What's So Spiritual about Fasting?

Summary

Summary prepared by Acts 2:38 Life from the transcript below — the preacher’s words follow in full.

Assumed, not commanded — and never for show or to earn

• The question posed (in the host's frame): many churches and Believers set aside time, for prayer and fasting, at the beginning of the new year. This begs a question: what's so spiritual, about going hungry? The frame adds: an empty stomach can bless your soul (as the preview puts it). The host's question: it's January. And this just seems like the time of year, when every Church (the question styles the fellowship by its full name) is calling, for some sort of special fast. I heard a joke once (the host credits it to a fellow minister), that he hoped Jesus comes back in January — because that's the month, when most of us are ready to meet him. And a lot of churches are asking their members, to participate in some sort of fast. It might be what we call a Daniel Fast. It might be some sort of long fast (the question names a span of days for one form). And there's all sorts of variations on it. But I guess the question here is: what does the Bible say about fasting, first of all? But maybe — maybe you'd put it in a sort of a humorous way: what is so spiritual, about going hungry? What effect do you think that the fasting has, on the individual believer? But also on the church, corporately? The answer: certainly, fasting is a Biblical teaching, and practice. Now, it's interesting: you don't have a command, in the New Testament, to fast. It's just assumed. The Sermon on the Mount: Jesus says — when you fast ('win you fast', as heard) — so he's assuming Believers are going to fast. He doesn't have to tell them. And then he gives guidelines: you know, don't boast, in your fasting. Don't make a public show. Don't tell people you're fasting. Don't go around with a mournful expression, and unkempt appearance, so everybody will ask: what's wrong with you? You're suffering so much. But because you're not fasting for show. You're not fasting, to prove you're spiritual. You're fasting, for a spiritual purpose. So: while there's no specific statement, of how often you should fast, or anything like that. And I would say: people that look at fasting, to earn favors with God — that's a wrong approach. That's not the purpose of fasting. We don't fast, to earn salvation. To earn blessings. Or to earn points, with God. We don't fast, so that God has to do something. God doesn't have to do anything — I don't care how much we fast, or pray. And nor is fasting a mechanical thing, like a vending machine: you push enough buttons, you put enough money in, you get the answer you want. If you're fasting for those reasons, that's a mistaken approach. All of God's blessings are by grace. And all of our prayers should be in accordance, with the will of God. We shouldn't try to manipulate God. If it's not the will of God, we shouldn't want it. Our prayer should be, to align to God's will. Not to convince God, to do our will.

What fasting is — spiritual priorities and spiritual discipline

• So, but obviously: throughout the Bible, there are examples of fasting ('examples of facts fasting', as heard). There are instructions, about fasting. So it is a significant practice. Here's what I think fasting really is: it's a way of establishing spiritual priorities, and spiritual discipline. You see: it's fundamental to human nature, the Instinct for self-preservation. And so, if we're hungry, you know, our mind, our body, is geared towards: I gotta have something to eat. And of course, eventually, if we don't drink water, we're gonna die. If we don't eat food, we're gonna die. So it's a necessity. When we fast, what we're doing is: we're saying, I'm setting aside temporarily, my physical necessity. Because I have a greater spiritual need. And I'm disciplining my physical desires. Because I'm trying to train my body, and my mind: you should do the will of God, regardless of your physical desires. So the aspect of spiritual discipline is, that if we can learn to control our physical hunger, then we can learn to control the lust of the flesh. And the idea of spiritual priority: if we can set aside even our most basic needs, for a moment, to see God — then that will increase our faith, and increase our ability to hear from God, to be sensitive to God. If we can set aside all distracting calls, even from our own body, we'll be more sensitive to the call of God. Now: for that to be fulfilled, I think it must be a meaningful fast. Normally, in the Bible, fasting is either no water or food, or at least no food. Now: the so-called Daniel Fast — I'm not against anybody, who will make any commitment, or sacrifice, or discipline. Actually, I think in Daniel's case, he was just avoiding eating unclean food. It wasn't really what we think of, as a fast, in that sense. And I am a little concerned, about people who have — you know, that will say: okay, I'm going to fast from food, but not liquids. And then they use the blender, or the food processor, to drink — you know, pretty much full amount of calories, but just drinking it, you know. So you're kind of playing games with yourself there. Now: I would say, normally, you should fast from food, completely, if it's — an — extended fast. Or, if you have physical limitations, then maybe it needs to be moderated, in some way. And as long as it's a meaningful commitment, in your life, to God, I think God accepts that. The purpose is spiritual discipline, and spiritual desire, spiritual priorities.

The practice — regular rhythms, kept quietly, with medical sense

• One thing I did, at various times — we do various things — but my most normal thing is: if you're working, and have a heavy schedule, it's hard to go without food, for a long time. Or unless you're gonna — willing to set aside time, for praying, fasting, which is a legitimate thing. But an easy way to have a regular fast, once a week, would be: to eat dinner one night, say like Wednesday night. And then fast, until the next dinner, Thursday night. So it's approximately 24 hours. But yet you're pretty much able to function, that day, and do a regular schedule. But you're fasting, one day a week. Or another practice might be: once a quarter, to take two, three, four days, and just block that out. I do think: having a regular schedule — of one day a week, or several days a quarter — or the pastor may call certain times a year. And I think the beginning of the year is a great time, because that's a normal time, to focus on spiritual priorities. I do think a regular schedule — is, because it's all about discipline. So having a regular schedule helps you maintain that discipline. And so, I think again: you shouldn't advertise it, or glorify it. And you should use sound medical principles, good medical advice. If you go on extended fast, you should break that — wean yourself off of that fast, gradually. So we're not saying, to harm your body. But as — intermittent fasting can actually be good. It can be healthy for your body, to purge your body. But our primary purpose is not health benefits. Our primary purpose is ('our primary purposes is', as spoken), to focus on the Lord.

Joined to prayer — and the corporate fast

• And I think prayer and fasting needs to be coupled, with prayer. So: part of — the fasting helps you establish your spiritual priority, and helps you deny the flesh. But you need the positive side, of seeking — actively seeking God. So: if you're not praying, fasting can actually be a detrimental thing. I do think, in some sense, fasting opens you up, to this spiritual world. So if you do it for the wrong reason — for Pride — or you're not really praying, well then it can actually open you, to a negative spiritual influence, that could be bad for you. There are some people, who are worse off after a fast, because they've opened themselves, to the spiritual realm, in a negative way, and they've allowed Pride, to grow in their heart ('to grow in your their heart', as the letters stand). So I think fasting has to be done, for the right reason. And certainly, there's a time for a corporate fast. The Bible has examples of that. And often, the pastor will call the church, to corporate fasting. And maybe he will ask different people, to take different days, so they'll have an extended time. Or maybe he'll ask everybody, to take one or more days. And I always, as a pastor, would — when I would do that — I would say: you know, do what you can. And if medically, or physically, you're not able to do as much as others ('not able doing as much as others', as spoken), just do what you can, and God will honor that. And I would usually have a flexible time. And I would usually ask them, to spend a little extra time in prayer. Maybe the time you save not eating, maybe you can spend that extra time in prayer. And I have found, that if fasting is a regular practice in your life, I do believe it's beneficial, for your spiritual discipline, and seeking after God. And certainly, this is a great time of year. If you didn't — if you haven't practiced fasting prior to this — hey, January is a great time, to start some new habits, and Institute that regular discipline. And if you're not used to it, the first day can be agonizing. But actually, by the second or third day, the hunger seems to diminish ('the hugger seems to diminish', as heard). So you just have to be tough, and push your way through it. And normally, I think it's okay, to have water, and breath mints.