Biblical Fasting

Introduction:

Matt 6:16-18  - “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

In this blog, I am here to teach you about a powerful Spiritual discipline called Fasting. 

Arthur Wallis in his book “God’s Chosen Fast,” tells us that “For nearly a century and a half fasting has been out of vogue, at least in the churches of the West. The very idea of someone actually fasting today seems strange to most 20th-century Christians. They associate it with medieval Christianity, or perhaps with High Church Practice.” Today it is 23 years after that, and nothing has changed.

1. WHAT is Biblical Fasting?

Fasting is the opposite of Feasting. The key letter that we need to keep in mind is the letter E, which stands for Eating. Just like the letter E does not exist in Fasting, the same way, we can say Eating does not exist in Fasting. 

According to the Bible, fasting is going without food, as one seeks God through prayer. In other words, it is the active and intentional denial of our body’s desire for food. No other means of fasting is mentioned in the Bible. 

There are ONLY two types of Fasting:

1) Absolute or Total Fasting (Do with CAUTION) -  

a. Acts 9:9 - Paul was in a state of mourning for 3 days, where he did not eat nor drink anything, after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.
b. Esther 4:16 Esther tells Mordecai to ask the Jews to fast for 3 days, and not to eat or drink anything.  Typically, such a fast is called on desperate measures. 
c. However, there are supernatural versions of fasting for 40 days, by Jesus in the wilderness, Moses on Mt Sinai, and Elijah after he fought Jezebel. Ex 34:28; 1 Kings 19:8, Matt 4:1-11. Caution- This was through supernatural strength that God them.  

2) Partial Fast – Daniel 10:2-3- Daniel had a vision and he ate partially – no meat, no wine, no delicacies. 

In these two types, the way it was done was two different ways:

1. Private fasting – Matt 6:16-18
2. Public Fasting. -  Example is LENT

• Congregational/Assembly fasting – Joel 2:15-16; Matt 9:15, Acts 13:2
• National fast – 2 Chron 20:3; Neh. 9:1; Est 4:16, Lev 16:29-31 (Day of Atonement-time of repentance)

Jesus did not specifically speak on how long we should fast. Bible has examples of different numbers of days when people fasted. 

1. 1 day OR part of a day (Jud 20:26, 1 Samuel 7:6, Neh 9:1)
2. 1 night fast (Dan 6:18-24)
3. 3-day fast (Est 4:16, Acts 9:9)
4. 7-day fast (1 Sam 31:13)
5. 14-day fast (Acts 27:33-34)
6. 21-day fast (Dan 10:3-13)
7. 40-day fast (Deut 9:9, Matt 4:2)
8. Unspecified Length ( Matt 9:14, Acts 13:2, Luke 2:37). Bible does not tell us the duration of these fasting days.   

So, Christians fast for 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 21 days, or 40 days, or as people decide unto the Lord. This is between man and God under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, for all kinds of private or public fasting.  Missing one meal is a FAST.

In the OT days, God specifically told the Israelites to do fasting. In NT days, Jesus is expecting all of us to do fasting.  

• There are NO mandatory rules about it, rather we have the freedom to fast, whenever we want.  How often we practice it is not prescribed, because that is between the believer and Christ. We have the freedom to fast, is a matter between the individual and God.  Sometimes as a congregation, we could agree to fast, or even as a nation. 
• No one should be to be OBLIGATED to fast.  
• OT Prophets, NT Saints, and the great saints of church history have practiced fasting – Luther, Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, Charles Finney, and Billy Graham.
• Fasting was a prominent feature of asceticism during the post-apostolic age, which turned extreme in the medieval age. Then people revolted against it and the discipline of fasting went to the other side – NO Fasting. The church of today is still suffering from that issue.
• Paul challenges husbands and wives to separate through mutual consent for prayer and fasting - 1 Cor. 7:3-5(NKJV) – don’t be dogmatic about it. 
• A false concept about fasting, practiced in churches today is abstaining from anything that hinders your communication with God or even self-denial. Fasting from Movies, Netflix, the Internet, or Facebook, or even fasting from anger, sin, etc. is NOT Biblical Fasting. These are disciplines that should be an outcome of Biblical Fasting as fruits of denying our fleshly desire from our fasting since it is spiritual in nature. 
• Isaiah 58 talks about true and false fasting. So there is a danger, when we do fasting, for the sake of fasting. This can come when we get into the traditional type of fasting when we don’t care, OR we do it to become a show for others.
• In Jesus’ day the Pharisees fasted twice a week (Luke 18:12). While fasting, they went about with somber faces and disheveled appearances so that everyone would see (and praise) their piety.
• Why did Jesus scorn this custom? Because He could see their hearts and their true motives. He also knew that fasting had been abused by the Jewish people in the past (Isaiah 58:1-7).
• If your fast is for your spiritual benefit and God’s glory, no one else needs to applaud your commitment.

Abstaining from food is often God's way of showing that His desire for us is to regain mastery over all things associated with our flesh to subdue our fleshly desires and elevate our emphasis on spiritual matters. God promises to help us overcome the flesh and put all our fleshly temptations under the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ref – In Mark 9:14-29 - Jesus cast out the demon from the child, which the disciples could not cast out and Jesus says, “And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

2. WHO is expected to do Biblical Fasting?

Let’s look at Matt 6:16-18  - “And when you fast," Jesus has just finished teaching on Prayer, using the Lord’s Prayer.  The next section begins with what?  AND.  This means this section is a continuation of the Lord’s Prayer teaching. Another version uses the word “moreover.” Which means “In addition to what has been said.”

Then Jesus uses the word “When you fast.” He did not say, “If you fast.” This simply means Jesus is expecting us to Fast.  So, the answer to our first question is, Who is expected to do Biblical fasting? All born-again Christian believers are expected to Fast. 

• The concept of fasting has existed among many religions: Fast Sunday- Mormons (once a month), Hindus-periodical weekly fasting, Muslims-Ramadhan (30 days).  
• Many people are scared of fasting since they equate fasting with starving. 
• In the past decade or so, a new term has emerged within diet-related and health-related circles. This is called “Intermittent Fasting.”
• With all these different terms for the same word, this is why I entitled the sermon “Biblical Fasting.” 
• This is the kind of fasting that is stated in the Bible and that we as Christians are expected to do.
• Ironically, I strongly believe that it is the Christians who have DILUTED the concept of Biblical fasting.

Question - If we do not fast, is it a sin? 

The Bible does not state so rather it states, it is expected to FAST.

The Old and New Testaments communicate a lot of principles and values that fasting avails of, which if not done, then the Born-Again Believer will not have the ability to gain or obtain – reward (Matt 6:18). You don’t want it, God says, that is fine. You still have your salvation. 

Prayer is like the state of my muscle when I move my hands around to pick stuff or eat food or perhaps just do daily stuff. However, what if I was to pick up a dumbbell of 20 lbs daily? What will be the state of my Muscle?  

Example – Brandon and Stanley.  Whose muscle will you prefer? Who can lift greater weights?  Who is stronger? 

• More muscles will make us physically stronger.
• Fasting will make our prayer life spiritually stronger. Moreover, it yields rewards that just having a prayer life may not. 
• Matt 6:18, tells us “your Father who sees in secret will reward you”
• There is no mention of reward when the Lord’s prayer is stated but it is only mentioned with fasting…So are you missing out on a lot of rewards?  

Story: Barbara Gordon tells about her first time fasting. (I don’t want to lose my reward) She fasted one day a week for 9 weeks. She was led to pray for 9 individuals that had requested prayer. At the end she said, "God moved in many ways during that time. While most of the answers didn’t appear during the 9 weeks, God increased my faith that they would come. Within a year of that first fast, my lost friend came to Christ. Another friend was delivered from a long-standing addiction. A couple who marriage seemed doomed is still married several years later. My unmarried friend is still single, but I see her enjoying new peace.  

I learned that fasting is not a guarantee that every request will be answered. It is, however, a way to prepare ourselves to pray more in line with God’s will. The most important personal result of my first fast was that I felt more in love with my Savior. Circumstances were indeed changed, but more importantly, I was changed.

Prayer is "communion with God." Through prayer, we experience a relationship with God. However, prayer in combination with fasting takes a believer to a whole new dimension.  It positions a believer to have greater discernment. It allows us to cleanse ourselves from the bondages that have been holding us back from receiving the blessings of God.

"Christian Fasting," wrote John Piper, " at its root is the hunger of a homesickness for God." Fasting sometimes seems the only way to answer the ache in our hearts for the consummation of all things, for the time when we are at last with God and all things are restored, made new, and made right......Until our bridegroom returns, we will fast.

3. WHY is Biblical Fasting important?

This brings us to the next question, why are we supposed to do fasting?  

1. Divine Deliverance - When we look at the story of Esther in chapters 6-10. We see how the story unfolds when Esther and the Jews fast as a nation against the evil Haman. Esther gets favor from the King to expose the evil from Haman and is completely delivered from the evil. It was indeed a divine deliverance.  
2. Strengthened in Prayer - Daniel 9:3 – Daniel is strengthened, as he seeks God, and soon after is when Gabriel the angel reveals to him the prophecy of the 70 weeks. Nehemiah 1:4 – Nehemiah fasts and prays when he hears the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire. Then he gets a favor to go to rebuild the city walls. Fasting does not give us the power to heal the sick or cast out demons or do miracles. Faith in God's Word does that. Fasting brings us to the place where we can believe God’s Word. We are drawn closer to the Lord.
3. To seek God’s guidance & have divine revelation. Judges 20:26 tells us the story of Israel’s war against the Benjamites, due to their sin, and were remorseful about it and were seeking God’s guidance.  Acts 14:23 tells us when Paul and Barnabas had selected elders in all the churches in Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, they fasted and prayed for God’s guidance. God wants to speak and reveal things to us through this time of prayer and fasting. Our job is to seek revelation, and God promises He will reveal it! So, as you’re fasting and praying, be expectant for God to speak – grab a journal and a pen. Write down what He says because it will prepare and direct you in the days ahead. 
4. Break Strongholds - Isaiah 58:6 (ESV) 6 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
5. To worship God - In Luke 2:37 we see the prophetess, Anna who was in the temple until she was 84, who through her fasting was worshipping God and was able to see the baby Jesus – the Messiah, the reward she received.
6. Overcome temptation and dedicate yourself to God - In Matt 4:1-11 Jesus was fasting and praying for 40 days. Through that, he had the power to overcome the temptation and dedicate himself to his purpose. The same could be approached before starting a job, marriage, or anything new in ministry to get direction from God. Fasting is a very important spiritual weapon since spiritual power is released through fasting. For any ministry or church, prayer and fasting are critical.
7. Fasting is a way of mourning, grieving, inflicting the soul  - Fasting is a type of mourning.  In fasting, you are denying the needs of your flesh.  You are putting to death what your flesh needs during that time. 2 Samuel 12:16-23 we see David fasting with the hope to restore his son, through mourning and seeking God. Acts 9:9 - Paul was in a state of mourning for 3 days, where he did not eat nor drink anything, after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.
8. Change the Mind of God - The Old Testament is replete with examples of how God changed his mind when people fasted and prayed. The wrath of God was to come upon these people, but when they humbled themselves through prayer and fasting, God changed His mind. (a) Jonah 3:5, 10 when the people of Ninevah “called for a fast…..God relented of the disaster..” (b) 1 Kings 21:27, we see even when evil King Ahab repented and humbled through fasting. God tells Elijah, have you seen how Ahab has repented, so I will not bring calamity in his days, but in the days of his son

KEY – In your fast do not assume that God is obligated to give you what you want. Also, fasting is not magic, nor does it twist the arm of God.

Fasting (with prayer) does not move God, but it moves us to a position where we can receive from God. It destroys the hold of the fleshly desires in our lives so that we can continually operate with the Spirit of God. 

God wants to do many amazing things, but He is looking for those willing to urgently make the corrections needed to come into line with him, through Prayer & Fasting.

4. HOW do we do Biblical Fasting?

1. Plan your fast 
• Determine a spiritual purpose.
• Duration of the fast – number of days and how many meals per day 
• Type of fast
• Tell a family member- especially your wife. Also, tell those you are fasting about, or if the congregation fast tell the congregation to join if they can. 
2. Begin with moderation.  Skip only one meal at first.
3. Commit the time to prayer, Bible study, counseling, service, or other spiritual pursuits as you have determined.
4. Drink several glasses of water per day. For those addicted to coffee or tea, be careful and go in moderation.
5. If possible, avoid media, movies, and even connecting with other people. This may be challenging but avoid parties during fasting times. 
6. Look out for spiritual and emotional challenges, temptations of sorts, and even spiritual attacks against you. 
7. Stay physically active – moderate exercise and walk
8. When breaking a longer fast, begin with juices or a light meal consisting of fruit or vegetables.
9. Be considerate about your health before you plan to you fast.  Diabetic people on medication, pregnant, etc., should target partial fasts. 
10. Be Still and focus on the Lord, throughout the day – Worship songs, read Bible, and meditate on God as you go through the day.

ONE Final Thought – DON’T TRY Hard to get into the presence, just be in anticipation of his word or guidance or his presence. Psalm 42:10 tells us to be Still and let the presence of God descend upon you or His love embrace you through your fasting or as we are mourning.  

Don’t try to manipulate God’s presence. Remember 1 Cor 12 talks about how Spiritual gifts are given to the Christians for the edification of His purpose, as the “Holy Spirit enables,” and not as “man enables.” In the same manner, we need to experience the presence of God through fasting and praying, as the Holy Spirit enables.