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Into Thy Word Ministries Presents:

Fasting that Delights God!

1990, 2003 Richard J. Krejcir Pasadena Ca, Into Thy Word

Matthew 4:1- 4; 6: 1- 4; 16-18; 9:14-17

Asking me to write about Fasting is like asking a dog to walk ontwo legs. The dog can do it, but he cannot do it very long nor can he do itvery well. I am a person who does not like to skip a meal, who thinks agood buffet is a good way to worship God because He bestows us withblessings. At the same time, I value the importance of Fasting. Havingpracticed Fasting off and on for many yearssometimes even dreading tostart it and thankful when it was overI learned a few things I wish to

impart to you. I discovered that each time I Fasted, it gave me focus andsteadfastness in His !ord. I learned that what I thought I needed, I reallydid not need. I learned that His !ord is my food. I learned that my "secret#life with God, which is my personal devotions and disciplines that I do not"show off# to others, builds me deeper and closer to $hrist. I learned thatFasting is important and needs to be a part of my spiritual lifeandperhaps yours, too%

Objections to Fasting

A lot of $hristians, including myself way back, think that Fasting is not for

us because &esus' disciples did not Fast in His presence. Also, &esus seemed toput Fasting down by confronting those who practiced it. Although &esus oftentaught on Fasting ()ark *+- /uke *+ 012, and He, Himself, Fasted ()att. 3+*2,He did not insist on it. He confronted the &ewish leaders for making remarksabout His disciples not Fasting. The reason they did not4 5ecause &esus waswith them, so, what was the point% He then said they could Fast when He wasgone. !e have to look at the conte6t and precepts of 7cripture and not try torationali8e our wrong views. I had to reali8e Fasting was for me. I hope you do,too.

The passage most people use to say it is 9: notto Fast is )atthew ;+3salm *0+= 3=+1 @+0 3+=2% !e are todo this willingly and Boyfully%

!hen we glorify ourselves, we accomplish nothing% The &ews put asheson their heads and wore sa!k!loth(from the Hebrew sak,a coarse cloth similarto burlap, dark in color, and usually made of goatJs haira very cheap and itchymaterial2 when Fasting. They did this to show their piety and reverence however,

it was usually a show, with no real meaning under that itchy material. They sat inthe public areas so all those walking by would feel sorry for them and think thatthey were pious. 7o, when Friday evening or 7aturday came, these peopleattained honor and respect in the temple (ech. 1+harisees, as well as their disciples, Fasted twice a week to provetheir status and devotion to God before the public (/uke -+*2. They did it forfalse and misleading reasons. emember, God seeks the heart, and deeds donethrough sincerity and honesty, not those for the purpose of selfharisees then added many more regulations on top of the /aw. In so doing,they were trying to earn God's favor by ostentatious displays, but with noheartfelt meaning behind them. 9ur faith needs to be practiced honestly and fromour heart, never for personal gain or pretentious reasons.

Isaiah challenged the &ews, prior to their captivity, and maintained thattheir Fasting was empty of purpose, pretentious, vain, and not pleasing to God(Isa. =-2, Bust as &esus does in )atthew. Isaiah further e6pounded that becauseof their pious, fraudulent behavior, they corrupted themselves, and that Busticeand virtue became absent in the land where God's love and rule was to beshown to the world. 7uch decadence led to their seventy

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5abylonians. !e have to reali8e how important being authentic with our faith is,and Fasting is a good place to keep it real.

This passage also sets out to proclaim the true lasting motivations for ourdaily pursuits of giving, praying, and Fasting, e6tending to other pursuits in the

coming chapters ()atthew @+ @

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emember, &esus taught His disciples to have a righteousness thate6ceeded that of the >harisees, meaning they must be real in their faith, and intheir walk in $hrist ()att. =+*2% The 7cribes and >harisees were practicing theart of hypocrisynot righteousness% &esus does not pay any attention to thepeople who say one thing and do another, nor does He pay attention to

misplaced motivations or religious gab and gossip% Is He paying attention toyou4

Who Fasted and Why.

In the 9ld Testament, the &ews Fasted to seek God's help in threats or times

of war (nation in general2, when loved ones were sick (Cavid2, in seekingGodJs forgiveness for themselves and their nation (Ahab, Caniel2, and inseeking GodJs protection and His will (8ra2. &ust look up the term, #asting, ina concordance and observe the abundance of references (/ev @+*;

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In the Dew Testament, Fasting was practiced when one was faced with

temptations (&esus2, in serving the /ord and beginning a new ministry(Antioch2, and, when selecting and appointing elders ()att. 3+aul listed Fasting among other things that proved he was a minister of $hrist

( $o + * $o +*0

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never soft drinks% If your stomach is getting upset, eat a slice or two of whole gainbread to absorb your stomach acid. Eou may do a "Buice# Fast, and drink smallamounts of vegetable and fruit Buices. This is not only very healthy, but it willhave the same devotional effect. In the /iturgical $hurches ($atholic, piscopal,and /utheran2, they do a /enten fast for 3 days, to give up one or more items

they like. For me it was chocolate and coffee. This, too, is a good way to have aprolonged time of abstaining from what you like in order to focus on what Godlikes (Can. +*

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but rather a heartfelt seeking of God's will and glory in oneJs own life and in thelife of the church% A sign of real Fasting and prayer is when repentance andobedience are evident if not, you may be performing a ritual for show (Isa. =-+0rayer and Fasting can be effective tools inseeing #is wi!!2 as Fasting wi!! s(ercharge yor (rayer !i%e2 and rebootyor s(irita! growth3 !e can better understand what God wants of us, evenwhen we are in spiritual confusion% (* $hron. *+0

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$opyright O ;;, *, *0 . &. :reBcir, Into Thy !ord )inistries >asadena,$alifornia L7A www.intothyword.org

ichard &oseph :reBcir is the Cirector of PInto Thy !ord )inistries, 'a )issions

and discipling ministry. He is the author of several books including, Into Thy!ord as well as numerous articles, curriculums and solid 5iblical resources. Heis also a pastor, teacher, speaker and a graduate of Fuller Theological 7eminaryin >asadena $alifornia and currently completing his >h.C in practical theology.He has amounted over * years of pastoral ministry e6perience, mostly in youthministry, including serving as a church growth consultant.

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