That one thing every Christian should be eager to do

From the Pastor's Desk

If you were at the Sunday service, you know that the one thing all Christians should be eager to do is to practice the spiritual discipline of fasting. 

The link to the sermon along with notes are all below, but there are a number of resources I wanted to share with you that help you understand the physical side of fasting. It's a topic I'm more and more interested in, but I practiced self-discipline by NOT just giving you an hour-long TED talk on the physical benefits of fasting. 

Here are a few videos I've collected over the years that have gotten me excited to fast. These are not from a Christian perspective, and you'll see that some are just put together by YouTubers, but if you're taking on a fast, hopefully, you'll find these helpful.

Remember, we fast for the Spiritual benefits, but God has designed us to ALSO get great physical benefits from this spiritual practice. 

Videos about the physical side of fasting:
  1. What happens to your body if you don't eat for 44 days - This one is a lot of fun and is well done... and you'll hear about the longest fast ever recorded... you won't believe how long it was. Alright fine, I'll tell you! It was longer than a year!
  2. The Truth about Fasting: What really happens to your body - This one is a little bit more dry, but it's by a more trusted fellow, Dr. Berg.
  3. Fasting without losing muscles and protein? - This one is the most academically rigorous. It's an interview with a clinical physician who is essentially presenting her research on long term fasting. 

Here are some resources on the spiritual side:
  1. Prayer and Fasting - When you Fast by Derek Prince
  2. Fasting by Jentezen Franklin - I have read this book, and it blessed me, but I have heard from trusted people that they have concerns about the rest of Franklin's ministry. As far as his take on Fasting, I'm generally for it. 

Notes from the Sermon


Sermon Title: Fasting
Sermon Video: Fasting
Scriptures: 
To Express Sorrow: | 1 Samuel 31:13 | 2 Samuel 1:12 |

To Ask for Mercy: | Joel 2:12 | 1 Samuel 7:6 | Daniel 9:3 | Jonah 3:5-9 |
To Ask God to Intervene: | 1 Chronicles 20:3 | Ezra 8:21-23 | Esther 4:16 | Nehemiah 1 & 2 |
To Subjugate the Flesh: | Matthew 4:1-2 | Galatians 5:16-26 |



What to Believe:

Biblical fasting is abstaining from food and sometimes water for spiritual purposes: expressing sorrow, seeking intervention from God, and subjugating your flesh to the Spirit. 

Typical fasting doesn’t require God’s power. It was a common practice in the ancient world.


How to Obey:

Respond in favor of God’s call to fast. While fasting, continually open yourself up to the Lord, seek the Lord, and put your request/situation before him. Listen.


Reasons to Fast:

  1. To express sorrow

  2. To ask for mercy

  3. To ask God to intervene

  4. To subjugate the flesh to the Spirit


Fasting can cause you to experience deep emotion and sorrow as you pray for others.

Practical Steps for Fasting:

  1. Understand the theology of fasting. Don’t do it to impress others or to avoid disappointing others. Matthew 6
  2. Understand the physical side of fasting. For almost everyone, fasting is not dangerous for a few days. Do some research on the health benefits of fasting. The first 24 hours of a fast are the hardest, as your metabolism shifts from burning carbs and sugars to burning fat stored in your body.
  3. Set the reason for the Fast. Think about your reasons in advance. For example, to obtain a breakthrough, to get answers, revival, your children, lost people, etc.
  4. Set the terms of the fast. Example: 1 meal, sundown to sunup, 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 21 days, 40 days, etc. OR No food, only meat, protein shakes only, etc., ‘Daniel fast’--restricting certain foods (Fruit/vegetables only). Some do black Coffee and electrolytes. 
  5. Just fast! Remind yourself that “Food is not coming to rescue me.” This is a way to learn to crucify the flesh. Galatians 5:22-24


JESUS EXPECTS US TO FAST

Matthew 6:16-18

How to Walk Intimately with God:

Fast in secret first. When you want food, seek God (and seek to want God) more.




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