On Sunday, September 24, 2023 at sunset until Monday, September 25, 2023 at sunset, many Christians around the world and also all devout Jews will be participating in a fast that honors God on The Day of Atonement.
A “fast” is a set aside amount of time to go without food or water.
Isn’t this only a Jewish observance?
Why would Christians want to participate in such a thing; and why on this particular day?
MOST PEOPLE FASTING DO NOT TALK ABOUT IT
Perhaps people wonder because a lot of times fasts are not openly discussed or talked about in public.
There are several good reasons for that; for instance; Matthew 6:16-18:
When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 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. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
FROM JESUS TO US
It was Jesus who said those words.
Obviously, fasting is usually between an individual and God. It is done in private for a specific reason between the person and God.
Rarely will you hear of Christians or Jews fasting publicly and openly. This is mainly because God doesn’t want fasting to be a show.
ONCE EACH YEAR A PUBLIC FAST IS HELD
There is only one time a year that most Christians and Jews openly fast in public. This is the Day of Atonement.
This fast is different from all other fasts. It is commanded by God; and it is done for a very specific reason.
Jesus gave reasons for fasting that are better than anyone else’s reasons; here is the reason that He gave:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)
A DISCIPLE PRACTICES SELF-DENIAL
It is important to note that by fasting we practice self-denial. The above scriptures clearly state that self-denial is a requirement for becoming a disciple of Christ.
This is a day to turn our attention from our own needs toward God’s needs. Yes; by the way – God DOES have needs. He needs for us to make the right choices involved in bringing about The Kingdom of Heaven.
Are we capable of doing that?
On The Day of Atonement we are trying to focus on searching our souls. We do this in order to be more pleasing to our Creator.
There is no better way to please God than to imitate Jesus. After all; He gave up all he had on this earth in order to save our souls. He willingly laid down his life; it was not commanded of him; he freely gave himself away. That is true self-denial; being willing to think of others above one’s self in order to bring glory to God.
SUBMITTING TO DISCIPLINE
Our fasting presents our willingness to submit to discipline.
Some of us have a lot to overcome.
It isn’t easy.
We have just passed through a season of confession and turning in order to satisfy the holiness that God requires of his faithful servants.
Often though, the pull of the world is too heavy. Some of us find ourselves fighting demons and spirits in order to give up the things that require self-denial.
Fasting makes our human will stronger.
It helps us to overcome and to walk away from addictions, lust, prideful ways, or anything that has an earthly pull on our wrong desires.
THE POWER TO RESIST TEMPTATIONS
It is a total mystery; but the tool of fasting makes us stronger and gives us the power we need to resist such temptations.
We can read about this in Matthew 17:14-21:
When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, ‘Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.”
And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked him , and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once.
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” And He said to them “Because of the littleness of your faith, for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,” and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Got any mountains to move in your own life?
DO YOU HAVE ANY MOUNTAINS TO MOVE?
Did God command us to keep this once a year public fast in order that we could realize for ourselves the power of fasting?
I wonder; did He want to increase our faith? Is he waiting to see who is willing to be obedient and trust him for answers by doing what he says without questions?
I do wonder.
GOD HAS GIVEN US HIS TOOL BOX
When you were only a child, did you love the privilege of playing with your Father’s tools? Did he ever let you take those tools to see what you could do with them?
By the Day of Atonement most of us have been confessing hard sins and trying to turn away from them.
I’m sure many will slip up and sin again, even after these confessions.
Some sins are just too hard for us to let go of; but God gives us this tool called “fasting.”
We all would do well to use what we have been given.
A PHYSICAL ACT THAT ACCOMPLISHES A SPIRITUAL BLESSING
In ancient times the High Priest would lay his hands on the head of a goat who was led into the wilderness to bear away the sins of the people.
This is what Jesus Christ did for us – he was our “sin-bearer.”
Laying the sins on the goat and leading him away was a physical act that accomplished a spiritual blessing. Christ’s physical death (and Resurrection) brought us relief from spiritual condemnation and death.
Fasting too is a physical thing that can accomplish spiritual results.
The demonic and evil influences that we are often exposed to cannot hold up to the power of an act of faithful obedience to God.
God grants the strength that is needed to break strong-holds and release prisoners from the sins of the world.
THE LEAST THAT WE CAN DO
We come seeking atonement. The blood of Christ provides that atonement. It is a free gift. Still; we must present our petitions before God with confessions. This must be done honorably and in obedience.
It is a long struggle sometimes; sitting through 24-26 hours of going without food and water. However; this is nothing compared to what Christ bore on the cross for us.
This once a year day of corporate prayer is the least that we can do. The special appointment helps us to give God the glory. We praise Him with our actions for all the joy that is to come to his servants who faithfully follow-through. It happens with fasting and prayer. We are those who want to keep his commandments the best we can and strive to overcome the world. We do that through the Atonement, the power of the blood of Christ.
A DESIRE TO SHOW GRACE AND LOVE
Grace and love have been called the greatest tools for overcoming sin and being true disciples of Christ.
Physically coming before God displays our desire to show grace and love; as He has done for us.
It is a very small thing that God asks of us in the whole overall picture of what He has so lovingly done for us.
In the split second after atonement; victory comes.
Let us hold on until we arrive in that place of joy that makes the season complete.