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ASL Interpreted Service

Biblical Fasting

WHAT BIBLICAL FASTING IS NOT: • It is not a diet plan. • It is not a manipulative method to get God to do something. • It is not a religious ritual.

WHAT IS FASTING? Fasting is a spiritual discipline in which God’s people abstain primarily from food/water, but it can also include abstinence from other pleasurable or meaningful activities. It is for a specified purpose and time in which the person fasting desires to draw closer to God while seeking His direction and provision for a particular situation.

IS FASTING FOR CHRISTIANS? Nowhere in the New Testament are believers commanded to fast. However, Jesus does assume that His followers will fast because He says, “When you fast” (Matt. 6:16-18). Also, we have examples of New Testament believers who fasted in the early church (Acts 13:1-3). WHAT IS THE KEY TO FASTING? The key to fasting is to be led by the Spirit (Matt. 4:1-2). Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to fast.

WHAT CAN BE ABSTAINED FROM DURING A FAST? • Abstinence from food (Matt. 4:1-2). • Abstinence from food and water (Ex. 34:28; Esther 4:16). • Abstinence from sex (1 Cor. 7:5). • Abstinence from pleasurable things (Dan. 10:3). Daniel fasted from “pleasant bread,” this phrase comes from the Hebrew expression lehem hameroth, which referred to banquet type foods. In recent times this fasting has grown to include pleasurable things such as favorite foods, television, radio, sports activities, exercise or any activities that consume considerable amounts of time.

WHAT TIME OF THE DAY DID MOST FASTS FOUND IN THE BIBLE BEGIN? • Jewish people in the Old Testament were commanded to fast from even to even on the Day of Atonement (Lev.23:32). Many take this to mean from sunset to sunset. • Believers should follow the example of Christ and be led by the Lord in this area (Matt. 4:1-2).

HOW LONG SHOULD A PERSON FAST? • The Jewish people had many one day fasts (Jud. 20:26; 1 Sam. 12:24; 2 Sam. 1:12; 3:35). • Esther called for a three day fast (Esther 4:16). • The men of Jabesh Gilead fasted for seven days (1 Sam. 31:13). • Moses (Deut. 9:9, 18), Elijah (1 Kings 19:8), and Jesus (Matt. 4:1-2) all fasted for forty days. • Daniel fasted until he received an answer from the Lord (Dan. 10:2-3, 13).

WHAT SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES SHOULD ACCOMPANY FASTING?

Fasting should involve a time of separation from the world (Joel 1:14; Neh. 9:1-3). Both of the preceding passages of Scripture use the word “sanctify.” The term “sanctify” means to separate from something and be set apart unto God. During the time of fasting, believers should exercise separation from worldly things and spend time in the presence of the Lord.

here should be a time of repentance during a fast. Those who fasted in Biblical times wore sackcloth and/or ashes as a sign of mourning and repentance (Neh. 9:1; Isa. 58:5; Dan. 9:3).

Fasting should involve afflicting the soul (Ezra 8:21). When Ezra proclaimed a fast he and the people afflicted themselves. This meant that they made themselves uncomfortable to demonstrate an earnestness of spirit in seeking God’s guidance.

Fasting should involve giving to the poor (Isa. 58:6-7). “Surely there are few things more reasonable and becoming than that, while we are engaged in mourning over our sins, and confessing our unworthiness of the least of all our comforts, we should practically show mercy to others, as our Heavenly Father has done to us. This is the time to devise plans of mercy and benevolence…to feed the hungry, and clothe the naked…” Samuel Miller, Fasting (Presbyterian Heritage Publications: Dallas) Second Edition 1994, p.23.

Fasting should include a time of prayer (Dan. 9:3). When Daniel fasted, he set his face to God in prayer. This is a Hebrew idiom, meaning he put himself in the presence of God for prayer.

Fasting should include spending time in the Word and worshipping the Lord (Neh. 9:1- 3). On one occasion, as the Israelites fasted, they stood on their feet and read the Word for three hours. In addition to that, they confessed their sins and worshipped the Lord for another three hours.

WHY SHOULD A PERSON FAST?

• To show sincerity to God in desiring to have Him answer a prayer (Ezra 8:21). When Ezra was about to lead a group of people from Persia to Jerusalem, he fasted and asked the Lord to give them a prosperous journey.

• To seek God’s wisdom and protection when going through a crisis (Esther 4:16). Esther asked the Jewish people to fast as she went to talk to the king about the fate of the Jews in Persia.

• To consecrate oneself in service to the Lord (Matt. 4:1-2). Jesus fasted before He entered into public ministry.

• To gain power for ministry (Matt. 17:14-21). Jesus instructed the disciples to fast and pray to cast out demons.

• To break the yokes of bondage in the life of a person (Isa. 58:6). Fasting is a powerful weapon in Spiritual Warfare because it breaks the yokes of the enemy.

• To discern God’s Will about a particular situation (Dan. 9:1-27, esp. vs. 3). Daniel fasted, to understand what God meant in Jeremiah 25:11 about the seventy years of captivity.

• To repent (Jon. 3:1-10, esp. vs. 7). Jonah instructed the people of Nineveh to fast to show their repentance.

• To intercede for another person (2 Sam. 12:15-16). When David’s child was struck with illness, he fasted on behalf of his child.

• To show humility before God (Ps. 35:13). The psalmist fasted to show humility.

WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF FASTING?

Corporate Results ✓ It unifies the Church around a specific purpose. ✓ It brings the Church together in a spirit of prayer. ✓ It yields results in the Body of Christ. 

Personal Results ✓ Cleansing of the soul. ✓ Victory over the flesh. ✓ Righteousness living. ✓ God meeting the need. ✓ Heightened sensitivity to the voice of God. ✓ Sharper insight into spiritual matters. ✓ Discipline. ✓ Power in Spiritual Warfare.

WHAT KINDS OF FASTS ARE THERE? • Private (Matt. 6:18). • Public (Jud. 20:26). • Congregational (Acts 13:1-3). • National (Esther 4:16; Jon. 3:5-8).

WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF FASTING?

Wrong motives. The prophet Isaiah addressed the people of his day who were fasting for the wrong reasons (Isa. 58:4). Some for “strife” (Heb. rib) “a contest” and others for the sake of “debate” (Heb. matstsaw) “quarrel, contention or argument.”

Hypocrisy. Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites when they fasted because they changed their outward appearance to show others they were fasting (Matt. 6:16).

Pride. The Pharisee, thinking he was better than others, boasted about fasting twice a week (Lk. 18:10-12).

by Dr. William R. Glaze

Copyright 2015