Fasting: A Spiritual Discipline for Divine Connection
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound spiritual practice of fasting, using the metaphor of the emperor penguin's dedication to its offspring as a starting point. Fasting, as depicted in the Bible, is not merely a physical act but a spiritual discipline that shifts our focus from earthly needs to divine dependence. It is a way to grieve our sins and recognize our reliance on God, rather than a means to draw attention to ourselves or enact societal change. Through the lens of the parable of the wineskins, we examined how Jesus taught about the timing and purpose of fasting, emphasizing that it should be done for the right reasons and at the right time.
The parable of the wineskins, as recounted in Matthew 9, illustrates the necessity of aligning our spiritual practices with the new life and teachings that Jesus brings. Just as new wine requires new wineskins, our spiritual disciplines must be renewed and aligned with the teachings of Christ. Jesus' response to the disciples of John the Baptist highlights that fasting is appropriate when the bridegroom is absent, symbolizing a time of mourning and longing for His presence. However, when the bridegroom is present, it is a time for celebration and joy.
Throughout history, figures like Moses, David, and Jesus Himself have fasted, demonstrating its significance in seeking God's guidance and expressing deep spiritual truths. Fasting is not about public display or self-righteousness, as criticized by Jesus in the Pharisees' practices, but about genuine spiritual renewal and connection with God. It is a discipline that requires us to trust wholly in Jesus, allowing His teachings to guide our lives and actions.
As we reflect on the practice of fasting, we are reminded of the importance of spiritual joy and celebration in the Christian life. Jesus came to bring new life, not to simply patch up the old. Our lives, as believers, should be characterized by rivers of living water flowing from us, impacting those around us with the love and joy of Christ. This new life in Jesus calls us to live with purpose, celebration, and a deep connection to God, allowing His Spirit to guide and sustain us.
Key Takeaways:
- Fasting is a spiritual discipline that shifts our focus from earthly needs to divine dependence, allowing us to grieve our sins and recognize our reliance on God. It is not a means to draw attention to ourselves or enact societal change, but a way to deepen our spiritual connection. [46:07]
- The parable of the wineskins teaches us that our spiritual practices must align with the new life and teachings of Jesus. Just as new wine requires new wineskins, our spiritual disciplines must be renewed and aligned with Christ's teachings. [42:26]
- Historical figures like Moses, David, and Jesus demonstrate the significance of fasting in seeking God's guidance and expressing deep spiritual truths. Fasting is not about public display or self-righteousness but about genuine spiritual renewal and connection with God. [48:13]
- Jesus emphasizes the importance of timing and purpose in fasting, highlighting that it should be done for the right reasons and at the right time. When the bridegroom is present, it is a time for celebration and joy, not mourning. [57:12]
- Our lives as believers should be characterized by rivers of living water flowing from us, impacting those around us with the love and joy of Christ. This new life in Jesus calls us to live with purpose, celebration, and a deep connection to God. [01:09:58]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[41:42] - Introduction to Fasting
[42:26] - Parable of the Wineskins
[43:46] - Understanding Jesus' Teachings
[44:37] - The Purpose of Fasting
[46:07] - Biblical Examples of Fasting
[48:13] - Connection to Spiritual Heritage
[49:42] - Critique of Pharisaic Fasting
[50:32] - Balancing Fasting and Scripture
[51:37] - Personal Fasting Experience
[52:44] - The Impact of Fasting
[54:14] - Fasting and Spiritual Focus
[55:44] - Joy in Christian Life
[57:12] - Timing and Purpose in Fasting
[01:09:58] - Rivers of Living Water
[01:11:03] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Spiritual Practice of Fasting
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 9:14-17
Observation Questions:
1. What question do the disciples of John the Baptist ask Jesus about fasting, and how does Jesus respond? [42:26]
2. How does the parable of the wineskins relate to the practice of fasting according to Jesus' teaching? [42:26]
3. What examples of fasting from historical figures in the Bible were mentioned in the sermon? [46:07]
4. How did the Pharisees' approach to fasting differ from the way Jesus taught about fasting? [49:42]
Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Jesus emphasize the timing and purpose of fasting in His response to John's disciples? How does this relate to the presence of the bridegroom? [57:12]
2. How does the metaphor of new wine and new wineskins illustrate the need for aligning spiritual practices with Jesus' teachings? [42:26]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that fasting is a means of spiritual renewal rather than a public display? [49:42]
4. How does the sermon connect the practice of fasting with the concept of spiritual joy and celebration in the Christian life? [01:01:34]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you fasted or considered fasting. What was your motivation, and how did it align with the reasons Jesus gives for fasting? [46:07]
2. The sermon mentions that fasting is a way to grieve our sins and recognize our dependence on God. How can you incorporate this understanding into your spiritual practices? [46:07]
3. Jesus' teaching on fasting emphasizes doing it for the right reasons and at the right time. How can you discern the right time and reason for fasting in your own life? [57:12]
4. The sermon highlights the importance of spiritual joy and celebration. How can you cultivate a life characterized by "rivers of living water" flowing from you, impacting those around you with the love and joy of Christ? [01:09:58]
5. Consider the critique of the Pharisees' fasting practices. How can you ensure that your spiritual disciplines are genuine and not for public display or self-righteousness? [49:42]
6. The sermon suggests that fasting can help us focus on God and His provisions. What specific steps can you take to shift your focus from earthly needs to divine dependence during a fast? [46:07]
7. How can you use the practice of fasting to deepen your connection with God and seek His guidance in your life? [48:13]
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Dependence through Fasting
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that shifts our focus from earthly needs to divine dependence, allowing us to grieve our sins and recognize our reliance on God. It is not a means to draw attention to ourselves or enact societal change, but a way to deepen our spiritual connection. Fasting, as depicted in the Bible, is a profound practice that invites believers to turn their attention away from the physical and towards the spiritual. It is a time to acknowledge our sins, mourn them, and seek God's forgiveness and guidance. This discipline is not about public display or self-righteousness, but about genuine spiritual renewal and connection with God. By fasting, we express our reliance on God, recognizing that our true sustenance comes from Him alone. [46:07]
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 earthly need or desire is currently distracting you from fully relying on God? How can you use fasting to refocus your heart and mind on Him today?
Day 2: Aligning with Christ's Teachings
The parable of the wineskins teaches us that our spiritual practices must align with the new life and teachings of Jesus. Just as new wine requires new wineskins, our spiritual disciplines must be renewed and aligned with Christ's teachings. This parable illustrates the necessity of adapting our spiritual practices to the transformative message of Jesus. It challenges us to examine whether our current practices are in harmony with the new life that Jesus offers. Fasting, like other spiritual disciplines, should not be a mere ritual but a practice that reflects the teachings and spirit of Christ. It calls us to embrace the newness of life that Jesus brings and to ensure that our spiritual practices are not outdated or misaligned with His message. [42:26]
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Reflection: Are there any spiritual practices in your life that feel outdated or misaligned with the teachings of Jesus? How can you renew these practices to better reflect the new life He offers?
Day 3: Historical Significance of Fasting
Historical figures like Moses, David, and Jesus demonstrate the significance of fasting in seeking God's guidance and expressing deep spiritual truths. Fasting is not about public display or self-righteousness but about genuine spiritual renewal and connection with God. Throughout history, fasting has been a vital practice for those seeking a deeper connection with God. Figures like Moses, David, and Jesus Himself fasted to seek divine guidance and to express profound spiritual truths. This practice is not about showcasing one's piety but about humbling oneself before God and seeking His presence and wisdom. Fasting serves as a reminder of our spiritual heritage and the importance of genuine renewal and connection with God. [48:13]
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: How can you incorporate fasting into your spiritual life as a means of seeking God's guidance and expressing your reliance on Him? What specific spiritual truth do you hope to explore through fasting?
Day 4: Timing and Purpose in Fasting
Jesus emphasizes the importance of timing and purpose in fasting, highlighting that it should be done for the right reasons and at the right time. When the bridegroom is present, it is a time for celebration and joy, not mourning. Jesus taught that fasting should be purposeful and timely, aligning with the spiritual seasons of our lives. The presence of the bridegroom, symbolizing Jesus, is a time for joy and celebration, not for fasting. This teaching reminds us that our spiritual practices should be responsive to the context of our relationship with Christ. Fasting is appropriate in times of longing and seeking, but when we are in the presence of Christ's joy, our response should be one of celebration. [57:12]
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 (ESV): "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance."
Reflection: Reflect on the current season of your spiritual life. Is it a time for fasting and seeking, or a time for celebration and joy in Christ's presence? How can you align your spiritual practices with this season?
Day 5: Rivers of Living Water
Our lives as believers should be characterized by rivers of living water flowing from us, impacting those around us with the love and joy of Christ. This new life in Jesus calls us to live with purpose, celebration, and a deep connection to God. As followers of Christ, we are called to embody the new life that He offers, allowing His love and joy to flow through us like rivers of living water. This imagery speaks to the transformative power of Christ in our lives, enabling us to impact those around us with His presence. Our spiritual practices, including fasting, should reflect this new life, leading us to live with purpose, celebration, and a deep connection to God. [01:09:58]
John 7:38 (ESV): "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"
Reflection: How can you allow the love and joy of Christ to flow through you today, impacting those around you? What specific actions can you take to live with purpose and celebration in your daily life?
Quotes
1) "In scripture, fasting is not a way to get our own will or enact change in society. But fasting is a way to grieve our sin. Fasting is a way to recognize that our dependence, we're going to shift it away from what we think we need, the food that goes in our belly, and then we just have to eat again. Have you ever eaten a meal and you were never hungry again? Now we've all eaten meals where we went, that was three meals, and I'm not going to eat again, perhaps the rest of the day, and then we still eat the next meal. But fasting is a way to grieve over our sin and to recognize our dependence on God." [46:07] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "We as Christians are a people that have a deep, strong heritage, and we are connected to those that came before us. And we can learn an awful lot about godly living by those that have come before us and by emulating some of their behaviors as they were also following Jesus that's why the apostle Paul can be so bold in his statements to say, imitate me as I follow Jesus. He says, follow me as I follow Christ. Now, in our society, we wouldn't hear that very well if I stood up here and said, you guys, be more like Jesus. If you want to be more like Jesus, be like me. We think that guy is arrogant. There's something wrong with him." [48:13] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "Jesus famously fasted for 40 days in the wilderness before he began what we would call his public ministry of calling his disciples and, and performing miracles and healing and teaching in all of the land into the history book of the early church, in the book of acts, chapter 13, in a city called Antioch, the people fasted and prayed. The Christians fasted and prayed. And it was then that God made it clear to them that they were to set aside Paul and Barnabas to go out into the world and to let more people know about Jesus." [48:13] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "Jesus gives this one answer several different ways about celebrating. And the right question is it's all about timing, doing that in the right time, in the right season. Now there is a time to mourn. There's a time to grieve. We're never called to just pretend like life doesn't get hard sometimes because that's disingenuous. And if I do that in my life, people aren't going to trust me. If people don't trust me about that, they're not going to trust me about the things that I say about Jesus. So I want to be really careful about that as well." [01:01:34] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "The beautiful thing about Jesus and his life is in his ministry and his teaching is that it allows us to look back and better understand what was not completely clear to us until Jesus came. Of all the prophecies and the teachings about the promised one, the Messiah, that we can read about in the first, the covenant, what we would call the Old Testament books, we can see those fulfilled in Jesus now, where we live on this side, where we see that the Messiah came, and it was Jesus, and he was died, and he raised again. On the third day, he was physically dead, and then he was physically alive again." [59:03] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "Jesus didn't come to renovate Moses or bring him back, or to even mix law and grace together. He came to bring us new life. As a preacher. One of the benefits that comes with my ordination is that I'm allowed to have an unlimited number of favorite Bible verses. Okay, did you know that as many as I want, I can talk about them all the time. One of my very favorite Bible verses, and it's my favorite because I need the reminder so often, comes out of the gospel of John, chapter seven, verse 38, where Jesus says this, whoever believes in me, as the scriptures have said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water, my friends." [01:08:17] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "When there's nothing pouring in and there's nothing flowing out. Our lives become stagnant. That's why God has designed us and called us to be together as the church, with these rivers of living water flowing out of us, this new wine that God's giving us, to live a life that is filled with celebration, to live a life that has this joy because that is what he wants for us. And that's way more catchy than grief and sulk. Maybe we go from this place and spread joyous Jesus, everybody that we come in contact with." [01:09:58] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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