Communion With the Christ:: Are You Disciplined? Part:7: Fasting

Years ago, while I attending classes for pastors in California, we pastors were given the book "Celebration of Discipline” copyright (c) 1978, by Richard J. Foster. This well-known book, has been, over the years, very helpful to many Christians both laity and clergy alike.

With that acknowledgement I would like to offer in my own words, as best that I may, what I have gleaned from Mr.Foster’s work"Celebration of Discipline". Mr. Foster's book speaks to believers about how Christians can avail ourselves of the "Spiritual Disciplines" and grow in the Christian life thru a relationship with Jesus Christ by way of the "Spiritual Discipline"

Spiritual Opportunities

The Spiritual Disciplines are not Religious Duties, but rather, are Spiritual Opportunities that aid in the Christian life of the believer and bring us ever deeper intimacy with our Lord Jesus Christ and through Jesus into an ever growing relationship with the Holy Trinity , the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Again, the "Spiritual Disciplines" do not earn us salvation, our salvation is accomplished through and by Jesus alone on our behalf. He has accomplished it all for us, Jesus has done what none of us could ever do. Jesus has saved us.

What the "Spiritual Discipline" are, are Spiritual Opportunities for each and all of us to have Communion with our God in times of deep personal intimacy which brings us to see that he is with us and wants us and loves us.

The Spiritual Disciplines are an aid to Christian growth and maturity in the life of believers they are not for us to "earn" some reward from God , but rather they help us to see the truth that we are forgiven and wanted by the great creator of all things and bring us to recognize that our God is with us.

The Spiritual Disciplines are profitable when we set aside the activities of everyday living and focus our minds upon our Lord and engage him exclusively with as few distractions as possible. To have a time of deep personal Communion with our Lord.

During these times of Communion the Holy Spirit works with us to give us greater maturity, this is part of the processes the ancient church called “Deification" , that is, becoming like Jesus ,"to be transformed into the image of Christ".

The Religious Culture

Fasting was part of the "religious" culture of the people of Israel we can see it reflected in Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the Publican who were at the Temple of God. Here the "righteous" Pharisee cites his twice a week fasting as a demonstration and evidence of his "superior" spiritual life over that of a Publican, whose sins were obviously worse than this "righteous" Pharisee's, this Pharisee fasted "religiously".

"To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Lk: 18:12

Many Biblical Persons

Throughout the pages of the holy word of God we find in the Scriptural record many Biblical Personalities fasting. We see examples of fasting in lives of Moses, David, Elijah, Anna, and even our Lord Jesus Christ.

Many Christian leaders over the centuries have fasted seeking the abiding presence of God and his divine direction. Many such as Martian Luther, John Knox, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finny and many, many more.
In our contemporary world, some people fast either for the health benefits or in some cases they believe that God will be more receptive to their prayers.

When people attempt to solicit or leverage God through fasting to get their way, this amounts to just a "religious hunger strike”. This resorted to out of the desire for some need. God cannot and will not be manipulated by us.

It is hoped that a time of fasting will change us and our hearts, so that we can understand what our Lord would have us do, not necessarily change God's mind.

Day of Atonement

Under the Old Covenant enjoined between God and Israel, the people would fast on the Day of Atonement, one of the Old Covenant Holy Days. On this fast day Israel would confess their sins thru the Person of the High Priest before The Lord God. Leviticus 16:29 and Leviticus 23:27

This Holy day of fasting looked ahead to the atonement which Jesus Christ would accomplish for each and all of us, the forgiveness of sins and the restoration of the Communion that God has always intended us to have with him.

Fasting a Command?

Some Christians will ask at times "is fasting commanded in the Bible?" Some will say " yes!" Others will dismiss fasting as a holdover from the Old Covenant and not enjoined upon Christians or the Church.

In a statement regarding fasting Jesus says "when you fast" Matt: 6:16. This could be seen as an assumption that the followers of our Lord would indeed fast. But, however, this statement is not of itself a command to fast but maybe rather a comment of instruction on a common practice. Jesus simply states "when you fast". It is also true that this comment of our Lord is made before the cross and resurrection of Jesus which brought the Old Covenant to its fulfillment.

It seems that fasting is viewed by Jesus as an "expectation" rather than a Command.

When Jesus is Gone

When Jesus was asked by some of John the Baptist's Disciples about his own Disciples not fasting, Jesus replied that they did need to fast due to the fact that he was personally with them, but Jesus then comments that there would come a time when the Disciples would, after he was no longer with them in an Earthly way, fast.

"Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast." Matt: 9:14-15

This would be now even for us Christians now. Jesus is with us thru the Holy Spirit, but Jesus is not in an "Earthly way". That is, we are living in and with Post-Resurrection Jesus.

Purpose of Fasting

Fasting is not to have our voice heard in the highths of Heaven as some in Israel attempted. They wanted their way and sought to get it thru fasting. But again, God will not and cannot be manipulated by humanity.

"Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high." Isa: 58:4

Jesus speaks of our heart and our motives when we fast. That is not to demonstrate our "righteousness" or personal “piety" as some in Israel had done. Vaunting their fasting as sign of their spiritual maturity.

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matt: 6:16-18

Jesus looks at our hearts, and sees our true motivations. Our fasting should be focused upon the person of Jesus, not upon the person of ourselves. fasting is for us to be engaged and with and communion with our God where he transforms our lives into the very image of his Holy Son Jesus.

In our times of fasting, we need to seek God's will and guidance and even Blessings. To be aware of his abiding presences in our lives, having our hearts and minds filled with merits of Christ.

During our times of fasting we should ask, "what does our Lord want for me?”. "How can I be fully found living out of our relationship with God?".

The Holy Spirit will draw us ever deeper into communion with our Lord as we choose set aside the physical things, represented by the things which sustain the Earthly life for a season to look intently upon the spiritual. We need to be receptive to his voice.

As we fast, we can trust the power of God to sustain us. God will gently lead us to see all that Jesus is. He will grant us the discernment to see our needs and where transformation is needed. During this time, we can confess of need and thank him for the complete forgiveness that is our thru Jesus.

It is appropriate that during out times of fasting communion that we intercede in prayer for the needs of others, to lift them up before God in Holy intersession that God might bless and heal comfort and encourage.

If you have any questions regarding your ability to fast, speak to your doctor, regarding your health and if you take medications speak to your doctor as well if you can fast safely for day or so.

If it has been some since your last fast, try starting with only a twelve hour fast or water only.

Fasting is a powerful "Spiritual Discipline” that brings us to a sharper awareness of the presences of our God in each and all of our lives thru which our Lord transformed us into the very image of his Holy Son Jesus Christ.
Recall the words of Jesus “when you fast".

Benediction: May we each and all grow ever deeper into a spiritual Communion with our Lord Jesus Christ, today, tomorrow and forevermore ...Amen.