Fasting

Last night we continued our series on Spiritual Disciplines at Broadway Coffeehouse. We talked about a spiritual discipline that has basically been disregarded by the current and upcoming generations of believers: Fasting.

During our discussion we answered the following 6 questions:

1. What is fasting?

Traditionally, fasting is the practice of abstaining from food for a set period of time for the purpose of seeking God. Throughout the Old Testament we see two types of fasts: Public (II Chronicles 20:3; Ezra 8:21-23) and Private (II Samuel 12:15-23; I Kings 21:27; Psalm 69:1-15). Public fasts were generally directed to the whole nation of Israel and designed to refocus God’s people on His plan and provision in their life. They were usually initiated by one of God’s Prophets. Private fasts are done by individuals and generally have an emphasis on confession of sin and recognizing one’s complete and utter dependence on God. They’re also common before an individual makes a critical decision.

2. Should I only fast from food?

While the word “fast” in this context is almost always connected directly to food in Scripture, our culture has created a number of “fast” worthy activities and items. Many of us would find incredible value in setting aside time normally spent on our phone, social media sites, listening to music, playing video games, golfing, or _______________ for the purpose of communicating with our Savior. Ultimately, anything that takes time away from your relationship with God or distracts you from His plans and purpose in your life, is eligible for fasting.

3. What did Jesus have to say about it?

When discussing/learning about any topic, it is always a great idea to see what the most important man in history and King of kings had to say about it. Two of Jesus’ conversations about fasting seem rise to the surface when asking this question. The first is in a conversation with the expert fault-finding Pharisees,

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. (Mark 2:18-19 ESV)

We know from other passages that Jesus is the “bridegroom”. The church (all of us Christians) is His bride. He is our head, our protector, our savior, our king. So, when Jesus says that the “bridegroom” is with them so they don’t need to fast he talking about Himself. Why would the disciples run off to some quiet place when they have God standing right with them? In essence, the first thing Jesus says about fasting is that it is all about Him. Like everything else in all of creation, fasting is all about Jesus. It isn’t about you, your weight, your health, your priorities, your future, or anything else. It is simply about Jesus. It is about focusing on Him, conversing with Him, committing to Him, and realigning with Him. Exchanging your plans for the furthering of Christ’s Kingdom.

The second important conversation Jesus has regarding fasting is with His disciples,

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16-18 ESV)

Here, Jesus stresses the importance of fasting in order to seek the purposes of God, not the praises of man. It is amazing how many of us still try to impress those around us with our “super spirituality”. All spiritual disciplines are supposed to be indicative of what is really happening within our souls. If we are trying to impress people with our spirituality, there is something deeply disconnected  in our hearts. Fasting is to be done in private as a way to honor and pursue God, not on the street corners as a way to draw honor and attention to ourselves.

4. Did Jesus fast?

Yes. In Matthew 4 we see Jesus fasting for 40 days. If fasting is all about Jesus, why would Jesus fast? There are 2 primary answers. First, Jesus was submitting to the will of the the Father. Jesus was certainly God, but during His time on earth, He was also fully human. He was tempted in the same way you and I are, so He found strength from the same source we do, God. Second, Jesus was setting an example for you and I. Now, I do not recommend that you go and fast for 40 days. The example was less about length of time and more about the significance of fasting. Jesus participated in this fast just before He began His public ministry. Jesus knew that things were about to get real. He chose to seek God with no distractions in order to prepare for an intense season in His life.

5. Did the early church fast?

Yes. In Acts 13, 14, and 27 we see examples of early Christians fasting. After Jesus ascended to heaven, His people found value and significance in seeking Him undistracted.

6.  Should I fast?

Yes. Jesus follows His words in the Mark passage above with these:

The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. (Mark 2:20 ESV)

Jesus fully intended for you and I to fast. His disciples didn’t need to fast when He was with them, but after He ascends to heaven, they are some of the first people to take part in the practice of fasting.

7. What is the deeper truth of fasting?

Spiritual Disciplines are incredibly important in the believer’s life and should be practiced regularly. However, it is important to remember that they are not a substitute for righteousness and always point to a deeper reality. In Matthew 16 Jesus says,

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 16:24-25 ESV)

And, in Isaiah 58 we read,

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:6-7 ESV)

The truth is, fasting is a small glimpse of what Jesus desires from His followers. Where fasting is momentary commitment and devotion to God’s purpose, Jesus demands a life of commitment and devotion. Please understand, this demand is not a requirement for initial salvation. You and I are made right with God and placed in His family forever, simply by believing in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. This demand is about discipleship. About following Jesus wherever He leads. About bringing glimpses of His kingdom to this earth. About seeing lost people saved and slaves set free. About loving people radically and unconditionally. It is about living a life that reflects what has taken place in your soul. It is about Transformation.

I wholeheartedly encourage each one of you take a look at what should be removed from your life for a short-season so you can seek God more fully. Personally, I could stand to drink less coffee. Each time I think about having a coffee, I could replace the time it takes to brew it, buy it, or drink it; with time connecting with God. However, the deeper reality is this:

Jesus doesn’t want your coffee (or you lunch, or your video games, etc…), He wants your life.

My prayer for each of you is that you begin to develop a regular time of fasting in your life… but even more, that you see God’s call on your whole life.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV)

Worship and Q&A Night from Chad Harvey on Vimeo.

So, what do you think fasting is all about? Is it limited to food? Is there any reason for a non-believer to fast? Why should you fast?

Really, the answer is pretty cut and dry, but when we try to understand every single aspect of the Trinity we will get confused. We must realize that He is God and we are not. There are some (ok, many) things that we cannot grasp. With that said, the definition we used last Wednesday night is this:

The Trinity is one God who eternally exists as three distinct persons-Father, Son, and Spirit-who are each fully and equally God. (1 Timothy 2:5, John 6:27, Titus 2:13, Acts 5:3-4, Isaiah 48:16, Matthew 28:19; to name a  few supporting passages)

At first glance that may seem somewhat difficult to comprehend, but really, who are we to question the nature of God? Throughout the Bible this definition is supported. God has made who He is clear. And rather than question that nature, we are to rest in it and learn from it.

For youth group we stole The 7 characteristics of a “trinitarian life” from Mark Driscoll. For any of you who don’t know, Mark Driscoll is a Pastor at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA. The 7 characteristics of a life that is centered around the truth found in the Trinity, aka the “Trinitarian Life”, are:

1. Trinitarian — We live by the Spirit, through the Son, to the Father.

2. Loving — God is love. True love comes from Him. We are to love with this kind of love.

3. Communal — God intends for us to have relationships, because He is by nature, in relationship.

4. Transparent — There are no secrets between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit… what are your secrets?

5. Humble — There is no jealousy within the Trinity. The Spirit isn’t trying to persuade people to praise Him more than Jesus.

6. Submissive — There is no defiance within the Trinity, although all three persons (who are one God) are equal, they know their roles and are true to them (See Jesus in the Garden).

7. Happy — There is unbelievable joy within the Trinity. It is not blind to the troubles of this world (See Jesus on the Cross), but it is a real joy. God is not some angry old guy up in the sky.

For youth group we briefly discussed these 7 characteristics, but focused on the 3rd one. We renamed it relational and discussed what it means to live a life that is relational. We gave three aspects to this incredibly important lesson we can take from the truth of the Trinity:

1. God wants you and I to have relationship with Him. If He didn’t want that, the Crucifixion of Christ never would have happened. He has been pursuing you and I ever since Adam and Eve believed the lie of Satan in the Garden of Eden. He wants relationship with you.

2. God wants us to have open and honest relationships with other Christians. We need to encourage and be encouraged by other believers. We are not supposed to live our life in solitude. Jesus’ death on a cross didn’t just bridge the gap between us and God; it also gave us the opportunity to be a part of an incredbly diverse family that we will spend eternity with. God wants you to get to know and be known by other Christians.

3. God wants each one of us to have relationships with non-believers. You see the church represents the body of Christ and Jesus Christ said in luke 19 that He came to seek and to save the lost. Seek is the operative word for this point. We are to pursue relationships with people who have never trusted Jesus as their Savior. We have the most incredible message anyone can hear living within us! The facts don’t lie; the overwhelming majority of people come to personal faith in Jesus through an existing relationship. Remember, Jesus was never brought down by these relationships. He never compromised righteousness in order to fit in. If you can’t be strong in your faith around non-believers, you may not be ready for these relationships yet.

If you have any questions about our look at the Trinity, feel free to ask them via the comment section. Also, what are your thoughts on the importance of relationships in the Christian life? Do you think our three aspects of relational living are accurate?

The question we will be looking at this week centers around the Trinity. The Trinity is an essential piece of Christianity. It is the belief that there is only one God, but He exists in 3 distinct persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This can be a very confusing concept for us to understand. In fact, I believe it is somewhat beyond our comprehension. However, we can understand a portion of it. This Wednesday we’ll be looking at why the reality of the Trinity is such a central piece of Christian belief, even though the word never appears in the Bible. We will also discuss the roles of each member of the Trinity and see what we can apply to our lives because of this “profound mystery”. I look forward to reading your thoughts or questions about this topic. I would also love to see what verses/passages you can find in the Bible that prove the doctrine of the Trinity. Remember, you won’t find the word “Trinity” in the back of your Bibles…

Don’t forget to comment. I’ll see you all Wednesday @ 7pm. Invite your friends!

]]> http://www.chadsblog.net/question-what-is-meant-by-the-trinity/feed/ 7 http://www.chadsblog.net/the-question-was-why-should-i-go-to-church-the-answer-is/ http://www.chadsblog.net/the-question-was-why-should-i-go-to-church-the-answer-is/#comments Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:36:02 +0000 chadharvey http://www.chadsblog.net/?p=171 Well, there are actually a lot of answers to this question. However, rather than go through every single one at youth group; we discussed five major reasons for attending church. Our main reasons for attending church are:

1. The Bible Says to (Hebrews 10:19-25) — We have discussed the absolute authority and accuracy of the Bible. Therefore, this is a pretty compelling argument for the Christian to spend time gathering together with other local believers.

2. The Message Carried by the Church is Literally the Hope of the World (Matthew 16:13-19) — In this passage Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ. Jesus then says He will build His church on that truth. That Jesus is the Christ, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. The Savior of the world. Jesus then says that the power of Hell will not be strong enough to stop what He will accomplish through His church. While Jesus is certainly talking about the “global church”, there is no doubt that local churches also carry this power. If we want to see lives changed, relationships restored, oppression defeated, and people reconciled to God; the church must do what it has been called to do. In order to do that, Christians must actually be a part of this powerful agent chosen by God; called the church.

3. Spiritual Gifts are for the Body; not individuals (1 Corinthians 12:4-7) — Every believer has received gifts directly from the Holy Spirit. Some have received multiple gifts; others, just one or two. Some will receive more gifts and some are receiving gifts as I type. What is important is not necessarily what the gift is (although I highly encourage you to look into what your spiritual gifts may be), but how you use it. The Bible is clear that spiritual gifts are not given so that you and I can feel good about ourselves. They are given so that we can contribute to the Kingdom of God and, more specifically, our local church. If every believer has gifts that we are commanded to use, yet we aren’t actively plugged into a church… we may have a problem.

4. We Need to be “Fed” (I Timothy 4:11-16) –Some of you may have read those verses and asked, “why is this the passage he chose?” I chose it for the last line. You see, Paul is challenging Timothy in the way he should pastor His church. After instructing him on a few things he writes this, “…Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” There are many different opinions on this verse. I think most of them are actually valid. It could be discussing a number of things at once. God was a pretty impressive author. But, it pertains to our 4th point because of its connection to spiritual growth. Salvation means “to be justified” (made right with God), “to be sanctified” (basically growing spiritually), and/or “to be glorified” (the final product of us in Heaven). What Paul seems to be saying to Timothy is this, “if you teach the way I have told you to, you and the people in your church will experience spiritual growth.” In essence, there is incredible value in sitting and being taught by someone who’s spiritual gift is teaching or preaching. When we listen and put into practice the things God reveals to us as we attend church services, we will experience a strengthening in our walk with God.

5. Because We Need Other Believers and They Need Us; The ‘One-Another’s’ (1 John 4:12, Heb. 3:13, Gal. 5:13, Rom. 15:14, Romans 12:10, Eph. 4:32, etc….) — We need to be in fellowship with other believers for our benefit and theirs. We are called to spur one another on, to love one another, to encourage one another, to hold another accountable, and so much more. We are called to do this life together as one body, with one purpose, one heart, and one Hope. You can be a Christian without fellowship, but you’ll be a pretty weak one.

Obviously, there are other reasons for attending church. I think it is important to note that church is not about you. Even though a number of the above reasons for attending have obvious benefits to you. Church is about being actively being a part of what God is doing in this world. It is a privilege that should be treated that way. Through Jesus we have not only been given forgiveness of our sins, but we have been brought into a family of people that, though we are diverse, has been called to one purpose. “Go and make disciples…” This purpose is achieved most effectively when God’s people are actively involved in God’s church; both locally and globally.

When I was younger we used to always talk about how you didn’t need to go to church to be a Christian. We would say things like, “if going to church makes you a Christian, does going into a garage make you a car?” The truth is, a lot of Christians seem to believe that church isn’t very important. Many of you may think church is a waste of time. Maybe you would rather be sleeping or hanging out with friends, than getting up and heading to a building full of people on Sunday mornings. And… to an extent, I would have to agree with you. If you think of church simply as what happens on Sunday mornings, then maybe you don’t need it in order to be a Christian. However, the church is so much more than Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights!

I can’t wait to see you at epic this Wednesday @ 7pm as we challenge the common definition of “church” and find out why you should absolutely be a part of the church. Both locally and globally!

So, what are your thoughts on this question?

-Nearly 90% of Americans claim to pray daily

-Approximately 30% pray for things or events they want

-Another 30% pray for things they want and thank “god” for what they have

-About 25% simply say “thank you” every morning or evening

-Only 42% of Americans are “born again Christians” (according to a rather strict definition)

I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow night. Feel free to leave your thoughts on this question via the comment option. I’ll post the answer to the question on Thursday morning. Peace.

Do angels have free will? Yes. They must. Since I am doing this under protest, I will simply refer you to the comment section (the place where you should be leaving your comments) and tell you to read Vin’s comment. You can then check the scripture that he gave and let me know (via a comment) if you agree, disagree, or need a little more clarification.

Okay, I am no longer bitter about the whole comment thing… The “little more” referred to in the title of this post is about a question I was supposed to answer a long time ago, but I forgot. So Sadie, this is for you… If you open your Bible to Romans 5:13 you will come across a peculiar verse. It says “for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.” What did Paul mean by this phrase. Was he saying that if you sinned before the Mosaic law came into existence you would not be held accountable? The answer… No. That’s not what he’s saying.

You see, Paul answers this question in the next verse when he writes, “Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the One to come.” Death was a direct result of sin. So, people were absolutely held accountable for their sin before the 10 commandments. The reason for this is simple. God’s law has always been in effect. It was God’s law, not the Mosaic law, that Adam broke. Because of Adam’s choice, mankind would be under the power of sin as long as we continued to breathe air. That is of course, until the “One”, Jesus, came to defeat sin. Adam opened the door and brought the power of sin into our lives; but Jesus opened the door and kicked the power of sin out of our lives.

How can we be forgiven and released from the power of sin? It’s simple. We must believe in Jesus as our Savior (Ephesians 1:13-14). I hope that answers your question Sadie. If it doesn’t, let me know by COMMENTING on the blog .

Can’t wait to see you all this Wednesday! It’s been too long.

This question was asked by a student while were discussing Satan and his former role in heaven. So, before I answer the question. What do you all think. Do angels have free will? Why do you say that? I won’t answer this question unless I hear from at least some of you students (I would love to hear from some “non-students” as well).