Today we talk about fasting for breakthrough. Now, before you say, “Woah, that’s not for me!” I want you to know that Jesus has an expectation that his followers will incorporate fasting into their spiritual journey. Fasting isn’t just for “Super Christians” or pastors and church leaders. It isn’t something that only legalistic people do. It’s something that every believer should incorporate into their disciplines and it’s something that will bless you.
Matthew 9:14-15 One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast[e] like we do and the Pharisees do?”15 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
- The disciples of John the Baptist feel like they’re getting the short end of the stick. They’re fasting, but Jesus’ disciples are not. The Pharisees fast, so why are Jesus’ disciples fasting on a regular basis? Jesus tells them now isn’t the time to fast, because he is with them. But, someday the groom will be taken away and then they will fast. Jesus is the groom and Jesus is saying, there will be a time for fasting when I am gone. He says, “Then they will fast.” He doesn’t say then they might fast. He has an expectation that they will fast.
Matthew 6:16-18 And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair[d] and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
- Jesus is giving instructions about fasting to the crowds as he’s teaching them. He leads off with “when” you fast. He says “when” not “if”. There is an assumption that we will fast. And then he goes on to give instructions about how to fast. Basically, we shouldn’t try to make it obvious that we’re fasting. We don’t fast to garner attention or respect from others. The only one we should want to know we’re fasting is God. Now, there will be times when you’re fasting that others are going to know, particularly if you’re doing it as a small group or as a church, but we don’t try to make it obvious.
- Lastly, I would just say that if you’re a little hesitant or you’ve never really incorporated fasting into your spiritual journey, I know exactly how you feel. A couple of years ago when we preached through this series, I was convicted that fasting had never really played a regular role in my relationship with God. I had fasted on some occasions, but there was no rhythm to it. There was no consistency. I committed to God to fast on a scheduled basis and it has been such a blessing to me. I feel like it has led into richer prayer times with God. It has been a great reminder of my dependence on God, and it has helped me to develop self control, which is a fruit of the Spirit.
The Why
Fasting can unlock breakthroughs in the spiritual realm that will never happen in any other way. When you fast, you reaffirm your dependence on God’s power, not your own.
Mark 9:17-18 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. 18 And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid.[d] So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”
- There could have been multiple reasons that the disciples couldn’t deliver the boy. We know from the greater text that the religious leaders were there. When Jesus came upon the scene that was a great argument going on between the disciples and the religious leaders. Maybe the added pressure of the religious leaders being there caused them to doubt their ability to do so. Maybe, in their pride, they thought, ‘This is our chance to show the religious leaders that we have the right Rabbi and that we’ve been given power’. It’s possible that they made it more about themselves than about helping the young boy who was demon possessed.
- Later on, the disciples ask Jesus why they were unable and he responds that this kind of evil spirit can only be cast out by prayer and fasting. – It’s not like fasting is some magical charm that forces demons to flee or causes God to be obligated to answer the way we want to answer. Think about what prayer and fasting do. They force us to recognize our dependence on God. They also cause us to turn our attention from the things of this world to spiritual things.
- I know for me, personally, that shifting my attention away from the things of the world causes me to sense God’s leading more clearly. When I was asked to consider filling the role that I currently hold at our church, I got away for about a day and a half for a time of fasting and prayer. I was very intentional about putting myself in situations that would be free from the distractions of the world. It wasn’t a really long fast by any means, but just being intentional about being away from the noise and taking the times when I would feel hungry and acknowledge to God that he is my provider, he gives me every good thing, and that as much as I wanted food, what I wanted more was wisdom and understanding about whether or not he was calling me into that role was a powerful time for me.
Acts 13:2-3 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.
- It was while they were worshiping and fasting that they heard from the Holy Spirit. I’m not saying the Holy Spirit only speaks when we’re fasting. That’s obviously not true, but there is something about fasting that seems to invite the Holy Spirit to speak and give guidance.
The How
Fasting is voluntarily depriving yourself of food or drink (or some other good thing) in order to focus on God. You can fast alone or in a group, in crisis or in preparation.
Matthew 4:1-2 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.
- Fasting is typically going without food or without food and drink for a particular amount of time. That isn’t the only type of fasting, but it is the most common and the one the Bible typically is talking about when it references fasting.
- My fasts are typically liquid only fasts. I’ve never really tried an extended time of going without food and drink. One of my hardest types of fasts is when I go without soda for lent. I’m not fasting in the normal sense of the word, but I’m giving up something I really like, and I can assure you, I think about it multiple times. I do it for lent because this tiny sacrifice helps me to really think about the mind-blowing sacrifice that was made for me. Maybe for some of you it’s a coffee fast.
- You might try a social media fast, a fast from eating out at your favorite restaurant, a fast from a particular TV show or some other form of entertainment. If your knee jerk reaction is “no way” to something that might be the very thing you should consider fasting from.
- Do you know that the only time a husband and wife are supposed to deprive one another is if they’ve both agreed by mutual consent to abstain from physical intimacy to use that time for prayer? Then they’re to come back together again so that they won’t be tempted. That’s what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7. I know we probably just lost half of our listeners. I’m not saying you’re required to do that as a fast, but it kind of makes you think. If I pursued prayer with my wife with the same intentionality as I pursued intimacy with my wife, I bet it would have an impact on my marriage.
- Whatever your fast is, I’d encourage you to start small and build up. I wouldn’t recommend trying to go 40 days without food like Jesus and Moses did right out of the gate. I would make it so that you feel it though. And the trap I can sometimes fall into is taking that time I would normally be eating and filling it in with something else that isn’t prayer and seeking God.
The What
Fasting is a faith-building exercise. It’s about releasing control to God, not obligating him to give us breakthrough on our terms.
Close
A rhythm of fasting creates on-going opportunities for us to be reminded of our dependence upon God. As we incorporate them, you’ll find yourself looking forward to that time of concentrated focus on God and his goodness.
- I don’t know that I would want to set a fasting schedule for our listeners, because I think it can be different for different people based on the season of life you’re in, based on your health needs if we’re talking a food and drink fast, but I would encourage you to get into some sort of rhythm with it. I wouldn’t recommend just doing it when you’re in a chaotic situation or randomly. One of the things I’ve noticed now that I’ve had scheduled fasting for a couple of years is that I start to look forward to it a day or two before it starts. I know I’m going to have that extra time with God. I start thinking about the prayer requests I’m going to lift to him. I start thinking about the ways he’s answered prayer since my last fast. I think about all the ways he’s provided for me since my last fast. And I confess, I think a little bit about what I’m going to eat to break the fast.
- So I encourage you to start doing something on a regular basis. Maybe it’s just giving up a certain type of food to start, maybe it’s just skipping one meal and using that time for prayer. Whatever it is, commit to it, and see how God uses it in your life.
