Fasting joined with fervent prayer and reading of scripture is a spiritual discipline of humbling ourselves in abstinence before God to hunger for him, to give him glory, to seek his direction, to turn away some tragedy, and/or to obtain some blessing. Fasting is traditionally the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a limited time.

On April 22, your pastors will be spending the day fasting and praying for you. For one full day, we will devote ourselves to intense time in prayer for the body, for the leaders, and for the mission of Mars Hill Church.

We are asking all church members–and anyone on board with Mars Hill–to do the same, as they are able.

What are the reasons why we would fast?

Your elders believe that our corporate fasting for unity in our mission is necessary as we all examine our commitment to being sent by Jesus to build his church, to grow his people and glorify his name (John 17:20–23).

There are multiple reasons for fasting:

1. It is a principle taught by Jesus.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:16, “When you fast…” He did not say “if” you fast. Jesus also said fasting would resume after his ascension into heaven (Mark 2:20).

Additionally, we see examples of fasting for direction in the early church. In Acts 13, the church at Antioch was led to fast and pray. “While they were worshiping 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 after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off” (13:2–3).

Paul (Saul) and Barnabas and some of the other leaders in the church in Antioch were worshiping and fasting. Judging by what happened we assume that the burden that led them to fast was the mission of the church at Antioch. They were fasting to seek the leading of the Holy Spirit in the direction of their mission. They were hungry enough for God’s leading that they wanted to say it with the hunger of their bodies and not just the hunger of their hearts. They were saying in essence, “We want your leading, O God! O Holy Spirit, what is your will for the mission of this church?”

2. We want to draw closer to Jesus.

John Wesley said fasting advanced holiness. The early church fathers, Polycarp and Tertullian, fasted, as did Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Knox. Wesley was so committed to fasting that he would not approve a candidate for ministry if he did not fast twice a week! Bill Bright, the late founder of Campus Crusade, believed fasting fulfilled 2 Chronicles 7:14: humility, prayer, and seeking God’s face, which leads to turning from sin.

3. We want to stir the body of Christ toward repentance.

Nehemiah fasted and prayed after he heard of the demise of the city of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:3–4).

4. We want to conquer a sin in one’s life.

Fasting and praying lays one’s soul bare to allow the Holy Spirit to set us free from the sins that clings so closely to us (Hebrews 12:1–2). Natural passions consume our energies and distract us away from our devotion to Jesus who said, “Man shall not live by bread alone” (Mathew 4:4; Luke 4:4).

John Calvin said in his fourth Institutes book that fasting has three objectives: “We use it to weaken or subdue the flesh that it may not act wantonly [lacking restraint], that we may be better prepared for prayers and holy meditations and that it may be a testimony of our self-abasement [humiliation] before God when we wish to confess our guilt before him.”

5. Fasting is useful to beseech our Sovereign God’s provision of our needs: physical, financial, spiritual, emotional, social, familial, marital, or mental (Philippians 3:19; Luke 21:34).

I have practiced fasting in my life for almost thirty years. I never make a major decision without fasting. I have fasted for church renewal, for personal decisions, for evangelism of lost, for financial provision, to subdue pride, and for personal spiritual renewal. There is always the temptation to allow fasting to become a source of pride. It is something that is more prevalent with longer fasts, but should be subdued with all diligence. Jesus said those who fast for the purpose of a legalistic or selfish reasons forfeit a reward from God since their reward is the applause of man (Matthew 6:16).

How Do We Fast?

Here are five different ways to fast, depending on one’s preferences and physical ability.

1. Begin the fast on April 22 at midnight and consume only water through 11:59 pm.
2. Same as #1, but fast from food only. Juice, for example, would be acceptable in addition to water.
3. Begin a 24-hour fast following dinner on April 21.
4. Fast for one or two meals during the day on April 22.
5. If it is physically restricting or medically dangerous for you to fast from food for a day, consider a modified fast—abstain from TV, computer, or something that takes a significant portion of your time and attention during the day. During the fast, one should take the time normally devoted to preparation and participation in meals (or TV, etc.) to pray for spiritual renewal and the advancement of the gospel through Mars Hill Church.

Please join the elders and thousands of others at Mars Hill on April 22 to pray, worship, fast, and implore the Holy Spirit to shape our hearts for the passion of his mission. As you prepare, we encourage you to pray for:

• Thankfulness. We’ve been given much and have much for which to praise Jesus (Psalm 148; John 1:16).
• Personal repentance of sin (John 1:5–10).
• Unity and shared partnership in the mission Jesus has given our church (Matt. 28:16–20; 1 Tim. 4:11–16).
• The continued health and spiritual safety of elders, deacons, staff, and other leaders (1 Timothy 4-5; Titus 1; 1 Peter 5).
• The effective partnership of the preaching and the discipleship ministries, which are both working for the same goal: loving Jesus and the people He puts in our lives.
• Safety from the enemy, his servants, and their works and effects (Eph. 6:10–20; 1 Peter 5:6–11).
• More hearts connecting to the mission through active participation in community, giving, and serving (Matt. 6:19–34; Hebrews 3:12–14; 1 Peter 4:7–11).
• The financial health and stability of our church through thousands of regular, sacrificial, and cheerful givers (2 Cor. 8-9).
• Three thousand healthy, fruitful members of Mars Hill Church.

Following April 22, as you are led by the Holy Spirit, we ask you to begin the member process (or renew your membership), get involved in a community group, serve, and give to Jesus through Mars Hill. May God grow a strong, healthy, fruitful, rejuvenated core of godly members of his household.