Scripture Reference: Matthew 4 and 6, Jonah
Scripture Summary: People fast in order to hear God.
Beginning With A Minute Of Silence
Before we began tonight, many people were talking and laughing, the radio was booming, etc. What sounds did you notice? Nothing in particular? Just the normal bustle and noise?
During the minute of silence, what sounds did you notice? Why did you notice them? These sounds are always there, it is only after we quiet the distractions that the tiniest sounds come to the forefront.
Too Fast, Too Furious
What is Fasting?
fast2 ( P ) Pronunciation Key (f st)
intr.v. fast·ed, fast·ing, fasts
To abstain from food.
To eat very little or abstain from certain foods, especially as a religious discipline.
n. The act or practice of abstaining from or eating very little food.
A period of such abstention or self-denial.
Put another way, fasting is removing a distraction and replacing it with God time.
Examples of Fasting
You can fast from anything, it doesn’t have to be food! It can be abstaining from anything that takes up your time and attention.
Food: Decide that you are going to skip lunch. When you get hungry, instead of going to get something to eat you go somewhere quiet to pray or listen for God’s voice. Your hunger becomes a natural alarm clock that tells you it is time to talk with God.
Music: What is the first thing that most people do when they get into the car? TURN THAT MUSIC UP! What if you decided to ride in silence for a week. Do you think you could connect with God on those morning drives to school?
TV: What if you decided to go without TV for a month? What would you do when you start to get bored at night? What about praying, listening, or writing in a spiritual journal?
You can replace virtually anything with time alone with God. (Well almost anything)
There is one episode of King of The Hill where Peggy says that she is a nun in an attempt to get a teaching job at a Catholic school. She obviously knows nothing of the Catholic faith. This comes out when her students start asking her questions. One boy explains that he loves going to church, so he asks if he can fast from church. Peggy replies with, “well Im sure that God wouldn’t like it, butyou caught Him in a technicality, good for you.”
Old School Fasting, A Biblical Look
Some examples of people fasting in the Bible:
1. Moses fasted for 40 days when he was on the mountain with God
2. Jesus fasted for 40 days while in the wilderness before facing three temptations.
(Matt.4)
3. The people of Nineveh fasted after Jonah brought a message from God to them.
Lent
Lent begins March 1st. Ash Wednesday always starts 40 days before Easter, not counting Sundays. This can be a period of suffering and abstaining in order to become closer to God, understand the sufferings of Jesus, and celebrate the Resurrection Holiday.
Your Fast Is Your Business
What will you do with lent? You don’t have to do anything, but I would highly recommend it. Whatever you do, make this a time of growing closer to God, not just another religious exercise.
Matthew 6:15-17 (New International Version)
16"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,
Matthew 6:17-19 (New International Version)
17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that it will not be obvious to men 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.