Sunday, April 22, 2018

Keys to the Kingdom – The Sermon on the Mount - 10 SELF-DENIAL


“When you give, when you pray, when you fast …” Jesus assumed that His disciples would engage in these righteous acts. Of the three, fasting may be the least practiced, the least discussed, and the least understood. Let’s talk about the purposes, the procedures, and the benefits of periodically abstaining from food, intending not to be seen by men but only by God.
A little boy in our congregation is especially excited when the preaching starts. He cannot wait. From the time our worship begins until the sermon opens, he anticipates that sermon. You might say he has an enormous appetite for it. For, you see, it’s only when the preacher introduces his lesson that this little guy is allowed to start eating his Fruit Loops! Ha! Self-control! Even a child can deny himself food until the proper time, because he knows a feast is coming!
I thought to myself, “If I just double the quantity of his Fruit Loops, I can preach twice as long!”
Of course, this cute kid will learn as he grows that “Man does not live by Fruit Loops alone.” But, all in due time. I admire our many young families who are training their young ones in ways that they consider age-appropriate.
Reading: Matt 6:16-18
What …
Fasting is deliberately abstaining from food and sometimes drink for a set period of time.
E.g., each morning you “break” your “fast.”
Of course you may “abstain” from anything, but “fasting” refers to food and perhaps drink.
In fact, people go without food whenever something more important than food has captured their attention. A crisis, a cancer diagnosis, a broken friendship or marriage, a despicable crime, overwhelming loneliness, or a death.
If you and I were on a sinking ship, hoping to be rescued …
If it were winter, and we lost our heat and electricity …
If we were eating dinner, and someone at the table choked or fell …
Or we realized suddenly that the house was on fire …
Our natural desire for food would give way to a greater desire.
When a family is destitute, and food is scarce, and someone must do without, the mother and father deny themselves so that their children may have what little is available.
When a person goes on a hunger strike to call attention to a pressing social or moral issue …
Who …
Moses (40 days twice). David (Saul, David’s child).
Elijah (Jezebel). Jehoshaphat (threat).
Ninevites (threat). Daniel (exile). Ezra (safety).
Nehemiah (crisis). Esther (threat).
84-year-old Anna at the temple (habit).
Pharisees: twice a week, Mon and Thu. Lk 18:12
Jesus Fasted. Why?
Matt 4:1-2 Led by the Spirit, into the wilderness, to be tempted; after fasting 40 days, then hungry.
To prepare Himself for temptation and ministry.
To be genuinely hungry, and so truly tempted.
To face and reject Satan’s temptations early.
To re-enact Israel’s time in the desert.
To feed upon the Word of God.
The Multitude Fasted. Why?
Matt 15:32 And Jesus … said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.”
The crowd went without food because they chose rather to “feast” on Jesus’ teachings.
Jesus’ Disciples Would Fast. Why?
Luke 5:33-39 As wedding attendants (the disciples), not while the groom (Jesus) was with them, but only when He was taken away. He said, “They will fast in those days.”
Fast only when there is a suitable reason.
When we enjoy and celebrate our walk with the Lord? No! When we feel distant from the Lord (sin, sorrow, pain) and seek a closer walk? Yes!
The First-Century Church Fasted. Why?
Acts 13:1-3 The leaders in Antioch were “worshiping the Lord and fasting.” Likely to pray and seek God’s will. The Holy Spirit then called Barnabas and Saul. “Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands … sent them off.”
Acts 14:23 And they appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom … believed.
When …
Not “if,” but “when.” As with giving and prayer.
Jesus assumed the action, addressed the motive.
Jesus again went behind the “what” to the “why.”
Not …
Not with a gloomy, disfigured, woeful face.
σκυθρωποί – skythrōpós – serious- or sad-looking, perhaps gloomy, solemn, bitter, depressed, sorrowful, or melancholic. Gen 40:7; Lk 24:17
ἀφανίζουσιν – aphanizō – to destroy, make unsightly, disfigure, make ugly.
Not to be noticed by men.
But …
But with anointed (washed) head and face.
As you normally would appear and behave.
So that …
So that your fasting will not be noticed by men.
So that God, not other people, may see.
He sees what is done in secret.
As with giving and prayer.
And …
Jesus promised the Father’s reward for fasting.
Mt 6:18 … and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
What blessings might the Father provide?
Examples
Recently I was with a Christian friend. He did not volunteer to discuss his fasting. I could tell by looking at him that he had lost weight. I asked him how. He said, “My wife and I fast every Tuesday.” So I wanted him to tell me about their experience anonymously, so that I could share it with all of you.
Here it is the feedback from “brother # 1:”
I have thought a lot about the benefits of fasting both from a physical and a mental/spiritual standpoint.  There certainly are benefits that may not be immediately apparent in both cases.
1). Fasting can take our focus off of food.  We as individuals and a society spend a big part of our day thinking about food.  Where are we going, who with, what to eat, oh somebody doesn’t like this or that place/ food / allergies / and on and on.  Fasting takes those things out of the equation and makes them less important.  Even when we are not fasting food becomes less of an “issue” for us.  
2). Fasting requires self-discipline.  That carries over to other things in our life as well.   Spiritual things like meditation on God’s will for us, study time, prayer, and even rest become easier due to the focus required for fasting.  Following the biblical model of not mentioning the fast to others has some personal benefit to me.  Last I went about 44 hours between meals.  That is a good length to fast but we eat together often at church and the temptation to eat a bite of dessert someone offers is strong but the resistance is kind of like a workout. It strengthens us and helps in any area needing discipline.
3). Weight loss.  If weight control is needed or desired it will be a result of fasting.  If it is not needed there are still physical benefits from fasting.
4).  Fueling our bodies on something other than glucose.  Grains, fruits , processed sugar and other refined carbohydrates convert to glucose before our bodies use them.  When we fast our bodies us stored fuel (fat and glycogen) to operate on and no glucose is involved .   Reductions in inflammation of our tissues, joint problems, digestive issues, diabetic problems and other physical problems level out when we fast.  
5). Fasting gets easier the more it is done.  Our bodies become accustomed to not eating all the time so the cravings go away.  When that happens it is easier to stay focused on spiritual things because that craving for physical satisfaction is less. 
My wife and I have been blessed by sharing with each other the benefits we each get from fasting.  They are somewhat different.  I feel better and get more organized in getting priorities straight and working through a schedule.
My wife is home and finds improved focus and meditation in prayer and in deeper discussions with other women she worships/ counsels / shares with spiritually on a daily basis.
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Then I asked another good friend in Christ to tell me about his experience.
Here it is the feedback from “brother # 2:”
Here are my thoughts from my very first fasting experience.
For most of my early life as a child of God, fasting was not something I did.  I remember my first meaningful fast for the Lord. My wife and I determined to fast during our evening meal time. Fortunately, we made a list of prayer items, including the church directory. We wanted to pray for every member and their entire family. Our prayer time included missions, those who were sick or suffering, and newborn babies.  We prayed for our countries leaders and also prayed for our church leaders by name including their family.
We offered several prayers during this fasting time. Interestingly, the later prayers became a time of praying for our own shortcoming and beseeching the Lord for strength to prevail against the wiles of the devil. Later in the evening we were tempted to eat a meal but restrained ourselves. Instead of food we just said another short prayer.
It seemed to us that our fasting and prayer drew us closer to the Lord than we had ever been. We felt a sense of cleansing because of our confession of sin. And, we felt a sense of being blessed by the Lord for putting spiritual needs ahead of physical food.
Fast when you need to (and you do need to!) …
Pray and meditate on God and His Word.
Express sorrow and repentance for sin.
Draw near to God and seek His favor.
Humble yourself and become more aware of your absolute dependence on God.
Feed your hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Because “man does not live by bread alone.”
Possible hymns:
Unto Thee O Lord
All to Jesus I Surrender
Restore My Soul
Revive Us Again
Light the Fire

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