Preparing for a Public Fast
Introduction – Following the
events of
Biblical Public Fasting – There are a
number of times throughout the scriptures where we see God’s people (and in the
case of Jonah and
The Day of
Atonement (Lev
In Days of
National Emergency (2 Chron 20:1-4) – Jehoshaphat feared an
attack by his enemies and called upon the nation to fast and pray to God.
In the Midst of
Danger (Ezra 8:21-23) – As Ezra led the people out of
exile and back to Jerusalem with the precious items of the temple, he called for
a fast for protection.
During a Time
of Confession of Sin (Jonah 3:5-10) – As a token of
repentance, humility and faith in God, the king of Ninevah proclaimed a
fast. This time, the enemy that needed
turning away was God Himself. Joel calls
Israel to fasting as well (Joel 1:13-14).
In the Days of
Important Works of Faith (Acts 13:1-3) – The church fasted and
prayed, seeking the Lord in the appointment of elders for particular works of
service.
A Biblical View of Fasting – Fasting
occurs in almost every religion, and many people fast for non-religious
reasons. The scriptures instruct us to
fast and give us the right reasons.
Longing for
Christ (Matt 9:14-17) – The Bridegroom, in one sense,
is gone, and His righteousness is not yet fully manifested among His people or
over the world. “Then they will fast”. Our fasting manifests our longing for His
return and for His righteousness and holiness fully established (then what
does our lack of fasting manifest?).
But this fasting is in new wineskins.
We no longer fast on a Day of Atonement, for we no longer worship in
shadows, but in the fullness of His revelation to us and in the completed
once-for-all atonement of the cross.
To Humble
Ourselves (Psalm 69:10) – We are taught to believe in
ourselves and find it within ourselves, but we are not taught today to humble
ourselves. Pride goes with a full
stomach, idle time, and carelessness for the weak (Ezek 16:48-50). Humility and fasting are antithetical to our
‘can-do’ culture and to our easy-believism gospel, and so we see little of
either.
In Response to
the Lord’s Hand of Judgment (Acts 9:1-19) – Consider Paul’s
conversion story. While knowing the laws
of the Old Testament by heart and practicing them zealously as a Pharisee, God
revealed to Paul that, in fact, he was blind, by striking him with
blindness. Paul’s heart was rent and he
did not eat or drink for three days.
Then God opened His eyes, physically and spiritually.
Jesus Teaches “When
you fast” (Matt 6:16-18) – First, note that Jesus assumes
that His disciples will be fasting. The
main point is not that we must never be seen fasting. The point is that we are not to be fasting in
order to be seen. If the point of
fasting is humility and God-centered longing, we are hypocrites, not if someone
sees us, but if that is what we are really hoping will happen.
Conclusions/Applications – What should
we be meditating upon and how should we prepare?
A Normal Fast
– Fasting is the practice of abstaining from food, solid or liquid, but not
necessarily water, for a period of time.
There are many variations to this ‘normal’ fast.
A Non-Binding
Proclamation – No one should feel conscience-bound to keep
this fast day. We do not have the
authority of the scriptures, and we will not harass those who, for whatever
reason, do not choose to fast. This is
an opportunity, not a requirement.
Children and those with special dietary needs should make sure that what
they are doing is appropriate for them.
Everyone is invited to join us for prayer on the evening of the 11th
regardless of whether or not you are fasting.
Humility
– There is a fasting that stirs up pride (Col 2:23). But Christian fasting rests in the full
justification of God by grace through faith.
It is not attempting to earn something from God. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit’s work in us
– self control – not something with which to impress God or others.
Feast Days/Fast Days (Zech 7:4-7) – Our
ability to understand how to fast correctly is connected to our ability to
feast appropriately. Every Lord’s Day is
a high feast day, and especially as we gather at His Table. At His Table we learn to partake of Christ by
faith, and in our fasting we learn that man shall not live on bread alone.
Proper
Expectations – “Our seasons of fasting and prayer at the
Tabernacle have been high days indeed; never has Heaven’s gate stood wider;
never have our hearts been nearer the central Glory.” – Spurgeon. Prayer and fasting are God’s appointed means
of humbling ourselves before Him and pleading His mercy upon our nation. He is kind.
“To
sum up: whenever…there appear the judgments of the Lord’s anger (as pestilence,
war, and famine)-‘tis a holy ordinance and one salutary for all ages, that
pastors urge the people to public fasting and extraordinary prayers” – John Calvin
Dave
Hatcher – September 1, 2002