When Church Prays : Is Fasting Necessary ?

Series: When Church Prays

Topic: Is Fasting Necessary?

Text: Matthew 9:14-15

Rev Renee Khoo

Today is the 14th day of our 40-day fast and prayer, so it’s a good time for us to talk about prayer this morning. When it comes to prayer and fasting, everyone has so many questions to ask, just like John’s disciples in Matthew 9:14-15. When do we fast? How many times a day do we fast? How many meals to skip? What are the benefits of fasting? What is fasting? Fasting is a ritual of abstinence from food and/or drink for a predetermined period; practiced in the Bible primarily as a means of mourning. Fasting frequently occurs in the Old Testament in response to suffering or disasters in conjunction with other rituals. You may be skipping a meal and yet you may not be practicing fasting. The Day of Atonement is a day when Israel will fast and pray as a nation. Examples of men who fasted in the Bible included Moses, King Jehoshaphat, Jonah, David, Nehemiah, King Darius. Anna, John the Baptist, Jesus, Church of Antioch, Paul and Barnabas. So we can see that fasting is not only practiced now but it was also practiced throughout the Bible.

1.         True Fasting & False Fasting (Isaiah 58)

Simply fasting just to fulfill an obligation, without humility towards God or compassion for people who are oppressed, is false fasting. True fasting should result in a change of attitude and treatment towards God and towards men. True fasting should enable us to come humbly before God, to acknowledge Him as the Lord of all, to have compassion towards those who are in need, to set captives free, to be the messenger of God, and to display kindness to mankind.

2.         Usefulness & Necessity

“Let us say something about fasting, because many, for want of knowing its usefulness, undervalue its necessity, and some reject it as almost superfluous; while on the other hand where the use of it is not well understood, it easily degenerates into superstition. Holy and legitimate fasting is directed to three ends; for we practice it either as a restraint on the flesh, to preserve it from licentiousness, or as a preparation for prayers and pious meditations, or as a testimony of our humiliation in the presence of God when we are desirous of confession our guilt before him.” --- John Calvin

Nowadays we tend to ask how something will benefit us or be useful to us before we commit ourselves to it. If we don’t see the usefulness of doing something, we will think that it is not necessary. Fasting is one of the spiritual disciplines for every Christian. On the other hand, we often hear testimonies how something has benefited someone greatly, even though that person may not have known its benefits or usefulness before doing it. Isaiah 58:8-12 sums up what will happen and the benefits we will receive when we fast and pray. If we truly believe God’s Word is the truth, we can pray and fast to see if God’s Word will come to pass in our lives. Fasting can also make us more humble, see the order and priorities of life clearer, more sensitive to His voice and sharpen our spiritual gifts. It is also true that when we fast, our hidden weaknesses and sins will surface. We will become less selfish and think of others more.

3.         Methodology & Timing

Some of the methods of fasting are Regular Fast, Partial Fast, Full Fast (e.g. Acts 9:9; Esther 4:15-16) and other forms of fasting. According to Mahesh Chavda in his book “The Hidden Power of Prayer & Fasting”, one thing we want to avoid when we fast is tell others that we are fasting, which is between us and God, and our attitude must be right.

When is the best time to fast? Do we see hope in our nation? Can you call this place your home? Do what you see happening in our nation drive you to your knees to pray? Do you see the urgency in the nation enough to consider fasting? Is there a reason strong enough for you to come and seek His face? Do you see the need to pray for our nation? Do you see the urgency to do it now? Is fasting necessary?

Conclusion: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14

Question for reflection and response

1.         Share an incident or event in your life that has driven you to your knee to pray and fast. Was there any breakthrough that you experienced?

2.         Fasting is one of the spiritual disciplines for every Christian. Do you practice that often? Why or why not?

3.         How do you view judgment on the last day (v.48)?