Fasting

[Lewis]

Who here goes on a fast, or thinks that a fast is important ? Many Christians today think that a fast is not important, but didn't Jesus fast ? So why don't you fast ? You don't have to let everybody know that you are fasting to show off, like you are more holy than others, but do any of you fast at all ? I will admit, that I have not been fasting lately and that is not right, and I will correct that, I would fast anywhere from 12 hours to 24 most of the time, and for 2 days sometimes, and I did 3 days once or twice.
And I rarely let anybody know that I was fasting except my wife, or if I was offered food, I would tell them why I was refusing their food as not to offend. Also sometimes my church will ask us to fast as a whole.

 

[handy]

Our church serves communion every Sunday. I fast from the time I eat supper on Saturday night, usually around 7:00-7:30 until after communion on Sunday morning. Communion is my break-fast and then when we get home I eat a lunch at about 12:30, so I guess the fast lasts around 16-17 hours all total.

I find it helps me spiritually and be more ready and focused for prayer and worship. I also find communion more meaningful this way. Nobody except my immediate family (well now and you guys ) knows I do it and the family is usually so busy getting themselves ready for church that I really don't think they realize I'm fasting most of the time.

 

[Caroline H]

I have never fasted before, even when I know I've been prompted by the Holy Spirit to do so. The problem is, in my opinion, that it has been a neglected and forgotten teaching in our modern congregations, which is blatant disobedience. None of the congregations I have ever been a part of, which over my lifetime has been about 10 or so (Free Methodist in the UK, and Southern Baptist in the USA) have ever mentioned the word fast unless it was part of the Scripture passage they were reading. I have never been clear on how I would ever go about fasting, as I have never had an example to go by, and this has led to my apprehension to do it. It also would be viewed as weird or strange by may, which is just because of lack of practice. I would like to be obedient the next time the Holy Spirit prompts me to fast, and I pray for discernment in that area.

 

[handy]

Caroline, I think that a lot of the reasons why people can be apprehensive about fasting is because we tend to think that it has to last like 40 days or something. But, even fasting for a short time, as Lewis mentioned 12 hours, or up to 16-17 hours, can be a truly spiritual experience. If fasting is something that you feel led to do, I encourage you to try what I do, fasting from after supper on Saturday night to after church on Sunday. It's a much shorter time-frame, but I still find that it does require a certain amount of discipline, especially if Steve and the kids are having something like pancakes or sausage for breakfast! And, I truly do find the worship service, especially communion, really packs a wallop when I participate in it whilst fasting, because by the time the service starts, my senses are getting sharper due to the fast.

The longest fast I've ever partaken in was 24 hours. I'm not sure that I'll ever fast any longer than that or not, it's not something I'd do unless I was really certain that the Holy Spirit was prompting me to do it. But, yes, there are a lot of spiritual benefits in shorter fasts.

 

[Lewis]

I have never fasted before, even when I know I've been prompted by the Holy Spirit to do so. The problem is, in my opinion, that it has been a neglected and forgotten teaching in our modern congregations, which is blatant disobedience. None of the congregations I have ever been a part of, which over my lifetime has been about 10 or so (Free Methodist in the UK, and Southern Baptist in the USA) have ever mentioned the word fast unless it was part of the Scripture passage they were reading. I have never been clear on how I would ever go about fasting, as I have never had an example to go by, and this has led to my apprehension to do it. It also would be viewed as weird or strange by may, which is just because of lack of practice. I would like to be obedient the next time the Holy Spirit prompts me to fast, and I pray for discernment in that area.

Go here
http://searchwarp.com/swa53807.htm

 

[Caroline H]

Caroline, I think that a lot of the reasons why people can be apprehensive about fasting is because we tend to think that it has to last like 40 days or something.

I'm sure that some people think that, although my concept of fasting was never that long because most of the fasts in the Bible are only a few days long, if even that. I've always thought that people thought it just didn't apply to them because they thought it was a cultural thing that Israel did back in their day. It's kind of like the head-covering of women or observance of Passover... something Just for the Jews to do and not for us. (I'm not saying Gentiles are commanded to do those things, but that like fasting, they can be of spiritual benefit when observed for the right reasons). I have had conversations with Timothy about how I think that we, as Western Christians, have gotten soooo far away from our Jewish roots in the faith that we don't even know what it looks like anymore, and it's just weird to many now. My view is that if God gave us certain examples of how to worship and commune with Him, why do we think that it is only for the Jews and not for us too? This can turn into a whole other topic about the Passover, which I may bring up later.

But back to fasting, I just think that it is one of those things that got lost in the shuffle of Gentile theology. Some congregations have held onto the practice, but many others have forgotten what it even is for. There has been a trend among American youth groups in recent years (which I'm sure you've heard about) to do group fasts for different reasons. Although I can see the benefits of that, I do think there is a danger also of taking something deeply spiritual and making it more of a "team building" exercise. If you want your youth to know what fasting is and when to do it, GREAT! But why not set the example with the adults instead of making it something that only youth do? I don't know, maybe I'm just a little too judgmental of what I see as "gimmicks"... but that's a whole other topic as well. I should stop typing before I drag this thread into 5 directions :crazy :D

 

[jasoncran]

i have fasted for three days, but that was yrs ago. i fasted for deliverance from porn. and i was set free yrs later. i have fasted lunch or meals and prayed for someone lost. kp yohanlon talks about fasting for the lost and praying along with helping the poor and dying in the 10-40 region.

 

[Cheyenne K]

I had fasted for three days last September. I really should do so again, but during the school year it was just terribly hard with all the stress and such. Now that summer is here, I plan on doing so again.

 

[jasoncran]

generally isiah 58.

 

[Cheyenne K]

Why do christians fast in the manner that they do?

As I was growing up I never heard anyone emphasise the importance of fasting to christians, so my first fasting experience was under the fasting rulles of Islam.

Is there some kind scriptural reference to fasting 24 hours or fastinfg from one particular thing, or only drinking water?

Fasting in Islam can only be done one way - NOTHING goes in your mouth(even fingernails) - betweenm sun up and sun down.

So where do you guys get the methods in which you fast?

When I fast, the only thing that goes in my mouth are liquids like water and sometimes milk, and certain juices. I'm vegetarian and so I'm normally a bit defficient in certain things, so the time I went on my three-day fast, I needed some sort of nutrition in between. And the fact when I don't have water I tend to get sick within a matter of hours. I don't eat any food though for the time.

 

[Pard]

I have always wanted to fast, but when I am about to do so I find that I am fasting for the wrong reasons. We should only ever fast to grow spiritually, no other reason. It is not meant to strengthen prayer, only to grow closer to God.

I'll add the scripture ref. later on that.

Is there some kind scriptural reference to fasting 24 hours or fastinfg from one particular thing, or only drinking water?

You can fast for any length of time. Typically there is the 24 hour fast, the 3 day (Friday afternoon-monday morning), 5 day (monday-friday). Week, month, and the 40 day fast.

Of course these times are not anything more than normal times people fast.

Fasting in Islam can only be done one way - NOTHING goes in your mouth(even fingernails) - betweenm sun up and sun down.

Any fasting longer than 3 days requires water, as 3 days without water is the longest you can go before you risk death. But only water is permitted, never juice, only water.

 

[jasoncran]

pard i have fasted for souls on my prayer list.

 

[Pard]

The "rules" of fasting are kind of spread all over. There is no book that speaks directly about fasting. 40 days is the time Jesus took to fast in the desert. Um, if you want to get some more info. on Christian fasting, this is a pretty decent study on fasting, uses pretty much Scripture alone.

http://www.dianedew.com/fasting.htm

 

[jasoncran]

mujahid would care to do a thread on ramadan and syed el fadir. and what that is?

i have observed that in country.

 

[jasoncran]

I think you mean Eid ul Fitr right? or Eid syed which means happy holiday
yes
syed el fadir means happy complexion

i dont kow if a thread on ramadhaan would interest anyone on here, or it might be construed as propagating Islam and against the TOS.

possible.

 

[Caroline H]

Yeah, I'd say anyone interested can google it.

 

[jasoncran]

I think you mean Eid ul Fitr right? or Eid syed which means happy holiday
yes
syed el fadir means happy complexion

i dont kow if a thread on ramadhaan would interest anyone on here, or it might be construed as propagating Islam and against the TOS.

possible.

Yeah, I'd say anyone interested can google it.

sorry, i wasnt thinking.

 

[Lewis]

"FASTING"

Fasting In The New Testament

INTRODUCTION

1. In our previous lesson, we examined the subject of "Fasting In The
Old Testament".

2. Here is what we found:
a. Only one fast was specifically commanded in the 0. T. (on the
Day of Atonement)
b. But people often fasted when they wanted God to hear their
prayers:
1) In times of war or at the threat of it
2) When loved ones were sick
3) When seeking God's forgiveness
4) When faced with impending danger
5) When seeking God's will
c. The purpose of such fasting:
1) To humble themselves by "afflicting their souls"
2) Believing that such humiliation would be pleasing in God's
sight (and it often was)
d. However, fasting was fruitless when:
1) It was gone ceremonially
2) It was done without true repentance
e. There were also no set principles governing the length or nature
of fasting

3. We shall now examine "Fasting In The New Testament", as taught and
exemplified by:
a. Jesus
b. His church
c. The apostle Paul
...in an effort to determine whether Christians can or should fast
today!

[We begin by considering...]

I. FASTING IN THE LIFE OF JESUS

A. JESUS FASTED FORTY DAYS IN THE WILDERNESS - Mt 4:1-9; Lk 4:1-2
1. He was led into the wilderness "to be tempted" (Mt)
2. He was "tempted for forty days by the devil" (Lk)
3. "in those days He ate nothing" (Lk)
-- Throughout this forty day period of temptation, Jesus felt it
appropriate to fast

B. JESUS TAUGHT ON FASTING IN HIS "SERMON ON THE MOUNT" - Mt 6:16-18
1. Jesus said "when", not "if"; assuming his disciples WOULD fast
2. When done properly a person would be rewarded by the Father...
a. Suggesting that fasting was like prayer and giving alms
b. I.e., an act of righteousness done to please the Father
-- Fasting appears to have a place in the righteousness expected
of those who would be citizens of the kingdom of heaven

C. WHEN QUESTIONED BY JOHN'S DISCIPLES - Mt 9:14-17 (Mk 2:18-20;
Lk 5:33-39)
1. Jesus described a time when his disciples would fast
2. But it is inappropriate to fast when the occasion does not
call for it
-- Fasting would have a place in the disciples' lives, but only
on appropriate occasions (not as a ceremonial rite)

D. THE COMBINED POWER OF PRAYER AND FASTING - Mt 17:14-21 (Mk 9:
14-29)
1. There are times when faith alone is not enough
2. At these times prayer joined with fasting is necessary
-- Fasting joined with prayer may accomplish things which normal
faith may not

[Now let's take a look at...]

II. FASTING IN THE LORD'S CHURCH

A. THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH - Ac 13:1-3
1. They were fasting as a group while ministering to the Lord
2. They fasted and prayed in preparation to sending out Barnabas
and Saul
-- Fasting, when accompanied with prayer, can done as a group
when involved in serving the Lord

B. THE CHURCHES IN GALATIA - Ac 14:21-23
1. Again, an example of fasting and prayer as a group; this time,
in conjunction with the serious task of appointing elders
2. Notice that this was done "in every church"
a. Not just in one or two churches
b. Not just in what might be consider "Jewish" churches where
fasting might be considered "just a Jewish custom"
-- Again, fasting can be a group activity in the work of a local
church

[Now let's examine...]

III. FASTING IN THE MINISTRY OF THE APOSTLE PAUL

A. FASTING WAS A MARK OF HIS MINISTRY...
1. We have already noticed where he fasted with several churches
2. But notice also:
a. 2Co 6:4-10 (cf. verse 5)
b. 2Co 11:23-28 (cf. verse 27 where fasting is mentioned
separately from normal hunger and thirst)
-- In both of these passages, Paul mentioned fasting as a mark of
his ministry and of his good standing as a minister of Christ!

B. HE ALSO TAUGHT THAT FASTING MIGHT HAVE A PLACE IN THE LIVES OF
OTHERS...
1. Cf. 1Co 7:5
2. The only time husbands and wives may deprive one another is
when by consent they devote themselves to fasting and prayer
for a specific period of time

CONCLUSION

1. Though not actually Christians at the time, we also have other
examples of those who fasted and were blessed by God...
a. Anna - Lk 2:36-38
b. Saul - Ac 9:9
c. Cornelius - Ac 10:30-31

2. As a summary, then, here is what we have seen in this study:
a. That our Lord fasted in time of temptation
b. That He taught His disciples about fasting on several occasions
c. That He foretold of a time in which His disciples would fast
d. That there are times when the combination of fasting and prayer
might be more efficacious than prayer alone
e. That the early church fasted in their service to the Lord
f. That Paul regarded fasting as a mark of his ministry
g. That prayer and fasting often go hand in hand, utilized whenever
there was a strong desire for God's blessing and guidance
-- In view of such things, I can only conclude that fast does indeed
have a place in the lives of Christians today

In our third and final lesson on this subject, we will consider some
thoughts concerning the WHY, WHEN, and HOW of fasting, as found in the
New Testament.
http://executableoutlines.com/fa/fa_02.htm

 

[Lewis]

I thought that I should add this one too, I should have put it first.

"FASTING"

Fasting In The Old Testament

INTRODUCTION

1. In a culture where the landscape is dotted with shrines to the
"GOLDEN ARCHES" and an assortment of "PIZZA TEMPLES", fasting seems
out of place, out of step with the times - Richard Foster, The
Celebration Of Discipline, p. 47

2. As I begin to deal with subject like fasting, I do so with some
hesitation for several reasons:
a. It is a very EMOTIONAL and VOLATILE subject
1) Views about fasting usually go to extremes
a) "Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all Scripture
and reason, and others have utterly disregarded it."
-- JOHN WESLEY
b) Some consider fasting unnecessary, undesirable, and
therefore to be ignored
c) Others think fasting is to be bound as a matter of faith
(like baptism)
2) It touches upon a matter very personal to us: FOOD!
a) Many people are very dependent upon food
1/ Not just for survival
2/ But for dealing with anxiety, depression, boredom, etc.
3/ Rather than eating to live, they live to eat
b) It is like preaching on gluttony or smoking, it often
touches on raw nerves
b. It is an UNTRADITIONAL subject
1) You rarely hear sermons on this subject
2) One person found in his research that not a single book was
published on fasting among some brethren from 1861 to 1954

3. But the Scriptures have so much to say about fasting...
a. The list of Biblical persons who fasted becomes a "Who's Who" of
Scripture:
1) Moses the lawgiver 5) Daniel the seer
2) David the king 6) Anna the prophetess
3) Elijah the prophet 7) Jesus the Son Of God
4) Esther the queen 8) Paul the apostle
-- Richard Foster, p.48, ibid.
b. There is more teaching in the NT on fasting than repentance and
confession!
c. Jesus taught more on fasting than on baptism and the Lord's
Supper!

4. What would account for this almost total disregard for a subject so
frequently mentioned in Scripture?
a. FIRST, fasting has developed a bad reputation as a result of the
excessive ascetic practices of the Middle Ages - Foster, ibid.
b. SECOND, many have simply concluded that fasting was a Jewish
custom, of no value or need in the Christian age
c. THIRD, we have been convinced through constant propaganda that if
we do not have three large meals each day, with several snacks in
between, we are on the verge of starvation (we eat, not because
we NEED to eat. but because it's TIME to eat) - Foster, ibid.

5. Because the Bible has so much to say about fasting, it is only right
that we consider what it says. As we do so, I have several
REQUESTS:
a. Please withhold judgment until you have heard all the material
- cf. Pr 18:13
1) Let's be "SPELUNKERS" and not "ENGINEERS" with the Bible
2) I.e., explore and follow what is there instead of rearranging
what is there to fit our designs
b. Don't be hasty in drawing conclusions or applying what you hear
- cf. Pr 14:29
c. If you have any additional information, questions or viewpoints,
please feel free to share them with me - cf. Pr 11:14

[In this lesson, then, we shall take a look at "Fasting In The Old
Testament", beginning with... ]

I. OCCASIONS OF FASTING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

A. THE "DAY OF ATONEMENT"...
1. Lev 16:29-31; 23:26-32; Num 29:7
2. This was the only fast commanded by the Law, to be observed on
the tenth day of the seventh month
3. Though not called "fasting", the phrase "afflicting one's
soul" was understood to refer to fasting
a. Cf. Ps 69:10 ("chastened my soul with fasting")
b. Cf. Ac 27:9 (where the term "Fast" refers to the Day of
Atonement)
4. The use of the phrase "afflict one's soul" to refer to fasting
suggests a PURPOSE of fasting:
a. To have an affect on the SOUL (not particularly the body)
b. The goal of such affliction or chastening we shall notice
later

B. OTHER FASTS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT...
-- People often fasted without specific commandment in time of
distress; some were communal affairs while others were acts of
the private individual
1. THEY FASTED IN WAR, OR AT THE THREAT OF IT
a. Israel fasted at Bethel in the war against the Benjamites
- Judg 20:26
b. Also at Mizpah in the Philistine war - 1Sa 7:6
2. THEY FASTED WHEN LOVED ONES WERE SICK
a. David fasted and wept for his son while the boy was ill
- 2Sa 12:16-23
b. The psalmist also mentions fasting for his enemies - Ps
35:11-13
3. THEY FASTED WHEN LOVED ONES DIED
a. The men of Jabesh-gilead fasted seven days for Saul - 1 Sa
31:13; 1 Chron 10:12
b. David and the people fasted for Saul and Jonathan - 2 Sa
1:12
4. THEY FASTED WHEN THEY SOUGHT GOD'S FORGIVENESS
a. Moses fasted forty days because of the sin of Israel - Deu
9:15-18
b. Ahab fasted to be forgiven - 1Ki 21:17-29
c. Nineveh fasted at the preaching of Jonah - Jonah 3:4-10
d. Daniel fasted as he confessed the sins of Israel - Da 9:3-5
e. The general fast at the communal reading of the Law by Ezra
was an act of penitence - Neh 9:1-3
5. THEY FASTED WHEN FACED WITH IMPENDING DANGER
a. Jehoshaphat fasted when threatened by Edom - 2 Chron 20:3
b. Ezra led a fast when seeking the favor of God toward his
return from exile (a journey fraught with danger) - Ez 8:21
c. Nehemiah fasted when he heard of the state of Jerusalem
- Neh 1:4
d. The Jews fasted when they heard that Haman had obtained the
king's decree against them - Esth 4:3
e. Esther and Mordecai fasted before she went before the king
- Esth 4:16
6. THEY SET UP FASTS TO COMMEMORATE CERTAIN CALAMITIES
-- During and after the Exile special fasts were observed on
the days the calamities had befallen Jerusalem
a. The tenth of the fifth month was the burning of the Temple
- Jer 52:12,13
b. The second day of the seventh month was the murder of
Gedaliah - 2Ki 25:23-95; Jer 41:1ff
c. On the tenth day of the tenth month was the beginning of
the siege of Jerusalem - 2Ki 25:1
d. On the ninth day of the fourth was its fall - 2Ki 25:3,4

II. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT FASTING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

A. THE PURPOSE OF FASTING...
1. Some fasting was a natural reaction to grief over the loss of
a loved one (like the men of Jabesh-gilead and David)
2. But more often, fasting was done to purposely:
a. "afflict the soul" - Lev 23:26-32
b. "chasten the soul" - Ps 69:10
3. The purpose of such affliction or chastening was to "humble"
the soul (Ps 35:13), and not for any affect it might have on
the body
4. Evidently, they felt that by so humbling themselves they would
more likely incur God's favor - cf. Ezra 8:21-23; Is 57:15;
66:1-2
5. So they would fast when they needed:
a. Forgiveness for sin (Moses, Ahab, Daniel)
b. Their loved ones restored to health (David)
c. Protection from danger (Ezra)
d. Deliverance from their enemies (the Israelites)
6. Because they were seeking God's favor, FASTING WOULD ALMOST
ALWAYS BE ACCOMPANIED WITH PRAYER

B. THE NATURE OF FASTING...
1. The NORMAL means of fasting involved ABSTAINING FROM ALL FOOD
BUT NOT WATER
2. Sometimes the fast was but PARTIAL - a restriction of diet but
not total abstention - cf. Da 10:2-3
3. On rare occasions there was the ABSOLUTE fast
a. As in the case of the people of Nineveh, who also included
the animals in their fast - cf. Jonah 3:5-10
b. As in the case of Queen Esther - Esth 4:16 (cf. Paul, Ac
9:9)
c. The absolute fasts of Moses and Elijah must have had divine
assistance - Deut 9:9; 1Ki 19:8

C. THE LENGTH OF FASTS...
1. A fast was often for ONE DAY, from sunrise to sunset, and
after sundown food would be taken - Judg 20:26; 1Sa 14:24;
2Sa 1:12; 3:35
2. A fast might be for ONE NIGHT - Dan 6:18
3. The fast of Esther continued for THREE DAYS, day and night,
which seems to have been a special case - Esth 4:16
4. At the burial of Saul, the fast by Jabesh-Gilead was SEVEN
DAYS - 1Sa 31:13; 1 Chron 10:12
5. David fasted SEVEN DAYS when his child was ill - 2Sa 12:
16-18
6. The longest fasts recorded in Scripture were the FORTY DAY
fasts by Moses, Elijah, and Jesus - Exod 34:28; Deut 9:9;
1Ki 19:8; Mt 4:2; Lk 4:2

D. WARNINGS CONCERNING FASTING...
1. Fasting CAN EASILY TURN INTO AN EXTERNAL SHOW AND CEREMONIAL
RITUALISM; when it did, the prophets spoke out against it
2. The most vigorous attack against such fasting is made in
Isaiah 58
a. The people complained that they had fasted and God had not
seen - Isa 58:3a
b. But they had not been fasting for the right reason (to be
heard by God) - Isa 58:3b-4
c. In contrast to simply an external display of bowing one's
head like a bulrush and spreading sackcloth and ashes, the
Lord would rather they:
1) Loose the bonds of wickedness
2) Let the oppressed go free
3) Share bread with the hungry
4) Bring the poor into one's house
5) Cover the naked
-- Then they should be heard in their prayers - Isa 58:6-9
d. I.e. fasting without true repentance defeats the purpose of
fasting: to have your prayers heard by the Lord!
3. The same point was made about the ceremonial fasts that had
been added by the Israelites to commemorate certain occasions
- Zech 7:1-14
a. The people wanted to know if they should fast on the
special occasions as they had done - Zech 7:1-3
b. The Lord responded that the fasts had not be done for Him
- Zech 7:4-6
c. They should have instead done the will of the Lord - Zech
7:7-10
d. But because they did not, the fasting in the past was of no
value - Zech 7:11-14

CONCLUSION

1. At this point we have not tried to establish whether fasting is for
Christians today

2. Rather, we have just considered the practice of fasting as found in
the O.T., to have a better understanding of why people of God fasted

3. What have we learned?
a. Only one fast was specifically commanded in the O.T. (The Day Of
Atonement)
b. But people often fasted when they wanted God to hear their
prayers
1) The purpose of the fast was to humble themselves by
"afflicting their souls"
2) Believing such humiliation would be pleasing in God's sight
(and it often was)
c. However, fasting was fruitless...
1) When it was done for the wrong reason
2) When it was done without true repentance
d. We have also seen that there were no set principles concerning
the length or nature of fasting
http://executableoutlines.com/fa/fa_02.htm

 

[Lewis]

I can tell by the very, very low response, that their are not many who fast here. :verysad :puppydogeyes