Posted on 06/03/2019 6:15:55 PM PDT by metmom
“‘But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you’” (Matthew 6:17–18).
Jesus’ statement “when you fast” indicates that fasting is normal and acceptable in the Christian life. He assumes His followers will fast on certain occasions, especially in times of testing, trial, or struggle.
Fasting is appropriate during times of sorrow. On occasions of deep grief, fasting is a natural human response. Most people don’t feel like eating at those times. Other things that motivate fasting have included overwhelming danger, penitence, and the receiving or proclaiming of a special revelation from God. And fasting often accompanied the beginning of an important task or ministry.
In every scriptural account, genuine fasting is linked with prayer. You can pray without fasting, but you cannot fast biblically without praying. Fasting is an affirmation of intense prayer, a corollary of deep spiritual struggle before God. It is never an isolated act or ceremony or ritual that has some inherent efficacy or merit.
Fasting is also always linked with a pure heart and must be associated with obedient, godly living. This is the attitude that will motivate the one fasting not to attract attention to his deprivation and spiritual struggle. Fasting is not to be a display for anyone, including God. Genuine fasting is simply a part of concentrated, intense prayer and concern for the Lord, His will, and His work. Jesus’ point is that the Father never fails to notice fasting that is heartfelt and genuine, and He never fails to reward it.
Ask Yourself
Has fasting ever been a part of your life and relationship with God? If so, what have those experiences taught you about Him . . . and about yourself and your need for Him? If you’ve never actually participated in fasting, what might be some appropriate times and ways for you to practice it?
Studying God’s Word ping
If done right, no one but God will know.
Exactly.
As it should be.
Why fast?
Isn’t fasting a “work”, aside from faith alone?
1). It was something believers were to do based on Matthew.
“‘But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you’” (Matthew 6:17–18).
It helps bring one closer to God.
2. Fasting has nothing to do with salvation.
Faith alone saves.
People who are saved still fast as a spiritual exercise, but not to earn salvation or brownie points with God.
It’s not a question of salvation - it’s a question of drawing close to God - by a force of will (in this case, fasting).
How closer to God can you guys get if y’all are already saved?
If it looks like a work, and requires work, it’s a work.
Really? You better take it up with ealgeone:
It helps bring one closer to God.
Does anyone see you pray? Does anyone see you tithe?
I have fasted with prayer partners many times. The partners at least know it.
Not doing it out of hubris does mot legalistically mean that lierally no one on Earth may ever know.
If that were so, then never pray or tithe where anyone may see you.
At 24, as a Youth Board member, and the main Bible Study teacher at my church, I once asked the head pastor to give a sermon on fasting.
In my entire life in the church, sometimes including up to four sermons or lectures per week, I had never heard a single one on fasting, though our Exemplar fasted, and instructed us to do so:
I read the Word:
When you tithe... (Matthew 6:2-4)
When you pray... (Matthew 6:5-15)
When you fast... (Matthew 6:16-18)
When, not If.
The pastor flatly refused, saying that would be teaching works righteousness.
Strangely, that did not stop him (or others) from exhorting people from the pulpit to pray or tithe.
I have fasted many times - first for purely spiritual purposes, later for physical purposes.
It can be very beneficial, for both discipline and health, as well as to augment prayer, if it is knowledgably done.
Nowadays, the best guides on safe fasting are in the Natural Hygiene field. It is mostly a lost discipline in the modern institutionalized church.
I would call nonsense on that (on his part). I think it was just an excuse on his part to avoid preaching on something that would not be popular.
You weren't asking him to make fasting a requirement to be saved. It's just a matter of living out our Christian life as God intended us to.
The times past that I have fasted and prayed for something, I've seen tremendous breakthrough and answers spiritually.
The following is what Jesus taught.
Matthew 17:20-21 And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
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