Markdale Baptist Church
  • Home
  • Beliefs
  • Sermons
  • Ministries
  • Calendar
  • VBS 2025
  • About

Drippings from the Honeycomb

 More to be desired are [the rules of the Lord] than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:10)

Prayer and Fasting

1/2/2021

 
​Fasting.

What is it? Isn’t it Catholic or something eastern mystics do?

We’ve come acrossed it in our C2C journey through the Bible, most recently in relation to Ezra and Esther. Both these Biblical figures called God’s people to fast.

On Feb 1, 1793 the Republic of France declared war on Great Britain. The dangers of revolutionary France, not least of which was its godlessness and explicit anti-Christian tenor, troubled Europe. So Britain led other European nations in the 1st coalition which sought to contain the spread of this movement.

The trouble was that France was powerful and Britain did not emerge the leading power until 1815; at this point British triumph was not a forgone conclusion. France was a larger country, with more people and a larger military. Only 50 miles separated the two countries. On the other side of the English Channel was a bunch of riled up Frenchmen with guns!

As part of the war effort King George III immediately declared a national fast day for April 19, 1793. The populace was to abstain from food and attend religious services with “Fasting, humiliation, and the imploring of divine intercession” to be the aim of the day. Churches everywhere and of all stripes took up the Kings call, including Baptists.

It is a great tragedy that today no government would do such a thing (for Covid!); instead we seek to lean on our own ingenuity and strength instead of imploring/seeking/fasting.

Numerous Biblical characters fasted:
Moses fasted before receiving the 10 Commandments (Dt 9:9–18); David fasted in repentance and for his child’s life (2 Sam 12:1–23); Elijah fasted when he fled from Jezebel (1 Ki 19:4–8); Esther fast for the safety of the Jews before going to King (Est 4:15–17); Darius fasted or Daniel’s safety when he had been thrown to the lions (Dan 6:18–23); Daniel fasted that God might help him to understand a vision (Dan 10:1–3);  Jesus fasted before His temptation by Satan (Mt 4:1–2); Paul fasted after his conversion (Acts 9:1–9); the early church elders fasted before sending out missionaries (Act 13:1-3); on & on the list goes. It is a great theme of the Bible being mentioned 132 times!

The exemplars of the faith fasted; do we?

Rather than some foreign or optional spiritual discipline, Jesus expected His followers would practice this spiritual discipline of fasting. Speaking of fasting without great fanfare and self-attention, He said:
“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. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 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. (Mt 6:16–18
Notice Jesus said, “when you fast;” it was an expectation. What Jesus took issue with was not fasting but why and how people were fasting.

Jesus expects we will pray and fast (in secret, or at least—in the case of a public fast—in humility) and when we do there will be great benefit.
 
At its heart, and why it is associated with prayer, is that it symbolically and spiritually is an act of humility, or entire dependence upon God. It reminds us of our need of Him and working with faith is a something the Lord is pleased to bless (Isa 66:2b).
 
Fasting is not a form of weight loss!
 
However, there are many and a variety of reasons to fast: for protection (Ezra 8); in distress and grief (Jud 20:26); in repentance (1 Sam 7:6, Joel 2:12–13); for spiritual strength: to overcome temptation or to dedicate yourself to God (Mt 4:1–11); to strengthen prayers (Mt 17:21); to encourage love and worship (Lk 2:37); for guidance/ help in important decisions (Acts 14:23); to help build intimacy with God (James 4:8); to develop spiritual self-discipline (1 Cor 9:27).
 
If you have never fasted before, allow me to offer a couple practical considerations:
 
When not to fast? (these are not meant to be excuses)
  1. If you are or have just been very ill; the last thing Jesus would want is for you to harm yourself.
  2. If you are elderly or ill and have, for example, low sugar levels, are wobbly or weak. In such cases, if appropriate, consider a micro fast of missing one meal or maybe having three meals with fewer portions.
  3. Before you undertake great physical exertion (e.g. your job requires you to shovel manure all day or you’re competing in a marathon).
 
How to fast…
  • Know why you are fasting
  • Examine your heart to ensure you  have the right motive
  • Do not boast about your fasting
  • Fasting involves food, still drink lots
  • Consider a micro fast if you have health issues  or a physically demanding job (above).
  • Often a fast will be fore 24 hours where you will skip 3 meals
  • During your fast take times to regularly pray; often it will culimate in a time of prayer and worship (sometimes even followed by a fellowship meal).
  
The spiritual discipline of prayer & fasting have been hallmarks of great and godly Christians and times of great spiritual revival in churches and across nations.

Before crossing the Jordan, Joshua told the people, “consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”

Spiritual complacency and mediocrity stand in the way of God doing great things among us. It is only when we set ourselves apart to humbly seek His face, intentionally & systematically imploring  the LORD’s favour, that we can reasonably expect the LORD to do great things amongst us!
​
Fasting is of paramount importance to the Christians toolkit to facilitate this great and noble aim.  May the Spirit empower us to rise to this challenge and be obedient to Christ’s words, “when you fast”.

Comments are closed.

    Featured Blogs

    Learn about Jesus
    Boundaries​
    ​Flag of Our Times
    Forgiveness
    Full Gospel
    Which Meditation
    My View of the Future​
    ​Perseverance 
    ​Saints and Sinners
    ​Satan in Heaven?

    Other Sermons
    ​

    Author:
    Chris Crocker

    Aside from quality family life, ministry, and Christian academia, I delight in many common gifts the Lord has blessed us with. I am a fourth generation beekeeper, an avid outdoorsman, and a lover of adventure. I enjoying running and jogging. I also enjoy travel, carpentry, gardening, music, strategy games, history, geography, and good conversation.

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019

    Categories

    All
    Acedia
    Adam
    Age
    Answers
    Apologetics
    Apostacy
    Apostasy
    Armour Of God
    Assurance
    Atonement
    Baptism
    Baptist
    Bible
    Bible Study
    Biblical Theology
    Biography
    Book Recommendation
    Books
    Canada
    Celebration
    Challenges
    Charismatic
    Children
    Christ
    Christian Basics
    Christian Living
    Christ In The Old Testament
    Christmas
    Christ's Return
    Church
    Church Health
    Church Life
    Communication
    Communion
    Community
    Conformity
    Contemporary
    Contentment
    Context
    Contrasts
    Conversation Starter
    Conversion
    Counselling
    Covenant
    Covid
    Creation
    Cross
    Culture
    Darkness
    Death
    Definitions
    Delight
    Devotional
    Dilemmas
    Discernment
    Discipleship
    Doctrine
    Doctrines Of Grace
    Doubt
    Easter
    Elders
    Enjoyment
    Error
    Eschatology
    Ethics
    Evangelism
    Faith
    False Christianity
    False Religion
    False Teachers
    FAQ
    Fasting
    Fear
    Fellowship
    Following
    Forgiveness
    Freedom
    Funerals
    Galatians
    Gathering
    Gender
    Giving
    Glory
    God's Word
    Good Friday
    Good Works
    Gospel
    Government
    Grace
    Grey Gables
    Grief
    Hard Passages
    Heresy
    Hermeneutics
    History
    Holidays
    Holiness
    Holy Spirit
    Hope
    Hospitality
    Humility
    Identity
    Idolatry
    Israel
    Jesus
    Job
    Joy
    Judgement
    Justification
    Knowing God
    Law
    Leadership
    Lecture
    Liberalism
    Licentiousness
    Local Church
    Love
    Love Of God
    Manhood
    Mark
    Marriage
    Means Of Grace
    Membership
    Men
    Men's Breakfast
    Ministry
    Mission
    Missions
    Moral
    Moral Failure
    Moses
    New Age
    New Covenant
    News
    Nominalism
    Obedience
    Objectivity
    Observation
    Old Testament
    Open Letter
    Orthodoxy
    Other Sermons
    Outreach
    Passover
    Paul
    Peace
    Pentecostalism
    Persecution
    Perseverance
    Personal
    Politics
    Polity
    Post-Covid
    Praise
    Prayer
    Preaching
    Presence
    Pride
    Providence
    Public Holidays
    Questions
    Reading The Bible
    Real Christianity
    Recommended
    Reflection
    Reflections
    Reform
    Regeneration
    Relationships
    Relevance
    Religion
    Resurrection
    Revival
    Righteousness
    Sabbath
    Saint
    Salvation
    Sanctification
    Service
    Sexuality
    Sin
    Sinner
    Smallness
    Sovereignty
    Speech
    Spiritual
    Spiritual Disciplines
    Spirituality
    Spiritual Warfare
    Standing Firm
    Statistics
    Stewardship
    Subjectivity
    Submission
    Substances
    Suffering
    Suicide
    Talks
    Testimony
    The Christian Life
    The Cross
    The Lord's Day
    Theology
    Theology 101
    Tithing
    True Faith
    Truth
    Vanity
    Witness
    Word Study
    World Affairs
    Worldliness
    Worship
    You Asked
    Youth

Location

PO Box 73,
144 Lorne Street,
​Markdale N0C 1H0

Join by zoom

Zoom in to our evening gatherings from your computer
Zoom in to our morning or evening gatherings by phone:
​     
Dial: 1 647 374 4685
     Meeting ID: 328 252 3658
     Password: 144 144

Contact us

519.986.4372
​[email protected]

Donate

​Cheque made payable to: 
Markdale Baptist Church
E-transfer sent to: 
​[email protected] 

Sunday gathering Times

​10:00 am in the Upper Hall
6:00 pm in the Lower Hall

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night.”
​(Ps 92:1–2, A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath)

Pastor's blog & songs

EXPLORE NOW

Picture

Markdale Baptist Church

  • Home
  • Beliefs
  • Sermons
  • Ministries
  • Calendar
  • VBS 2025
  • About