"When you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full." - Matthew 6:16
This is an assumed statement Jesus makes to His followers, i.e. He does not say, "If you fast," but rather, He says, "When you fast," and yet many Christians turn a deaf ear or turn away when the subject of fasting is mentioned... even when our Lord mentions it!
I like what the following quote by Thomas a Kempis says:
"Jesus has many lovers of His kingdom of heaven, but he has few bearers of His Cross. Many desire His consolation, but few desire His tribulation. He finds many comrades in eating and drinking, but few hands who will be with Him in His abstinence and fasting... But those who love Jesus purely for Himself, and not for their own profit or convenience, bless Him as heartily in temptation and tribulation and in all other adversities as they do in time of consolation. And if He never sent them consolation, they would still bless and praise Him." - Thomas a Kempis
- WHAT IS BIBLICAL FASTING?
The Bible gives reference to the subject of fasting many times. Included below are 18 examples re: Biblical fasting.
(1) WHY FAST?
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Fasting for insight and decision making |
Biblical Fasting (non Chronological order):
1. The Disciple's Fast - Fasting for freedom from demon oppression. Matthew 17:20,21.
2. The Apostle Paul Fast - Fasting for insight and decision making, Acts 9:9-19. If we fast to subject our will to God's, He will reveal His will in us.
3. The Ezra Fast - Fasting to solve problems, Ezra 8:21-23. If we fast for a specific purpose, we may solve a debilitating problem, e.g. to seek deliverance and protection from our enemies and travelling mercies.
4. The Samuel Fast - Fasting to win people to Christ, 1 Samuel 7:1-8. If we fast and pray for revival, God will pour Himself on His people.
5. The Elijah Fast - Fasting to break crippling fears and other mental problems, 1 Kings 19:2-18. Through fasting, God will show us how to overcome negative emotional and personal habits.
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Fasting for spiritual breakthrough |
6. The Widow's Fast - Fasting to provide for the needy, 1 Kings 17:12. When we sacrifice our own physical needs, God enables us to focus on and provide for the needs of others.
7. The Daniel Fast - Fasting for health and physical healing, Daniel 1:12-20. When we fast for physical well-being, God will touch our bodies and enrich our souls.
8. The John the Baptist Fast - Fasting for an influential testimony on those around us in order to bring glory to God. Matthew 3:4 and Luke 1:15.
9. The Esther Fast - Fasting for protection from the evil one, Esther 4:16. If we fast for protection and deliverance from Satan, God will deliver us from evil.
10. The Judges Fast - Fast to gain clarity regarding God's timing and promises concerning the way He is leading. Judges Chapter 20:26-28 (best to read whole chapter however to gain picture).
11. The Ninevite Fast - Fast to express repentance from wickedness and to seek God's mercy and salvation. Jonah 3:5-8
12. The Isaiah Fast - Fast to loose the chains of injustice and to minister to the deepest needs of the poor in society. Isaiah 58:6-7 **
13. The Prophetess Anna Fast - A fast of complete dedication of love, worship and seeking God's glory. Fasting for the expectation of Biblical prophecy being fulfilled. Luke 2:37
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Jesus fasting in the wilderness prior to beginning His ministry |
14. Our Lord's Fast - To prepare for ministry / missions. Matthew 4:1-9
15. The Psalmist’s Fast - To concentrate on prayer on behalf of another /or others who are sick. Psalm 35:13
16. The Ahab Fast – The reaction of sorrow for the sinful acts of another / or others. 1 Kings 21:27
17. The Nehemiah Fast – The reaction of sorrow towards the oppression of God’s people. Nehemiah 1:4
18. The Joel fast - National repentance and turning to God for mercy - Joel 2:12-15
** Please note: No's 1-12 above are recorded notes taken from a televised sermon by Jentezen Franklin. They may have been altered slightly to simplify the text.
(2) WHO CAN FAST?
Most cases of fasting in the bible were done individually, but some fasts were carried out by society as a whole, e.g.
Matthew 4, i.e. Jesus in the Wilderness – individuals
Nehemiah 1:4, i.e. Nehemiah – individuals
Psalm 35:13, i.e. David – individuals
Luke 5: 33-38; Matthew 6:16-18 - individuals
Judges 20:26 – society
Esther 4:16 – society
Jeremiah 36:9 – society
(3) WHAT LENGTH OF TIME IS INVOLVED IN FASTING?
Judges 20:26 - one day
Esther 4:16 - three days
Isaiah 31:13 - seven days
Matthew 4:2 - forty days
Matthew 9:14-15 - regular
(4) WHAT BIBLICAL FASTING IS NOT
(a) It is important to mention that during the many examples of fasting recorded in the Bible, prayer is very evident throughout. Prayer keeps us focussed on God during fasting.
Mere abstinence from food/and or drink without prayer is more likely to come under the category of 'detox' rather than Biblical fasting and is not, as some New Age followers state, "a spiritual experience" - at least not in the Biblical sense of the meaning!
Mere abstinence from food/and or drink without prayer is more likely to come under the category of 'detox' rather than Biblical fasting and is not, as some New Age followers state, "a spiritual experience" - at least not in the Biblical sense of the meaning!
(b) Fasting is not something which is carried out just for the sake of it. In each and every example recorded in the Word of God, there has always been good reason behind it, i.e. in each instance, the individual / or nation demonstrate a sincere and determined effort to focus upon God by means of going without food, water (in some fasts), and perhaps even sleep in order to demonstrate their seriousness in seeking God for whatever Biblical taught purpose they are led to fast concerning. True Biblical fasting therefore evidences a humbleness in spirit (which is an awareness of dependency upon God).
(c) Fasting is not something we perform for personal gain, i.e. to try and get God to change His mind about something. God does not change His mind regarding His will when we fast, e.g. the Psalmist David prayed for his dying son in the hope that God would spare his life. God did not spare David's son and the boy died; however, God did bring about a change in David's heart which enabled David to accept God's perfect will concerning the young child's death. When we fast therefore, we should do so to seek God's perfect will and to enable us to accept God's will.
(5) WHAT DOES GOD REGARD AS 'ACCEPTABLE' FASTING?
The Bible also mentions what is acceptable fasting, and what is not acceptable. What is undesirable is that one does not fast for the intention to promote strife, debate or to smite with the fist of wickedness Isaiah 58:4; furthermore, Matthew 6:16 teaches us that when one fasts, they should not be of a sad appearance so as to make themselves appear righteous before others (such is prideful and has no Biblical recorded purpose). Rather, fasting is to be carried out secretly between an individual and God (unless a national fast is called for).
An example of a Biblical fast explained in detail, e.g. according to Isaiah 58:6-7 was intended to:
- loose the bands of wickedness
- undo the heavy burdens
- let the oppressed free
- break every yoke
- feed the hungry
- help the homeless
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Fasting to loose the chains of injustice |
When God’s guidelines were adhered to, according to Isaiah 58: 8-9, the resulting followed:
- health shall spring forth speedily
- righteousness shall go before you
- the glory of the Lord shall be your reward
- when you call the LORD then He will answer; when you cry He will say, "Here I am." (in other words, God's voice was heard clearly).
Finally, below is a testimony re: a whole nation seeking God via prayer and fasting, which I hope will really encourage you particularly in these days when Covid-19 is so severely affecting our nation and the world beyond.
After World War II, Stalin devised a plan to continue Hitler’s plan of exterminating the Jews. According to well-known sources, the church in the west became aware of it and began to meet and pray and fast for deliverance. Within a short period of time Stalin had a massive brain haemorrhage and despite the help of the best physicians and surgeons available to him, he could not be saved. Satan’s plan was thwarted by God’s people praying and fasting and the Hand of God intervening in response." -- Quote by Bennie Mostert & Peet Grobbelaar 'The Power of Fasting and Prayer.
IMPORTANT: Due to health reasons, some people may need to seek medical advice before embarking on a fast. Fasting may not be suitable for everyone. Always check with your doctor first if you fall into this category.
Comments
I really enjoyed reading this post. :)
God has called me into a life of fasting and praying. He laid on me the prophetess Anna. I am not at the point where I fast day and night, but I am on the path to this. He also gave me Ezra 8:23 which is the name of my blog, CPR Ezra 8:23, and has commissioned me to deny self and seek His will, interceding for the sick in body, mind and soul.
This path of fasting is hard but what God has done in my heart is amazing! Like you said, fasting is not to change His mind but to have Him change us. For us to seek His face and deny self and follow Him. To be joyful in persecution and to show His love to those He has put in our path.
God is amazing and the more I obey Him the more I stand in awe of Him and think wow, we serve an awesome God.
Blessings,
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I understand many cannot fast food for health reasons, but we can all fast time spent in front of the TV, time spent on hobbies, etc in order to crucify our flesh in order to seriously seek the Lord.
I should perhaps add this to the study too :D
Always good to have you stop by Pamela - and thanks for this reminder.
I fast during times when I especially desire to see God work in a situation. For me, it's not about earning his favor by my self-sacrifice, but about focusing my energy, time, and attention to concentrated prayer. It's wanting God's will done in a situation more than anything, including eating - the most basic of self-preservation. God has honored those fasts and used my times of concentrated prayer to bring about genuine spiritual break throughs in some really difficult situations. Thanks for raising the topic! Lori, from Be Not Weary
"I fast during times when I especially desire to see God work in a situation. For me, it's not about earning his favor by my self-sacrifice, but about focusing my energy, time, and attention to concentrated prayer. It's wanting God's will done in a situation more than anything, including eating - the most basic of self-preservation."
Amen. In a nutshell, this is precisely what fasting is all about.
Thank you for sharing at Tell Me a True Story.
I was fasting for one day a week but haven't lately. I didn't want to make it so much of a routine that it lost meaning.
Thanks for linking up with WholeHearted Home this week. Your posts are always such a blessing!!
Since I have been either pregnant or nursing for so many years, I often fast from the computer (which might be harder than food sometimes!).
This past year, I did a 3-day Esther fast because I needed to talk to my unbelieving husband about something very important, and I knew he wouldn't hear me without intense prayer and fasting. It was amazing how the Lord honored that time fasting with so much encouragement for my soul, and softening my husband's heart.
Hello from the USA!
It's a real blessing to know that these notes are being shared by others.
This was one of my favourite studies. It took some time but was so well worth it.
I hope it will be a blessing to your study group also :D
I'm a Mormon, and throughout the church we set aside the first Sunday of the month as "Fast Sunday". Everyone is encouraged to fast for whatever reason they feel compelled to, and to donate the money you would have used on food during that time to those in need (called "fast offering"). Then, during our services we have a "fast and testimony meeting" where members of the congregation stand and share their testimonies of Christ. It is a wonderful meeting! :)
Fasting is a wonderful subject to study... and obey when we are called to fast by God for a specific reason.
Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to comment today. Much appreciated. Hope you will visit again.
Have a beautiful day :D