Fasting

It is one of those “things” we would rather forget about. It takes us out of our comfort zone. The average person can only go three hours before hunger pangs take over and we just have to have something to eat or we will surely die. I’m sure Esau wasn’t dying when he begged Jacob for the stew but he willing to give up his birthright.

Typically and traditionally people think of fasting as abstaining from the consumption of food for a period of time. While this is true, fasting is much more than that. Fasting can be giving up something for a period of time that your body craves or needs. Many people are able to go for days without something to eat and it means nothing to them. Ask them to give up their cell phone for a day or two and see what happens. But for simplicity sake, let’s just say for now that fasting is abstaining from the consumption of food for a period of time.

When you read the Old Testament you will find that the Jews were only required to fast once a year and that was on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:31), the day man is reconciled back to God. There were however, other times that people were either called on to fast or chose to fast. People would fast during times of mourning. David and his men fasted when they heard or the death of King Saul (2 Sam. 1:12). David also fasted for several days because his son became critically ill (2 Sam. 12:16). Nehemiah records that upon hearing of the conditions in his home country of Jerusalem; he fasted and prayed (Neh. 1:4).

There were also times when the people would fast in times of sorrow for turning away from God and following after pagan gods. Israel repented for following after other gods; they fasted and repented (1 Sam 7:6). Jonah 3:5 records that the people of Nineveh upon hearing Jonah’s prophecy put on sackcloth, covered themselves with ashes, and fasted. During the time of Nehemiah’s governorship (Neh. 9:1), the Israelites came together for a period of fasting, wearing sackcloth, and having dust on their heads confessing their sins. Jesus told of how his disciples would fast when he is gone.

Then there is a time where the people fasted during the time of salvation from God. W Chronicles 20 records how King Jehoshaphat called for a national time of fasting for all Judah because they were being invaded by foreign nations. God saw their fast, heard their prayers and delivered them. Likewise God spoke to the prophet Joel calling for a fast to restore them from destruction. God said: “Return to God with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your hearts and not your garments.” God is concerned more about the condition of your heart.

There were also times when people fasted when they were called into a special ministry. Moses fasted 40 days and nights when he was on the mountain with God receiving the commandments of God. Prior to Jesus beginning his earthly ministry he fasted 40 days and 40 nights in the desert region. Upon Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus he fasted for three days before Ananias came and placed his hands onhim. At Antioch (Acts 13:1) the followers were worshipping the Lord and fasting when the Holy Spirit spoke to them telling them to set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work they were called to do. Acts 14 tells about the setting aside of elders and when they did so they prayed and fasted.

These are just a few of the examples given in scripture abut the need for Gods people to fast. There are also examples given where people fasted for the wrong reasons and the wrong motives. In Matthew 6:16-18 Jesus said that we shouldn’t be like the hypocrites who look somber or gloomy to be seen and noticed by others. Rather Jesus told the people that they should put oil on their heads and to wash their faces so that they don’t bring attention to themselves but rather to be noticed by the Father. Jesus told them that what the Father sees them do in secret he will reward them openly; in other words, the Father will hear their prayers. Jesus also gives up the parable of the Pharisee in Luke 18. The Pharisee brags to God about who he isn’t ( a robber, a person who does evil or an adulterer, not even like the tax collectors), what he does, i.e. fast twice a week and tithe. Jesus said that those people who exalt themselves, those who are full of pride, those who lift themselves up above others, God will humble.

Another example of fasting for the wrong reasons is because of tradition. In Jeremiah 14 the land was devastated and the people confessed their sins to God but didn’t repent of them. God told them that their fasting was of no avail. He would destroy them. The people thought of the rituals they were going through were somewhat of a good luck charm to them. They looked at God as nothing more than a good luck charm. To them God Jehovah was just one of many gods they worshipped. God is a jealous God and shares His glory with no one, nothing! Isaiah 58 tells of the people fasting but God not honoring their fast. They were being religious towards God but not relational with Him. Beginning is Isaiah 58:6-14 God says: “Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

God is not concerned if we are being “hungry” for Him. Fasting does not make you right with God. Fasting does not impress God. We need to come before God in the right fram of mind, heart and soul. Hebrews 11:6 says that god rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Deuteronomy 4:29 says that: “we are to seek the Lord and if we look for him with all our heart and soul we will find him. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked way, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sins and will heal their land.” Jeremiah 29:13 “you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

When Jesus was at the well with the Samaritan woman he was hungry. His personal hunger was set to the side to minister to the woman’s spiritual needs. We are called to be imitators of Jesus. Jesus said when he was hungry, you fed him. When he was naked, you clothed him. When he was in prison, you visited him. The people asked Jesus, when did we see you hungry and fed you, naked and clothed you and in prison and visited you. Jesus told them that what they do to the least of people it is the same as doing it to him. Putting other people’s needs before our own needs is what God calls a “true fast.” How are you doing? Are you putting others needs before your own?

God wants us to fast. He wants us to seek him. He wants us to draw closer to him. He also wants us to care for the needs of his people. This is evidenced in Isaiah 58 and also Zechariah 7:3-10. God told them not to do what they have been doing year after year, but “rather, administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.” James 1:27 tells us that we are to look after the widows and orphans in their distress.

Our very being should be taken up by doing service to others. Get wrapped up in God’s work. People need the Lord. You may be the only Jesus that some will ever see.

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