Together In A Fast
- Posted by Julee Huy
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An Invitation To Fast
Yesterday in our worship service, I shared my desire for us as a body of worshipers at For His Glory Community Church to fast on Tuesday. I asked that people fast from food for the whole day, ending the fast after our weekly prayer meeting that night. That of course is only an invitation and every person should seek the Lord’s leading with prayer and sensitivity to His Spirit to know what to fast from and how long to fast for. Please do not fast from food if it will pose a hazard to your health. That would not be an act of faith, but only an act of foolishness. Please recognize that nowhere in the New Testament is fasting commanded. In addition, fasting does not indicate the amount of love we have for the Lord nor does it earn more love from the Lord. There is no merit, no favor, no special treatment for those that fast simply because they are sacrificing something they enjoy. Self-inflicted suffering to move God to action is never recommended in the bible. The suffering that anchors us in the love of the Father is, and always will be, the loving act of Jesus laying down His life on the cross. All this to say, if you sense any “guilt” moving you to fast, then I recommend you don’t fast.
Reasons Why
With all that said, why then would I ask us as a church to fast this Tuesday?
1) Because fasting was done by Jesus
“And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” ~Matthew 4:2
2) Because fasting was assumed
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites …” ~Matthew 6:16 (note the word “when you fast” and not “if”)
3) Because fasting was often a group endeavor
“Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads.” ~Nehemiah 9:1 (Other ref: Judges 2:26; 1 Sam 7:6;, Ezara 8:23; Ester 4:16; Acts 13:2-3, 14:23)
4) Because fasting helps to mourn and repent of sin
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning” ~Joel 2:12 (Other ref: Judges 20:26; 1 Sam 7:6; Joel 2:12; 1 Kings 21:27; Zech 7:5)
5) Because fasting humbles us as we seek His will
“Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.” ~Esther 4:16 (Other ref: Ezra 8:23; Neh 9:1; Dan 9:3; Ester 4:16; Acts 13:2-3)
6) Because fasting helps us to be sensitive to the Spirit
“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ~Acts 13:2
7) Because fasting helps our praying in big endeavors
“So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty.” ~Ezra 8:23 (Other ref: Deut 9:9; 2 Sam 12:16; Neh 1:4; Acts 14:23)
Ask God To Move
So this Tuesday, with humility and seeped in prayer, would you consider fasting with us as we ask God to move powerfully this Easter. Pray that the Lord crosses our lives with people that need to hear the good news of a risen savior. Pray that He gives us the boldness to proclaim that good news. Pray that people would be supernaturally drawn by the Father. Pray that if FHG can be strategically used for the glory of Jesus this Easter Sunday that people would come out. Pray for me, that the Lord would enable and empower me to share clearly and lovingly the gospel of Jesus. Lastly, let me encourage you to join us as we gather tomorrow night for prayer. It makes sense to me – we will fast together and we will pray together. May God do what is good in His own eyes.
Through all of this, remember – we are loved and accepted in Jesus. Nothing we do will add or take away from that.
With you in the grace of Jesus,
Pastor Tony Huy
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