All of our actions are in fact words which speak loudly to those around us. In the military, for example, there are very specific ways to say with your body that you respect your superiors. Before God, we stand at certain times as though to say, “Lord, you are worthy of our full attention.” We sometimes kneel in prayer as though to say, “You alone can answer my request, and I place myself at your feet.” The Bible is filled with rich examples and instruction about how to speak to God with our actions. One way that we are instructed to come to God is through fasting. People fast individually and corporately, by ceasing to eat and/or drink for a set period of time. Sometimes periods of fasting are accompanied by other forms of self-humiliation, like leaving clothes and body unwashed and untended. What we are mainly saying when we fast is, “God, I am entirely without resources to act right now. I rely entirely upon your mercy for provision, or for protection, or for life. I might as well be dead if you do not give a tangible act of your power.” We are in effect putting a great big exclamation point on our prayers. Prayer itself is fundamentally a petition to God to do a new thing. If the Lord’s Prayer (Mt 6) is the quintessential rubric and summation of prayer, then Psalm 18 is the most dynamic example of what we hope God will do as a result of our prayers. We want him to “bend the heavens and come down,” to “ride upon the clouds,” to “stoop to our rescue.” If we do not actually want God to act when we ask him for things, then we may as well stop asking for things. If we do want him to act, then we had better ask with all our hearts. Right now, our church is at what we hope are the final days of all of our building plans, and loans, and final hoops before this new addition begins. We have seen a plethora of hurdles we did not expect, and we know that even once these steps are completed, there are many more things that can go wrong or right before we finally have the space we have been asking for: space to welcome more people into fellowship with us and with our God. The elders have thought it appropriate to prostrate ourselves before the throne of God by calling for a church-wide fast, for one day. We ask everyone who is able to set aside food (not drink) from next Saturday morning June 20, after breakfast, to Sunday June 21, when we will break the fast together at the Communion table. We want to be entirely united before God in the request that he give us success, for the sake of his glory. This is not a time for half-hearted prayer. We feel drawn to fast by our reading of Ezra 7, where the Jews are about to go back from Babylon to Jerusalem. They do not want to ask the king of Persia for a personal retinue to guard them on the way, because they have proclaimed to him that their God is able to do anything. But the way is dangerous, and they are carrying very important and valuable things for the temple. So they fast before God in Ezra 7, in preparation for their journey. And in Ezra 7:31 it says, “The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way.” We too have an uncertain road ahead. We too have proclaimed the glory and power of our God, and are stewarding important resources in all these plans. We too need his help, and we hope that we might be able to report the amazing success of God in the next chapter of our life as a church.

Overview of Biblical Fasting Assumption of Scriptures: Christians will fast! (Matthew 6:16) Fasting Defined: Fasting is a discipline of self-denial. The most common fasts are from food and water, but fasting can include giving up for a time, other good gifts from God such as marital relations (1 Corinthians 7:5) or other “creature comforts” (Daniel 10:3).

Spiritual Fasting That Falls Short: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Fasting as a mechanical process with mere externals (Isaiah 58:2-3) Fasting with half repentance (Isaiah 58:3-10) Fasting with an eye to impress others (Matthew 6:16-18) Fasting as a means to prove spiritual maturity (Colossians 2:20-23) Fasting because of the customs and teaching of men (1 Timothy 4:1-5)

Biblical Reasons to Fast: Fasting and the hunger for God (Luke 2:25-37; 5:33-39) Fasting and the fight against sin (Isaiah 58:1-11,) Fasting and the soul’s grief and/or longing: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

David’s seeking his son’s life (2 Samuel 12:13-23) Seeking deliverance from impending doom (2 Chronicles 20:1-4) Grieving crisis and loss (1 Samuel 31:13; Nehemiah 1:1-4; Esther 4:3) Seeking traveling safety (Ezra 8:21-23) Seeking God to bless an act of faith in the face of danger (Esther 4:13-17) Daniel seeking to understand God’s promise and to seek His will (Daniel 9 & 10) Church leaders seeking God’s direction (Acts 13:1-4)

Different Durations of Fasts The Scriptures record His saints fasting for certain lengths of time. Moses, Jesus and Elijah fasted for 40 days. Ester asked Mordecai to have the Jews fast from both food and water for 3 days. Daniel fasted for 3 weeks. Some saints fasted as a part of their regular spiritual discipline, while others seemed to fast only when a dramatic need arose.

Physical Considerations for Fasting The following are some general guidelines regarding some of the physical considerations.  

If you are concerned whether or not you are healthy enough to fast, please consult your doctor. There are certain persons who should NEVER fast without professional supervision. For example: o Persons who are physically too thin or emaciated o Persons who are prone to anorexia, bulimia, or other behavioral disorders o Those who suffer weakness or anemia

javascript:movieWindow('http://www.billbright.com/howtofast/mov/3.mov') Persons who have tumors, bleeding ulcers, cancer, blood diseases, or who have heart disease o Those who suffer chronic problems with kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, or other important organs o Individuals who take insulin for diabetes, or suffer any other blood sugar problem such as hyperglycemia o Women who are pregnant or nursing It is wise not to have “one last big meal” before you fast. Instead consider eating moderate portions the day before you fast. In fact, it will be easier on your body if you eat healthy foods and moderate portions for a few days before you fast. o

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javascript:movieWindow('http://www.billbright.com/howtofast/mov/8.mov')    

Almost all of the guidelines checked encouraged people to abstain from caffeine during the fast. Some health professionals suggest eating only raw foods for two days before starting a fast. If you have work that requires a lot of energy, you might want to consider giving up certain foods, but not all foods. Also, you might want to consider giving up other things you normally enjoy. If the fast is Church sponsored, consider coming and praying at the Church during the lunch hour on the fast days. If you are not able to come to the Church, try to use as much of your lunch time for praying as possible. Also, during the day, when your stomach reminds you that you are fasting, let it be a call to spend a few moments praying.

Guidelines for Prayer While Fasting For our building project -

For the starting of construction; that the day would come soon For the building plans – that they would lead to build a quality facility For the building contractor , Bruns, and for all the subcontractors That God would keep each worker safe and put it into their hearts to do excellent work and without shortcuts For the use of the building; that it would be used for the greater glory of God That Sunday morning ministries like Sunday school and children’s church would flourish in the new space That our outreach ministries like ESL would attract more students and the ministry would flourish, that the Gospel would go forward with clarity and simplicity and that students would be well loved and served. For Biblestudies, Sue Bransons science classes and other activities during the week would bring much glory to God.

General Health and Wellbeing of Christ’s Church -

For the marriages and families of our church For the singles and college students For the devotional live of God’s people that we would seek Him through His Word and prayer For a spirit of unity and a Christ centered life focus

Leadership Elders and Deacons -

Their seeking after and following hard after Christ Wisdom as they seek to care for the flock Guidance and direction More officers

Outreach Ministry Leaders -

Spiritual welfare of ministry leaders Development of ministry teams Guidance and direction in ministry Power of Holy Spirit to minister and to share Gospel

In-Reach Ministry Leaders -

Spiritual welfare of ministry leaders Wisdom, guidance and discernment in the recruiting of teachers Full staffing of volunteers – that God would put it on the hearts of our people to volunteer regularly on Sunday mornings

Outreach Ministries -

Oil Change ESL Czech Missions Team Hartland of Centerville Dayton Gospel Mission

Specific Needs -

That these ministries would be done with excellence That the Gospel would be presented clearly and in the context of love and a genuine interest in the welfare of those we serve For the provisions needed – finances, volunteers, wisdom and insight

Deliverance from Sins If God has brought conviction of sin to you over something particular, this would be a good time to ask God to deliver you from that sin, to lay your life open before God and renew your commitment to submit to His will in every area of your life. If this is more a time of freedom in your life from any particular sin, it is still appropriate to thank Him for His mercy and grace in Christ Jesus and to ask Him to strengthen our body, and any who might be struggling with specific sins.

Healing and Specific Needs -

For those who have lost loved ones within the last year(s) For those facing cancer or other diseases For those preparing for or recovering from surgery For those looking for work

What Other Saints Have Said Regarding Fasting Martin Luther wrote: Of fasting I say this: It is right to fast frequently in order to subdue and control the body. For when the stomach is full, the body does not serve for preaching, for praying, or studying, or for doing anything else that is good. Under such circumstances God's Word cannot remain. But one should not fast with a view to meriting something by it as by a good work. Martin Lloyd-Jones said in his great book on the Sermon on the Mount: Fasting, if we conceive of it truly, must not . . . be confined to the question of food and drink; fasting should really be made to include abstinence from anything which is legitimate in and of itself for the sake of some special spiritual purpose. There are many bodily functions which are right and normal and perfectly legitimate, but which for special peculiar reasons in certain circumstances should be controlled. That is fasting. David Brainerd – April 19, 1742-“I set apart this day for fasting and prayer to God for His grace; especially to prepare me for the work of the ministry, to give me divine aid and

direction in my preparations for that great work, and in His own time to send me into His harvest…I felt the power of intercession for precious, immortal souls; for the advancement of the kingdom of my dear Lord and Savior in the world; and withal, a most sweet resignation and even consolation and joy in the thoughts of suffering hardships, distresses, and even death itself, in the promotion of it…My soul was drawn out very much for the world, for the multitude of souls. I think I had more enlargement for sinners than for the children of God, though I felt as if I could spend my life in cries for both. I enjoyed great sweetness in communion with my dear Savior. I think I never in my life felt such an entire weanedness from this world and so much resigned to God in everything.” Charles Spurgeon – “Our seasons of fasting and prayer at the Tabernacle have been high days indeed; never has Heaven’s gate stood wider; never have our hearts been nearer the central Glory.” Richard Foster – “More than any other discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us. This is a wonderful benefit to the true disciple who longs to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. We cover up what is inside of us with food and other things.” William Law – “If religion requires us sometimes to fast and deny our natural appetites, it is to lesson that struggle and war that is in our nature; it is to render our bodies fitter instruments of purity, and more obedient to the good motions of divine grace; it is to dry up the springs of our passions that war against the soul, to cool the flame of our blood, and render the mind more capable of divine meditations. So that although these abstinences give some pain to the body, yet they so lessen the power of bodily appetites and passions, and so increase our taste of spiritual joys, that even these severities of religion, when practiced with discretion, add much to the comfortable enjoyment of our lives.” Andrew Fuller – “Fasting is supposed to be the ordinary practice of the godly. Christ does not make light of it, but merely cautions them against its abuses…It is an appendage to prayer, and designed to aid its importunity. It is humbling, and in a manner, chastising ourselves before God…No mention is made of the time, or how often the duty should be attended to…It is only a means, however; if rested in as an end, it will be an abomination in the sight of God.” Andrew Murray – “Prayer needs fasting for its full growth. Prayer is the one hand with which we grasp the invisible. Fasting is the other hand, the one with which we let go of the visible. In nothing is man more closely connected with the world of sense than in this need for, and enjoyment of, food. It was the fruit with which man was tempted and fell in Paradise. It was with bread that Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. But He triumphed in fasting… Fasting helps to express, to deepen, and to confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves, to attain the Kingdom of God. And Jesus, who Himself fasted and sacrificed, knows to value, accept and reward with spiritual power the soul that is thus ready to give up everything for Him and His Kingdom.”