Sermon Tone Analysis

*Inscription: Writing God’s Words on Our Hearts & Minds*

*/Part 38: Fasting /*

*2 Chronicles 20:2-3; Matthew 4:1-4; 9:14-17*

*/November 14, 2010/*

 

* *

*Prep: *

·         Leftovers (p 1)

 

*Scripture reading: Matt 9:14-17 (Peter t.)*

 

Opening

 

I was thinking I’ve kind of been doing a *mini*-*series* on “*unpopular* topics for Christians.”

*Evangelism*, *prayer*, and now *fasting*.

Am I trying bring people in or chase them out?

Maybe I should finish up with a sermon on *tithing*.

Prayer

 

 

Why don’t we fast?

I am guessing that many of you are *like* *me* – Christians who love Jesus and seek to obey him.

But fasting is like this “*last* *frontier*,” a spiritual disciple we just are *not* *interested* in.

Have to define that: Fasting is *intentionally* going *without*, *esp*.

without *food*, for a *spiritual* *purpose*.

Q   How many of you have *fasted* in the past *year*?

·         I am not sure that *forgetting* your *lunch* counts, nor dieting.

*Jesus* *assumes* we will fast (Matt.

9:15), and it has been part of *normal* the Christian *life*, since Acts and through to today, among most Christians.

It is part of church life, as much as communion or baptism, e.g.

*Lent*.

·         Then there’s *us* – good, Bible-believing Christians who *don’t* *fast*.

 

 

is fasting a delight

 

I could not have preached this sermon *six* *months* ago – it would have been *hypocritical*.

I had fasted *twice*: Once in high school, and once in college (cut short because I was getting so grumpy).

Now, *Psalms* says that the Law of the Lord is a *delight* and my Christian *journey* over the past *decade* has been to discover the truth of that, and then hopefully to show you.

·         I have learned that when I *obey* and *pursue* God, I am always more satisfied, *more* *fulfilled* in him.

Because Jesus told us to *fast*, but I really didn’t *want* to fast, and I couldn’t imagine how *fasting* would be a “*delight*,” I decided to put my money where my mouth is.

I decide to test this *theory* out on *fasting*, so for the past six month (with a few exceptions), I have been fasting one day a week, from the evening the *previous* *day* up to *dinner* that day.

·         This follows *Jewish* *tradition*.

So what have I learned about fasting?

Is it a *delight*?

*No*.

Not at first, but then...well, let’s see.

·         I want to look at *three* *different* *aspects* of fasting from both the OT and NT (I could do more, but focusing on three).

Hard sell

 

Before we begin let me say I know that fasting is a *hard* *sell* – this is not any idea that any of us are excited about.

Hey, let’s *not* *eat* – it will be *fun*!

I am asking (and praying) that you *listen* and *not* *dismiss* out of hand.

I know what you are thinking “I could *never* do that” “God isn’t’ *calling* me to that” “I live under *grace*, not legalism.”

·         How do I know?

Because I’ve said them!

But take a listen, and I guarantee you will look at fasting in a new light.

Let me also say, I have come to believe that The *Gathering* *need* to *fast* *more* than the average church.

Reinforce prayer

 

First, I want to briefly return to the story of *Jehoshaphat* from last week (this is largely so I can keep this sermon as part of the “*Inscription*” series – I am OCD like that).

*2 Chronicles 20:2-3 *  2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea.

It is already in Hazazon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi).  3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.

If you remember from last week, this is a story about *absolute* *dependence* on God.

I don’t need to repeat what I said then, but notice that their desperate prayers were *reinforced* by *fasting*.

·         Again in the book of *Esther*, when all the Jews were about to be killed, they reinforced their prayers with fasting.

And in the *NT*, *fasting* *reinforced* their prayer:

 

*Acts 13:2-3 *  2 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.”  3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

·         Time and time again, fasting reinforced prayers.

It’s like *rebar* reinforces *concrete*, each bringing a special strength to the finished product.

I remember when they were building the *bridge* across the *Skagit*, and the rebar got pulled out – they had to start the pillar all over again.

To my knowledge, *every time* in the *Bible* that God’s people prayed and fasted a *genuine* *fast* (not merely ritualistic), God answered their prayers.

South Korea

 

To this day, we see God responding to prayer and fasting: I read about the church in *South* *Korea* that was pretty much founded on prayer and fasting.

From the very beginning they were persecuted for their faith, so they would sneak up to the *mountains* to pray and fast for their very survival.

God has moved there and now *30*% are Christians.

·         The *largest* *church* in the world is there (c.

830,000) and their pastor attributes much of it to prayer and fasting.

This church also set up a *sanctuary* in the mountains for prayer and fasting.

It accommodates over 10,000 people.

My experience

 

How has fasting *affected* my *prayer*?

My experience has been far *less* *impressive*, but perhaps more *accessible*.

I have *grown* *more* over these past months than I think I have ever before.

Not like ground breaking changes, but many subtle changes that I only notice in *hindsight*.

·         I’ve grown as a *husband*, I have more *self*-*control*, am becoming a better *preacher*, God has give *visions* for the church.

Can I *prove* a direct link with fasting?

No.

I can see a clear *connection* between *fasting* and *self*-*control* (more in a moment), but I have a really *good* *guess* that the others our driven by fasting, because that is the *only* *major* *change*.

No Guarantees~/How it works

 

I need to be careful – I am *not* *promising* *dramatic* effects.

Fasting is not *bribing* God or *twisting* this arm.

There’s a temptation to think God *owes* you, but that is *paganism*.

It’s not as if God *needs* fasting to get the job done, like our when our stomachs rumble it gives him *magical* *power*.

Fasting is for *our* *sake*, not God’s.

/1.

//Fasting /*unites*/ your /*mind*/ and /*body*/ in prayer.

/

 

I said last week that there is a difference between *praying* on my *knees* and with my *feet* *propped* up.

There is an even bigger difference with I am in bed.

·         Fasting *sharpens* my *mind* and *spirit*.

Q   What is the *strongest* *appetite* we have?

Isn’t it for *food*?

I know all the *guys* are *debating* that in their heads – but if you were literally starving to death, which would you choose?

·         Perhaps when we fast, we take that *energy*, that desire for food, and *channel* it for prayer.

/2.

//Fasting cost you something./

We *appreciate* we *pay* for.

At my *old* *church*, I almost never gave away books (except Bibles), even if a person could only afford a dollar.

I wanted them to appreciate it.

Q   Do you remember the first time you *bought* something with money that *you* *earned*?

·         Fasting demonstrates a *genuine* *passion*, a personal eagerness to see the prayer answered (cf.

*Y107* *hat* I won).

Reinforce your prayers

 

Thinking of the millions of Christians who have, either they are *wasting* their time (and a lot of good meals) on a *meaningless* *ritual*, or else you and I are *missing* *out* on something.