Biblical Fasting

Isaiah 58:1-14

By: Pastor Ash

September, 2008

Fasting-Definition

To cover the mouth, to eat no food or drink water.

Denying self Afflicting one’s soul

Facts about fasting

It is denying not only my own body, but also my wants.

Biblical fasting always occurs together w/ prayer

Praying without fasting, but you can’t fast without praying, they go together.

Biblical fasting is deliberately abstaining from food for a spiritual reason: communication and relationship with the Lord.

Facts about fasting con’t.

Few rules to fasting What you do is really between you and the

Lord (Prov.3:6). In all thy ways acknowledge Him….

One fast commanded in the Bible, “Day of Atonement” (Levi. 16: 29)

Sunset of one day to sunset the next (Lev.23:32).

Facts about Fasting con’t.

Abstained from food and liquids for one day. Restriction from certain things (Dan. 1:5-21;

10:3) limited fast. Fasts that were extended, direct guidance

from God or a supernatural ability given by God to complete the fast.

Facts about Fasting con’tLength of Fast Esther 4:15-16 Ezra 10:6-9 Acts 9:9 2 Sam. 12:15-20 Ex. 34:28; Duet. 9:9-18 1 Kings 19:8 Matt. 4 : 1-11

Length of Fast con’t.

Length of time you fast is determined by your own desires and the occasion of the fast.

The Lord gave great freedoms when it comes to fasting.

Fasting often occurs as something you do while carrying on everyday activities.

Occasions for Fasting

Mourning someone’s death - 1 Sam. 31:13 Mourning sin, in repentance and confession -

Duet. 9: 18,25 Impending danger; for protection - Ezra

8:21,23,31 Direction - Fasting helps us find God’s will Sickness - Ps. 35:13 Leaders - Acts 13; Acts 14:23

Why Fast?

Joel 2:12; Jer. 29: 13,14 When we are willing to set aside our appetites

of the body to concentrate on the work of praying, they are demonstrating that they mean business, that they are seeking the Lord with all their heart.

The Bible always connect fasting with a troubled spirit or a very anxious heart before the Lord.

Why Fast con’t.

A reason to fast is not something you choose on the spur of the moment.

Fasting (NT) Matt.6:16, He didn’t say, “if you fast,” “but when you fast,” Jesus assumed that Christians will fast.

Matt. 9:14-15, Because He is not on earth there will be spiritual struggles and tribulations, and a need to fast.

Why Fast con’t.

Avoid making fasting a legalized act. Example: A particular day set aside for

fasting. There is no other scriptures in the Bible which

command fasting at a specific time or on a specific occasion.

Fasting is usually for a one day time frame. Sunset to sunset, remember you are not a Jew.

Hypocritical Exercise:

Important part of Jewish life. Luke 18:9-14 (Example: Pharisees) Fasted twice a week 2nd and 5th day Market day, chose their fast on the busiest

day. Walked through the streets with their hair not

combed

Hypocritical Exercise con’t.

Put on old clothes and covered themselves with dirt

Dumped ashes over their heads as a sign of their humility.

LOOK-AT-HOW-SPIRITUAL-I-AM Matt.6:16-18 Biblical fasting is not hypocritical,

manipulative, or a phyiscal discipline.

We fast to seek the Lord!!!

Fasting is a serious expression of our worship of God.

Fasting is to draw us nearer to God and our hearts would be acceptable to the Lord and His word.

God word teaches us that fasting should be a regular part of a Christians life.

Manipulative Tools:

Some use fasting to try to twist the Lord arm or to win His approval, God doesn’t response to pressure.

Acts 23:12,14: God did not hear their prayers and their plan did not work.

Jer. 14:12 Fasting did not move God one iota. * We must never think of fasting as a hunger

strike, designed to force the Lord hands.

Seek the Lord con’t.

In the 21st Century church, the idea of fasting is almost lost.

God never tells Christians to fast as a phyiscal discipline, dieting for phyiscal benefits, beauty, class reunions or weddings.

Dieting is not found in the bible, but temperance is, “self control.”

Fasting is not Salvation Lk 18:9-14

Jesus teaches that salvation can not be attained through religious works and good deeds.

Self righteous Pharisee left the temple in an unsaved condition before God.

Neither fasting nor tithing nor any other religious duty can justify a man before the Lord.

Fasting is not to be a religious ritual Luke 18:12

Pharisee who was practicing religion in an attempt to justify himself before God.

The Bible doesn’t require such a practice Fasting is not to be simply a ritual observed

once a week, a month, or prior to the Lord’s Supper.

Fasting rather, is something that is practiced when a special need arises and when the H/S leads.

Fasting Without Right RelationshipIsaiah 58:3-9, Zech 7: 5-6 God rebukes the hypocritical fasts of the

apostate children of Israel. They were going through the motions of true

religion, but their hearts were far from God and they were living in direct disobedience to His Law. No religious duty is acceptable before God which does not proceed from a regenerate life and which is not guided by the Bible and the H/S.

Does Fasting Guarantee An Answer?II Samuel 12 This reminds us that fasting while an

important practice in spiritual warfare, is not a guarantee that we will get what we are desiring from God.

1John 5:13-15

Fasting is a personal matter

Fasting is important in a Christian life and service, not something by which we judge the spiritual condition of others.

Awesome Promise About FastingMatthew 6:17-18 When one fasts in the proper manner for the

proper reason, “the Father which seeth in secret SHALL reward thee openly.”

Wonderful Promises, don’t take lightly This promise would not have been given if

fasting wasn’t considered important. Christ never discouraged scriptural fasting.

Fasting, Prayer & Marriage I Cor. 7:1-5 God warns that husbands and wives must be

careful to meet one another’s phyiscal needs Only one thing to be allowed to break sexual

relationship between couples. Bible does not command that Christian fast,

but it takes if for granted that they will set out to regulate the practice

Some guidelines for fasting

Abstinence from food and normal phyiscal pleasures

Scriptural fasting is a private and special matter between an individual and God

H/S might lead us to observe a fast one way at a particular time and an entirely different way another time.

Prayer is a must when fasting

Guidelines con’t.

Increase attention to prayer and communion with the Lord.

Examples of Scriptures are as important as direct commands: 1Cor.10:11; Rom.15:4; Phil.3:17; 4:9.

Holy Spirit chose to put in the Word many positive examples of fasting, these examples reveal the importance of fasting.

Fasted life Matt.17:18-21

Mountain moving is always according to God’s will.

Lk.9:23-24 Disciples problem was always lack of faith

and failure to seek the Lord’s direction. His word would be sufficient to produce

Healing. When these elements are combined. Fasting isn’t a one day thing. IT’S A

LIFESTYLE!!!

Fasted Life con’t.

When you fast, you are not changing God. It helps in keeping your flesh crucified. Helps you to be more sensitive to the

presence and voice of the H/S. If the H/S has spoken to you, or put an

impression in your heart, urging you to fast, then DO IT.

Obey His leading, and you will see deliverance.

Fasting (Corporate &Individual)

Corporate (group) fasting- 1Sam. 7:5-6; Ezra 8:21-23; Neh. 9:1-3; Joel 2:15-16; Jonah 3:5-10

Individual – 2Sam. 12:15-16,22-23; Luke 2:36-37

Misconception about Fasting

Biblical fasting is that Christians believe that fasting is to defeat the devil.

You are not a fanatic. 1 Tim. 4:1-3; Col.2:20-22 Spiritual error is seldom due to innocent

mistakes. Often due to the conscious strategies of the

Lord’s enemies.(Eph.6:12)

Misconception con’t.

The teachings of demons are false doctrines taught by people whose views are instigated by demons.

Parroting - to repeat or imitate, especially w/o understanding.

1 John 4:1 (try the spirits)