Acts 13:2-3 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

This was one of the most momentous commissionings in Church history. It was initiated by the Holy Spirit, but those involved were certainly in a receptive posture. It strikes me that fasting is mentioned twice here, when it is hardly ever mentioned in the Church today. Today, “intermittent fasting” is touted as a health method, but there is no spiritual component. In the US, obesity is a major epidemic, and certainly needs to be addressed from a health standpoint, but Christians seem to have forgotten the whole concept of not eating in order to focus on prayer. It’s no wonder that so few people seem to have any real intimacy with the Holy Spirit! Throughout the Bible, the principle of fasting is to deny the flesh in order to focus on the spiritual. Today, we don’t like to deny the flesh anything! We are called to be good stewards of our bodies, but letting them take priority is dangerous indeed. As came out in this past Sunday’s message, we aren’t animals who have souls and spirits, making us human, we are spiritual beings who inhabit bodies and express ourselves through our souls. When we fail to grasp that, our priorities get all scrambled and we lose direction and purpose in our lives. Fasting is an excellent reminder of Biblical priorities, if we do it for the right reasons. It’s not a method of dieting, however much it might help in that area. Rather, it is a conscious giving up of the flesh to God, telling Him – and ourselves – that He is our Source and we place Him first, not just on a philosophical basis but in everything. Today, churches are known for eating far more than fasting, and at least partially as a result, are characterized far more by tradition than power.

I’m a fine one to be talking here, since I honestly don’t remember the last time I fasted. In the past, I have fasted for as long as a week, taking in only water. By the third day, it’s actually not so difficult, but as I said, I’ve largely forgotten about it. It’s not that there aren’t plenty of things that need concentrated prayer! I don’t remember that I’ve ever taught on fasting, in this church or elsewhere. I’m not medically obese, but I’m in no danger of starvation. I know that fasting isn’t a technique to manipulate God, and I wouldn’t want to try even if I could, but it can have a massive impact on my attitude. I want to be hungry for more of God, and if I assuage my physical hunger every time it appears, that dulls my spiritual hunger as well. I live in an affluent society, physically speaking, that is something of a spiritual desert. I need to shift my eyes to what really matters, and live accordingly.

Father, thank You for this unexpected reminder. Show me what You want me to do. I don’t want any sort of “performance art,” but I want my life and the life of this church to line up with You and Your plans for us. Thank You for all that You did in the first day of our gallery show yesterday, and particularly for the two opportunities to do some in-depth evangelism. I pray that today would likewise run on Your schedule, with the cable TV interview and everyone You will bring to see the exhibit. May it accomplish Your will and Yours alone, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!