A Study in Acts
Part 14
We will continue with our study this week in Acts chapter 13.
Acts 13: 1-3: 1. Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'' 3. Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away
We talked last week about ministering to the Holy Spirit through worship, prayer and fasting.
I did not talk about fasting last week. So, let’s discuss fasting here today. (Let me start out by confessing, that I do not fast as I should. And this lesson as strengthen me as I hope it will encourage you.)
What is fasting? Fasting is defined as voluntarily going without food in order to focus on prayer and fellowship with God. Prayer and fasting often are done together, but not always. You can pray without fasting, and fast without prayer. It is when we combine these two activities and dedicate them to worship God, seek his face or answers to our prayers, that we see how effective fasting and prayer work.
I have referenced an on-line article, “Prayer and Fasting” on allaboutprayer.org for some of this information.
I want to stress right now, fasting is not something we do in order to get God to answer our specific prayer or need. If you notice in these verses fasting was a part of ministering to the Lord. The other thing I want to stress is that fasting without prayer is not fasting, it is going hungry. We have to set in our heart and minds that if we are going to fast, the time we would spend eating, is to be spent ministering to the Lord, reading His Word or praying or both. If you don’t do this, again I stress, you are not fasting but skipping meals and going hungry.
Fasting helps us control our outer man, our physical body.
1 Corinthians 9:27: But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Paul is instructing us, to have control over out body, because if we do not, it can lead us to sin.
Prayer and fasting occurred in both the Old and New Testament. I am not going to tell you all the scriptures, but I encourage you to study and see what the Word says about fasting.
I will mention a few. Jesus told His disciples to fast.
Matthew 6:16: 16. "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” Basically, we are told not to let people know we are fasting. We fast for and unto God and not man. Another thing I cannot say either way, is: “is fasting from worldly pleasures the same thing.?” In other words, is fasting from Facebook, television, the same thing. I do not have a good answer. I think as we further our discussion we may find the answer, in controlling our flesh.
Jesus said, “when you fast”. So, He expects us to fast. “The purpose of Christian fasting should be to take our eyes off the things of this world and focus our thoughts on God.. Fasting is not a method of punishing our bodies and it is not be used as a "dieting method" either. We are not to spend time in prayer and fasting in order to lose weight, but rather to gain a deeper fellowship with God.” (allaboutprayer.org). Let me repeat this, we fast to gain a deeper fellowship with God. Fasting should help us control our bodies and minds, but its real purpose is to increase our intimacy with God. It helps us hear God, and as we fast, we should pray for God to give us deeper revelation of Him.
Fasting does not move God to act. God promises to respond to faith, not fasting.
1 John 5: 14-15: 14. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
Fasting helps us understand the Will of God.
James 1: 5: 5. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Fasting helps us clear out physical head and ears to hear from God. It gets rid of all the excess noise and distractions and helps us focus on God, His Word and His answers. It helps attune us to hear God’s voice and recognize it quickly.
Let’s go back to our original verses. They ministered to God and fasted. Then they hears the Holy Spirit say.. They were fasting to minister to God, God did not respond because of specific questions, He responded to their seeking His face. Yes, God will respond to specific requests when we pray. But as John says we pray according to His will. We ask for wisdom and more understanding; this is in God’s Word. We ask for salvation for our loved ones, because He promises our households will be saved. He is responding to His word, His promises not our fasting or need.
John 14: 12-14: 12. "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14. "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
I use this verse for two reasons. The first is to again stress that God responds to faith, and His word. Not fasting. Nowhere in this scripture does it say, when he fast. It says that our prayers are to be in Jesus Glorious Name, and that all we pray for should glorify God.
The second is something I have tried to stress throughout this study. As we study Acts and see the works of the Holy Spirit and how it moved on the early church. We can see how we are to move and expect it to move on us and the church in this day. Jesus told us, He even said “Most assuredly..” Another translation says: “I am telling you the truth.” Another, “in solemn truth”. This means to me Jesus was expounding on a spiritual promise or truth from God, that does not and will not change. It is assured. Again I stress here, the promise has nothing to do with fasting and everything to do with obedience and faith.
So again, why fast? Fasting helps center our minds and hearts on God. It helps us learn to hear God’s voice and respond to it. It helps us learn to control our flesh and not let our flesh control us. It draws us even closer to God personally. It gives direction to our prayers. IT DOES NOT CONTROL GOD OR INSURE HE ANSWERS OUR SPECIFIC NEED, NO MATTER HOW DESPERATE IT IS.
God does not respond to desperation, severe need, or anything else. He responds to faith.
Hebrews 11:6: 6. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
We believe, we believe in His promises and that He rewards us when we diligently seek Him, His word, His presence, His wisdom, His love, His fellowship, His answers.
In our verse today.. God through the Holy Spirit did not respond to the fasting, He responding to the seeking. I hope I have explained the deference. He responded and the Holy Spirit said…
We attune our ears to hear, what the Spirit says.
Here are a few other points about fasting.
It helps us humble ourselves. Psalm 35: 13. But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart.
It helps us overcome temptation because again it helps us control our flesh.
It helps us discipline ourselves and honor God with our bodies, which is part of controlling our flesh. 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
It helps strengthen our prayer and our spirit. Matthew 17:21 “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
It helps us express love and worship to God. Luke 2:37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
It helps us understand the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we see in our original scripture.
Finally, it helps us draw closer to God, and become more like Him everyday. Romans 2:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
I hope that this will help each of us draw closer to God daily, led us to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in fasting and praying. Let me stress again, we fast to get closer to God as we are lead, not to do it to appear more Godly, or influence God. But to change ourselves.