Sermon Part 3: "Especially In Troubled Times, Let the Holy Ghost Draw You Nearer To God With Fasting, and God Will Reward You Openly."
Today, we will complete our Sermon Series entitled, "Three Keys to God Rewarding You Openly." In our last three Lessons we covered the first two keys: (1) Giving alms to the poor in secret through the local Church, and (2) Praying with God in secret.
I trust that these Lessons so far have been a blessing to you, and more importantly, that you are putting them into practice. Rather, than being a hearer of the Word of God only, I pray that you will also be a diligent doer of the Word, so that you will be blessed in all your deeds. (James 1:22-25)
The third holy action is, “Fasting” with God, which we will cover today. Almost immediately, when I say the word “fasting,” many Christians think about how taxing it will be to have to go without food and drink, especially their favorite foods and beverages, for a period of time. I would even chance to say that most people define, “Bible Fasting” as abstaining from eating either all foods or from certain foods, for a period of time. This is certainly correct, but far from complete.
It is my fondest hope (expectation) that from today’s Lesson you will learn and adopt an entirely new way of thinking about, and practicing fasting, that will result in you ever drawing nearer to God in Christ Jesus, and God rewarding you openly.
Further, it is my prayer that the entire body of Christ would come to know and experience fasting for what God truly made it to be. That is, “Fasting is “Feasting on God!” Say it with me: “Fasting is Feasting on God!
Fasting is infinitely more than afflicting one’s appetite and tummy for a period of time. Rather, fasting is having an insatiable hunger for God that can only be satisfied by hanging out with God in prayer—hearing, conversing with, and heeding to His Word. It was Job who said that he valued the Commandments from God’s lips more important than his necessary food. (Job 23:12)
The Bible records Moses, “The Man of God,” as the first person who fasted. Afterwards, in both the Old Testament and New Testament, fasting is mentioned well over 100 times. There are fasts recorded with a duration of one-day, three-days, 21-days, and supernatural fasts of 40-days; in which the person or groups of people either completely abstained from eating and drinking or partially went without eating certain foods.
Some fasts were ordered by God, while others were voluntarily undertaken by groups or individuals. Typically, these fasts were declared in times of great hardship—such as times of bondage, wars, grief for the death of kings, revivals, personal failures and restoration, longing for and in anticipation of the coming of the Messiah, as well as fasts for dedicating and ordaining ministers for the work of the Lord.
A rather comprehensive summary account of fasting throughout the Bible is available online, under the title: “His Word Jesus: A Prophetic Perspective.” https://www.anglefire.com/in/HisName/fasting.html.
But specifically, I call your attention to the supernatural fast of Moses, as recorded at Exodus 34:27-28 and Deuteronomy 9:9. From these Scriptures we learn that while Moses was with the Lord on Mount Sinai, the duration of his fast was 40-days and nights. Take special note that the Scripture first tells us that Moses was “with God,” and while in the company of the Lord he “did neither eat food nor drank water.” During the 40-days and nights, God Himself was Moses’ “bread and water!”
It was during Moses’ close and intimate time with God, in the secret place of the Most High God, that Moses received the Law, including God’s commandment to the children of Israel to fast on a particular day of the year, called the Day of Atonement.
For Israel, the Day of Atonement was to be observed as a solemn and holy day with many rituals. (Lev.16: 29-30, 23:27-31, Num. 29:7 and Heb.10:1) Throughout the history of the nation of Israel, the Day of Atonement was observed, and down through the generations became known as, “The Fasting Day” or “The Fast.” (Jer. 36:6 and Acts 27:9)
Fasting on the Day of Atonement (as well as on other occasions recorded in the Old Testament), were typically accompanied by prayer, and tearing of clothes, throwing dust and ashes upon one’s head, to dress in sackcloth, going with uncombined hair, and unwashed bodies.
As the people fasted, these outward signs of humility, served as signs of the inward distress, sorrow, grief, and repentance the people felt as they examined their lives against the Law of Moses; which no person could keep perfectly. (Rom. 3:20 & Gal.3:11)
Even today, Jews who continue to practice Judaism, reject Jesus Christ as the Messiah, and continue the tradition and ritual of fasting on the Day of Atonement, (renamed Yum Kippur) with repentance of sins, and asking God for forgiveness as they await the Messiah. Even though the Messiah, Jesus Christ, came to redeem them from their sins more than 2000 years ago. (John 1:10-12)
In the Bible, we also find that not only Moses fasted for 40-days, but also Elijah (I Kings 19:7-8), and Jesus Christ. (Luke 4:2) As born-again Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, it is vitally important that we observe our Lord’s manner of fasting and teachings on it, which we will delve into in a few minutes.
But before I do, I want us to understand that as born-again Christians, we must practice fasting from the knowledge of where we sit in God in Christ Jesus after the finished works of Jesus Christ on the cross. We must not limit our understanding of fasting to the way it was undertaken under the Old Testament. Our New Covenant with God contains better promises than the Old Testament. (Heb. 8:6)
In the Old Testament, God went with the children of Israel by day in the pillar of a cloud and by night in the pillar of fire to lead them out from Egyptian bondage. (Exod.13:21-22) Whereas under the New Covenant, through Jesus Christ, God abides within our regenerated hearts, and has promised to never leave nor forsake us. (I John 4:15 & Heb. 13:5-6)
Praise God, through the finished works of Jesus Christ, all of the Law and prophets has been fulfilled. (Matt. 5:17-18 & Gal. 3:13-14) As New Testament Saints, we are not required to set and schedule a specific day of fasting, or put on sack cloth, heap ashes on ourselves, nor beat on the ground repenting of sins and asking for forgiveness.
Praise God, the shed blood of Jesus Christ on His Cross has washed away all of our sins and iniquities, which God remembers no more. Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for the sins of whole world! (Rom. 5:8, Heb.10:17, & I John 2:2) Moreover, through Jesus Christ, we have an inheritance of forgiveness for sins. (Eph.1:7)
Thus, for born-again Christians, fasting is not a tool we use for begging God for forgiveness of sins. If you should sin, it should not lead to an immediate knee-jerk response to guilt yourself into fasting. As I said, you have an inheritance of forgiveness through Jesus. If you should sin, receive the forgiveness God has given to you through the blood of Jesus Christ, get up and move on from the sin, and live in the Righteousness of God through Jesus Christ!
Further, we should diligently guard against viewing fasting, as practiced in the Old Testament, as the maximum or ceiling of the supernatural things God can do for us. For example, so many times we read Old Testament accounts like that of King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah, when they were surrounded by enemies far greater in number and power—and Jehoshaphat set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast for all of Judah, and earnestly prayed.
The people called on God to help, and they set praise leaders before their army as they marched to battle. God in turn fought for Judah, gave them the victory, and Judah collected the spoils of the war for three-days afterwards. (II Chron. 20:1-25) The battel was not theirs, but the Lords.
What a mighty triumph this was, and God will always cause us to triumph over our enemies as well. But, there is so much more God is willing to do through us than what king Jehoshaphat and Judah experienced through fasting, prayer, and praise on their day of victory!
In Christianity many times we limit our learning of God to what we see written in the text of the Bible, when in actuality, God intends for the accounts written in the Bible to serve for our learning and as example of what we can do. (I Cor. 10:11 & II Tim. 3:16-17) For example, we tend to view the nine fruit of the Spirit as an exhaustive list. (Gal. 5:23-24) But how can these nine fruit of the Spirit be all encompassing of the Spirit of God, when the Bible declares that the depths and ways of God are passed finding out—that the true treasures of God in Christ Jesus are unsearchable and endless? (Rom.11:33)
Also, many Christians take Jesus Christ’s commandment to preach the gospel, heal the sick, speak in unlearned languages, raise the dead, and cast out devils as encompassing of all of the miraculous works we can do. (Mark 16:15-20) But Jesus Christ is recorded as saying whoever believes in Him shall do greater works than the works He accomplished on earth. (John 14:12) Jesus Christ said, “with God all things are possible [powerful]. (Mark 10:27) We have a promise from God that He is able to do exceedingly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us. (Eph. 3:20) Thus, all the supernatural things we can do through faith in Jesus Christ have not been written in the Bible. You see, God wants us to go on to experience and do bigger, greater, and mightier supernatural things never experienced before on earth!
We have a promise from God that says, “eyes have not seen, nor hears heard, neither has it entered the hearts of men, the things that God has prepared for them that love Him—but God has revealed them unto us by the Holy Ghost! (I Cor. 2: 9-10) There is infinitely more for us to learn about our Father God, so much more to learn and do supernaturally, than the examples of the miraculous things we have read about in the Bible.
Right now, the people of Jackson, Mississippi are suffering with a water plague, and need to see God do a new thing! Right now, millions of people in Florida have suffered a massive loss of life, property, and business from the hurricane, and they need to see God do a new thing! The Church of Jesus Christ can do a greater work for the people of Jackson, and many parts of Florida, than the world has ever seen! Prayer with God—feasting on God, can and will, reveal to the Church the works of God.
Let me emphasize it again, God wants to take us so much higher and deeper into Himself than the miracles we have in the Bible. We can be assured of this, because the miracles Jesus Christ performed, and that are recorded in the Bible, just serve as just a small subset of the mighty works that He actually performed. (John 21:24-25) Since we are believers in Jesus Christ, then at a minimum, we can do the same works that Jesus did that were not recorded in Scripture too! (John 14:12)
Thus, we must never take what is written in the Scriptures about the miraculous and supernatural power of God and make it a ceiling for what we can do. Rather, we must diligently seek God to reveal more of Himself—His love, goodness, kindness, wisdom, and He will reward us openly. (Heb.11:6)
Consider now where we sit in Christ Jesus at the right hand of God, and know that God has greater things planned for our times of fasting with Him. Where you “sit” has everything to do with what you can see! Under the New Covenant we have with God in Christ Jesus, we are assured that:
-- We have been quickened together, raised up together and made to sit in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We are holy, blameless, and accepted in the beloved (Eph. 1:3-5 & 2:1-7).
--We can do all things through Christ that strengthens us! (Php.4:13)
--We have been given power/authority over all of the work of the enemy, the devil. (Luke 10:19-21 & Matt. 18:18)
--We have been given all things that pertain unto life and godliness—therefore all things on earth belong to us. (I Cor. 3:22 & II Pet.1:3)
As born-again Christians, let us all come into this new reality articulated by the Apostle Paul at II Corinthians 5:17. Paul wrote:
“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away; behold all things have become new [made new fresh and alive].”
Our born-again hearts (spirit, soul, and mind of the soul) are new creations never seen before. Even greater than Adam before he sinned. Our hearts are the carbon-copy of Jesus Christ, and His life, as He is seated at the right-hand of God! And, Praise God, all things have become new (fresh and alive!) Given that all things have become new, that would also include “FASTING,” would it not?
Now that we are in Christ, there is a new and improved way of fasting with God. But, the key to learning about and practicing this new way of fasting must be beheld—investigated through the Spirit with the help of the Holy Ghost. Paul said, “behold all things have become new.”
Follow me now: New creatures in Christ must see new things in Christ, and must therefore do new things in Christ. There are new things about fasting we are to see, learn, and experience that can only be revealed by the Holy Ghost. This is not to suggest in any way that the examples we have in Scripture of fasting are to be completely done away with. No way, rather they serve as building blocks to enable us to go higher and deeper into God to fulfill the callings, will, and purposes of God established from the foundations of the world, in the earth.
God is calling for born-again Christians to come up higher in learning of Him. Jesus Christ invited His disciples to take on His yoke and learn of Him for His yoke is easy and burdens light. (Matt. 11:29-30) We should be learning something new about Jesus Christ, who dwells on the inside of us, every day!
In my opinion, one of the biggest opportunities to learn of Jesus Christ that the disciples missed out on was following up on Jesus’s statement he made after ministering to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. Jesus had gone all day without eating and the disciples pleaded with Him to come and eat. (John 4:31-34)
However, Jesus responded to the disciples, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” The disciples questioned among themselves whether someone had brought Him food. But Jesus followed up saying, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish His work.” The disciples should have then asked Jesus about His meat—the will and work of God. They should have inquired of Jesus, how “doing the will and work of God,” served as His food to eat, and was keeping Him from physical hunger?
A powerful truth can be learned from Jesus’ statement—“My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me and to finish His work.” While feasting (fasting) with God, God through the Holy Ghost reveals His will and work for us to do.
In the New Testament, this was certainly the case at the early Church at Antioch, where the prophets and teachers were assembled together, and as they ministered (prayed with God) and fasted, the Holy Ghost called and commissioned Saul and Barnabas for a most urgent ministry service: Paul’s first missionary trip to preach the gospel of Jesus Chris not just to the Jews, but also unto the Gentiles. (Acts 13:1-4) Through feasting with God, the Spirit of God began to unfold the redemptive plan of God for the world, as Jesus Christ had promised at His ascension, recorded at Acts 1:8:
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Paul and Barnabas had been given orders from God to go and preach the gospel to the heathen man (Gentiles) to deliver God’s creation from the death grip of sin and evil. With the Holy Ghost and power, to begin taking the gospel to the utter most parts of the earth, as Jesus Christ had commanded. And from Acts Chapters 13-28 that is exactly what Paul did.
Oh Saints of God, have you ever thought about asking Jesus Christ to teach you how to fast, as He fasted with God? Oh, what might the Holy Ghost call and commission you to do to fulfill the will of God and finish the work! Oh, in what vineyard might the Lord send you into to preach the gospel and demonstrate His mighty works!
I tell you Saints of God, its time for the body of Christ to go higher and deeper into a new dimension of fasting. We have far too many Churches and Christians fasting like the Old Testament Saints:
--Routinely calling for fasts the start of every New Year. Year after, year after, after year—making it automatic and mechanical activity.
--Routinely calling for fasting in preparation for revivals and mission trips.
--Routinely Christians going on fasts under the guise of a holy fast, but the real motive is to lose weight. That will never work! Fasting to the flesh will only cause you to reap from the flesh corruption. (Gal.6:7-8) Meaning after the fasts is over, their appetite for the wrong foods will cause them to consume more of the wrong foods at a greater rate, and ultimately result in excessive weight gain.
Lastly, even more disturbing, we have many Christians in the body of Christ who never enter into a time of fasting with God! And, they do err greatly! Fasting is a gift from God given for the day of adversity, not just for our own personal adversity, but for the days of tribulation ahead for the people of this world!
Now, we are ready to talk more in depth about Bible Fasting under the New Covenant. Let me first give you a complete definition of fasting.
Fasting is the voluntary reduction or elimination of your intake of food at the direction of the Holy Ghost for a specific purpose and allotment of time.
Fasting absent of a specific spiritual purpose is a dead fast. We must ensure that our fasting is God-inspired, God-led, and God-pleasing. To accomplish this, we must follow after Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith. So we follow after Jesus in all that He does. (Heb.12:2) When Jesus Christ fasted it was solely at the discretion and direction of the Holy Ghost. Prior to the launch of Jesus’ public ministry, He did not decide on His own volition to go into the wilderness and fast for 40-days. No, no, no the Bible says He was, “led by the Holy Ghost into the wilderness.” (Luke 4:1-2 & Matt. 4:1-2)
The Holy Ghost called Jesus Christ into the fast and length of the fast—for 40-days. Remember, that everything Jesus both said and did was by hearing and observing His Father God within Him. (John 5:19, 30, 6:38, 10:30, & Acts 10:38). The Holy Ghost told Jesus what to do in all things, and He went and did it!
Like Moses, when Jesus Christ fasted, the emphasis was not on abstaining from food, but on hanging out with God and feasting on His Father’s Word. The Bible says that after 40-days Jesus Christ hungered—not during the 40-days. (Luke 4:2) Of course the human appetite and physical body suffered hunger, but the insatiable desire for God, and what God had to say to Jesus, was even more delectable that earthly food. It was King David who said the Word of God is sweet as honeycomb—yes sweeter than natural honey is to the lips. (Ps.119:13)
Remember when Jesus’ fast had ended, and the devil came and commanded Him to turn the stones to bread, Jesus replied that, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God.” (Luke 4:4) In other words, one of the great benefits of fasting is that it teaches us spiritual discipline over natural food. If we can exercise a total command over the food we consume, we can have command over everything else in life too.
Fasting teaches us that natural food is not the source of life, God is. If we will fasts with God, God not only will sustain us while we abstain from food, but afterwards, He will give to us directions on what foods we should eat to make us healthy.
Many times when we fasts with God, we do not even miss or think about food and drink for the duration of the fast. When you are feasting on God, you do not even realize you are hungry—as the Spirit of God is sustaining you and providing your food and nutrients.
What I am trying to get across to you is that Bible Fasting is a spiritual/holy action, authored and initiated by God in the person of the Holy Ghost. Every time we fast, whether corporately as a Church, or individually, it is to be authored and directed by the Holy Ghost to accomplish a specific spiritual purpose. We don’t decide, relying on our own idea, to go on a fast. That’s not a fast—that’s nothing but a task and toil. God speaks to our hearts and draws us into a time of fasting unto Himself for specific reasons.
Moreover, God's goal for fasting is to train you in that which you have been made to be—an “Overcomer!” (I John 5:4-5)
At Matthew 9:14 and Mark 2:18-22, the writers recorded the story of when the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus Christ asking why His disciples did not fast, while they, and the Pharisees regularly fasted.
Jesus Christ’s response is what Christians today miss in understanding when and for what purpose we fast. Jesus Christ said to John’s disciples:
“Can the children of the bride-chamber (wedding guests) mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.”
In response to John’s disciples, Jesus Christ gave the analogy of Himself as the bridegroom and his disciples were the wedding guests at a wedding feast. And indeed, Jesus’ coming to earth, ushering in the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven, was like a wedding feast, with Jesus as the groom. His disciples were therefore, filled with joy. Therefore, it would be grossly inappropriate for the wedding guest to mourn or fast when the groom is present. To abstain from eating at a wedding banquet would be an insult to the groom—would you not agree?
John’s disciples fasted as a sign of mourning for sin and preparation for the Messiah’s coming. Jesus’ disciples on the other hand, did not need to fast because He is the Messiah, and was with them! John the Baptist’s message focused on the Law of Moses—and, as I mentioned earlier, when the people looked at God’s Law and compared themselves to it, they realized how far they fell short and how badly they needed to continually repent—humble themselves and mourn. John preached repentance for the kingdom of God was at hand.
In contrast, Jesus’ message focused on eternal life through Him, the result of turning from sin to Him. John’s disciples had the right start, but they needed to transition
to the next step of placing all their trust in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was letting them know that, He is the bridegroom, in which John the Baptist said would come. (John 3:29) Jesus was giving John’s disciples the opportunity to join the wedding party!
In His reply to John’s disciples, Jesus Christ was emphasizing that fasting must be done for the right reasons. Jesus said the disciples could not fast because the wedding feast was going on. When Jesus Christ was with the disciples they were in the company of God manifested in flesh with them—they had the Comforter, they had the Great Shepherd, they had the Rock of Ages, and they had the Prince of Peace in their midst.
But, once the bridegroom (Jesus Christ) would be taken away, then His disciples would fast. The implication being that when Christ was taken away—there would be seasons and times of tribulation. Seasons and times when they would be tempted to mourn, grieve, and sorrow as all other people in the world would do in times of tribulation. Remember, Jesus Christ told His disciples in this world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer I have overcome the world for you”—rendered it powerless to harm you. (John 16:33 Amplified Bible)
The time for Jesus Christ’s followers to enter into fasting began after He was taken up into the heavens and seated at the right-hand of God. (Acts 1:9 and Mark 16:19) For the disciples, Jesus’ physical departure from earth would indeed be cause to be tempted with great discomfort and sorrow. So while with them, the night before His passion, He told them not to let their hearts be troubled nor be afraid, as He would send to them another Comforter, called Holy Ghost, who would be in them, and abide with them forever. Jesus taught that it was more expedient if He went away, or else the Holy Ghost could not be sent. (John 16:7)
With the dispatch of the Holy Ghost, God in Christ Jesus would not just be with the disciples, but dwell within them, and all those who would hear the gospel and receive Jesus Christ as Lord, would also receive the Holy Ghost. On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Ghost was poured out on all flesh—made available to all believers in Jesus Christ who would call on Him for salvation. (Acts 2:1-4, and 16-21)
The Holy Ghost who Jesus Christ said would teach the disciples all things, bring everything that He had taught to their remembrance, lead and guide them into all truth, and show them things to come. (John 16:13-15)
The Holy Ghost would usher in the Kingdom of God, which is Christ’s righteousness, peace, and joy! Yes, with the Holy Ghost, their “JOY” would remain even in times of tribulation! The Holy Ghost would give them power to become witnesses unto Jesus Christ, beginning in Jerusalem and everywhere thereafter. (John 14:1, 26-27, 16:13, Rom.14:17, and Acts 1:8)
Thus, from all of these precious promises, we can say about Jesus’s reply to John’s disciples about fasting, that with Jesus Christ, fasting would be vastly different in purpose than from fasting under the Law of Moses in the Old Testament.
With Jesus Christ’s, a new approach to fasting was enforce, as Jesus continued to teach John’s disciples on fasting saying that, “new wine cannot be placed in old bottles, (old wine skins) else the bottles break.” (Matt. 9:15-17 and Mark 2:18-22)
In other words, we cannot go back to legalism—fasting as the children of Israel did under the Law of Moses, with its emphasis and motive being repentance and the asking of God for forgiveness of sin. Fasting on annual days of the year, and fasting routinely two or three times a week for the sake of required performance and/or appearing to be holy.
Today, Jesus Christ is calling for fasts inspired by the Holy Ghost, and not self-proclaimed fasts. We know what will happen if the fast is self-proclaimed—nothing! Jesus wants fasts that are led by the Holy Ghost. Romans 8:14, says “for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
As born-again Christians, if we are to be led by the Spirit of God, then the Holy Ghost must be the Person who calls the fast. If we are truly born-again Christians there must be times when the Holy Ghost speaks to each of us to come and fast.
In this marriage we have with God, it is the Holy Ghost who calls and draws us into times of fasting. We can see this in the Apostle Paul’s advice to married couples. As the husband and wife are to agree to times when they disengage from sexual activity, and give themselves to fasting and prayer. (I Cor. 7:5)
Notice that the couple must consent to “give” themselves for a period of time to fasting, and then come back together to avoid temptations. To give one’s self, implies that one has been solicited, invited, prompted to do something. This is what the Holy Ghost does, He calls, prompts, and invites us into fasting and prayer.
The Holy Ghost especially, in times of tribulation, (personal, family, or national crises) summons and draws born-again Christians into fasts with God to draw us nearer to God. You see, in times when the hearts of the people of this world are filled with sudden fear, panic, and dismay—God wants the people of God to dwell with Him at rest in the “secret place of the most High God—so they can “SEE GOD!” To see and hear what God wants to do to turn things around! God wants to show the people of the world a new thing, a new miracle, a new supernatural event to turn the hearts and minds of the people of the world back to Him.
This may seem counter intuitive, but when you are at your worst, experiencing your worst day on earth—seemingly at your wits-end—is the time when the Holy Ghost is calling you into feasting (fasting) with God. But, remember God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours! (Is. 55:8-9)
Many times we allow the troubles of the world to distract us from hearing the Voice of the Holy Ghost calling us to the feast of the Lord. When your emotions are running high, the last thing the flesh (carnal mind) wants to do is to go and pray and fast. But, in those moments is when we need most to draw nearer to God with fasting with Him in the “secret place” of the Most High God.
I am reminded of when John the Baptist was beheaded and afterwards the disciples went to the prison, took up John’s remains and buried them in a tomb. When they told Jesus Christ about all that had happened, Jesus immediately ordered the disciples to board a ship and they went into a desert place for solitude. (Matt. 14:12-13 and Mark 6:29-32) Can you imagine the grief and horror that the disciples endured on that day having to gather and bury the decapitated remains of John the Baptist—the greatest of all Old Testament prophets? But, with the Prince of Peace they gathered themselves unto Him, and had Peace!
We can see that like prayer with God in secret, fasting, is intended to help us focus our attention God, and not on the cares that come with the adversity at hand. God wants you to keep your mind stayed on Him at all times, so He can keep you in perfect peace. (Is. 26:3) You see its not fasting and prayer that gives you perfect peace. It’s that fasting and prayer from a pure heart of love for God brings us into His presence, and in the presence of God is the fullness of joy.
Remember that born-again Christians are born of God, and have already been reengineered through Jesus Christ to overcome every tribulation. (John 1:12-13) No matter the adversity, God has already caused us to overcome it! (Rom. 8:37-39) As we fast, God wants us to trust in this truth, and He will reward us openly.
We love to say, “God is good all the time.” And, this is so true. In the time of tribulation, God already has provided and given to us something good to overcome it. In the midst of horrific personal, family, national or world crises—God has already caused us to overcome it and given us something good. The Lord has commanded us to overcome evil with good! (Rom.12:21)
Recall God’s promise recorded at I Corinthians 10:13. It reads:
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it.
Fasting done from the heart (the heart that trusts in God), allows you to see, taste, and experience the goodness of God during tribulation-filled times. God will move you to a place where you are able to serve as a troubler of trouble. Feasting with God will reveal a new good thing that God wants us to do to overcome evil with good.
King David wrote:
Oh taste and see that the Lord is good blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (Ps. 34:8)
In a time of fasting—initiated by the Holy Ghost—God reveals secret things to you to overcome tragedies. God wants to talk with you and show you great and mighty things that you know not of! (Jer. 33:3) These secret things are eternal good prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Thus, we can boldly say that fasting is a gift from God to aid us in seeing more clearly the eternal things of God placed in our hearts, especially to overcome evil in the world. (II Cor. 4:18)
So with this understanding of fasting, let’s look closely at the instructions Jesus Christ gave to His followers recorded at Matthew 6:16-18 on fasting. The table below highlights Jesus' instructions on what we should not do when we fast, and what we should do when we fast.
Table: The Master's Instructions on Fasting (Matthew 6:16-18)
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What not to do when you fast |
What to do when you fast |
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V.16 Moreover when ye fast be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. |
V.17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face.
V.18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
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Jesus Christ instructions on fasting are straight forward. Just as we learned with giving to the poor and praying with God, fasting is a holy action that God expects all Christians to take part in. For Jesus Christ said in Verse 16, “When you fast.” Truly, there will be a “when,” time or season, for every Christian to fast. We now understand that there will be times and seasons, especially in troublesome times, that the Holy Ghost will call and draw us into fasting.
When we fast, Jesus said we are not to go around looking somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. In this instruction we can see that while fasting, we are not to just lock ourselves up in a room for the duration of the fast. But, we are to go about our normal daily business and social activities without boasting to others and drawing attention to ourselves that we are fasting. I don’t know why as soon as many Christians begin fasting, they go around telling other people they are on a” Daniel fast,” or a three-day fast and so forth.
Again, taking holy actions with the motive of drawing attention to yourself is an action of self-pride and is not of God. Trying to build up a religious reputation with others that you are holy will only lead to a fall. Like the hypocrites, Christians who sound the bull horn that they are fasting and wearing a sad countenance have their reward from men, but receive nothing from God.
In contrast, when we fast God’s way, Jesus Christ said we are to anoint our heads and wash our faces. Praise God—notice that we are to do the opposite of what the children of Israel did during Old Testament times: neglecting their appearance by putting on sack cloth, covering their heads with ashes, and so forth. But, as New Testament Christians when we fast, we are to praise God, celebrate, and rejoice! For we have been washed in the blood of the Lamb from our sins and made reconciled unto God.
In times of tribulation, we already know that we have been made overcomers and achieve victory in every battle. We know all things are working together for our good because we love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. We know that through the time of fasting called by the Holy Ghost, God is going to use us to do a mighty work in the earth.
Therefore, we are to view fasting as a time to secretly come and feast on God. A time to draw nearer to God to hear and learn about the secret things of God in times of great distress, terror, and sudden fear. It should not even be obvious to others that we are fasting, given our outer appearance is one of peace and rest. Only God should know that you are hanging out with Him. Your mind is stuck on God, and therefore God is stuck on you!
Fasting is a secret pact you have with God who will surely reward you openly. The Holy Ghost will provide comfort, rest, wisdom, and guidance to direct your path and show you things to come that others cannot see. All of which, is so God can position you for service unto Himself.
In closing, the three keys to God rewarding you openly—giving to the poor through the local Church, praying with God, and fasting with God (feasting on God) are to be undertaken as we abide in the secret place of the Most High God—in the Love of God. And, God will reward us openly when we do so with greater and deeper knowledge of Himself. Ever turning, molding, and conforming us into the beautiful and holy image of His dear Son Jesus Christ.
When we give, pray, and fast from a heart filled with the Love of God, the life of Christ which has been recreated in our born-again hearts, will become the life others see magnified in the earth. The greatest gift you can leave to the world, is for people to see Jesus Christ in you, and come and say, “What must I do to be saved?” As the world continues to spin into perilous times, let the Holy Ghost draw you into Fasts (Feasting on God), and watch how God will place you into His service with marvelous works not yet seen in the earth. Amen!
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