The following article was written by Pastor Paul Tessari, in preparation for our upcoming Week of Prayer (March 7-13):
There are several things which might facilitate prayer and fasting in God’s people. Most notable in Scripture are those exhibiting repentance for sin and those who are seeking God’s help, guidance and protection in a given situation. No matter the cause, the believer seeks to move the heart and hand of God to action on their behalf. We are, as Isaiah 58:4 states, trying to “make [our] voice heard on high.” These petitions are to be done in humility knowing that God only looks to the one who is humble and contrite of spirit. God, Scripture attests, does not hear the prayers of a sinful man.
So what is the posture of fervent prayer? How do we make known to Him the importance of our prayer? Surely, as Scripture teaches we should “pray without ceasing.” We should be active in our daily lives communing in prayer to the Almighty King. But what of those special circumstances, when we run to Him in emergency, when our need is dire, our hearts heavy, and our hope slim? Times like that of Esther the queen who discovered a plot by Haman to murder her people and wipe them off the face of the earth. Or times like that of Jonah when he preached to the wicked people of Ninevah and proclaimed the impending judgment of God upon them. How did they pray then? In what way did they emphasize the degree of their prayer? They did it with fasting! The people willingly denied themselves life sustaining nourishment in an appeal to make known to the Lord the serious nature of their petition. “We shall deny ourselves and seek the Lord,” they said.
The concept of self denial is not new to Scripture. Indeed, Scripture is filled with its references. As a Christian it is foundational to our faith, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matt. 16:24).
The apostle Paul, ever the impassioned writer, compares the Christian to a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. Each of these vocations conjure images of self abstention. Can you imagine a soldier who fights only when he wants to? Or breaks for lunch whenever he’s hungry? What sort of athlete stops when he’s tired or quits when he’s behind? What befalls the farmer who wakes up at mid day when the notion suits him?
Be assured that this soldier will never win the battle, this athlete will not see victory, this farmer will never enjoy the fruit of his labor nor eat of its bounty. Winning the battle, seeing the victory, enjoying the fruit of your labor never comes without first laying aside self. And neither does the Christian walk.
Paul makes this clear in 1 Corinthians 9 when he says, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”
When we fast we are denying our body the very thing it needs to survive. In so doing, we are subjecting the desires of the flesh to the will of the spirit. In earnest humility we are appealing to our heavenly Father and making known to Him the importance of our petition.
Such commitment in prayer is rare today. In an age where we are encouraged to yield ourselves to our flesh, Scripture exhorts us to deny ourselves and pray to a holy God. This goes contrary to everything our culture embraces. At every turn, our society incites us to submit to the appetites of our flesh and “just do it.” Satisfy your every impulse and “Go for it.” Yell from the rooftops, “It’s my money and I want it now!”
Yet, this is not the way of Christ.
Self denial should be a distinguishing mark of all those who name the name of Christ. We are bought with a price. We are not our own. As bondservant of our Lord Jesus Christ we do not do our own will, but the will of Him who has saved us.
In a little over a week, First Baptist Church in Weymouth will be having our week of prayer. O, how beautiful and encouraging it will be to see brothers and sisters in Christ united in prayer. How “counter culture” it will be to band together and deny our earthly impulses and present ourselves before the throne of grace in humility. I, for one, am looking forward to it.