Fasting for God
(Originally published on 2/14/16. Revised 6/3/20)
As our church is entering into a new phase with lots of goals to accomplish for the Kingdom of God, perhaps I can convince you through Scripture that fasting is a worthwhile spiritual discipline to investigate.
Also, I’d like us as a church to engage in this practice on the first Thursday of every month.
What is a fast? It’s abstaining from food for a limited period of time to seek God. It’s a denial of self for the purposes of intense spiritual activity.
In the OT, regular fasters were Moses, David, Elijah, Daniel and Hannah. In the NT, Jesus fasted, and, of course, his Apostles and Anna.
Jesus did not say “If you fast,” but, “When you fast…” (Matthew 16:16), the implication being that this is something we should do.
Fasting is not a hunger strike, nor a manipulative device nor a form of dieting. Fasting should be about God, one that is set apart for him to honor and glorify him, designed to accomplish his will.
But why should we fast today? What spiritual benefits can we get from this ancient discipline? I want to give you 3 reasons why you may want to consider fasting as a regular part of your spiritual life:
Sharing Your Faith with One Question. Only.
It is possible to share your faith using Gospel tracts by asking one question and one question only. Seriously. All you have to do is make this query using a six-word question, then run away. When you ask it, the person will receive all the information they need to go to Heaven if they choose. That’s right. Contained in that 6-word question is the possibility that a person will hear about how they have sinned, how they will face God on Judgment Day, the possibility of Hell and the redemption God offers through his son, Jesus. Too good to be true? Read on….
Sharing Your Faith w/One Question. Only. (A short, fun teaching)
(Note: These are sermon notes from teachings I have given over the years. Adapt them however you like.)
Mark 16:15: Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation.
Bill Bright: 2% of Christians share their faith.
Think about it: How many of you have had a born again Christian share with you about Jesus over two times in the past five years?
Paul wrote this in Philemon 6 (NIV ’84): “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.”
The Living Bible: And I pray that as you share your faith with others it will grip their lives too, as they see the wealth of good things in you that come from Christ Jesus. (Explain)
I have found, after being an evangelism pastor for over 10 years at my other church, that people have many reasons for not sharing their faith.
Take a look at this video and see if you can relate to any of these?
While I’m sure that some of these eight reasons might be yours, I think we could narrow them down to just two: fear and not knowing what to say.
But what if I showed you a way in which you could share your faith by asking only one question and one question only? Do you think you might be able to do it?
I’m not joking. All you have to do is ask one simple question…then run away.
But after you have asked this question, people will then understand God’s standard for getting to Heaven, the consequences if they fall short of His standard, and the solution through Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection on their behalf. They may even thank you after you ask this question, too!
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