I posted this in my devotional thoughts thread and it was pointed out to me that it perfectly coincided with a major proponent of the exact thing the Holy Spirit led me to write against in this short article, and a social media post this person made. The person promoting "social fasting" used the same scripture and posted at almost the exact same time as I wrote this, and somehow is unable to see the blatant hypocrisy of it as they themselves encourage to not only promote the fact you're fasting, but encourage others to do so as well. Jesus was pretty stern about not only keeping His commandments, but also teaching others to disobey them.
I assure you, those of you that may know of the minister I'm talking about, I had no idea this was posted until it was pointed out to me, but I take this as a confirmation that God would speak this to His children. I will post what the Lord led me to write as well as my response to a brothers great comment on my other thread.
"that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you"
We have seen an upsurge of fasting in the professing church, which many would proclaim as a great victory and something to be applauded and praised. Interestingly this is exactly the point.
The point is we have seen it. The point is that while fasting is good, like always, the good is the enemy of the perfect. Jesus taught fasting and of course His teachings should be obeyed, but partial obedience is disobedience. While many are fasting, God is still silent, because the announcement of the fasting reaps it's reward from men, and not from the Father.
Jesus taught fasting, but He also taught doing it in secret. The disregard of one side of the commandment is to disregard both sides. While the church a is openly fasting they are also, in the fast, reaping it's rewards. They are gaining the applause of men and the rewards of looking spiritual to everyone around them, and this is their reward.
The proof of this lies in the corruption of our nation. With the hundred of thousands of people fasting for revival, where then is the revival?
Fasting is an act of humility before God to place us in a weakened physical state so the power of resurrection can show forth. We sow in weakness and reap in the glorification of God. But when the second clause of the teaching on fasting is not also obeyed, we sow in weakness and reap in corruption and the praise of men.
When you fast, do it in secret so men have absolutely no idea you are fasting, and God will reward you. Openly fasting before men is something religious and pious, but secretly fasting before God is something spiritual and faithful. When no one knows a thing but God Himself, He alone receives glory from it when the promise is fulfilled.
Be vigilant saints, many false teachers have gone out into the world preaching another Jesus, one that seeks the approval of men. We are fortunate to still have our Bibles, because there is a day approaching when we won't.
Response:
Keep in mind that the early church lived in close and intimate fellowship together. They had all things in common, many lived together or hosted each other. So if one was fasting, eventually it would be evident to someone at some point once they don't see them eat for a few days.
I believe that what we see to be corporate fasting is in fact the Holy Spirit leading His body in that place to all individually fast, and also one being led to fast along side when it is noticed others are fasting. The church and it's actions in the book of acts must always be filtered through the teachings of Jesus, so we must take it for granted they completely obeyed His teachings in these matters, and if they didn't, the clear teachings of Jesus are to be given more authority and the actions of the believer to be taken as incorrect and therefore written for that purpose.
Luke would have likely taken for granted the fasting in these instances, but even so, he was inspired to write as he did.
I think you're right on track brother, as your questions all kind of answer themselves when you get to the brass tacks of it. Praise God for unity in the Spirit.
Notice what we never see is a call to fast (something very different from the old testament fast, which sadly is the justification for the modern pharisaism), or believers standing in the middle of town (the modern equivalent would be using social media/internet) announcing their fasts and telling others to do it too.
And regarding what I said about revival, I am sure God is moving somewhere, He always is. The revival I mean is the one these types who fast in this way are looking for, and specifically in the United States, which is really just a soulish, religious version of mass hysteria when its really examined.
The US has no indication of true, wide spread revival anywhere. Possibly a mercy drop here and there, but nothing like what the true church of Jesus is seeking. I don't even like the term revival anymore, it seems anyone gets the term "revivalist" these days, as long as they say the right things and have a big enough church. I think what America needs is salvation, because you can't revive something that was never alive, and we are so far removed from the last move of God I don't see any life left in this country, and even what is being called life is just more selfish and soulish religion, just the charismatic version