Since Grace is about Jesus’ finished work,  how does fasting interact with grace as it seems like an effort or Labour on our part? In this teaching we answer common questions on fasting and explain how and why it works.

The Finished Work of Christ?

The concept of the finished work of Christ is in relation to the salvation of mankind. It simply means that Christ paid in full, the debt that was owed to God. He paid for your sins and completely satisfied God’s justice. As a result, man can freely be saved, if they simply believe in him and what he has done for them.

So when Jesus was on the cross and had fulfilled the last scripture in relation to his suffering, he shouted: It is finished.

John 19:28-30 New Living Translation (NLT)

28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!”Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Right now, Jesus is still working. But he is accomplishing a different work to the one he did on the cross. Right now Jesus is placing all things in subjection, so that God will be all in all.

1 Corinthians 15:23-28 New Living Translation (NLT)

23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.

24 After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. 25 For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. 26 And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. 

When this work of bringing all things into subjection is completed, he will once again say, It is Finished!  (Revelation 21:1-5)

Grace

Grace is not just about the finished work of Christ only. The grace of God is not one dimensional, it has many forms.

1 Peter 4:10 New International Version (NIV)

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

It worked for our salvation through the work that Jesus did. It works with us now in our everyday lives to teach us to avoid bad things and do good things.

Titus 2:11-12 New King James Version (NKJV)

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

While the grace teaches us to live godly, it also empowers us to do the work of God.

Ephesians 4:7 New King James Version (NKJV)

7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

So while grace saved us. It is though grace that we also learn to fast.

WHY SHOULD WE FAST?

1.Because Jesus Fasted

Matthew 4:1-2 New International Version (NIV)

4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

When the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus. He led him into a forty day fast. Jesus is our example, we must walk as he walked.

1 John 2:6 New King James Version (NKJV)

6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Jesus said, a disciple can not be greater than his master. So if Jesus had to fast, then so shall we. He is our example.

2.BECAUSE JESUS SAID SO

When Jesus was walking on earth, he fasted, but his disciples did not fast. However, Jesus promised that when he has gone, his disciples would have too fast.

Luke 5:33-35 New King James Version (NKJV)

33 Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?”

34 And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while thebridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”

3.The Apostles and the Church Fasted

Just as Jesus promised, when he went to heaven, the apostles and the New Testament church fasted often.

A) Cornelius and the apostle Peter Got the revelation of the salvation of gentiles while fasting?

Acts 10:30 New King James Version (NKJV)

30 So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

B) The apostles Paul and Barnabas were commissioned during a fast

Acts 13:2-3 New King James Version (NKJV)

2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

C) The Church would fast before selecting or ordaining people

Acts 14:23 New King James Version (NKJV)

23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed

The apostles were setting an example and a pattern by which we must follow.

Philippians 3:17 New Living Translation (NLT)

17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 New Living Translation (NLT)

6 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us.

4. Its a commandment of the Lord

1 Corinthians 7:5 New King James Version (NKJV)

5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

From this scripture you can tell that it is expected that the believer must give themselves to fasting and prayer.

HOW DOES FASTING WORK?

Now that we have seen that we as the New Testament church must give ourselves to fasting and prayer, let us now see how fasting works. 

1.Fasting Subdues the Flesh

When we are born again, it is our spirits that are born again, not our flesh. Our spirits are born again and translated into the kingdom of God, but our bodies remain unsaved, waiting for the day of the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:50 New King James Version (NKJV)

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption

As as result, a person has two forces within him which are at war with each other. The flesh and the spirit oppose and fight each other.

Galatians 5:17 New International Version (NIV)

17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

When the flesh is strong, the spirit is weak, when the flesh is weak, the spirit is strong. As a result, the apostle Paul says he beats his body, to put it into subjection.

1 Corinthians 9:27 New King James Version (NKJV)

27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

No mater how much you eat today, tomorrow you will be hungry. When you deny the body food, you weaken the flesh. When the flesh is weak, the spirit is strong. That is the basic principle of how fasting operates.

2. God’s Power works in weakness

The Lord says, when we are weak, then God is shown much stronger, because his grace abounds much more in weakness. When we are weak in the body, we are then strong in spirit because his grace is increased towards us. Paul was given this principle when he was praying concerning a weakness that was in his flesh.

2 Corinthians 12:9 New Living Translation (NLT)

9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

This same principle is the same that is at work in fasting. We become weak in the body, and God’s power works more through us during our weakness.

3.Fasting is an act of Faith

Fasting is itself an act of faith. When we go to heaven we will not eat in order to live, we will live simply because of the word of God.

Matthew 4:3-4 New King James Version (NKJV)

3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

When we deny our flesh food, we are expressing our faith that our life does not come from food but from the word and spirit of God. In this way, fasting becomes a declaration and act of faith for the believer.