Can God Fast?! Part 5
FACT OF FASTING
As we have seen some errors attributed to fasting in the previous part, it would be pertinent to also point out some key things that fasting connote or some things associated with fasting. They are numerous like the myths of fasting, but seven of these facts will also be treated in the order of the acronyms of the term, “Fasting”.1. Faith Boost:
Faith means a repose of confidence or trust in a thing or a person. It is also a fidelity to a person, promise, vow or commitment. Specifically, Faith is a belief not substantiate by proof. It is a spiritual acceptance of truth not certified by reason. Our fasting is a mark that we trust in supernatural nourishment rather than in natural nourishment for strength. God wants His Children to absolutely and totally depend on Him for everything. Larger percentages of Christians today lack faith. Lacking of faith brings about impatience. God wants us to build up our faith and that is why fasting of all kinds is required so that our faith in God can be strong.
2. Altruism (1 Corinthians 10:24):
Fasting is purely a conscious effort to better the lot of others. One of the signs of the last days is that people will be selfish, 2 Timothy 3:2. Christianity is at the brisk of collapsing in the world today because the love of God and the Love of others is no more in us. We have neglected the great commandment of God’s Neo-Law.
“Jesus answered, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind’. This is the greatest and the most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ The whole Law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets depend on those two commandments”.
Matthew. 22:39-40 (GNB)
Fasting should be borne out of the heart to helping others. Foods you may not be privileged to eat while fasting should be passed to those who are hungry. Those things (fashion, hairstyle, ornaments etc) you feel are not bad but because you do not want to be a stumbling stone to others you have to forgo, 1 Corinthian 9:19. Fasting should be a selfless services which are goodly and godly rewarded by God. For sustainability of Christianity till now, it is as a result of selfless activities of some faithful Christians. Activities like praying, preaching, giving follow up etc.
3. Sacrifice Of Praise (Hebrew 13:15.):
Praise is quite different to worship. Praise is done with words and songs while Worship is the total services man rendered to God. Preaching, Singing, giving, praying etc are subjects of worship. In this regard, praise is an integral part of worship. As Christians, we should not praise God for what we can get out of it but we should praise God for who He is and because He is worthy of it. That’s why it is called sacrifice of praise. When we pray to God we corner Him, telling Him definite things we want Him to do or provide for us. When we praise God we free Him to do what He wills to do. What He alone can do. God has uncountable angels that do praise Him every second but He cherishes men’s praises to angels’, because angels praise God in easiness while men praise Him in struggles! Also, it’s mankind that Jesus died for and when we praise God we acknowledge and appreciate Him for sending His son, Jesus to die for our sins. Praise is a fasting that must be a continuous exercise. In fact, if you are not determines or prepare to praise God for life you are not ready for eternal life.
4.Training Ground, 1 Corinthians 9:21-27:
One crucial truth (beyond fact) about fasting is that it is a training ground for every mankind that wants to fulfill the heavenly mandate. It is a parade ground for every solider of Christ. Great prophets and men of God in the Bible and in this contemporary world did nothing except they passed through this compulsory course.
However, a correlation should be drawn about these terms: test, trial and temptation. James 1:12-18, gives a clarification about these terms. Test is a mean by which God promotes His children by giving them examination. Once they pass, they earn God’s trust and God’s entrust and thus become God’s Trustee, for instance, Abraham Genesis 18:17-19. Our lustful desires ensnare us and put us into temptation. Devil and his cohort always strive to lure and entice us into sin – this serves as our trial. Devil never test, he mixes our temptation with trials. God never tempts. He allows trial or temptation sometimes to serve as test for us.
5. Ignition:
“One day as these men (Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen and Saul) were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy spirit said “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way”
Acts. 13:2-3
6. Nomism (Roman. 14:13-23):
Christianity is a lifestyle. A lifestyle of Christ-like. Christ obeyed the laws of the land and lived a moral life while on earth. As true Christ’s disciples, we have to deny and slay our self, we need not to protect, promote, preserve or entertain Mr. Flesh – Self. Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 14:33.
Some Christians embraced the person of Jesus Christ but discarded His principle (The moral aspect). This is not a good thing. A Christian should be a principled person and being principled entails, that one has a policy. Policy is drawn from moral. Moral may not take one to heaven but will allow one to live in the world conveniently and unquestioned. He who fails to have a policy can’t do anything that is polite. Moral is concerned with the principal of right and wrong in conduct and character (virtue).
At Salvation, God unites us with a bond to becoming member of God’s family. Hence, God take care of our spirit and Soul, but as a matter of policy, the body is controlled by individual man. That is why we need the total fasting of mind, in speech, in dressing and in eating so as to serve as self control. Not everything we can do we must do; that is what makes us Godly: Thinking and acting like God. Fasting is both religious and moral (Ethics).
Whatever we are not going to continue in or end must not be initiated. Jephthah's vow was ignorantly made but he carried it out, Judges 11:29-40. We must make our standard known to the world. Once people know us for what we stand for we are safe. As part of our morality, we must obey, respect and support the government. In fact, there is nothing stopping us from taking part in politics. We must pay our taxes, levies and perform other civic responsibilities expected from us. However, we may fail to comply with their rules, if the rules are contrary to God’s will. Daniel is a perfect example of this, Daniel 6:1-28. This is going to be our persecution (a kind of fasting) but we have an assurance of victory in Christ Jesus.
7. Genuflection (Psalms 109:24):
Kneeling and bending in worship is common to both praise and prayer. Since praise had been touched, it is crucial to now look at prayer. Prayer is a vital fertilizer for Christians’ growth and development. God really knows our needs but He wants us to communicate with Him through prayer. Prayer is thus one of the ways to commune with our Maker. Prayer links us with the Heaven. That’s why prayer is in levels, Matthew 7:7.
In prayer, we ask for what we desire and mind you some of our desires may not be in line with God’s will, James 4:3 and so expected answer may not come. Sometimes in life we have lost a virtue or most importantly miss joy of salvation (communion with God) Psalms 51:12 it is mandatory that we seek in prayer to regain this. Every second, minute, hour, day, week, month, year and season, we are bonded to be posed with a lack. In meeting this basic need or essential need we need to knock in prayer.
The basic elements of prayer are popularly coded with an acronym: ACTS as inferred from Jesus’ teachings, Matthew 6:9-13;
A – Adoration means praise in prayer, where God is praised for who He is, 1 Chronicles 29:20.
C – Confession, a heartfelt and a painful feeling about our sin and grief, Psalms 32:5.
T – Thanksgiving, we thank God for what He has done. Psalms 136:1-26, gives detailed reasons we should thank God and the theme reason being. “His faithful love endless forever”. 1 Chronicles 16:34-35 also gives additional reasons we should thank God.
S – Supplication, here petition is made to request for our needs. Request is made for safety, deliverance, provision, help to overcome temptation, daily cleansing from sins that we daily combat with, Matthew 7:7; John. 14:14. Intercession is also part of supplication. Through intercession, prayer is offered by somebody on behalf of another intercessory prayer should be made for all people and people in authority: churches and political, I Timothy. 2:1-3.
God hears all prayers but doesn’t listen to all prayers. Prayers God fails to listen to should not hope for answers. Despite the fact that our Senior and Principal Partner in prayer, Holy Ghost prays for us; God still expects that we open our mouths to ask Him anything. He has promised to answer prayers that are prayed in accordance with His will. How God answer prayers varies. The answer may be immediately, or after a delay, different to what we pray for or God might say “No” Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthian 12:7-9; 2 Samuel 12:15-20. God wants us to pray in His fear and with humble heart free from doubt, sin and selfishness. Prayer does not have a definite posture. It can be done while standing, lying on the ground, lifting of hands, kneeling, sitting and so on. Prayer should be prayed always, Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17, and anywhere, 1 Timothy 2:8. Prayer boosts our faith, Luke 18: 1-8.
Fasting is not a passport to eternal life. The only qualification for eternal life is salvation. Salvation is thus gained only by the grace (death) of Christ. However salvation reflects in the life of believers to produce a good moral life. So God’s marvellous grace of salvation does not allow us to live immoral lives, Jude 1:4. The eternal life we envisage is a hope and it will not fully materialize while we are in the mortal body, Romans 8:23-24. Fasting helps our moral lives and a good conduct is a proof that the sinners can see in the life of a genuine saved person, to allow the sinner to come to the knowledge of Christ. Don’t be a rough diamond Christian, having good nature of Christ but lacking polished manner.
We must therefore join the host of heaven and lay down our crowns before the throne, Revelation 4:10 -11 as a mark of continuous fasting to God, our Maker, laying down before God our CROWN:
- Control and Comfort: God deserves total control of our order, practice, regulation, discipline, academy, study, ease, satisfaction, enjoyment, and recreation Roman 14: 1-12.
- Reason and Right: Jehovah is worthy of taking our mind, sense, intelligence, intellect, understanding, liberty, honour, license, grant, legitimate and purpose for His own usage alone. 1 Corinthians 1: 18-31.
- Occupation and Ostentation: the all glorious God wants display of His Glory in our business, art, employment, engagement, job, work, trade, hobby, boasting, flourish, vaunting, adornment, decoration, ornament, dressing, fashion, clothes and garments. I Corinthians 10:31-23; I Timothy 3:19
- Will and Worth: The Worthy King of all wants to always govern our desire, decision, choice, preference, wish, intention, crave, determination, value, merit, virtue, pride, price, and excellence, Roman 14:18.
- Nature and Necessity: the all Sufficient God wants to take hold of our reputation, disposition, character worry matter, care, burden, transaction affair, anxiety and concern. Matthew 6:31-34.
“He (Jesus) must become greater and greater, and I (every Christian) must become less and less,”
John. 3:30
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