A Call to Fast

I have recently asked my church family to fast and pray for revival.  The question is often raised, “why fast?”  I jotted some things down that I believe to be very important for us to consider:

1.     More than ever before, believers are in oppression, and even in spiritual bondage.  We need strength to stand against sin, and temptation attacks of the evil one!

2.     Believers worldwide are facing many compound problems and threatening situations, we need solutions and answers from the Lord.   Fasting with prayer allows us to gain a godly mindset and perspective. 

3.     The church is in desperate need of Revival, and the nations of the world are in great need of evangelization.  Fasting allows us to pray in dependence to a holy God who is our only hope for help.

4.     The world in general and the church in particular are crying out for people of character and integrity.   It is only in Christ that we find healing and strength to overcome sinful and destructive habits.  Fasting helps us focus on something other than ourselves.

5.      The abundance of food in North America has blinded many of us from the realities of starvation in two-thirds of the world.  In my travels around this world I have seen first hand the multitudes of hungry.  We in America live with blinded eyes of the true needs around the world.

6.     Even with the abundance of food we are not healthier in North America.  Many studies suggest the opposite.  Fasting is  healthy, it purges the body of toxins and has many beneficial results.

7.     The media has so captured our attention that we as believers are operating according to principles completely alien to God’s word and will.  Fast involves more than food.  I have asked our church to fast from technology and entertainment for a period of time.  This will help us see the outside influences that we have allowed into our lives. 

Talking is not teaching and listening is not learning.   Reading is not even learning.   Teaching and learning happen best with experience and when we engage the truth.  These things, talking, teaching, reading can be a tool to help us learn but in themselves they are not going to produce life change.   We have to at some point put into practice what we read, hear and are taught.

 Some say fasting creates a legalistic person.  Fasting is not legalistic, unless you make it such.  God sees and knows out hearts.   Others see fasting as political protest, others view it as a means of purging the body and achieving good health.   Some engage fasting to raise funds for humanitarian causes.   Still others fast to ask God for a revival.  So many voices are calling for a fast what is the biblical reasons to do so?   I ask you to consider this Passage from Isaiah 58: beginning in verse 4...

What good is fasting  when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. ⁵  You humble yourselves  by going through the motions of penance,  bowing your heads  like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes.  Is this what you call fasting?  Do you really think this will please the LORD?  ⁶  “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;  lighten the burden of those who work for you.  Let the oppressed go free,   and remove the chains that bind people. ⁷   Share your food with the hungry,  and give shelter to the homeless.  Give clothes to those who need them,  and do not hide from relatives who need your help. ⁸ “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,  and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind.  ⁹  Then when you call, the LORD will answer.  ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.  “Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.  Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!  ¹⁰ Feed the hungry,  and help those in trouble.  Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.

¹¹      The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. ¹²    Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.   Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes.

1From Isaiah 58:6   Is there a bondage that needs to be broken?

2.     Fast  to “undo heavy burdens” in your life.  V 6    Are there any burdens that need to be lifted in your life?

3.     Fast to bring liberty to the oppressed.   This is a fast for revival.

4.     Fast to break every Yoke.  A yoke is a chain that binds us!   Maybe mental, emotional but a chain that blinds us from the truth!

5.     Fast to be burdened to share with others.  V 7    What humanitarian needs are significant that you can meet?  Food, shelter, clothes...?

6.     Fast to share the gospel.    v 8   We fast to gain wisdom in an awakening. 

7.     We fast to gain healing...  v 8

8.     We fast to gain godliness v 8.  As we fast we grow toward the Lord. In dependence. Our Christ like character is developed.

9.     We fast to be protected from the evil one.  V 8.  Is there a danger you need to be protected from? Are you facing danger in your life?

Of course if you are a diabetic, expectant mother or have a history of other medical problems you need to consult your health care provider, but generally speaking a short fast will not harm you.  Over the next 4 weeks we will be called upon to fast for a variety of reasons.