What Do You Hunger For?

Hey all. Our brother Charlie is here blessing us with this post on what the Lord has been showing him lately about fasting. These ideas are right at the heart of Prepare Ministries. Enjoy this highly recommended post!

Fasting for the Bridegroom

“And Jesus said to them, ‘Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast’” (Matthew 9:15).

“Then food was set before him to eat. But he said, ‘I will not eat until I have said what I have to say’” (Genesis 24:33).

We are in a period of anticipation and longing for the bridegroom Jesus to return for his bride the church. As I prepared a message on fasting a few weeks ago the Holy Spirit brought to my attention these passages from Matthew and Genesis 24 that as a pair speak about the importance of fasting. Genesis 24 is very significant to the vision of Prepare Ministries and it holds layer upon layer of symbolic meaning. However, I intend to limit this blog to the issue of fasting.

First a few words about Matthew 9:15. Jesus is responding to a question brought to him by the disciples of John the Baptist. They ask him why his disciples do not fast as themselves and the Pharisees. In typical fashion Jesus gives an indirect answer that veils a deeper truth, which can be known by those who have eyes to see. As we view his answer in light of the entire Bible we see that he is speaking prophetically about his ascension to heaven and then his return for the greatest wedding feast of all time.

Now let’s take a look at Genesis 24. This is an account of actual events in the story of God’s chosen people, but like so many other passages it has symbolic meaning as well which speaks to us in the present. Abraham has sent his servant to find a bride for his son Isaac. Through his sovereignty, God has made known to the servant the woman who will be a bride for Isaac (vv. 1-32). At this point it seems like a done deal. God has spoken, Rebekah has accepted the proposal, and arrangements are being made with the father and family. It will happen.

Verse 33, “Then food was set before him to eat. But he said, ‘I will not eat until I have said what I have to say.’” Even as the finishing touches were being put in place the servant did not lose focus on the task at hand. He was given an important responsibility and he was determined to see it through without compromise. Because of his devotion to his master he abstained from food until every detail was taken care of and his task of finding a bride for his master’s son was complete.

Coinciding with Jesus’ words about fasting when the Bridegroom is not with us, I believe this is a mandate to fast until Jesus does come to be reunited with us, his bride. Fasting must be a regular part of our lives as we wait in longing expectation of our Bridegroom Jesus. So I challenge you to begin, or continue, to implement fasting into your life as an act of worship and to hasten the coming of Jesus.

Later in Genesis 24 we read, “he and the men who were with him ate and drank…(v.54)”, and this is an encouragement that there is a time of feasting that will come. Now we fast, but there is a day coming when we will rejoice with feasting. Revelation 19:6-8 gives us a picture of that day.

“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for he marriage of he Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure’ – for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”