Many religions around the world include fasting as a part of their experience.  Fasting from a Christian perspective is multi-faceted.
 
Three types of fasting
 
Typical – abstaining from food and drink but not water
- Jesus fasted for 40 days
- Matthew 4:1-2  “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.”
 
Complete – abstain from all food and drink including water
- Moses in the presence of the Lord
- Exodus 34:28  So Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.
 
Partial – abstain from specific items such as:  certain types of foods;
-  Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon conquered Jehoiakim king of Judah and took into captivity slaves.  One of those slaves was named Daniel.  Nebuchadnezzar “appointed for them a daily ration from the king’s choice food and from the wine which he drank.”
- Daniel 1:8-16 But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials, and the commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the youths who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king.” But Daniel said to the overseer, “Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be observed in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.” So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food. So the overseer continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables.
 
Motives for fasting

Incorrect – Luke 18:9-14  And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Correct – Matthew 6:16-17  “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.  But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your God who is in secret; and your God who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
 
Purposes of fasting

Repentance of sin – Jonah 3:1-10  Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying,  “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk.  Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”  Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes. He issued a proclamation and it said, “In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water.  But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands.  Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.”  When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity, which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.
Joel 2:12-13 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning;  And rend your heart and not your garments.”  Now return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness

Draw close to God – Isaiah 58:6-9 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?  Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.”
 
Seeking direction from God – Acts 13:1-3  Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.  While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
 
Asking for God’s help – our family fasting and praying each day of the week.

Under Construction . . . .

In part four, I want to briefly look at another fruit from scripture.  The focus, expressed in each article, is not targeted toward a person or an event but is meant to be a series of contemplations on the scriptural guidelines regarding spiritual movements. After all, there are specific biblical accounts in which God did clearly manifest His presence. Jesus stated, “each tree is known by its own fruit” Luke 6:44. 


Let’s look at another biblical fruit and wisely discern modern day spiritual movements.

4.  True spiritual movements of God will always see God's light dispel spiritual darkness. 

The Spirit of God drives out spiritual darkness of all kinds.  The Apostle John tells us that God is light and in Him there is no darkness.  In the physical realm as well as the spiritual realm, light dispels darkness.

I John 1:5-7  5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

When the Holy Spirit is at work, drawing people to Jesus, He drives spiritual darkness and evil.  Consider the story of Philip in Samaria.  Acts 8:5-6 tells us that Philip “began proclaiming Christ to them” and “The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.”  Going back to Fruit One in this series, the Holy Spirit exalts Christ, not Himself.  As Philip preached Christ, the Holy Spirit drew the crowds to Christ.  The Holy Spirit drove out spiritual darkness.  Verse 7 records, “For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.”

The Holy Spirit worked through the Apostles and then through Peter in Acts 5. 16 Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

Matthew 8:16-17  16 When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.”

Mark 1:22-27  22 They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”

In this series of three articles concerning spiritual movements, I will briefly look at a third fruit from scripture.  The focus expressed in each article is not directed at a person or an event but is meant to be a series of contemplations on the scriptural guidelines regarding spiritual movements.  After all, there are specific biblical accounts in which God did clearly manifest His presence.  Many people are hungry to experience an authentic move of God but unfortunately are unable to discern God’s hand in action.  Jesus stated, “each tree is known by its own fruit”  Luke 6:44. 

Let’s look at another biblical fruit and wisely discern modern day spiritual movements. True movements of God will always foster a renewed reverence and hunger for the Word of God.   When the Spirit of God moves on the hearts of individuals and repentance takes place, there is always a renewed reverence and hunger for God’s Word.   In the midst of a true movement of God there will always be a strong spiritual yearning for more of God’s Word.  The Holy Spirit will never leave any believer to disrespect, spurn, or hold in low regard the Word of God.   The Holy Spirit will lead us into truth (John 16:13). 

The following verse remind us what God says about His Word.  

• Hebrews 4:12   For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
• 1 Peter 1:25  But the Word of the Lord endures forever "And this is the word which was preached to you.

In the New Tribes Mission video titled Taliabo: Delivered From Darkness, two missionary couples use the Chronological Bible Storying method to communicate the Gospel to the Taliabo tribe.  For five months the missionaries told Bible stories chronologically from creation to the resurrection of Jesus.  After receiving God’s forgiveness of sins through Christ, the first noticeable change in their lives was a deep, sincere hunger and reverence for God’s Word.  They wanted to experience more of God through his Word.    This is true in all spiritual movements that are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

A reverence and hunger for God’s Word can be seen is many accounts in the New Testament.   Here are a few examples:

• Acts 6:1-8  The early church was rapidly growing.  The apostles chose to not “neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.”  As the church grew the apostles recognized the importance of God’s Word in the life of the church.   Several men were selected to wait on tables and the apostles continued to concentrate of God’s Word.  The account continues by saying, “The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.”
• Acts 8:14  Samaria received the Word of God
• Acts 13:7  Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.
• Acts 18:7-11    Paul settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.  (Corinth)
• Colossians 3:15-17  Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you . . .
• 1 Thessalonians 2:13  For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

• 2 Thessalonians 3:1  Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;
• Acts 19:19-21  And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand (A)pieces of silver.  So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.
• Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome."
• Acts 16:31-33  They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.   And he took them (C)that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.
• Acts 17:10-11   The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.  Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
• John 16:8-9  And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;  concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;

Be careful of present day movements, which do not express a reverence and respect for God’s Word.  We would do well to remember the words of John,

“believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;  and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.”  1 John 4:1-3

In this series of four articles, I  will briefly look at a second fruit  from scripture.  As I mentioned previously, I recently began taking another look at such movements when someone asked me about the “Lakeland Revival.”   The focus expressed in each article is not directed at a person or an event but is meant to be a series of contemplations on the scriptural guidelines regarding spiritual movements.  After all, there are specific biblical accounts in which God did clearly manifest His presence.   As stated previously, not one of the biblical guidelines, in this and following editions of the newsletter, are based on emotions, feelings, an individuals stage presence or visions, dreams, or special messages from angels.   Each guideline is based on Scripture.

Many people are hungry to experience an authentic move of God but unfortunately are unable to discern God’s hand in action.  When judging spiritual movements we should always look for specific spiritual fruit.  The following is the another fruit that should be present in any movement of God.  Jesus stated, “each tree is known by its own fruit”  Luke 6:44.  Let’s look at some biblical fruit and wisely discern modern day spiritual movements.

2.  True movements of God will always have the fruit of preaching repentance from sin and saving faith in Jesus Christ.   

Let’s look at Acts 2.  After the coming of Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached a Christ-centered message (death, burial, and resurrection) to the devout Jews who were present.   Verse 37 states that they were convicted by Peter’s words and asked what they should do to respond.  Peter says to “repent.”  As a sign of their repentance, each person was to be “baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.”   

F. F. Bruce says, “Repentance was plainly called for:  a complete change of heart, a spiritual about-face . . . The call to repentance had been sounded by John and Jesus in the years preceding the crucifixion, and it remained an essential element in the proclamation of the apostolic message.” 

Peter also declares that is anyone will repent, publicly confessing Jesus as Messiah through water baptism, he or she would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  F. F. Bruce rightly states that “the gift of the Spirit is the Spirit Himself, bestowed by the exalted Lord under the Father’s authority.”

In the Great Commission, as expressed by Luke, Jesus states that “repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47)  Another example is Acts 20 when Paul bids farewell to the believers in Ephesus.  In verse 21 Paul says he “solemnly testified to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Present day movements frequently focus more on various spiritual manifestations than on the repentance from sin and saving faith in the Lord Jesus.   A true movement of God will clear call individuals to both.  Think of this fruit and consider the ministry of Billy Graham, Luis Palau, or anyone else.  Also consider the Lakeland Revival, the Brownsville Revival, the laughing movement with Rodney Howard-Browne, the Toronto Blessing, etc. in relation to the true fruit of repentance from sin and saving faith in the Lord Jesus.  Whether a movement focuses on spiritual manifestations, someone’s dreams or visions, messages from angels, a charming personality, or a dynamic stage presence, we would do well to remember the words of John,

“believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;  and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.”  1 John 4:1-3

From time to time we hear about spiritual movements breaking out in various places.  We wonder if the reports are true or if they are someone’s embellishment of a simple fact.  In the month of June 08 I heard about one such movement.   After preaching one Sunday morning in a local church a middle-aged couple asked me if I had heard about the revival taking place in Lakeland, Florida.  I admitted that I had not heard anything.  The wife shared with me her thoughts on their personal experience.  Later that week I began to do an internet search for the “Lakeland Revival”.   After reading several accounts and watching youtube.com videos, it did not take long to develop serious concerns about the excesses of the movement.   

Many people are hungry to experience an authentic move of God but unfortunately are unable to discern God’s hand in action.  This multi-part series recognizes the great need for an authentic move of God’s Spirit.  We need a deep, live-changing, fresh encounter with God.  At the same time, this series identifies clear-cut biblical parameters of such a movement.  The main purpose of this multi-part series is to give specific ways in which we as believers can discern where God is at work.  Not one of the biblical guidelines, in this and following editions of the newsletter, are based on emotions, feelings, an individuals stage presence or visions, dreams, or special messages from angels.   Each guideline is based on Scripture.

When judging spiritual movements we should always look for specific spiritual fruit.  The following is a list of a few types of fruit that should be present in any movement of God.  This is not intended to be an exhaustive list.  Jesus stated, “each tree is known by its own fruit”  Luke 6:44.  Let’s look at some biblical fruit and wisely discern modern day spiritual movements.

1.  True movements of God will always have the fruit of exalting Jesus.  In other words, it is Christ-centered. 

John 16:13-15  “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.  He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.  All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.”   Jesus said, “He (the Spirit) will glorify me . . .” 

The Holy Spirit will always glorify Jesus.  He will always lift him up and draw all peoples to Jesus.  Occasionally some sects of Christendom say that the Holy Spirit is not honored sufficiently by other present day christians.  Yet, if Jesus is given the proper emphasis, the Holy Spirit is being honored.  Others have shed light on this:

• Any movement supposedly led by the Spirit which focuses interest on the phenomena of the Spirit is contrary to the statement in John 16.  The Holy Spirit is honored when Christ is glorified in our lives.  (Homer Kent)
• This within itself is a good test as to whether or not a system of religion is of the Holy Spirit.  Any theology which exalts the Holy Spirit above Jesus is not of the Holy Spirit.  (Hershel Hobbs - Baptist Pastor & Theologian)

In Acts 2 when Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, the central theme of his message was the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.   The events of that day fulfilled Jesus’ words in John 16.  The Spirit of God filled the 120 people in the upper room.  Then Peter preached under the power of the Holy Spirit.  What was the message that the Spirit of God anointed that day?  The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  The Spirit of God did just as Jesus had said, He (the Spirit) glorified Jesus, not Himself.

In Acts 8 Philip went to Samaria and a great movement of the Spirit of God took place.  The Holy Spirit worked miracles through Philip. 

“The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.  For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.  So there was much rejoicing in that city.”   Acts 8:6-8

The Holy Spirit was working, but look at the emphasis in verse 12: “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ they were baptized both men and women.”  The emphasis of verse 12 is not on the Holy Spirit but on the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ.

Present day movements frequently focus more on various spiritual manifestations than on Jesus Christ.   A true movement of God will be Christ-centered.  Think of this fruit and consider the ministry of Billy Graham, Luis Palau, or anyone else.  Also consider the Lakeland Revival, the Brownsville Revival, the laughing movement with Rodney Howard-Browne, the Toronto Blessing, etc. in relation to the true fruit of being Christ-centered.  Whether a movement focuses on spiritual manifestations, someone’s dreams or visions, messages from angels, a charming personality, or a dynamic stage presence, we would do well to remember the words of John,

“believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;  and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.”  1 John 4:1-3