READ: JOHN
19:28-30
The
sentence: ‘It is finished’ which our Lord used on the cross before he gave up
his Spirit has been subjected to all kinds of interpretations. The devil on his
part has interpreted it to mean that the children of God need not fast any more
because, as he has made many believe, Jesus has finished all fasting.
Unfortunately, many Christians have swallowed this bait of the devil.
When the Pharisees came to ask Jesus why his disciples did not fast, Jesus answered them in Matthew 9:15: ‘And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the day will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.”’
When he was physically on earth, Jesus carried his disciples on his faith while he taught them how to live by their faith. His grace covered up several weaknesses in them but he knew this would soon be over, so in Matthew 6:16, he said: ‘“Moreover, when you fast...”’ In other words, he was teaching them that it is mandatory for them to fast. He once told them that certain stubborn demons could not be cast out except by prayer and fasting.
A Christian who believes he does not need to fast because Jesus has done all the fasting for him is only lazy. He cannot master his desires. When Satan meets such a person, he will be an easy target for his demons. Philippians 3:18-19 describes such people as worshipping their bellies. When you eat all the time, the flesh will be happy and grow stronger, while your spirit man will be getting weaker. Those who cannot refrain from food always find it difficult to pray. They pray for five minutes and are already tired.
A Christian has been called to a life of disciple. You must watch what you eat and when you eat. You must live a fasting life. If you fast a least once a week, it will help your spirit man to become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. It will also help you to resist the sinful prompting of your flesh. A flesh continuously well fed is a flesh that will keep pushing its owner into sin. Discipline your flesh today!
When the Pharisees came to ask Jesus why his disciples did not fast, Jesus answered them in Matthew 9:15: ‘And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the day will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.”’
When he was physically on earth, Jesus carried his disciples on his faith while he taught them how to live by their faith. His grace covered up several weaknesses in them but he knew this would soon be over, so in Matthew 6:16, he said: ‘“Moreover, when you fast...”’ In other words, he was teaching them that it is mandatory for them to fast. He once told them that certain stubborn demons could not be cast out except by prayer and fasting.
A Christian who believes he does not need to fast because Jesus has done all the fasting for him is only lazy. He cannot master his desires. When Satan meets such a person, he will be an easy target for his demons. Philippians 3:18-19 describes such people as worshipping their bellies. When you eat all the time, the flesh will be happy and grow stronger, while your spirit man will be getting weaker. Those who cannot refrain from food always find it difficult to pray. They pray for five minutes and are already tired.
A Christian has been called to a life of disciple. You must watch what you eat and when you eat. You must live a fasting life. If you fast a least once a week, it will help your spirit man to become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. It will also help you to resist the sinful prompting of your flesh. A flesh continuously well fed is a flesh that will keep pushing its owner into sin. Discipline your flesh today!
MEMORIZE:
ROMANS 6:12 –Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you
should obey it in its lusts.
