Fasting
Gluttony Versus Fasting
The Insidious Sin Of Gluttony
The moral sin of GLUTTONY corrupts both soul and body and defiles them as God’s dwelling place, and renders them unfit for God’s service even more than drunkenness, or adultery or fornication does. These sins are all associated together in many scriptures and are condemned to receive the same judgment. Yet professing Christians, who wouldn’t dare get drunk or commit sex sin; openly commit gluttony on a regular basis without even giving it a second thought! How can this be? The shameful truth is: almost no one ever preaches against it. The reason is that it is a socially acceptable vice and therefore it has also become an acceptable practice even among Christians and ministers. Sadly enough this shows the worldly, carnal condition of the church.
This is an area in which they can let the suppressed appetites of the flesh have their full expression, without fear of reprisal. In fact Christians spend large amounts of money to build “fellowship” halls, and regularly turn out in large numbers to “feast”, “banquet” and “revel” concerning food. Yet you can hardly get any of them to show up for a “prayer meeting”! This greatly grieves God! We must repent of this awful sin and ask God to cleanse us and give us the knowledge and grace to live in a manner pleasing to Him – or we can expect severe judgment at His hand. (James 4:4-10)
The sin of gluttony opens the door for Satan to work havoc with our spiritual lives. Gluttony seems to be the vehicle on which the other appetites of the flesh “ride” freely without restraint. On the other hand fasting seems to be the best vehicle to keep them under control. This is proved by many scriptures that we will look at shortly. These will enable you to better see why Satan wants Christians to be gluttons and is also why he wants them to see nothing wrong with it at all. These scriptures will also help you better understand why God hates and condemns gluttony so much. We must ask ourselves,
“Who we are serving – God or our belly?” If we are serving our belly then we are serving Satan to a “T”. Remember that the apostle Paul warns us, “Be not deceived, God is not mocked. You WILL reap what you sow! If you sow to please the flesh, you will reap DESTRUCTION! BUT if you sow to please the Spirit, you will reap ETERNAL LIFE!” (Galatians 6:7-9)
1. The sin of gluttony and “food lust” began in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:6-7) The wrong food looked and tasted so good that Eve decided that it must “be good”. This was the beginning of the “lust of the eyes”, the “lust of the flesh” and the “pride of life”. (1 John 2:15 – KJV)
2. Even under the Law of Moses, gluttons were stoned to death! (Deuteronomy 21:20)
3. God warned His people to be careful that when they ATE to the full and were
satisfied that they should not forget God. (Deuteronomy 6:11-12)
4. Ignoring God’s command, they ate to the full, forgot God and committed adultery as a result. (Jeremiah 5:7-8)
5. Ezekiel 16:49 says the sin(s) that caused God to destroy Sodom was – fullness of bread, pride and idleness.
6. Proverbs 23:20-21 warns us not to be among drunkards, gluttons and riotous eaters of flesh.
7. In Matthew 11:19 drunkards and gluttons are listed together in ill repute.
8. In Luke 21:34 we are told to resist gluttony and watch and pray or be left behind when the Lord returns.
9. Philippians 3:17-18 cautions us that those whose god is their “belly” are enemies of the cross.
10. According to Romans 16:17-18 if you’re serving your belly then you’re not serving God.
11. 1 Peter 4:1-5 condemns indulging in “banqueting”.
12. Jude 12-13 warns against “feeding yourself without fear”.
13. We are also warned against “selling your soul for food” in Hebrews 12:16-17, 25, & 28-29.
14. Titus 1:12-18 informs us that gluttons may profess God but by their works they deny Him.
15. 1 Corinthians 6:9-13 & 19-20 lets us know that though something may be considered “permissible” – but it may not be “beneficial”.
16. In addition 1 Corinthians 10:13 instructs us to EAT and DRINK in a WAY that glorifies God.
SCRIPTURAL DIETARY GUIDELINES
ALL FOOD IS “CLEAN” (SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING):
1. Mankind was created to be vegetarians. (Genesis 1:29-30)
2. But later people were “allowed” to eat meat. (Genesis 9:2-3)
3. Foods designated by God under the Law of Moses as “clean” and “unclean”. (Leviticus 11)
4. The “Law” and all of its “dietary restrictions” are removed. (Colossians 2:13-23)
5. Jesus made all food “spiritually” clean. (Mark 7:14-23)
6. Now God’s people can eat whatever is set before them within reason. However, we are to put spiritual priorities first and are not to use that for an occasion to the flesh. We must still eat to glorify God. (Luke 10:5-8; Galatians 5:1 & 13)
7. Again all food is designated as being spiritually “clean”. (Acts 10:9-15)
8. All meat and vegetables are now spiritually “clean”, but we are encouraged not to make an issue out of this matter either way. (Romans 14:2-3 & 14)
9. Food does not bring us near to God. (1 Corinthians 8:8)
10. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking. (Romans 14:17)
11. EVERYTHING God created is good for food if it is received with thanksgiving –
because it is consecrated by the Word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:1-5)
However All Food Is Not “Good” For You (PHYSICALLY Speaking):
After men finish tampering with much of the “good food” that God created it becomes “bad” food. This is one of the reasons that so many people are sick in this country. For instance, heart disease and cancer (the #1 & #2 killers in America) are both a result of our diet of over processed, devitalized and chemically laden foods. The proof of that is that these diseases are practically non-existent in some countries where people eat organically grown food harvested from their own gardens.
How To Eat And Drink For the Glory Of God:
Ecclesiastes (10:7)
A. In due season (when you really need it)
B. For strength
C. Not for drunkenness (pleasure)
Since God owns our bodies, we must not eat or drink according to the desires of the “flesh” (Romans 13:14). “… make no provisions for the desires of the flesh”. We must do our best to eat the right amount of the right kind of food and we should do so only when our body needs it. (Ecclesiastes 10:7) This at least should be a general “rule of thumb”. There will no doubt be exceptions; due to circumstances, but we must not use this as an occasion to the flesh. (Romans 5:17)
We of course should not make a “fetish” of this, but neither should we shirk our God-given responsibility concerning this matter. Remember: the purpose of eating is to nourish the body. The fact that it happens to be enjoyable is merely a fringe benefit – not the reason itself. We should “EAT TO LIVE” – not “LIVE TO EAT”! The former is our obligation to God; the latter can be a sin!
In general, food in its most natural state is the most beneficial. “I give you every seed bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food… and it was very “good”. (Genesis 1:29-30) “For everything God created is good …”. (1 Timothy 4:4) He satisfies our moth with “good” things, so that our youth is renewed like the eagles. (Psalms 103:5) Educate yourself to the basics of good nutrition by reading a few good books from a health food store or a Christian bookstore. Then do the best you can when eating out, shopping and preparing food.
Most of our bodies are in a lot worse shape than we think, due to poor eating habits. (Psalms 78:18 & 29-31) “They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved… (21). When the Lord heard them, He was very angry… they ate till they had more than enough…” Then, “God’s anger rose against them; He put to death the sturdiest among them…” If we sow to the flesh, we will surely reap destruction! (Galatians 6:7)
We must repent of these sins and then cleanse our bodies of accumulated poisons, mucus and fat. The best way is to use natural herbal cleansers and fast periodically. This will also promote much healing and rejuvenation, as well as do wonders for us spiritually. (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1) We are commanded to purify our body and spirit from all that contaminates them. We are to “offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God… do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:1-2) This will help bring our appetite under control in what we eat, how much we eat and how often we eat.
When we fast, a great amount of toxins are released into the bloodstream. This slows down the flow of blood and tends to make us feel weak and sluggish. If the discharge of poisons is too rapid and excessive – it can cause harm. Therefore, we should take short fast at first and continue to use herbal cleansers to detoxify the blood. A good herbal cleanser will also provide the body with necessary vital nutrients and help us retain much of our energy. After fasting we should eat as nutritiously as possible but also use good quality herbal food supplements to stay cleansed and to insure that our body obtains the essential nutrients that may be missing from our food.
This will better enable our bodies to function as God intended and will maintain our well being. Our “Whole-Man Healing Centers” (that we are believing God for) will employ such cleansing and healing programs as well as fasting. However, I heartily recommend to everyone an excellent 40-day program that is outlined in the book “The Maker’s Diet”. You can obtain a copy from health food stores or from the following website http://makersdiet.com/ .
You may also acquire the book at Christian bookstores or health food stores. The author used the concepts found in this program to cure himself of an “incurable”, terminal disease and to restore himself to perfect health. A Christian friend of mine who owns several huge health food stores recommends his products much more highly than any of the other products that she carries. In fact I personally learned about these products from her. You may obtain these Garden of Life products at health food stores or at http://www.gardenoflifeusa.com/ .
FASTING
Webster’s Dictionary and Bible Dictionaries define fasting as: abstinence from food; especially as a religious observance. Why should we be concerned about fasting?
1. The Word of God teaches us to fast: “… then they shall fast.” (Matthew 19:15)
2. Some victories will never be won without fasting and prayer. (Matthew 17:12)
3. Fasting brings much needed direction and help from God. (Ezra 8:2-3)
4. Fasting deprives and suppresses the flesh and opens and nourishes the spirit. This enables us to better communicate with God (who is Spirit) more clearly. (Joel 2:12)
5. Fasting empowers us to keep our bodies under subjection to the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 9:27, 2 Corinthians 11:27 & 6:5)
6. The main reason for fasting is because God requires it of us in order to be fully
reconciled to Him: “Return to me with all your hearts with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garment.” (Joel 2:12)
7. Fasting humbles the soul, shows God the sincerity of one’s repentance and can avert impending judgment. (Jonah 3:4-10)
Isaiah 58:6 gives us some very good reasons to fast:
1. To loose the chains of injustice.
2. To be released of heavy burdens.
3. To set the oppressed free.
4. To break every yoke.
If we Christians are tired of being sick, defeated, powerless and of having our prayers go unanswered – then we are to fast to “undo these heavy burdens”. (Isaiah 58:50, 11) In addition biblical fasting causes our health to “spring forth speedily”. (Isaiah 58:8)
Fasting one or two days a week keeps us in “fasting shape”, ready to go on longer fasts if God should so require. The length of the fast should be determined by the reason for the fast. We fast until our purpose is accomplished. (Ezra 8:21-23) Fasting is a biblically endorsed WAY of seeking God. We would do well to fast when confused about God’s direction for our lives. Confusion comes as a result of trying to reason things in our minds instead of being led by the Spirit. (Ezra 8:23) Fasting shows God that we are more interested in our relationship with Him than in natural things, and He is entreated of us.
A full stomach can thwart spiritual keenness. If we didn’t eat before church services and lived a “fasted life”, we would see God move much more powerfully in our meetings and we would become much stronger spiritually. “Food suggestions” placed in our minds by Satan is one of His oldest tricks. He used this approach on Eve in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:1-6: 2 Corinthians 11:3) It was also how Satan’s first tempted Jesus after His forty day fast. (Luke 4:3)
Would you like more faith? You should, because “…without faith it is impossible to please God”. (Hebrews 11:6) The tongue, which no man can tame, is not only the faith organ but is also the fasting organ. (Romans 10:8-10; James 3:1-12) If we cannot control its desire for food, we certainly are in no position to have power over demons and disease. (Matthew 17:19-21) Instead of calling a fast as instructed by the Word of God, the church calls a feast and as a result they are powerless. (Joel 1:14; 2:15 & Amos 5:21) They only “have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof”. (2 Timothy 3:5)
Most Christians have become “gospel hardened” concerning what the Bible says about gluttony and fasting. They just tend to quickly brush right over those scriptures, go on to something more appealing and never do anything about what they read. But James 1:22 says, “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Now you are responsible for what you have learned, “…for he that knows to do good and doesn’t do it is sinning.” (James 4:17) Regarding your future eating habits Romans 14:23 says, “The man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come faith is SIN.” And we know that “the wages of sin is death!” (Romans 6:23)
I am just trying to “Blow the trumpet in Zion” and warn His people of impending judgment: so that they might repent and be spared “… for the Lord takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their evil ways and live!” (Ezekiel 33:1-28) “For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God…” (1 Peter 4:17)
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