Fasting: Why don't Christians in America?
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
Our American Society is counter cultural to the spiritual discipline of Fasting or just any healthy way of eating. If you go to a restaurant the portions on the plate are more than God intended the human body to eat in one meal and that’s not to mention the bread or appetizers you order before the meal gets there. Oh and let’s not forget to mention the famous Mc Donalds Supper size that you can now super size in any fast food drive though that makes all your side and drink items large to extra large.
And snack foods, who came up with snack foods popcorn and candy and sodas and donuts quick and easy convent options. Here in america you can go to any store and get an pre packaged pre fab anything you want right around the corner at any store that they call convince stores for twice the price for your convince that they are close by.
I started dieting for my health about a month ago and a few days ago i realized that what i’m actually trying to lose this excess weight i’ve put on over the years is convience store body because where i work the closest thing to get your lunch or your snack or an extra beverage if you didn’t plan ahead is a convience store and there is absolutley noting healthy about convience stores. lol
Tonight we are going to talk Fasting because it is a Spiritual discipline that we are American Christians for the most part do not do. Im sure if i asked for a raise of hands some of you would be like why in the world would i do that, what in the wordld is the purpose. Some of you might say i’ve been intrested but i’m not sure how to go about it. What i hope to accomplish by the end of this sermons is to show you what fasting is what fasting is not and that Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior although he did not command it never thought it would be something we would not be doing in our daily lives.
I am not a fasting pro, but i have studied alot on the subject and still find myslef a novice at the practice but feel i have enough information and study that will help those of you who are intrested or hopefully spark that intrest to seek out this dicipline for yourselves.
What biblical fasting is not?
What biblical fasting is not?
Biblical Fasting is not a diet?
You will find in looking up stuff on fasting in this current day and age that their are some doctors and dieticians that are promoting a type of fasting as a method of dieting but biblical fasting is not a diet?
I am a fat girl, i have fasted, fasting did not help me lose weight in fact i fasted on an off for several months in meeting with a nutricianist and she was actually concerned that it would not be good for my metobolism however i was convicted by the holy spirit to fast and pray over certain situations and circumstances and the time and season and we came to an agreement on how i could still obey God and not mess up what i was trying to do with my health. I did not lose weight while i was fasting. It is not a diet.
Biblical Fasting Fasting is not just simply not eating.
Simply not eating for long periods of time with the purpose of losing weight is actually an eating disorder called anorexia. And can be very damaging to the body and health of a person.
The body can only survive 8 to 21 days without food and water
Possible 2 months without food and only adaquate water.
Water is a huge factor in fasting. The longest fast in the bible was 40 days and that was Jesus and Moses and Elijah
Biblical Fasting is not giving up anything that is not food.
-----Im fasting facebook, Im fasting Bishop lol
That’s not a sacrifice
Biblical Fasting Is
Biblical Fasting Is
Ob staining from food for a Spiritual Purpose.
Fasting is not just for religious fanatics, ministers or monks or other religions.
Fasting is a normal part of relationship with the Lord.
Seeking Gods face for an answer
The few times i have fasted i have been seeking God for an answer or an open door
Desperation to hear from God that i was right or direction from him for the next steps and normal prayer just wasn’t enough.
A desire in my spirit a heavy burden a saddness or overwhelming emotion or leading of the spirit that would not go away no matter how much i worshiped and prayed and read the word that is how i knew there was something else i needed to do. But that is not the only time fasting is appropriate for our walk with Jesus and we will go over times and seasons in the next couple of weeks and we will go over types of fasting that can be done.
We know in scripture:
In the book of Ezra it clearly states that they fasted and they asked “entreated of God and they god they awnser” Fasting does not come without praying and does not come without sacrfice of the physical substance of food.
So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.
Lent is a type of fast that lasts for 4o days before easter to repersent Christs sacrifice and fast in the desert. Catholics don’t eat meat but allow fish ( some of you guys would not eat the fish even if allowed lol) and it is thought that in earlier days they fasted the entirety of the 40 days. Now of days we Americanized the Lent of the Catholics and we give up a thing for lent that doesnt’ have to be food per say or anything that would actually cause hunger pains.
The point of obsatiing from food in a fast is to feel the hunger pains to be reminded of the sacrifice and to be reminded to pray during those times the hunger pains come to pray for the focus of the fast in the first place. or just to pray
Fasting can be done to ease the pain of a time of sorrow of mourning the loss of a love one, a broken heart or a time of sadness.
Alot of times in deep deep saddness our minds are not very clear this can really help clear our heads and hear clearly from God the things and possible directions and really feel comfort from God. To get closer to God.
So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Even when we are in need of correction or direction we can fast to see clearly out of sin or maybe even our own selfishness.
But as for me, when they were sick,
My clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled myself with fasting;
And my prayer would return to my own heart.
Oppression Demonic, Defeat Evil
So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Jesus says when you fast that is the most important part of this verse.
But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
“When you fast” is here even in the greek text in the future text that states that you will do it in the future.
Conclusion
Conclusion
It is very contrary to the world to not eat. We live in a country where food is plentiful and we even waste food. i cant tell you how many left overs get thrown out of my fridge. Im sure the restaurants in this town rally against how many churches are in this town. The worse it is for you the better it tastes. The world we live in says more more more more more.
When our bodies are created to intake a certain number of calories and if we eat over the aloted amount of calories for our bodies it turns into fat cells. It is obvious that I have been way over what God designed for my body to take in. I have quite a bit of excess stored up and the way to get rid of what is stored is to eat less so that the storage is used.
I said all this to say this. Fasting does not make sense to our American Minds why in the world would i not eat or deny myself certain foods or meals to grow closer to God because like most everything in Gods kingdom that we already do know that God’s ways are above our ways and his thoughts above our thoughts. That his kingdom is opposite the world and is backwards to what they would have us do. The first shall be last and the last shall be first. So of course sacrfice your food to become full of what God has for you is Holy wisdom.