KEYS TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH PART 4

FASTING FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Matthew 6:16-18.

Matthew 6:16-18 TNIV - 16 "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. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 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.

INTRO:  This is the fourth and final sermon in our series, “Keys to Spiritual Growth.”  Last week we look at attitudes of Spiritual growth.  This week we are going to look at a lost discipline within the modern Church of Jesus Christ today – and that is fasting.  We are going to look at Fasting primarily concerning Spiritual growth.

As many of you know, we just recently purchased a bow-flex home gym.  We were trying to decide where we were going to be putting it.  Laura decided to reorganize the bedroom to see if you could make room for it Monday.  Well, I didn’t get much sleep Sunday night.  I woke up at 12:30am and went and sit on the couch and then about 5:00 did my devotion time in the Bible.  Then I had an all day hospital visit.  I went back to the church about 8 Monday evening or so and then a little after nine and headed home.  When I got home I noticed that the bedroom was changed.  I was tired and went to bed.  I slept until about 4:30 am and then got up and started walking toward the bedroom door to go to the living room to do my morning devotions when suddenly I walked right into the bookcase along the wall.  That bookcase wasn’t supposed to there.  I’ve walked this way every morning in the dark since we lived here so I know it by heart.  So I tried again and walked into it again.  I was completely lost.  I started to holler out, “Where am I?  I don’t know how to get out of this room!  Laura just stayed asleep.  You see, I forgot that she changed up the room.  What was suppose to be ordinary was not.  I felt for a moment lost in my own bedroom.  I always carry my watch in my hand when I don’t have it latched on me. I remembered that I had a knew watch that had a light on it.  I pushed the button on the light and then it registered:  Laura changed the furniture around.  I was able to finally see to get out of the room.

That story does have some things to do concerning fasting.  Sometimes, we need direction.  We need to really seek the face of the Lord and learn more about Him and His ways and His will and direction.  Sometimes this can only come from prayer and fasting.  When you spend time in prayer during a fast, it will be like the light on my watch, the Lord will give you direction.

Quite frankly, fasting is probably not in the top 10 of everyone’s to do list today, this week, or even this year.  I will be honest with you, though I’ve done it on occasion, I don’t do it nearly enough.  I believe that God wants me, as well as all of us to make it more of a part of our lives, just as He wants to be more a part of our lives as well.

When looking at our Scripture text one thing should be clear:  Jesus expects us to fast as part of our on-going relationship with Him.  Notice the first words in our text.  It is not, “if you fast,” but, “When you fast.”  While I don’t believe it is necessarily a commandment, from this word, “when,” I think it is safe to say it is an expectation. 

Fasting is mentioned throughout all of Scripture.  Many of God’s people fasted at various times, and of course, we have the example of Jesus fasting for 40 days before He started His public ministry.

Just what does it mean to fast anyway?  I will give a couple of definitions here.  One definition is to lay aside any pleasurable and/or vital activity for a period of time in order to intensely pursue God and know His mind with the intent of obeying His revealed will.  Another definition I really like is simple and to the point: Fasting is getting some quality alone time with God!  The focus of fasting is God by the way, not you or I!  It is not about getting what we want or desire, but getting to know Him and His mind, ways, and directions.  It is like the first sentence in the book, “Purpose driven life.”  “It’s not about you.”

You see, sometimes the right thing can be done for the wrong reason.  It is the same with fasting.  Fasting isn’t done primarily for your benefit, but to prepare you to be used by God.

Let’s take a look at some rules of Biblical fasting, not in any particular order.

1.  Keep it secret!

Verses 17-18 TNIV - 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 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.

A.     Fasting is not about being seen by others, but seen by only one – God!

B.     Jesus gives a warning here about doing spiritual things for the purpose of a spiritual reputation.

1.      Your reward will not be anything the Father gives, but only the reputation itself (v. 16).

C.     You see, the Pharisee’s and others would broadcast the fact that they were fasting.  They made themselves look the part so that everyone would know.  They did it for show.

1.      Richard Foster in his studies concerning fasting mentions that the practice of the Pharisees was to fast on Mondays and Thursdays because those were the days that the markets were open in Jerusalem.  They did this because they would have a bigger audience that would be impressed by their supposed piety.

D.     We’ve all known people who seem fine one moment and then when they realize they have someone’s attention, they get the old, “woe is me,” look on their face.

1.      They basically want attention and someone to feel sorry for them.  I feel they don’t really want deliverance and victory. 

2.      Why?  Well, because with victory comes boldness to stand and face you enemies in Christ.

E.      Here is a good question:  What if you are invited to a meal during your fast?

1.      You can tell them either you have other plans, or just go ahead if they are believers and tell them that you have dedicated that time today to spend some time in prayer.   Just tell them some other time.  I’m sure  as believers they will understand.

2.  Understand the reason for fasting.

There are several reasons.  Here is a few.

A.     To humble yourself before God.

1.      When you set aside some of your desires and needs to present yourself before God, you are taking a humble step of faith.

2.      Fasting helps us come back to the idea that God is gracious in His dealings with us, and so we honor Him with our humility during our fast.

3.      When we humble ourselves before God – God honors the humility.  The Bible says that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

3.  Fasting allows the Holy Spirit to bring clarity of the Bible to our hearts and minds.

A.     When we humble ourselves before God in fasting, we are more open to the Holy Spirit teaching us something we’ve never learned before from the Scriptures.

B.     Not only can we learn something from the Holy Spirit, but He also teaches us how to make the Bible a real part of our lives, getting past our lip service to truly serve and acknowledge the Lord in all we do and say.

C.     The Bible is much easier to apply when you understand it, and you can’t understand it if you don’t have proper interpretation and illumination from the author – the Holy Spirit.

4.  Fasting gives the Holy Spirit permission to show us our own true spiritual condition.

A.     If we want to be all God wants for us to be, then we need the Holy Spirit to reveal to us areas in which we have missed the mark and fallen short in our lives.

B.     I know of know better way of getting back your first love – Jesus Christ – than to humble yourself before Him during a fast and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your own spiritual condition.

C.     The reveal to not to condemn, but so that you and I might repent and see true spiritual revival take place in our hearts and lives.

5.  Fasting reminds us that it isn’t food or wants that sustains us, but God and God alone.

A.     When you fast and get rid of pleasures for a time, you realize what Jesus said.

1.      Man does not live by bread alone, but by the very words that proceed from the mouth of God.

B.     Examples of different types of fasts.

1.      Food.  This could be days, or a meal, or a particular food.

2.      Marriage relations. 

1 Corinthians 7:5 TNIV - 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer.

3.      Media.  TV, Movies, radio, magazines, newspapers, books, etc…

4.      Other forms of entertainment.  Internet, video games, sports, etc…

6.  The purpose of fasting is to give that time to focused prayer.

A.     Fasting is more than missing a meal or some form of entertainment.

B.     It is taking that time normally spent doing those things and spending it in prayer.

CONCL:  I’m not one to call the congregation into a congregational fast, although I’ve done it and do believe it that.  But I think more importantly, fasting is a very personal thing between you and your Lord.  Here is the challenge:  Think over this message, read it over the internet or get a copy of the CD and do some Bible study and prayer, and if you feel the Lord directed you to fast, do it.  You will not go away from it just lacking food or some type of enjoyment, but you will go away from the time of fasting as spending quality time with your Lord and getting to know His heart, His ways, His directions, and His will.  I strongly encourage you to live a life of fasting.