What is Fasting? 

In John Piper's book "A HUNGER FOR GOD"  he writes
"The birthplace of Christian fasting is HOMESICKNESSfor God." 

If you have ever experienced homesickness you know exactly what he means.  Homesickness is an ACHING heart.  When we are homesick NOTHING can satisfy our longing for home.  Homesickness makes us desperate to get back to the embrace of the ones we love, back to the familiar comforts of home.    Does your heart ache with a homesickness for God?"  Do you long to be back in HIS embrace?  Fasting demonstrates to GOD how desperate we are for MORE OF HIM.  Fasting helps us to depend completely upon the Lord!

WHAT ARE YOU DESPERATE FOR AND DEPENDANT ON?

WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE MORE GOD OR MORE OF WHAT YOU ARE DEPENDANT ON? 

"Fasting protects ourselves from the deadening effects of Innocent Delights." John Piper

"Fasting is not the forfeit of evil but of good." John Piper

"More than any other discipline fasting tests and reveals the things that control us." Richard Foster

Scriptures we need to grasp

Matthew 5:6 - "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

Luke 1:53 - "He has filled the hungry with good things; And sent away the rich empty-handed."

Psalm 34:8 - O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

 

SPIRITUAL BENEFITS OF FASTING

Fasting UNLEASHES MORE GOD!
Jeremiah 29:13 "When you seek me with ALL your heart, I will be found by you."

Fasting EXPOSES OUR FLESH!
We all have ugly things inside of us and when we fast and remove those outward comforts and things we cover ourselves with (like food), we allow what is in us to come out.  When we fast we give God the opportunity to reveal, remove and replace our fleshiness with His holiness.

Fasting CHANGES OUR APPETITES!
It reveals that our greatest hunger is not for God but actually for GOD'S GIFTS like food and the things of this world and it REMINDS us that our greatest hunger should be for the GIVER Himself.  Fasting will show God we prefer Him over His gifts.

Fasting CHANGES OUR AFFECTIONS!
God's same GIFTS constantly compete for our devotion.  And fasting keeps us from turning His GIFTS into GODS and brings us back to our first love showing God we love Hi more than anything else.

Fasting CHANGES OUR EXPECTATIONS!
We should also fast in order to SET APART our day, month or even year in order to set a course of expectancy.  This is saying I am expecting more God in my day, month or even my year.

Fasting CHANGES OUR IDENTITY!
Today the majority of nominal Christians are POWERLESS Christians and the holy habit of fasting can transform us into POWERFUL Christians.  Because the discipline of fasting actually releases the anointing , favor and blessing of God into your life. 

Fasting SATISFIES GOD!
Fasting is an EXPRESSION OF WORSHIP to God and God is HUNGRY for "worshippers who will worship Him in spirit and truth." So when we fast we FEED God and satisfy His hunger