Description

When You Fast

In His sermon on the mount, Jesus talks about "when you give, when you pray, and when you fast". Fasting is simply going without food in order to seek God for some special reason. Another way to say it... "fasting is feasting on God's Word." Although Jesus never commanded His followers to fast, He assumed that they would. It was a part of common practice in that time, and it is a valuable part of spiritual discipline today.

Pastor Japhet, from a very spiritually dark part of Nigeria, says, "Your prayer life will not be consistent without a burning vision because a lasting prayer life is oriented around a burden, and every burden comes from a vision."

In the Old Testament, we see multiple examples of fasting:

1. Lev 23:27-28 during the Day of Atonement
2. Ex 34:28; Deut 9:9-10:10 Moses
3. Daniel 10 Daniel
4. 1 Sam 1:1-20 Hannah
5. Ezra 8:21-23 Ezra
6. Esther 4:16 Esther
7. 2 Chron 20:3 King Jehoshaphat
8. Nehemiah

In the New Testament, fasting continues to have a significant place in the life of the church and individual believers:

1. Luke 2:37 Anna
2. Acts 13:1-2 Saul and Barnabus
3. Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus

In Luke 5:33-34, we see other leaders criticizing Jesus because His disciples are not fasting. While He is in the presence of His people, there is no need to fast. Once He ascended to heaven, we are to fast until His return. When He returns, He won't call for a fast, but instead will call for a feast!

There are 2 types of biblical fasts:

• A Partial Fast - This is described in the book of Daniel. For 3 weeks, Daniel, who was a prophet during a time when Israel lived in exile, abstained only from "delicacies" like meat and wine (Daniel 3)

• A Complete Fast - This means only drinking water or juice when fasting for an extended period. Juice fasts will provide you with more energy than water only fasts and still lead you into the humbling experience of denying your desire for solid, chewable food.

How to Fast:

1. Start slow - one meal/day or one day/week
2. Consider your family - make sure there is understanding with others
3. Consult your Dr - if fasting for an extended time
4. Feast on Scripture while fasting - this is THE KEY

As followers of Jesus, may our God-given vision drive us to fast, and may our fasting feed our prayers.

Questions to consider:

1. When was the last time you fasted? What was that experience like for you? If you haven't fasted, why not?
2. What is the vision for your family? small group? our church? your neighborhood? Are these important enough passions for you to fast?
3. When will you fast next?

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