Bible Chapel of Shawnee  
February 9th, 2020  
Family Bible Hour

**Rhetorical theme**: Fasting
 
**Full theme**: What the Bible teaches about fasting.
 
1. Introduction
    
    1. Topic of fasting
        
        1. Probably not an unfamiliar term to you
        2. "Facebook fasts"
        3. Popular dieting trend: Intermittent fasting
        4. Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Anglican practice during lent (starting in a couple of weeks)
        5. In form or another, fasting is present in our culture
    2. Scripture speaks of it too
        
        1. Israelites fasted
        2. Moses, Elijah, Hannah, Esther, Nehemiah, Ezra, Jesus and Paul all fasted
    3. Like me?
        
        1. Unsure exactly what Bible says
        2. Required or recommended?
        3. Purpose?
        4. Relevant for today? How? 3. Purpose of fasting
    
    1. Examine: when does Scripture speak of fasting
        
        1. Praying, inquiring of the Lord
            
            1. Israel, going into battle against Benjamin (Judges 20:26)
            2. David, baby's life (2 Sam. 12:16)
            3. Jehoshaphat and Israel, huge army coming against them (2 Chron. 20:3)
            4. Ezra and Israel, seeking protection for their journey (Ezra 8:21)
            5. Nehemiah, favor from the king (Neh. 1:4)
            6. Jews, success for Esther (Esther 4:16)
            7. Daniel, answer regarding 70 years in Jeremiah (Dan. 9:3)
            8. Anna, fasted continually in the temple with prayer (Luke 2:37)
            9. Cornelius, praying and fasting (Acts 10:30 [NKJV])
            10. Antioch believers, praying for Saul and Barnabas (Acts 13:3)
            11. Paul and Barnabas, appoint elders with prayer and fasting (Acts 14:17)
            12. Believers, devoting themselves to prayer and fasting (1 Cor. 7:5 [NKJV])
        2. Repentance
            
            1. Israel, upon return of the ark from the Philistines (1 Sam. 7:6)
            2. God, asking Israel to truly repent (Joel 2:12)
            3. Ninevites, after hearing Jonah's message from God (Jonah 3:5)
        3. Confession of sin
            
            1. Nehemiah, Israel's sins (Neh. 1:4)
            2. Israel, having returned to Jerusalem (Neh. 9:1)
            3. Daniel, Israel's sins (Dan. 9:3)
        4. Mourning
            
            1. Men, after death of Jonathan and Saul (1 Sam. 31:13, 2 Sam. 1:12, 1 Chron. 10:12)
            2. Jews, hearing Haman's decree (Esther 4:3)
            3. God, asking Israel to fast and mourn (Joel 2:12)
            4. Ezra, mourning unfaithfulness of exiles (Ezra 10:6)
            5. Daniel, after hearing prophecy of Messiah being cut off (Dan. 10:3)
    2. Common theme: humility
        
        1. Prayer: we need God's help and guidance
        2. Repentance and confession of sins: we fail and need God's forgiveness
        3. Mourning: we are frail and all succumb to death
        4. David fasted for this purpose (Ps. 35:13)
          
        
4. Why fasting may be relevant to us
    
    1. Rich society
        
        1. Such an abundance of all necessities
        2. Rarely, if ever, have we been in true need
        3. I can't think of a single time I ever truly feared for a real necessity: food, shelter, clothing, love
            
            1. Closest I got: hail storm on mountain hike, found shelter under a rock, had coats, backpack for protection, lift station not far away if help was needed
        4. I think it's possible for this to lull us into a false sense of security
    2. Reality is, we are much closer than we think
        
        1. Food supply illustration
            
            1. Not scaring you, but how much is your control?
            2. What did you do to make that food grow? Sun, rain, fertilize?
            3. What farm does your food come from? Is he reliable?
            4. Who does he ship it to? Is their safety good?
            5. What if a few parts break down? Prolonged bad weather? Electricity goes out? Roads aren't maintained? Gas supply runs out for transportation? Refrigeration not possible?
        2. How much do you depend on electricity?
            
            1. Even after it gets to your house, do you really control it?
            2. Do you even know what this stuff is?
            3. Where is your power generated?
            4. When your power goes out, you remember how nice it is that there are workers out there who know how to restore it. You're appreciation goes up! Your humility goes up! Your bravado goes down.
    3. Fasting reminds us how dependent we are on the Lord
        
        1. Certainly very practical reason: hunger pangs can remind us to pray
        2. But, biggest reason: reminds us how frail and dependent we are, humbles us
          
        
5. Mechanics of fasting
    
    1. Fasting can be done together
        
        1. Few: men (1 Sam. 31:13)
        2. Many: all of Judah (2 Chron. 20:3)
    2. Fasting can be done alone
        
        1. David (2 Sam. 12:16)
        2. Many others
            
            1. Moses on Mt. Sinai (Ex. 34:28)
            2. Elijah going to Mt. Horeb (1 Kings 19:8)
            3. Jesus in the wilderness (Matt. 4:2)
    3. Fasting can be for a short time
        
        1. Israel, just a day (1 Sam. 7:6)
        2. Israel, just an evening (Judges 20:26)
        3. Darius, just a night (Dan. 6:18)
    4. Fasting can be for a long time
        
        1. Few men: seven days (1 Sam. 31:13)
        2. Moses, Elijah and Jesus for 40 days and nights (Matt. 4:2, Ex. 34:28, 1 Kings 19:8)
        3. Daniel for three weeks (Dan. 10:3)
    5. Fasting can be spontaneous
        
        1. David, when his baby was dying (2 Sam. 12:16)
        2. Jehoshaphat and Israel, when large army came against them (2 Chron. 20:3)
    6. Fasting can be planned
        
        1. Jews, in response to God's word through Jeremiah (Jer. 36:9)
        2. Jews, feast of booths after returning to Jerusalem (Neh. 9:1)
        3. Purim (Esther 9:31)
    7. Fasting almost always has a favorable outcome for the faster
        
        1. Israel, victory against Benjamin (Judges 20:26)
        2. Jehoshaphat, deliverance from large army (2 Chron. 20:3)
        3. Ninevites, God relents of His judgement (Jonah 3:5)
        4. Ezra, protected on journey to Jerusalem (Ezra 8:21)
        5. Nehemiah, favorable answer from the king (Neh. 1:4)
        6. Daniel, seeking answers after observing Jeremiah (Dan. 9:3)
    8. Fasting doesn't always have a favorable outcome for the faster
        
        1. David, his baby died (2 Sam. 12:16)
    9. Fasting can be done for yourself
        
        1. Daniel, seeking answers (Dan. 9:3)
        2. David, for his child (2 Sam. 12:16)
        3. Ninevites, their own preservation (Jonah 3:5)
    10. Fasting can be done on behalf of others
        
        1. Nehemiah for Jerusalem's plight (Neh. 1:4)
        2. Jews for Esther (Esther 4:16)
        3. Ezra, for unfaithfulness of exiles (Ezra 10:6)
    11. Fasting is never commanded: only interpreted as part of the command to "humble your souls" during the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29)
      
    
6. Warnings about fasting
    
    1. Fasting cannot manipulate God
        
        1. David, true humility, but could not change God's decision (2 Sam. 12:16)
    2. Fasting must reflect the inner man: right with God or a desire to be right with God
        
        1. Ahab, difference between 1 Kings 21:4 and 21:27
            
            1. No trouble seeing Ahab's heart in v4
            2. Surprising true humility in v27
            3. It was as easy for God to see Ahab's true humility in v27 as it is for us to see his selfishness in v4
        2. Israel, fasted sincerely, but got this confused (Is. 58:3)
            
            1. They bowed their heads, put on sackcloth and ashes, why did God not hear?
            2. But, they mistreated each other, their works, had strife and contention, did not feed the hungry, cloth the naked, house the homeless
        3. Pharisee, proud of his fasting compared to humble tax collector (Luke 18:12)
            
            1. Pharisee's fasting did him no good because it did not reflect an inner, humble man
            2. Tax collector had no pretenses of righteousness
    3. Fasting is better done in secret to avoid the praise of men
        
        1. Hypocrites, fasted and made sure everyone saw (Matt. 6:16)
    4. Fasting is not the right tool for every battle
        
        1. Saul's oath to not eat in battle (1 Sam. 14:24)
            
            1. 14:24 Saul commits everyone to fast
            2. 14:29 Jonathan exposes the foolishness of it
        2. Contrast to Christ's fasting before temptation (Matt. 4:2)
            
            1. Might think top physical needed to resist
            2. But, it was a spiritual battle and fasting prepared Him
        3. Right tool for spiritual battles, not physical
      
     8. Conclusion
    
    1. Battle is not against flesh and blood, it is spiritual (Eph. 6:2)
    2. By ourselves, we are no equipped to win this battle!
    3. We depend entirely on the Lord
    4. To with this battle we must rely on Him in total humility
    5. Fasting is a useful weapon in our arsenal to help us humble ourselves
      
    
          
Raw notes from fasting study
 
1. What fasting is
    
    1. Fasting can be done in groups
        
        1. Judah (2 Chron. 20:3)
        2. Israel (Judges 20:26, 2 Sam. 1:12, 1 Sam. 7:6)
        3. Men ( 1 Sam. 31:13)
    2. Fasting can be done alone
        
        1. David (2 Sam. 12:16)
        2. Ahab (1 Kings 21:27)
        3. Jesus (Matt. 4:2)
        4. Moses (Ex. 34:28)
        5. Elijah (1 Kings 19:8)
    3. Fasting can be for a short time
        
        1. Just an evening (Judges 20:26, 2 Sam. 1:12)
        2. Just a day (1 Sam. 7:6)
        3. Just a night (Dan. 6:18)
    4. Fasting can be for a long time
        
        1. Seven days (1 Sam. 31:13)
        2. Long enough to make David weak and thin (Ps. 109:24)
        3. 40 days and nights (Matt. 4:2, Ex. 34:28, 1 Kings 19:8)
        4. Three weeks (Dan. 10:3)
    5. Fasting can be done on behalf of others
        
        1. Nehemiah for Israel (Neh. 1:4)
        2. Jews for Esther (Esther 4:16)
        3. David, when his enemies were sick (Ps. 35:13)
        4. Ezra, mourning sins of exiles (Ezra 10:6)
    6. Fasting can be spontaneous
        
        1. David, when his baby was dying (2 Sam. 12:16)
        2. Jehoshaphat and Israel, when large army came against them (2 Chron. 20:3)
        3. Ahab, hearing his judgement (1 Kings 21:17)
        4. Ezra and Jews, needing protection for their journey (Ezra 8:21)
        5. Nehemiah, hearing Jerusalem's state (Neh. 1:4)
        6. Jews, for Esther visiting the king (Esther 4:16)
        7. Men, after burying Jonathan and Saul (1 Sam. 31:13, 2 Sam. 1:12, 1 Chron. 10:12)
    7. Fasting can be planned
        
        1. Jews, feast of booths after returning to Jerusalem (Neh. 9:1)
        2. Purim (Esther 9:31)
        3. Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29)
    8. Fasting can make you physically weak
        
        1. David (Ps. 109:24)
    9. Fasting may be reproached by others
        
        1. David (Ps. 69:10)
    10. Fasting almost always has a favorable outcome for the faster
        
        1. Ahab, no judgement in his life (1 Kings 21:27)
        2. Jehoshaphat, deliverance from large army (2 Chron. 20:3)
        3. Ezra, protected on journey to Jerusalem (Ezra 8:21)
        4. Israel, victory against Benjamin (Judges 20:26)
        5. Nehemiah, favorable answer from the king (Neh. 1:4)
        6. Daniel, seeking answers after observing Jeremiah (Dan. 9:3)
        7. Ninevites, God relents of His judgement (Jonah 3:5)
    11. Fasting doesn't always have a favorable outcome for the faster
        
        1. David, his baby died (2 Sam. 12:16)
    12. Fasting is an earthly practice and will not be needed when we are with Christ
        
        1. Disciples, did not fast when with Jesus (Matt. 9:14)
    13. Fasting is only commanded as part of the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29)
2. Purpose of fasting
    
    1. Reflect true humility
        
        1. Israel, after second defeat against Benjamin (Judges 20:26)
            
            1. They asked "who shall go up" (assuming they should)
            2. Then they asked "shall we go up again"
            3. Then they asked again "shall we go up again or cease" (confessing their own sin through the offerings with fasting)
        2. Ahab, after hearing of his judgement (1 Kings 21:27)
        3. Jehoshaphat, powerless against the army (2 Chron. 20:3)
        4. Ezra and Jews, seeking protection for their journey (Ezra 8:21)
        5. God, asking Israel to repent (Joel 2:12)
    2. Accompany humbling events in life
        
        1. Fasting can accompany inquiring of the Lord (prayer)
            
            1. Israel, going into battle against Benjamin (Judges 20:26)
            2. David, baby's life (2 Sam. 12:16)
            3. Jehoshaphat and Israel, huge army coming against them (2 Chron. 20:3)
            4. Ezra and Israel, seeking protection for their journey (Ezra 8:21)
            5. Nehemiah, praying for Jerusalem (Neh. 1:4)
            6. Jews, success for Esther (Esther 4:16)
            7. Daniel, after observing 70 years in Jeremiah (Dan. 9:3)
            8. Anna, fasted continually in the temple with prayer (Luke 2:37)
            9. Antioch believers, praying for Saul and Barnabas (Acts 13:3)
            10. Paul and Barnabas, appoint elders with prayer and fasting (Acts 14:17)
            11. Believers, devoting themselves to prayer and fasting (1 Cor. 7:5 [NKJV])
            12. Cornelius, praying and fasting (Acts 10:30 [NKJV])
        2. Fasting can accompany repentance
            
            1. Israel, upon return of the ark from the Philistines (1 Sam. 7:6)
            2. God, asking Israel to truly repent (Joel 2:12)
            3. Ninevites, after hearing Jonah's message from God (Jonah 3:5)
        3. Fasting can accompany mourning
            
            1. Men, after death of Jonathan and Saul (1 Sam. 31:13, 2 Sam. 1:12, 1 Chron. 10:12)
            2. David, before death of David and Bathsheba's baby (2 Sam. 12:16)
            3. Ahab, hearing his judgement (1 Kings 21:27)
            4. Nehemiah, hearing the plight of Jerusalem (Neh. 1:4)
            5. Jews, hearing Haman's decree (Esther 4:3)
            6. God, asking Israel to fast and mourn (Joel 2:12)
            7. Jesus, associates fasting and morning (Matt. 9:14)
            8. Ezra, mourning unfaithfulness of exiles (Ezra 10:6)
            9. Daniel, after hearing prophecy of Messiah being cut off (Dan. 10:3)
        4. Fasting can accompany confession of sin
            
            1. Israel, after second defeat against Benjamin (Judges 20:26)
            2. Nehemiah, on behalf of Israel (Neh. 1:4)
            3. Israel, during feast of booths upon returning to Jerusalem (Neh. 9:1)
            4. Daniel, on behalf of Israel (Dan. 9:3)
        5. Fasting can accompany service to the Lord
            
            1. Anna, fasting and serving in the temple (Luke 2:37)
            2. Antioch believers, fasting and ministering (Acts 13:2)
        6. Fasting can accompany great spiritual tasks
            
            1. Moses, receiving ten commandments (Ex. 34:28)
            2. Jesus, resisting Satan's temptation (Matt. 4:2)
    3. Fasting can be for the purpose of humbling yourself
        
        1. David (Ps. 35:13)
    4. Fasting can teach us to depend on spiritual strength over physical strength
        
        1. Jesus, fasted 40 days before Satan tempted him (Matt. 4:2)
            
            1. Certainly physically weak
            2. Yet, showed now weakness in temptation
            3. Full of the Word
3. Warnings regarding fasting
    
    1. Fasting should be done in secret rather than for the praise of man
        
        1. Hypocrites, fasted and made sure everyone saw (Matt. 6:16)
    2. Fasting cannot manipulate God
        
        1. David, stopped when his baby died (2 Sam. 12:16)
        2. Israel, fasting ritually without inward righteousness (Is. 58:3)
        3. Israel, sinning but still fasting (Jer. 14:12)
    3. Fasting is a reflection of the inner man being right with or desiring to be right with the Lord, it is not a ritual to be performed purely out of obedience or habit
        
        1. Israel (Is. 58:3)
            
            1. Fasted, bowed their heads, put on sackcloth and outwardly humbled themselves
            2. Wondered at not being heard
            3. God responds that He would rather see
                
                1. Good treatment of workers
                2. Peace (not contention and strife)
                3. Removing wickedness
                4. Freeing those who are oppressed
                5. Feeding hungry
                6. Clothing the naked
                7. House the homeless
                8. Care for your people
            4. These things would reveal a heart in alignment with the Lord for which fasting is a true benefit
        2. Israel, fasted and confessed, but continued in sin (Jer. 14:12)
        3. Israel, fasting regularly through the year, but without humble hearts (Zech. 7:5)
            
            1. God would rather see
                
                1. True justice
                2. Kindness
                3. Compassion
                4. No oppression for widows and orphans, stranger or poor
                5. No devising evil in our hearts against one another
            2. Israel would not listen when called to, so fasting (them calling on God) was ignored
        4. Hypocrites, fasted so everyone would see (Matt. 6:16)
        5. Pharisee, proud of his fasting compared to humble tax collector (Luke 18:12)
    4. Fasting is foolish if the battle ahead is physical
        
        1. Saul, swore his men to a fast (1 Sam. 14:24)
            
            1. Jonathan summarizes the foolishness of it: victory would have been much greater if the men had their strength
    5. Fasting can be done in selfish pouting for no spiritual purpose at all
        
        1. Ahab, after Naboth would not give him his vineyard (1 Kings 21:4)