Pastor Ed Newton shared a profound understanding of why Christians fast.
Pastor Ed Newton
The Pastor of Community Bible Church, Ed Newton, discussed fasting in one of his sermons entitled “Breakthrough: Crave.” He mentioned that fasting would make people crave God. It was not merely a suggested activity but an expected practice for Jesus’ followers. Then, he shared about the common practice of the Pharisees during Jesus’ time, who sought rewards from people rather than from God.
That’s why, in Matthew 6:6, Jesus gave instructions on how to do it: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” He encouraged the people not to be like the Pharisees. Instead, it would be better if they fasted privately.
Breakthrough: Crave [
Community Bible Church]. YouTube, 8 January 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGnR3HHYFPc
Longing for His presence
Furthermore, he referenced Mark 2:18, where Jesus was asked why His disciples weren’t fasting. Then, in the succeeding verses, Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day, they will fast.” According to him, Jesus represents the groom, while the church represents the bride. So, in connection to what Jesus answered, fasting was about longing for the presence of the groom.
Moreover, he quoted what John Piper said, “If we got no spiritual purpose for fasting, we just going hungry.” Pastor Ed then encouraged the congregation to fast not for the sake of other people but to experience the presence of God.
“See, when you hunger and thirst after Him, what’s the reward of hungering and thirsting after him? It’s that we get satisfied by Him,” he highlighted.
Watch the full sermon here.
Reference | Community Bible Church
Header Image: Breakthrough: Crave [ Community Bible Church]. YouTube, 8 January 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGnR3HHYFPc