FIGHTING THE FAILURE TO FAST
Various Scriptures
Morgan Spurlock is the producer, director and guinea pig of the movie “Super Size Me”, in which he subjects his body to a three-meal-a-day McDonald’s only diet to determine if fast food really has an impact on a person’s health. During the journey, Spurlock put his own body on the line, living on nothing but McDonald’s for an entire month.
It all adds up to a fat food bill, harrowing visits to the doctor, and compelling viewing for anyone who’s ever wondered if man could live on fast food alone. By the end of the month he had gained 25 pounds, raised his cholesterol level 65 points, increased his body fat by seven percentage points and doubled his risk of heart disease.
Before, during and after the diet, Spurlock was regularly checked by three doctors, who expressed amazement at his rapid transformation. It wasn’t just his physical appearance that changed. His liver was taxed to such an extent that the doctors suggested aborting the experiment halfway through.
Spurlock, deemed a perfectly healthy American man before the diet and in good physical shape, also restricted his physical activity while on the diet. His research revealed that more than 60 percent of Americans get no significant exercise on any given day, and the average American takes about 5,000 steps per day, so the filmmaker decided to restrict his activity to that level as well.
Spurlock indicated his documentary is intended not so much to convince Americans they shouldn’t eat fast food but to get them thinking about portion control and the increasing trend of obesity. "Everything’s bigger in America," Spurlock says in the opening of the film. "America has now become the fattest nation in the world."
He hit the road and interviewed experts in 20 U.S. cities. From Surgeon Generals to gym teachers, cooks to kids, lawmakers to legislators, these authorities shared their research, opinions and "gut feelings" on our ever-expanding girth.
The film explores the horror of school lunch programs, declining health and physical education classes, food addictions and the extreme measures people take to lose weight and regain their health. The film shows a first-grade class pictures of George Washington. Only one or two of about seven children could identify the founding father. But every child could identify Ronald McDonald and knew detailed information about the fictional character.
Well, it is no surprise against the backdrop of such a movie, and a country that would have a hard time denying the reality of that movie, that the spiritual discipline of fasting seems out of date, unrealistic, and hardly necessary for the Christian walk in the 21st Century. Few Christians deny the importance of prayer, or studying God’s Word. There is something instinctive about reaching out to God in those ways. Fasting, on the other hand, is a spiritual discipline forgotten, feared, and even mocked by many believers.
Richard Foster writes in his book A Celebration of Discipline, “In a culture where the landscape is dotted with shrines to the Golden Arches and an assortment of Pizza Temples, fasting seems out of place, out of step with the times. In fact, fasting has been in general disrepute both in and outside the church for many years. For example, in my research I could not find a single book published on the subject of Christian fasting from 1861 to 1954, a period of nearly one hundred years.”
In fact, if I were to ask you to raise your hands, which I won’t, and indicate the habit of fasting as represented in our church, what would the results be? Even among a body of Bible believing, God pursuing, spiritually maturing people, how many of us would raise our hands and say that in the last year we fasted for three or more days at a single time? How about 48 hours? Or 24 Hours? Just one single day out of the past 365.
I would say there is little doubt that fasting has become the forgotten discipline in our Christian walks. The constant propaganda that we see daily admonishes us that if we don’t have at least three large meals each and every day, with a few snacks in between, we are on the verge of starvation. Combine that with a society that believes we should satisfy every human appetite, and fasting has become obsolete.
When you suggest fasting to people, you will often hear such things as “Isn’t fasting injurious to your health?” Or, “It will take all my strength and I won’t be able to work.” Or maybe, “Doesn’t it destroy healthy body tissue to fast?” Of course, the reality is that when done correctly, not only can fasting have great spiritual benefits, but it can also be physically beneficial. However, that isn’t the message of our society.
But throughout the Scriptures, fasting is a regular practice. Moses, David, Elijah, Esther, Daniel, Paul, and even Jesus utilized fasting as a spiritual discipline in their lives. Even throughout the history of the church: Martin Luther, all the “John”s (Calvin, Knox, Wesley, and Edwards), Charles Finney, and others have relied upon fasting as a significant part of their daily walk with God. I have shared that Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, made it a practice in his life to participate annually in a 40 day fast, seeking God’s guidance and direction as he led a worldwide movement.
So why should we fast? Why, in 2004, should we still participate in such an ancient practice? First. . .
A. FOR THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF FASTING.
And when I say Spiritual Discipline, I don’t just mean it as a straight noun, but the actual act of disciplining yourself spiritually. And it is important to understand what this means.
If I were to ask you to name the most popular movie you can think of that depicts fasting, you might think of the Oscar winning movie Gandhi. In fact, there are numerous websites where you can look up sermon topics, and they will provide movie clips to utilize with those messages. When you look up “fasting” on many of these sites, they will lead you to the movie Gandhi. But that is not a good example of fasting.
You see, we fast for spiritual discipline, and not for a number of other reasons similar to Gandhi. For instance, a fast is not a hunger strike. What’s the difference? Well, the purpose of a hunger strike is to get your way. To gain political power, or attract attention to a good cause. Hunger strikes can be very effective, but they are manipulative, and fasting is not intended to be. We are not saying, “God do this, or I won’t eat again.”
Also, a fast is not a medical procedure. I have had the pleasure in my young life of on three occasions having a colonoscopy. Those that have experienced one can relate to what a spiritual experience that is. In preparing for those over the years, a fast has been required. But the purpose of those fasts was to prepare for a medical procedure, not to draw in and hear from God. It isn’t a bad time to pray and draw near to God, but that isn’t the primary purpose behind that particular fast.
A third thing a fast is not, a fast as we are looking at it today, and as a spiritual discipline is not a method of diet. A way to be spiritual, and lose weight at the same time. That is a physical motivation for fasting rather than a spiritual. And that is really a motivation of vanity and concern over our appearance, rather than a motivation of growth in your Christian walk.
We should fast for the pure, untarnished, non-secularized spiritual discipline benefit of fasting. Why else should we fast?
B. GOD EXPECTS US TO FAST.
Nancy did a great job last week of sharing some of the verbiage used in the Bible regarding prayer. How Jesus said such things as “when” you pray. He assumed we would pray. It was just a given as part of our spiritual walk.
Well, in Matthew 6:16 Jesus says a similar thing, “When you fast. . .” Not “if” you fast. Also, not a command to fast. Simply an assumption that we will fast. And if Jesus assumes we would do it. . .I think that is a pretty good indication that we should do it.
One more reason I think we should fast, and why I think we should make all of these spiritual disciplines we will be looking at together a regular part of our walk with God, is that. . .
C. IT KEEPS US FROM BECOMING COMFORTABLE WITH CHEAP GRACE.
You know, the price that was paid for our salvation on the cross was free, but it wasn’t cheap. It was a steep, expensive price. The life of God’s only son. And rather than take that for granted, we need to daily be about the discipline of honoring that sacrifice and paying the price to grow in our walk with God.
Foster goes on to write, “Have we become so accustomed to ‘cheap grace’ that we instinctively shy away from more demanding calls to obedience? Why has the giving of money, for example, been unquestionably recognized as an element in Christian devotion and fasting so disputed? Perhaps in our affluent society fasting involves a far larger sacrifice than the giving of money.”
Now here is the really incredible part. If you chose to make fasting a regular part of your spiritual discipline, you will find that the benefits are amazing. Let’s look at some of them, some awesome and powerful advantages to the spiritual discipline of fasting. Remembering that we are not doing it for the benefits, but that God has provided these as a blessing when we do fast.
1. Fasting intensifies the desire to pray.
It turns physical hunger into a spiritual feast, making our appetite for God stronger. Last week we received a number of great tips to help us in our prayer life, and help focus us in on prayer. Fasting is one of those ways. The self-discipline of fasting teaches the flesh to yield to the spirit. It tunes you into God, and intensifies your desire to pray.
When I fast, and it doesn’t happen like this every time, but I attempt to replace those normal meal times, with times of spiritual feasting. Reading God’s Word, praying. Taking advantage of that 90 minutes or so that have been cleared on my calendar by not eating three meals throughout the day.
2. Fasting encourages perseverance in prayer.
Psalm 35:13 says David added fasting to his searching for God. He says "when my prayers returned…unanswered. . . I humbled myself with fasting.” There are times when we are tempted to give up asking, but fasting and praying even more would be the appropriate response. Fasting keeps our minds on the spiritual hunger that drove us to start praying and the spiritual thirst that will not let us give up.
3. Fasting increases our delight in God’s answers.
Psalm 126:5 says, “Those who sow in tears, shall reap in joy.” The greater our sacrifice for a heart’s desire, the greater our satisfaction when it is realized. Fasting does not force God to do what we ask; but it does help prepare us to delight in asking for whatever will please Him most. It prepares us to go from fasting and sacrifice to joy and celebration.
4. Fasting intensifies concentration in prayer.
It begins with a conscious decision to make prayer a priority — a decision that is usually prompted by specific needs or burdens. The decision to forego food to focus on prayer concentrates more spiritual energy on those needs. Makes us uncomfortable so that we will have greater concentration in our prayers. When I fast, each time I think of food I utilize that thought as a prompt to pray.
5. Fasting amplifies faith.
Jesus told the drowsy disciples who were supposed to be joining Him in a night of fasting from sleep, another kind of fast that we will look at in a few moments, "The spirit is willing, but the body is weak" (Matthew 26:41). And as you fast, and you see God’s spirit within you overcoming the flesh and the desires of your body. . .your faith will grow. Victory over the flesh increases our confidence that we will be victorious in our spirit.
6. Fasting deepens humility.
Humility is voluntary submission to God’s will, and that is an attitude fasting cultivates. We have looked at James 4:7-10 a number of times over the past few weeks, and it reminds us that those who grieve, mourn and weep before the Lord, all of which are indirect references to fasting back in Bible times, those will be the people that will be lifted up. Submitting to God’s will, relying on Him to be our strength, rather than a Super Sized Meal, deepens our humility.
7. Fasting creates a new openness to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
In Luke 4:14 it tells us that after Jesus has been tempted in the wilderness, and after spending 40 days in prayer and fasting, he returned to Galilee "in the power of the Spirit". You see, fasting is not so much going without food, as it is an emptying of ourselves in anticipation of a fresh filling by the Holy Spirit. Instead of relying on calories, carbs, or whatever else we might count, it is relying on the sustaining presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And a final benefit of fasting. . .
8. Fasting helps drive Satan back from long-held territory.
Soldiers locked in battle do not stop for coffee breaks, but it seems that Christians involved in spiritual warfare often do. Some life situations are so intense that we dare not give up until we win a clear-cut victory. Because Satan does not surrender to the fainthearted, we should sometimes turn to fasting to keep us fully engaged in the struggle against the foe.
This very hour on Sunday mornings is an example of a place where I have begun to utilize fasting to see a number of these benefits come to fruition. Many Sundays as we worship together, I can sense the battle raging. Walls going up. Walls over music selection, instrumentation, technology. Distractions raging. Distracted by the temperature of the sanctuary, the order of worship, the discomfort of the pews.
The last few months I have had the opportunity to worship from the back of the sanctuary. To pray over our service as it begins and unfolds. And I can sense the intense, deep battles over tradition, personal preferences, disagreements with church direction that make their way into our very services. I can sense a restriction of the Holy Spirit. A lack of concentration and focus solely on God. A constraining of the delight, celebration and joy that should come from just being in His presence.
Folks, I believe that a major breakthrough is awaiting Stonewall Wesleyan Church between 10:45 a.m. and noon on Sunday. The warfare over this hour is intense. Satan does not want to see our services reach the point of complete and utter abandonment to the worship and celebration of God. He knows that for many of you, when that wall is broken down, there will be no stopping you in your walk with God.
And look how God has blessed us in this area. Do you realize the gifts He has given us so that we can worship Him freely? We have the technology that means our heads can be lifted up, and our hands are free to raise in praise to Him. When I was a kid, I couldn’t sing with both my hands raised to God because I had to hold onto the words. Now I can freely praise Him. We are the only Wesleyan church in KY with that capability.
We have gifted musicians that lead us into an incredible experience of worship. Not every church has the blessing of a Trish Crawford leading us into Worthy is the Lamb. Musicians like Debbie, and Nate, and Heidi on the flute.
We have all kinds of people getting plugged into ministry through worship. A nine year old boy helping with PowerPoint. Scott and Rusty helping run sound. Jeannie and Sarah singing on the praise team. We are being blessed by people connecting to SWC and ministering to us and with us during our services.
And do you realize how blessed we are with our worship leader? I shake my head in amazement almost daily that God would send Joel and Brooke to SWC on the very Sunday that we candidated as pastor. I don’t see that as fluke luck. That was God’s provision and plan. Man, what an awesome worship leader we have in Joel. Such a gifted guitar player and vocalist, leading us through the challenging waters of becoming a fully contemporary worshiping church. And with such a servant’s heart.
We are so blessed in this area. God has laid the groundwork for a breakthrough. So I have begun to fully engage the struggles that we face against our enemy in this hour through prayer and fasting. I am believing God for these benefits of fasting. An unleashing of the Holy Spirit. An overwhelming spirit of faith and celebration. An enormous spiritual breakthrough. We need one, and I believe God is going to bring one.
Well, maybe when it comes to fasting you don’t know where to begin. You’re thinking, “Chip, that sounds great. But I can not imagine fasting for a few days, let alone a single day. How in the world does a person do that?”
Well, let me give you a progressing scale if you will, some steps you can take to deepen this discipline in your life. First, if you have never fasted before, you might begin with...
AN ACTIVITY FAST
This is when you forego some time-consuming activity other than eating, such as entertainment, hobbies, television, reading, sports, etc. A great starting point for you might simply be giving up your post 9 p.m. television.
“Oh pastor. That is when the news is on.” You can’t change the news. “That is when CSI is on.” Unless you are planning a career change, what good is that doing you? “But Chip, this is Eastern Time zone; all the great sporting events don’t even start until 9 p.m.” I couldn’t agree more. . .maybe a food fast doesn’t sound so bad now.
And this is a great way to incorporate your whole family into a fast. When Debbie and I fast, we won’t call on our children to go without food for days, but they can fast from TV, Nintendo, or items in their life that can drown out God. They can still be involved in our fasting together as a family.
Another, non-food alternative is. . .
AN ALL-NIGHT FAST FROM SLEEP
This is what Jesus called on His inner circle to join Him in the very night He was betrayed. Making the sacrifice of physical rest for the sake of spiritual labor.
You know, many of us are awaken during the night, restless, unable to sleep. . .and that is God attempting to communicate with us. He is finally finding the TV off, the stereo not blaring, the kids not screaming, and He is saying, “How about taking this quiet time, and spending some time with me?”
Maybe you are ready for a. . .
A PARTIAL FAST
This is simply not eating one meal on a specific day or days or even abstaining from certain kinds of food, such as meats or desserts during the fast period. This is another way we incorporate Jamie and Allie into fasting. Even children can fast from desserts, sugar, snacks for a period of time. Hard to believe in our society, but it’s true.
Ask yourself, “Am I not capable of skipping lunches on Thursdays, and spending 30 minutes in prayer?” What a simple and great way to deepen your walk with God. Giving up one meal a week to spend in dedicated focus with Him.
How many of you have ever missed a meal due to being too busy at work, or on a project, or tackling something at home, and it just went right past almost unnoticed? Isn’t God worthy of the same focus and sacrifice?
But two practices of fasting I would strongly encourage you to work towards are first…
AN ALL-DAY FOOD FAST
Abstaining from all solid foods and drinking only water or juices. If you decide you will fast on Thursday, you go to bed on Wednesday, and eat again when you wake up on Friday. But you give all of Thursday to fasting from solid foods, and drink only water or juices. An entire day of physical sacrifice for spiritual strengthening and growth.
And secondly, I would encourage you to seek God’s direction for embarking on . . .
AN EXTENDED FAST
Abstinence from food for several days at a time or for an entire "forty day" period. I have found that when I fast, the first day I am pretty motivated, but it isn’t until the second or third day that I am truly beginning to focus in on God as my provider and sustainer. It is days into it when I really begin to understand the principles and discipline of relying on my time with God to be my bread of life.
If you have been able to participate in 24 hour fasts, I would strongly encourage you to move on to times of extended fasting in your life. 60 plus hours, or three to seven days are great time periods for fasting and seeing substantial impact on the course of your life.
Will it be easy, no. Will it be discomfort free, no. Will it make much sense to those around you. . .coworkers, family members, even church friends? Maybe not. But the spiritual benefits of living out this spiritual discipline in your life will be incredible.
I will always take an awareness of fasting as one of the great gifts God provided to Debbie and me during our time with Athletes In Action and Campus Crusade for Christ. From the example given by Bill Bright, all the way down to our friend Kevin Sides who many of you met at the Missions Conference we were challenged to embark on extended fasts. Not for physical or medical reasons, but for the sake of drawing closer to God. Reaping the benefits of a life committed to passionately seeking His face.
I was excited to return to this discipline this past week. Through our first six months in Kentucky, all the transition and change, fasting had fallen by the wayside in my life. So with the family at KY Children’s Camp, and the opportunity to spend some extended time alone with God this week it was such an encouragement to make fasting a part of that and seeking God’s face in a very humble, intimate way.
I hope we will be a praying church, but I also hope we will become a fasting church. Setting aside the trappings of our world to hear from our Creator and Father. Fighting off the enemy by showing him that our strength, our energy, our power, comes from the Almighty.
John Wesley declared, “. . .it was not merely by the light of reason that the people of God have been, in all ages, directed to use fasting as a means, but they have been taught it of God Himself, by clear and open revelations of His will. . .Now, whatever reasons there were to quicken those of old, in the zealous and constant discharge of this duty, they are of equal force still to quicken us.”
(Pray)
