Fasting helps individuals break free from "slavery" to food and feeds the flesh while starving the spirit.
Fasting serves as a means to deepen one's connection with God through prayer and seek His guidance and strength.
Fasting allows individuals to stand in solidarity with the poor, gain empathy, and reflect on issues of social justice.
Deep dives
The Power of Fasting to Starve the Flesh and Feed the Spirit
Fasting is a practice that allows individuals to starve their flesh and feed their spirit. By abstaining from food and sometimes water, fasting offers an opportunity to draw energy from the Holy Spirit and align desires with God's will. Through fasting, individuals gain self-control, discipline, and self-mastery over their bodily desires. The practice weakens the flesh's influence and strengthens the spirit's desires for holiness, leading to a transformation from the inside out. Fasting is not a restricted diet, but a practice that enables individuals to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit and experience freedom from the slavery of the flesh.
Praying through Fasting
Fasting is closely tied to prayer. It serves as a means to deepen one's connection with God and seek His guidance and strength. By fasting, individuals create sacred moments and use their bodies and stomachs as tools for prayer. Fasting can reveal the things that control individuals, exposing unhealthy coping mechanisms and dependencies that prevent genuine spiritual growth. When combined with prayer, fasting opens up space for individuals to bring their desires, concerns, and needs before God, seeking His presence and moving in alignment with His will.
Solidarity with the Poor
Fasting can also serve as a practice of standing in solidarity with the poor and those who lack access to basic necessities. By voluntarily giving up food and experiencing moments of hunger, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by those who go without food, contributing to a compassionate and empathetic perspective. Fasting creates a space for individuals to reflect on issues of social justice and compels them to take actions that address food injustice and support equitable access to healthy food.
Strengthening Self-Control and Discipline
Fasting is an exercise in self-control and discipline. By denying the immediate gratification of food, individuals can develop a stronger willpower and overcome their fleshly desires. Fasting creates an opportunity to break free from addictive behaviors and make intentional choices aligned with one's values and spiritual beliefs. It helps individuals recognize the power and influence their bodily desires hold over their overall well-being, and empowers them to regain control and live a life guided by the Spirit.
Invitation to Freedom and Transformation
Fasting is not obligatory, but an invitation to experience freedom and transformation. It is an opportunity to follow the example of Jesus, who practiced fasting as a way to live well and align with God's will. By accepting the invitation to fast, individuals can engage in a journey of self-discovery, healing, and growth, where they can experience a deeper connection with the Holy Spirit and break free from the slavery of their fleshly desires. Fasting is a spiritual practice that allows individuals to bring their whole selves, including their bodies, into alignment with the rule and reign of God.
Why should you fast? In modern society, fasting as a spiritual practice is almost unheard of, even among Christians. So why does Jesus assume that his followers will fast? (Matthew 6:16-18; 9:15-16). In this teaching, John Mark discusses the what and the why behind fasting. First, he shows that fasting helps us break free from "slavery" to food, feeds our flesh and starves the spirit, and allows us to "pray" with our bodies. Then he outlines what fasting is and what it isn't and what that means for us as we press into this practice from the way of Jesus.
Key Scripture Passages: Genesis 2v4-7; Genesis 3v1-6; Matthew 4v1-4; John 4v7-30; Matthew 6v16-18; Galatians 5v13-25
