Should Christians Today Fast?

Today is a turning point in our study of Acts (We’ll cover ch 13)

• Reminds me of “Clue”:
• Col Mustard in the library with the candlestick, or
• Prof Plum in the kitchen with the revolver
• Here’s a summary of Acts:
• Ch 1-12: Peter in Jerusalem with the HS
• Ch 13-28: Paul in Gentile territories with the HS
• Remember: Acts of the Apostles = Acts of the HS
• Today we’ll see a spiritual discipline that opens us to be used by HS
• Fasting
• Have you ever done it?
• In the Bible, fasting is a discipline where believers intentionally set aside their most basic needs to realign their hearts with God’s will.
• Food, water (mainly what we’re talking about today)
• TV, entertainment
• Social media

Q. Five Reasons Christians Should Fast

• Based on an examination of Acts 13
• So open your Bibles with me…

Fasting is a timeless spiritual discipline.

• We see it all over the Bible: followers of God sometimes fast.
• Moses – He fasted for 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai when receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28).
• David – He fasted when he was grieving for the illness of his child (2 Samuel 12:16).
• Elijah – He fasted for 40 days while fleeing from Jezebel (1 Kings 19:8).
• Esther – She called for a fast among the Jews before approaching King Xerxes (Esther 4:16).
• Daniel – He fasted and sought God for understanding and guidance (Daniel 9:3; Daniel 10:3).
• Anna – The prophetess who served in the temple, fasted regularly (Luke 2:37).
• Jesus – He fasted for 40 days in the wilderness before beginning his ministry (Matthew 4:1-2).
• And we also see it here in Acts 13…
• Acts 13:1-2 (NLT) 1 Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting…
• “As these men were fasting…”
• No need for explanation
• It seemed normative for the early church
• Matthew 6:16 And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.
• “When,” not “If”
• Q. Have you ever fasted?
• Reason #1: Fasting is a timeless spiritual discipline.
• See also: Breakthrough Disciplines (Series)

But Christians should not fast pointlessly, just because it’s “what we do.” It’s about more than that…

Fasting helps us to hear the Holy Spirit.

• To be clear: I’ve never audibly “heard” the HS
• Watch out for people who say that
• It can happen, but it should always align w Bible
• Lots of false prophets
• 1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.
• This isn’t usually what we mean when we talk about “hearing the HS”
• We’re talking about
• an internal conviction
• a leading
• It always aligns with the Word
• Acts 13:2 (NLT) 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said…
• There it is: worship+fasting=hearing
• Q. Are you having a hard time hearing God?
• Try fasting
• Let’s finish the verse to see what exactly they heard from the HS…
• Acts 13:2 (NLT) 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”

This points to the third reason to fast from this text:

Fasting prepares us for seasons of ministry.

• In v2 it was called their “special work”
• Acts 13:3 (NLT) 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.4 So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit.
• Keep that in mind as we continue through the book of Acts
• It’s going to follow Paul’s missionary journeys
• But it all started right here: with fasting and prayer
• Notice: the whole church was involved in this “missions program”
• We’ll talk about this more next week
• Acts 14:27 Paul and Barnabas report back to the whole church
• So clearly the whole church sent out the missionaries
• But ultimately the HS sent them out! (Acts 1:8)
• Again, not physically
• God the Father sent the son
• God the HS sends us
• So: Fasting prepares us for seasons of ministry
• Paul and Barnabas learned this from Jesus
• He fasted in the wilderness for 40 days
• Then started his public ministry
• But you say: “I’m not in ministry”
• Wrong! We all are called to get in the game

That’s why we need this next thing…

Fasting equips us for spiritual warfare.

• Because this is what happens when you get in the game w Jesus
• We see that in Paul’s first missionary journey
• Let’s read some of it:
• Acts 13:6-8 (NLT) 6 Afterward they traveled from town to town across the entire island until finally they reached Paphos, where they met a Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the governor from believing.
• Acts 13:9-11 (NLT) 9 Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. 10 Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? 11 Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him.
• Acts 13:12 (NLT) 12 When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.
• Saw the miracle, but was astonished at the teaching
• Jesus: this kind comes out only by prayer and fasting
• See also: Spiritual Warfare (Series)

One last reason I see in the chapter…

Fasting trains us to rely on God.

• Good summary of what fasting is about in the end
• Fasting, at its core, is not about punishment or self-denial for its own sake. It’s about creating space—physically, mentally, and spiritually—so we can draw closer to God.
• …so we can become more aware of our need for him.
• Acts 13:43 (NLT) 43 Many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, and the two men urged them to continue to rely on the grace of God.