Fasting on a Full Stomach (Part 4) OUTWARD APPEARANCES without INWARD BEING

The idea of a person fasting only between regular meals and snacks and calling it spiritual service is ridiculous, but sadly many of us may be serving God in an equally absurd manner.  In this last installment of these articles, let’s compare “fasting on a full stomach” to OUTWARD APPEARANCES without INWARD BEING.

Isaiah prophesied to God’s people regarding their fasting practices (Isaiah 58).  They wondered why God didn’t “see” or recognize the fasts that they offered as service to Him (vs. 3).  The answer came back, “Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.”  The point was that just because they were doing something that was, at times, pleasing to the Lord, He was NOT pleased because they weren’t living for Him.  “And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Mark 7:6).  Mama always said, “You show your true colors when nobody is looking, or when things don’t go your way.”  You are not “righteous” just because you happen to do a few right things in your life (see Matthew 7:21-23).

The Scribes and Pharisees were scolded by Christ for “cleaning the outside of the cup and plate, but inside [being] full of greed and self-indulgence” (Matthew 23:25).  It didn’t matter to Jesus if people looked righteous or seemed righteous to others.  He cared and cares about the heart.  “First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean” (vs. 26).  When we read about these misguided scribes and Pharisees, the tendency is for us to overlook our disposition towards the same behavior in our own lives.

How many of us are “fasting on a full stomach?”  How many of us are Servants of Christ, only as long as we can continue to do as we please?  How many of us go through the motions of obedience (we have the book chapter and verse part down)…but we haven’t submitted to Christ as LORD?  How many of us appear to be faithfully serving the God of heaven…but inwardly, our hearts are far from Him?

----Darrell Powell

Fasting On A Full Stomach (Part 3) OBEDIENCE without SUBMISSION

Do you fast on a full stomach…only between the meals and snacks you desire?  Probably not, or at least you don’t consider that practice to be a form of spiritual service.  But is your service to God comparable to this.  Today, fasting on a full stomach will represent OBEDIENCE without SUBMISSION.

Can a person obey without submission?  Ask your children.  They sometimes obey (Ephesians 6:1), but do it without honoring (vs. 2).  When we obey God like this, we aren’t doing it because we submit to His authority, but because we perceive some benefits of obeying.    If I’m not truly dedicated to God, but I obey His command to be faithful to my wife…my life will be better because I obeyed.  If I do good to them that do evil to me…I’ll reap benefits from that behavior.  But, on Judgment Day, That type of obedience will not help me one bit.  Jesus spoke of people who would boast of their “service” to God on Judgment Day, but to them the Lord would reply, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:21-23).  Just like the man who fasted on a full stomach…even though at times he “just happened” to be engaging in an activity that can be pleasing to God…He was NOT “doing the will of the Father.”

Perhaps you are “obeying” God in the same manner as the poor souls mentioned above.  You attend all the services of the Church and go through the motions, while harboring hatred for a brother or sister.  You teach others the truth of the gospel, but don’t even do the things you are teaching.  The Pharisees were kings and queens of “obedience without submission.”  They knew all the right things to do and say, but they never committed them to their hearts.

Don’t be fooled into thinking God would ever accept a faith that obeys but is empty of love and submission to Him.

----Darrell Powell

Fasting On A Full Stomach (Part 2) SERVICE without SACRIFICE

So, we are comparing the idea of pseudo-fasting to pitfalls in our own spiritual lives.  A man who “fasts” only between regular meals and snacks is not serving anyone but himself.  Today, fasting on a full stomach will represent SERVICE without SACRIFICE.

Many “Christians” are looking for a brand of service that is free!  They want to be recognized as a follower of Christ…but don’t want any responsibility, and certainly don’t want to make any personal sacrifices in Christ’s name.  They want to do as little as they think is necessary to get to heaven.  But where is the logic in seeking to do as little as possible for the God who has done absolutely everything for us?  (John 3:16; Philippians 2:5-8)

So, how do people practice this idea of service without sacrifice?  The person who participates in spiritually beneficial activities ONLY when he has nothing better to do is serving without sacrifice.  The one who gives ONLY out of his abundance like the rich who gave only of their “abundance” (Mark 12:41).  They gave, but not to the point of sacrifice.  We are not required to physically die for our Christian family, but we have opportunities to make little sacrifices regularly.  When was the last time you gave up some time (that you really wanted to use in some other way) for the betterment of the Church?  Do you only give enough to God ease your conscience, or do you give until the pains of sacrifice are felt? 

While some are looking for a cheaper brand of Christianity, Christ has already paid the ultimate price for our chance to spend eternity with Him (Acts 20:28).  A faithful Christian makes daily choices that reflect his or her love for Jesus.  As Christ himself put it, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15).  Remember, only those who deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Christ can be His disciples (Matthew 16:24).

----Darrell Powell

Fellowship Builds Family

Just a quick thought about spending time with other Christians...then back to "Fasting on a Full Stomach." Luke spoke about the first Christians in Acts chapter two. I want to begin by highlighting several phrases that he used, which indicate a strong bond of fellowship between those followers of Christ.  “43 And they devoted themselves to … the fellowship… 44 Now all who believed were together…breaking bread from house to house” (Acts 2:42-47).  The closeness and unity exhibited by those early Christians has always stood out to me.  They shared the bond of Christ in joy, faith, and love even though they stood a very real chance of being woefully persecuted or killed for the cause of Christ.

One aspect of fellowship is spending time together.  The early church did this at times of worship AND day by day…doing good works together and growing together. Can you imagine what kind of church we would have if we all did those things as often as possible. What problems could we help one another through? What temptations could we keep one another accountable for? How many more lost souls could we encourage?

Physical families usually spend a lot of time together.  Fellowship brings strength to each member and the group collectively. Neglecting to spend time together can cause the family to suffer. Children need daddy and mama. Mama needs daddy & daddy needs mama. Families suffer when one member is not dedicated to spending time with the others. 

Spiritual family health only improves the more time we spend together. It just makes sense that a Christian would want to be around people who will help them get to heaven. If a person is REALLY convinced that God, heaven, and hell are real, what kind of people will they want to spend time with? If your spiritual health were gauged by the amount of time you spend with your church family, how healthy would you be? If every Christian viewed or practiced fellowship in exactly the same way you do, what kind of church would there be? Honor God, and do yourself a priceless favor by basking in the joys and benefits of Christian fellowship.

----Darrell Powell

Fasting on a Full Stomach (Part 1)

The question is often asked, “Should Christians fast today?”  People know that it was done in Bible times, but we don’t talk much about it now.  Is it useful…necessary…commanded?  Fasting as mentioned in the Bible is temporarily choosing not to partake of food and drink for a spiritual reason.  In the Old Testament era, the Jews fasted frequently, though there was only one fast prescribed by the law. Once each year, on the Day of Atonement, the Hebrews were to “afflict” their souls (Leviticus 16:31), which referred to fasting (cf. Isaiah 58:3).  Though there are no fasts commanded in the New Testament, our covenant seems to indicate that Christians would, at times, see the need to fast.  When the Lord’s disciples were criticized for not fasting, Jesus responded by pointing out that it wasn’t appropriate for them to fast while he was still on earth, but the time would come when He would be taken away from them; then they would fast (Luke 5:35). 

Jesus did caution the disciples about improper motivation to fast: “… when you fast, be not, as hypocrites. . . ” (Matthew 6:16).  The Pharisees would fast from eating, and instead of using the experience to grow inwardly and draw nearer to God, they exaggerated the effects of the hunger by making themselves look pitiful.  Their desire was to be noticed and heralded by others.  It is significant that he did not say, “if,” but, “when” you fast—reflecting the expectation that they would.  But, fasting, for the Christian, seems to be expected on a strictly voluntary basis.  The practice helped people train themselves to exhibit self-control and self denial. 

Now, I’d like for you to consider a scenario with me: Imagine a person who “fasted” regularly…every day even.  Wouldn’t they die from such a level of dedication?  But here’s the WAY they fasted:  At midnight, they fast until morning (breakfast); then, they fast until mid-morning snack; then, again until lunch; and again until supper…then, they start the cycle over again.  This person’s “fasting” is no sacrifice at all.  They are simply doing exactly what they please…and then they feel proud when any of their actions appear to be spiritual service.  This person is “fasting on a full stomach.” 

For the next few weeks I want to explore this idea further.  We’re not just talking about fasting …in fact, that was just an example to bring us to a place where we can examine our own lives and hopefully find the willingness to change.  This idea of “fasting on a full stomach” represents: 1) SERVICE without SACRIFICE; 2) OBEDIENCE without SUBMISSION; and 3) OUTWARD APPEARANCES without INWARD BEING.

----Darrell Powell

He is Here

Where is God? I get asked this question from time to time by a certain inquisitive three year old. But let’s not kid ourselves and say we don’t all wonder the same thing from time to time. It is not only the little children who long to SEE something, or somehow FEEL God. At the end of this discussion, with the information we have, there will still be some loose ends and some “I don’t know’s,” but rest assured, God wants to be found by us.

In Psalm 104, we are given a beautiful gaze into the nature of our God. And in that chapter it seems God intended to make His presence known. Listen to the word pictures that place God very close to us in this world. “Covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.” (Psa 104:2)  I look up and see rays of light beaming through the clouds as they sometimes do, and I can see God, for He “covers Himself” with that light. The starry heavens above me that I can see on a clear night are but a tent to God.

“He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind;” (Psa 104: 3)  God can make something as unstable as water be solid like a rock, which makes sense because He IS my “rock.” (Psa. 18:2)  But just look at the images God wants us to see as we read these verses. He is clothed with light, which is all around us. His chambers are built on water, which is everywhere. The heavens are His tent, He rides on the clouds and the wind. There is no direction we can look without seeing or feeling one or more of these things, and our God wants us to picture Him NEAR us. He is present!  “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?  (8)  If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!  (9)  If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, (10) even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. (Psa 139:7-10)

Deists believe that God created the universe, sent it spinning, and has left us completely alone until such time as He sees fit to return. But the Bible teaches that “…he is not far from each one of us” (Act 17.27) The word of God should awaken our senses to the presence of God and should comfort us the way that a child is comforted when his father is near. Take refuge in the confidence that God is here, and He loves you.

----Darrell Powell