Fasting is not always about food…

 

The Bible speaks about fasting as a way of self-denial to focus on the Lord, particularly in prayer. It is said to be humbling as well as an occasion of repentance and complete dedication. Like any other pious activity, it can be imitated in the flesh and used to draw attention to “how devoted I am” or how religious. This hypocrisy is rebuked a few times. The OT says:

‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord? (Isaiah 58:3–5)

This passage goes on to say that a true fast is one in which the intent is to minister to needy people. It includes prayer for them, but also action whenever possible that takes care of needs.
The NT rebukes fasting also. Note that Jesus did not forbid it, but strikes out against the fleshy motivation that seeks honor for outward actions that appear to be pious…

And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:16–18)

Jesus always looks at the heart. I’m planning dinner for a family this weekend and as I searched for recipes, found myself thinking, “This dessert is impressive” or “That salad looks heavenly” when I realized this dinner was not to impress them with my culinary skills; it is to feed them and be hospitable to them. This attitude does not fast from food on my part, but denies self-glory. It is obedience to Christ who calls me to love His people.

For me, the actual fast where food is not eaten is very difficult. Not long into it, I get such a severe headache that I cannot continue. Forgetting self in other ways is more achievable, but I still need to rely on the Holy Spirit. With God’s help, I can spend a day making food, etc. and praying for friends and others much more effectively than denying food for myself.
That said, Jesus denied food. His situation becomes an example for me, not about fasting as much as it challenges me to not rely on physical sustenance or my ‘I-wants’ as much as on His Word.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:1–4)

His self-denial was Spirit-led, not motivated to impress others or seek any other personal gain. He became hungry after the fast lasted a long time, revealing the depth of His focus. The devil appealed to His humanity, the human need for food, but also challenged His identity and power as God the Son. Jesus responded by truth from Scripture and with that, the devil had to try a different tactic.

The hypocrites do not get a word (rhema) from God to fast and are not led into self-denial where they face temptation. Besides that, fasting just to impress others has already brought them into disobedience. And like the tempter, when that does not work, sinful people come up with other ways to impress people (like spectacular stunts or great financial gains).

Jesus’ answer to such nonsense is simple and profound: If you want life, real life, listen to God. Rhema means a word fit for the moment. It is about guidance for each situation. As the next two temptations and His responses reveal, seeking any sort of self-glory is not what God wants from His sons and daughters. I’m not to test His love with demands to prove Himself or any form of  ‘gimme the world’ prayers.

PRAY: Jesus, You make it clear that real life involves taking up my cross (death to self) whether it is in fasting or spending time and effort with others, or anything else You ask me to do. It also involves listening. You will give precise directions, sending me into the wilderness or elsewhere, and You will also give me answers when the temptations come, answers that make the devil give up and leave. Thank You.

 

Ministry in and out of church . . .

 

They have been called pew-warmers. They come to church every Sunday, even take classes for this or that, but never plug in to serve. In a church the size of ours, it is easy to let others do it. Most of them are younger, have more energy, and if they take turns, no task takes much of a chunk of time or effort. Once a month to wash brunch tablecloths or clean up after everyone eats is easy. However, there are a few who come in late, leave early. It seems going to church is like attending a movie theater.

It is easy to be critical. What about those who spend hours preparing sermons? Or Sunday school lessons? Or leading small groups? We know that serving Sundays in the church building is not the only option for doing ministry.

And Jesus called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.” (Matthew 10:1)

“Disciple” means learner and “apostle” means sent out. Jesus taught His disciples what to do and how to do it. Some of this was ministry toward one another, yet in this verse, it was outside the body of Christ. Those with unclean spirits needed healing. Those with physical disease and affliction needed healing. Those who didn’t know about Jesus needed to hear about Him. Today, needs are like that and even greater and more varied.

A father tells us that his daughter, age 14, has had an evil spirit since she was very young. She needs the ministry of deliverance. Daily we hear of those with cancer and other diseases. Many fear death and need to know about Jesus. People have physical  needs that can be met by our time, money, even just our attention. I read yesterday that loneliness is destroying lives just as much as smoking cigarettes. The Bible calls me to do what I can to demonstrate the love of God with my efforts to minister to others.

I just read part of a book that describes the need for prayer and how many Christians make excuses for not praying or for very little praying. One prayer warrior said, “ . . . . one of the crying evils of these times, maybe of all times—little or no praying. Of these two evils, perhaps little praying is worse than no praying . . . . Little praying is a kind of make-believe, a salve for the conscience, a farce and a delusion.” (E. M. Bounds)

These thoughts touch my heart. I can make excuses too. Often, they involve being too busy, or too tired. However, Jesus taught His disciples by example. He prayed in His busyness and fatigue. And this is what He wants from me. It too is an important ministry.

Prayer requests are sometimes listed in church bulletins. Prayer meetings are necessary because without prayer, the church weakens. Some will eventually shut their doors. The leaders in a prayerless church cannot be strong in the Lord without prayer support. Prayer is one ‘ministry’ that is possible no matter when or where, and not restricted to the building.

Another ‘out there’ ministry is the Great Commission.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20)

How many folks that warm the pews are out there warming up hearts to faith in Christ? How many are sharing Jesus with unsaved family and friends? How many are making disciples without being on a list in the church office? I heard last week from a woman whose faith was mightily restored because of a letter a Christian wrote to another person and that other person shared it with her. Ministry takes many forms and God uses our acts of obedience, however ‘small’ they might seem.

Jesus, in reading these things, I’m convicted of my excuse-making. I’m not called to teach Sunday school or make/serve/clean up in our brunch ministry, but I am called to pray, not just for those who do these things, but for many other needy people and needy places in this messed up world. Forgive my lapses. Give me an eagerness to pray that overcomes any excuses I make and overwhelms my tendency to ‘forget’ which is the worst excuse of all. Fill my heart and mind with what You want me to pray about, and the things You want me to do when I should be the answer to my own prayer requests. Fill me with Your Spirit and may I listen well and obey quickly. Amen.

READ often about the way Jesus lived and how He prayed. Focus on Him and hear what He wants me to do and how He wants me to pray.

 

 

 

Feeling Blank . . .

 

READ Psalm 120–124

The past few weeks have been filled with problems, too many to list and besides, who wants to review all my problems? I am content to review the solutions because, “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.” (Psalm 120:1)

One night, one of those problems had me awake for a long time. It was foolish to mull it over because I had no idea what caused it. It involved another person and I was not informed enough to know what was wrong or what I was up against. I asked a few people and their response was basically, “Get used to it. This is the way it has been and it will not change.”

So in my distress, I called to the Lord. The psalmist verifies that is the solution, not only for the unsolvable problems but even those for which I can think of possible solutions. In my distress:

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (121:1–2)

So I prayed something like this: “God, fix this. I don’t know what caused the problem and have no idea what I could do about it. Only You are aware and only You know what to do.”

The next day, the issue was resolved. My advisors were startled. I was overjoyed. I have no idea what God did in the life of the person that was part of the problem, but that person’s attitude changed and suddenly the issue did not exist. It was amazing.

Another verse from this reading has amazed and comforted me many times. It says:

To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us. (123:1–2)

When I first read it, I imagined a servant coming to her Master with an empty tray. In order to feed the people around her, she needs something in the tray but only the Master can fill it — with the right things in the right amounts. She has no resources yet He mercifully does what is needed so she can fulfill her tasks.

I often feel like a person with an empty platter. I grew up in a loving home but my parents had been told that my childhood illness was fatal and I would die in my mid-teens. They did not raise me to live. My grandmother taught me some basics, but my parents protected and cared for me without preparing me for life. I didn’t realize this had ramifications; when older, I felt blank in so many ways. As a Christian, reading about a servant and thinking of an empty platter, I felt like God knew my innermost self-view, but not only that, He told me the solution: look to Him and He would fill in the blanks. I’ve been a slow learner at times, but know the power of God to come to my side when I’ve no clue what to do or how to do it.

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (124:8)

Jesus, without You, these feelings of inadequacy would be overwhelming. Where would I go? Who would even listen to me? At my age and with my education, no one would think that this is even a problem. Yet it is, and at the same time a blessing. Feeling empty and without resources has given me the wonderful joy of knowing Your supply, of knowing that You hear and answer prayer, often in mysterious and amazing ways. I’m glad to be a servant and even more joyful to know that You are my Lord. You fill my platter, take care of all my needs and fill my heart with joy as I serve and worship You.