When You Fast…

Did you know fasting is just as important as serving and praying? Fasting is the believer’s willful choice to deny the body food for the expressed purpose of growing spiritually. It is a disciplined action of faith, trusting that the Spirit of God in us is stronger than our flesh. Christ guarantees a reward from the Father when we fast (Matthew 6:18). Imagine my surprise and excitement upon discovering this bible promise packed away in the gospel of Matthew.

This truth in Matthew is not written as an “if,then” statement, but rather it’s a WHEN statement! Jesus is teaching on doing good works (Matthew 6:1-4), praying (Matthew 6: 5-7) and fasting (Matthew 6: 16-19). I have to admit it was a bit of a head scratcher when I saw this. Churches often have corporate wide fasting as the body of Christ once or twice a year. Yet, as I’m reading the words of Jesus, this practice is not just corporate, it’s also personal and private. It doesn’t seem to be an annual event, but rather a regular part of the Christian’s life.  This is the point in my reading at which I realize I am falling short of God’s expectation.

Our Lord instructs us how to fast. He doesn’t indicate that we should go with our feelings and fast when it’s convenient. He doesn’t encourage making it known to everybody that our bodies are weak because we’re fasting, as if to say “look at me I’m so holy.” He assumes that we will regularly honor God with fasting. When we do so according to His command, God rewards us openly. Wow, I guess there is also an “if, then” statement hidden in this scripture. He tells us there is only one way to fast and access God’s reward. IF we fast as a hypocrite, there is no heavenly gain. There is no reward.

There is a great sermon by Pastor Ed Taylor from Calvary Aurora titled, “Understanding the Spiritual Value of Fasting” that reviews the significance of fasting. Check it out. As God had put it on my heart to study fasting, it just so happened this message came on the radio. In listening, I learned that all the greats of the bible share this discipline of fasting. Lets join in with Moses, David, Isaiah, Daniel, Elijah, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, Anna, Cornelius, Peter, James and of course our Lord Jesus. Lets fast!

  • Esther 4:16
  • Isaiah 58:4,5
  • Joel 1:14
  • Nehemiah 1:4
  • Psalm 35:13
  • Jeremiah 36:3
  • Daniel 9:3
  • Matthew 6:16
  • Matthew 17:21
  • Luke 18:12
  • Acts 10:30
  • 1 Corinthians 7:5
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2 Comments

  1. Darlene Anaya
    December 15, 2017

    Can you please send me..Matthew 17:21 It’s not written in my bible or on the bible app.

    1. admin
      December 19, 2017

      Hello Darlene! Matthew 17:21 NKJV says, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

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