Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Fasting has become the least practiced discipline among Christians of today.

Why?

Too many amusements.

Not enough reason to do so.

Many Christians are uninformed and misinformed about it.

In this series, I will share with you enough Biblical knowledge about fasting and how they benefit the Christian life.

Main Points

Bible Background on Fasting

Fasting was commanded only once in the Law.

It is connected with the Day of Atonement.

Leviticus 16.29-31

Leviticus 23.26-33

Two Hebrew words are used in the OT.

anah - to afflict

tsom - fast

both words are used in Isaiah 58.3, 5

But the Jews have developed a number of fast.

Zechariah 8.18-19

Fasting was widely practiced by Israel for various reasons

Repentance and confession

1 Samuel 7.6

Nehemiah 9.1-2

Jonah 3.4-9

Mourning

1 Samuel 31.12

2 Samuel 1.12

Nehemiah 1.4

Petition

Judges 20.20

2 Chronicles 20.1-3

Ezra 8.21-23

Esther 4.3

Esther 4.16

Joel 1.13-15

Fasting in the New Testament

Jesus practiced fasting

Luke 4.1-2

Matthew 4.2

Jesus taught fasting

Matthew 6.16-18

Mark 9.28-29

the apostles taught and practiced fasting

Acts 13.2-3

1 Corinthians 7.5

What is Fasting

What fasting is not...

Fasting is not the same as dieting.

Dieting is when you want to lose weight or keep your weight and size in check.

Fasting is not a penitence in the R.C.C. way.

Penitence is when you hurt yourself in hope that God will forgive your sins.

Fasting is not a requirement.

It is a choice.

Whenever a believer chooses to begin a spiritual fast for one day or for several days, he or she makes a choice to break out of the routine in order to draw closer to God.

Fasting is not a legalistic discipline, but should be adapted to each worshiper’s individual purpose.

Ultimately, you yourself must determine the length of your fast, what if anything you should eat or drink and other aspects related to your particular fast.

Fasting is not a replacement for doing God’s will.

To fulfill the will of God is our topmost priority.

Fasting is not an end in itself.

It is a means by which we can worship the Lord, get closer to Him, and submit ourselves in humility to Him.

Fasting is not a means to manipulate God.

Even if we wanted to we could not manipulate God.

We fast and pray for results, but the results are in God’s hands.

But...

One of the greatest spiritual benefits of fasting is becoming more attentive to God—becoming more aware of our own inadequacies and His adequacy, our own contingencies and His self-sufficiency—and listening to what He wants us to be and do.

Fasting is not easy.

Like climbing a mountain, fasting is spiritually as well as physically challenging.

It can be difficult, draining and dangerous.

So embark on this adventure with full understanding of what you are doing and full knowledge that the path ahead may be tough.

But the rewards will be worth it.

Fasting is not merely going without food for a period of time.

That is dieting—maybe even starving—but fasting it is not.

Nor is fasting something done only by fanatics.

I really want to drive that point home.

Fasting is not to be done only by religious monks alone in a cave somewhere.

The practice of fasting is not limited to ministers or to special occasions.

What fasting is...

Fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose.

When you eliminate food from your diet for a number of days, your spirit becomes uncluttered by the things of this world and amazingly sensitive to the things of God.

As David stated, “Deep calls unto deep” (Ps.

42:7).

Psalm 42.1-7

Fasting is worshipping God on a deeper level.

When we fast we let go of temporal things and needs in order to give ourselves to worship and devotion with God.

Luke 4.1-2

Daniel 9.1-3

Fasting is listening to God more attentively.

When we fast in our prayers, we forget and set aside the call of this world in order to be ready to listen to God when He speaks.

Acts 13.1-3

Fasting is a companion to prayer.

Sometimes, prayer is not enough.

It must be coupled with fasting.

Matthew 17 20-21

To be continued...

In Part 2:

Biblical Principles for Fasting

Types of fasting