In what ways can fasting deepen our spiritual walk with Jesus today? Mark 2:18—Fasting in the Presence of Jesus “Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and asked Jesus, ‘Why do John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not?’” (Mark 2:18) Why Jesus’ Response Still Matters • In the next verses (vv. 19-20) Jesus calls Himself the Bridegroom. When He is physically present, feasting fits; when He is taken away, fasting returns. • His words shift fasting from a badge of religious effort to a love-driven response to His presence and absence. • Today we live between His ascension and His return—right in the “time when the Bridegroom is taken away.” That makes voluntary fasting deeply relevant. Ways Fasting Deepens Our Walk with Jesus Today • Reawakening Desire – Luke 5:35 parallels Mark 2:19-20: “Then they will fast.” Fasting fans longing for the Bridegroom’s return and reign. – Psalm 63:1 speaks of a “thirsty, faint land.” Empty stomachs echo that thirst, turning routine aches into continual prayers—“Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). • Cultivating Single-Minded Devotion – Matthew 6:16-18 shows Jesus assuming His followers will fast: “When you fast…your Father who sees in secret will reward you”. – The private nature of biblical fasting cuts against performance, helping us pursue the Father’s approval rather than people’s applause. • Humbling the Heart – Psalm 35:13: “I humbled myself with fasting.” Putting aside food reminds us we are dust (Genesis 3:19) and that “man shall not live on bread alone” (Matthew 4:4). – James 4:10: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” Fasting is a tangible act of that humility. • Heightening Sensitivity to the Spirit – Acts 13:2-3: “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said…” Strategic decisions in the early church were born in fast-framed worship. – With the noise of daily appetites lowered, His voice becomes clearer. • Intensifying Intercession – Ezra 8:23: “So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He granted our request.” – Fasting is not a hunger strike to force God’s hand; it aligns our petitions with His purposes, sharpening focus and perseverance in prayer. • Sharing in Christ’s Sufferings – Philippians 3:10 yearns “to know Him…in the fellowship of His sufferings.” Temporary self-denial links our small ache to His greater sacrifice, teaching us obedience (Hebrews 5:8) and compassion for the hungry. • Pursuing Justice and Mercy – Isaiah 58:6-7 calls true fasting “to loose the chains of wickedness…to share your bread with the hungry.” Abstaining frees resources—time, money, energy—to serve others in Jesus’ name. Practical Pathways to Start • Choose the form: full day without food, a single meal, a Daniel-style partial fast (Daniel 10:3), or a media fast that complements food abstinence. • Pair it with Scripture meditation—read a Gospel scene at meal times you skip. • Use hunger pangs as prompts to pray for a specific need, person, or unreached people group. • Let the fast end in worship: break bread with gratitude, recognizing every bite as the Bridegroom’s gift. • Combine fasting with generosity—redirect grocery money to benevolence or missions (Isaiah 58:7). Anchored in the Gospel, Not in Performance Fasting never earns salvation; Christ’s cross already secured that (Ephesians 2:8-9). Instead, fasting expresses love for the One who saved us, trains our hearts to treasure Him above all, and readies us for the wedding feast to come (Revelation 19:6-9). |
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