Dear COA Family,
We will be entering into a most significant season of the Christian Calendar – Lent – in a few days’ time. It is a season marked by fasting and prayer, to identify with the suffering and death of Christ. It is also a time to reflect on our weaknesses, sins and mortality, in order to repent of them and grow in dependence on Christ.
Some have asked me, is fasting necessary for a Christian? This is a valid question, especially since Christ has died for all our sins and we simply need to receive his grace by faith. We do not need to earn our salvation through any work of ours. In any case, doesn’t the Bible say that God created food for our enjoyment (Ecclesiastes 8:15)?
But we are not to confuse the work of God in salvation with our required response of spiritual disciplines. All the eternal benefits that God has bestowed on us is purely by His grace, yet we have to engage ourselves in spiritual disciplines to grow. Fasting is one of them.
Jesus taught about fasting in his sermon to his disciples: “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites… 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” Matthew 6:16-18.
The key word for us is the word “when”. He does not use the word “if”. This means that Jesus expects this spiritual discipline to be practised by all believers.
Of course, like all spiritual disciplines such as private devotions, communal prayers and giving, we should not practise fasting in a legalistic way. This would shift our focus from God’s grace to our own works of righteousness. This is why we as a church encourage and commend fasting to every person, according to their own conviction, during this season.
Yet it also means we do not neglect to teach and do it. Fasting can bring about great growth in our faith and spiritual power in our prayers. Fasting and prayer are also God’s means to establish the church and even the nation in righteousness. Some examples include:
- The early church commissioning their leaders through fasting and prayer (Acts 13:3)
- The deliverance from demons through fasting and prayer (Matthew 17:21)
- The city of Nineveh repenting in fasting and prayer to avert God’s judgment (Jonah 3:7-10)
There is much to teach about fasting in which the space of one devotion may not be adequate to cover. However, the best way of learning is still to practise it in some way. Use this coming season of Lent to embark on a fast together with the entire church, and see if the Lord will bring about a breakthrough in your life and rain his blessings and favour upon you and your family!
Revd Ian