Series: Inspired Word of God
Matthew 4:1-4 ESV
John 1:1 ESV
Exodus 34:27-28 ESV
I Kings 19:4-8 ESV
Daniel 10:2-11 ESV
Acts 13:2-3 ESV
I don’t know about you, but I’ve done my fair share of fasting in my time.
It wasn’t fasting with the intention of losing weight.
It was fasting and praying.
I wanted to really learn how to hear God.m
I wanted to hear God clearly.
I was told (and read in books) that fasting changes our focus.
Matthew 4:1-4, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
To reiterate, we do not live for bread alone. We live by the Word…the Word of God. In John 1:1 we are told, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
We live BY the Word.
So why fast?
Not only did Jesus fast, the discipline was an ancient Hebrew practice.
Moses fasted and in Exodus 34:27-28 we learn, “And the Lord said to Moses, “Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.”
Notice that Moses not only did not eat, he did not drink water. This took place in the desert, so not drinking water would have required direct intervention from God.
Elijah fasted. In I Kings 19:4-8 we are told that Elijah, “went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.”
God prepared Elijah for the fast. God knew what was ahead.
Daniel fasted. In Daniel 10:2-11 we learn, “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. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground. And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.”
God prepared Daniel to receive the man clothed in linen. Daniel fasted for three weeks.
The early church practiced fasting.
In Acts 13:2-3 we read, “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.”
The Spirit spoke to the members of the early church as they were worshiping and fasting.
In Acts 14:23 we learn, “And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
Fasting is an ancient discipline that God honors.
In my case I learned that when I am fasting I come to a point when I am not focused on food.
Fasting humbles me because I am ultra focused on God. Once again I’m not focused on planning and cooking meals or cleaning the kitchen after the meal.
When fasting I am more sensitive to the Spirit. It’s difficult to know if that’s because I am making space for God or the Spirit is present because of my need for encouragement.
Finally, when I fast I am focused on praying. It’s my time to really listen.
Scripture is clear that fasting is a discipline. However, if you have health concerns about fasting check with your doctor. Make sure it’s a good discipline for you.
Spiritual Practice: Pray about doing a Short Fast
If you’ve never fasted, do a short fast (one meal). Drink water while fasting.
In God, Deborah