and need for God, mirroring our physical hunger. It is a discipline that humbles us, reminding us of our reliance on God and our need to repent and seek His guidance. Moreover, fasting fuels our anticipation for the return of Jesus, echoing the early church's cry, "Come, Lord Jesus."
As we prepare for the upcoming Thirst Conference, I encourage you to consider dedicating a day each week to fasting and prayer. This is not about proving ourselves to God but about seeking Him earnestly and humbly. Whether you choose to fast from food or other distractions, the key is to replace that time with activities that draw you closer to God, such as prayer, worship, and reading Scripture. Let us commit to this spiritual discipline, individually and collectively, as we seek God's will and revival in our lives and community.
Key Takeaways:
1. Fasting as a Feasting of Faith: Fasting is not just about abstaining from food; it's about feasting on faith and deepening our relationship with God. By voluntarily giving up physical nourishment, we create space to focus on spiritual nourishment, drawing closer to God through prayer and His Word. This discipline helps break the power of distractions and strengthens our spiritual resolve. [09:44]
2. The Right Motive for Fasting: Jesus teaches that fasting should be done with the right motives, not for public recognition but as a private act of devotion. The focus is on the heart's attitude, seeking God's reward rather than human approval. This aligns with the New Testament's emphasis on fasting as a longing for Christ's return and a deeper relationship with Him. [06:30]
3. Strengthening Dependence on God's Word: Fasting strengthens our dependence on God's Word by mirroring our physical hunger with spiritual hunger. As we deny ourselves food, we are reminded of our need for God and His Word, pressing into Him for strength and guidance. This discipline helps us prioritize our spiritual needs over physical desires. [14:09]
4. Humility Through Fasting: Fasting humbles us before the Lord, reminding us of our reliance on Him and our need to repent and seek His guidance. It is an act of humility, acknowledging our weaknesses and our need for God's strength and direction in our lives. This discipline helps cultivate a deeper intimacy with God. [17:28]
5. Intensifying Desire for Christ's Return: Fasting intensifies our desire for Christ's return, echoing the early church's cry, "Come, Lord Jesus." It is a way to express our longing for the day when Jesus will return and make all things new. This discipline fuels our anticipation and keeps our focus on the eternal hope we have in Christ. [21:47]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:00] - Introduction to Fasting
- [04:30] - Biblical Context of Fasting
- [06:30] - Jesus' Teaching on Fasting
- [09:44] - Fasting as a Feasting of Faith
- [12:00] - Strengthening Dependence on God's Word
- [14:09] - Practical Aspects of Fasting
- [17:28] - Humility Through Fasting
- [19:00] - Fasting and Spiritual Warfare
- [21:47] - Intensifying Desire for Christ's Return
- [24:00] - Practical Tips for Fasting
- [26:04] - Fasting and the Lord's Supper
- [28:00] - Call to Action: Fasting for the Thirst Conference
- [29:23] - Conclusion and Encouragement
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Christian Fasting
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 6:16-18
2. Matthew 9:14-17
3. Deuteronomy 8:1-3
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Matthew 6:16-18, what instructions does Jesus give about the manner in which we should fast? How does this relate to the motives behind fasting? [06:30]
2. In Matthew 9:14-17, how does Jesus explain the difference in fasting practices between His disciples and the Pharisees? What does this reveal about the purpose of fasting during Jesus' time on earth? [09:44]
3. How does Deuteronomy 8:1-3 illustrate the relationship between physical hunger and spiritual dependence on God? What lesson was God teaching the Israelites through their experience in the wilderness? [14:09]
4. What are the three primary purposes of fasting mentioned in the sermon, and how do they contribute to a deeper relationship with God? [09:44]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:16-18 challenge the common perceptions of fasting as a public display of piety? What does this suggest about the nature of true devotion? [06:30]
2. In what ways does the metaphor of the bridegroom in Matthew 9:14-17 deepen our understanding of the anticipation for Christ's return? How does fasting play a role in this anticipation? [09:44]
3. How does the experience of the Israelites in Deuteronomy 8:1-3 serve as a metaphor for our spiritual journey and dependence on God's Word? What parallels can be drawn between their physical hunger and our spiritual hunger? [14:09]
4. The sermon mentions that fasting is a "feasting of faith." How does this concept redefine the act of fasting from a mere physical discipline to a spiritual practice? [09:44]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current spiritual practices. Is there a specific distraction in your life that prevents you from focusing on Jesus? How can you minimize that distraction this week through fasting or another spiritual discipline? [17:28]
2. Consider the motives behind your spiritual practices. How can you ensure that your fasting or other acts of devotion are done with the right heart attitude, seeking God's reward rather than human approval? [06:30]
3. Fasting is described as a way to express our longing for Christ's return. How can you incorporate this anticipation into your daily life and spiritual practices? What specific actions can you take to keep your focus on the eternal hope in Christ? [21:47]
4. The sermon encourages dedicating a day each week to fasting and prayer. What practical steps can you take to incorporate this discipline into your routine? How can you plan your fasting day to include activities that draw you closer to God? [29:23]
5. How can you use fasting as a tool to strengthen your dependence on God's Word? Identify a specific passage or book of the Bible that you can focus on during your fasting time. [14:09]
6. In what ways can fasting help you cultivate humility before the Lord? Reflect on areas of your life where you need to acknowledge your reliance on God and seek His guidance. [17:28]
7. The sermon mentions the upcoming Thirst Conference. How can you use fasting and prayer to prepare your heart and mind for this event? What specific prayers or intentions will you bring before God during this time? [29:23]
Devotional
Day 1: Fasting as a Spiritual Feast
Fasting is not merely about abstaining from food; it is a profound spiritual discipline that allows believers to feast on faith and deepen their relationship with God. By voluntarily giving up physical nourishment, individuals create space to focus on spiritual nourishment, drawing closer to God through prayer and His Word. This discipline helps break the power of distractions and strengthens spiritual resolve, allowing believers to experience a deeper intimacy with God. Fasting is a way to express spiritual hunger and need for God, mirroring physical hunger. [09:44]
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 distractions in your life can you set aside this week to create space for deeper spiritual nourishment and intimacy with God?
Day 2: The Heart's Motive in Fasting
Jesus teaches that fasting should be done with the right motives, not for public recognition but as a private act of devotion. The focus is on the heart's attitude, seeking God's reward rather than human approval. This aligns with the New Testament's emphasis on fasting as a longing for Christ's return and a deeper relationship with Him. Fasting is a personal journey of faith, where the heart's intention is to draw closer to God and seek His presence earnestly. [06:30]
Matthew 6:17-18 (ESV): "But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
Reflection: Consider your motives for fasting or any spiritual discipline. Are you seeking God's presence and approval, or are you influenced by the desire for recognition from others?
Day 3: Dependence on God's Word
Fasting strengthens our dependence on God's Word by mirroring our physical hunger with spiritual hunger. As believers deny themselves food, they are reminded of their need for God and His Word, pressing into Him for strength and guidance. This discipline helps prioritize spiritual needs over physical desires, encouraging a deeper reliance on God's promises and truths. Fasting becomes a tangible expression of faith, where believers seek sustenance from God's Word. [14:09]
Deuteronomy 8:3 (ESV): "And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."
Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize God's Word in your daily life, especially when faced with physical or emotional needs?
Day 4: Humility Through Fasting
Fasting humbles believers before the Lord, reminding them of their reliance on Him and their need to repent and seek His guidance. It is an act of humility, acknowledging weaknesses and the need for God's strength and direction in life. This discipline cultivates a deeper intimacy with God, as believers recognize their dependence on His grace and mercy. Fasting becomes a way to humble oneself and seek God's presence earnestly. [17:28]
James 4:10 (ESV): "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."
Reflection: What areas of your life require humility and a deeper reliance on God's strength and guidance? How can fasting help you cultivate this humility?
Day 5: Longing for Christ's Return
Fasting intensifies the desire for Christ's return, echoing the early church's cry, "Come, Lord Jesus." It is a way to express longing for the day when Jesus will return and make all things new. This discipline fuels anticipation and keeps the focus on the eternal hope believers have in Christ. Fasting becomes a spiritual practice that aligns the heart with the hope of Christ's return and the fulfillment of God's promises. [21:47]
Revelation 22:20 (ESV): "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"
Reflection: How does the anticipation of Christ's return influence your daily life and spiritual practices? What can you do today to align your heart with this eternal hope?
Quotes
Fasting is voluntary abstinence from food to cultivate intimacy with God for biblically reasoned purposes. And I'm just going to read that again. Fasting is a Christian's voluntary abstinence from food to cultivate intimacy with God for biblically reasoned purposes. [00:01:47] (22 seconds)
In the New Testament, Jesus just assumes that people are going to fast, but He does change the focus of fasting. He does modify the why of fasting, and He fills it out a little bit, right? In the New Testament in John, I'm sorry, in Matthew 6, 16 to 18, part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, and when you fast, notice He doesn't say if you fast, He says, and when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces, that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. [00:03:41] (43 seconds)
And God's promise is to reward the ways that we seek him in private, in secret. Now, lest you think this means if you're fasting and somebody finds out about it, you're in trouble with God, that's not the point. The point Jesus is making is all about your motives, right? Putting oil on and all of that, that's not a ritual for fasting. He's just saying, bathe and prep yourself and look as good as you would on any other normal day. [00:05:12] (31 seconds)
But Jesus is, again, pointing ahead prophetically to the time that he will not be with his disciples and his children will be waiting, looking again to his second coming. And until then, they will fast. We will fast, longing for the return of our Lord. Robert Gundry says, the entirety of the church age constitutes the days which will come when the bridegroom is taken away. [00:06:36] (30 seconds)
So now let's look at three overarching purposes for fasting. The first is that fasting strengthens our dependence on God's Word. Fasting, Christian fasting, strengthens our dependence on God's Word. So you think about fasting, right? Fasting at its core is voluntarily giving up food. Food's a good gift from God. We're not supposed to despise God's gift. [00:10:40] (24 seconds)
But fasting is a time to set aside some of the good gifts that God has given in order to heighten our focus on our need for Him alone. When you fast, you find a point where you get hungry, right? Just your physiology begins to tell. You. Your brain starts sending signals to the rest of you. Your stomach might growl. And everything about you is saying, I want food. I'm hungry. [00:11:10] (32 seconds)
And in those moments, you press in and you say, no, I'm going to deny this because I need Jesus more. Lord, as hungry as I am for food right now, I am hungrier for you and I'm going to press in to you. Deuteronomy is an interesting passage where the Lord withdrew the deliciousness of food from the Israelites in order to show them their need, but he still took care of them. [00:11:42] (31 seconds)
We're humble before the Lord in Joel chapter 2. God calls his people to fast, and he focuses on the attitude of their hearts. He says, rend your hearts and not your garments. It's an attitude of humility. It's an inward brokenness that says, I need the Lord. I need to set aside my desire for food, and I need to press into the Lord through fasting and prayer because I've got sin in my life that I need to deal with, that I need to repent of. [00:15:24] (32 seconds)
I need to press into the Lord. I need to do something extraordinary in order to help myself commune with the Lord more deeply, more intimately. We're talking about cultivating intimacy with Christ, and this is one way to help yourself cultivate intimacy with the Lord. In Psalm 35, 13, David said, I humbled my soul with fasting. [00:16:25] (27 seconds)
Fasting gives you an opportunity to express grief before the Lord, to seek the Lord's protection or deliverance, to express repentance and returning to the Lord with an extraordinary way of saying, Lord, I've been going my own way. I've been living my own life. I've been doing my own thing. I have been quieting your loving conviction. [00:21:47] (26 seconds)
Expressing concern for God's work. You know, you might minister to the needs of other. You might have a particular temptation that you've been struggling with, and you say, I'm going to strive to seek the Lord and overcome this temptation with God's help, with the help of the body of Christ, and so I'm going to dedicate myself to the Lord. That's what Jesus did, 40 days of fasting, and he was weak, and in his moment of weakness, the tempter came, right? [00:22:29] (30 seconds)
We need to be reminded of this on a regular basis. Well, as the Lord's Supper takes us back to the sacrifice of Christ, fasting takes us forward. Fasting helps us look forward to Jesus's return when we will not fast any longer. while he's gone, while the bridegroom is gone, we fast and we grieve and we weep and we mourn. [00:26:02] (29 seconds)
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