“But you, when you fastest…” Matthew 6:17
The significance of the word fasting is: Abstaining totally or partially from food and drink. In the Old Testament it was a form of personal humiliation as indicated in the Hebrew; {sum-inna-nefes} bow the soul (Isa. 58:3-5; Psa. 35:13).
There are many occasions in the Bible where it mentions total abstaining from food and drink, but very few times it mentions abstaining only from food (Luke 4:2; Matt. 4:2; Acts 9:9, 27:33; Esther 4:16). There are more times mentioned that fasting was practiced without eating or drinking.
There are about 75 texts in the Bible that teach something about fasting. This in itself is enough to accept that fasting is something established by God. The Lord present fasting as something established and sometimes implying that He expected His disciples to practice it.
A. In Matthew 6:16-18 the main teaching was that we should not be hypocrites in fasting, do so with the intent to be seen of men.
B. When they came to him the disciples of John told him, "Why do we ... we fast many times ... your disciples do not fast?" Jesus replied, "The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast" (Matthew 9:14-15).
BIBLICAL FASTING
How should Christians fast? First, we must recognize that fasting ought not to be mechanical and Pharisaical. Fasting is not an end in itself. It is a means to accomplish spiritual purposes. We should never fast in order to be seen and applauded by men.
Jesus instructed his disciples that when they fast, they ought not to appear sad and gloomy. No dressing in sackcloth and ashes or disfiguring their faces. No ostentation, hypocrisy, and playing up to the gallery. The Pharisees did all these things, but Jesus wanted his disciples to fast differently. He told them to wash their faces and anoint their heads with oil (Matt. 6:16-18). When Christians fast, they must appear normal. They should not call attention to themselves in any way. They should let God alone see their fasting, knowing that he alone would reward them.
OUR CHOICE
It is our choice not to eat in order to put our attention upon something more important to us. The simple meaning of fasting is expressed by the Greek word “nesteia” which is translated as voluntary abstinence from food.
Two Hebrew words refer to the practice of fasting. The first simply means “to withhold all food from the body.” The other describes the effects of fasting as “affliction of soul.” Together they convey the thought of voluntary deprivation of the body, subordinating the soul for spiritual purposes.
How does fasting humble us? We must remember that fasting is affliction of the soul, not of the body. Focus on God is not achieved simply by physical deprivation; it requires the exposure of the heart. Fasting accomplishes this work which is called humbling ourselves, in several ways.
1. Fasting is a time for honest self-examination. We set all else aside to free our attention for God. As soon as we discontinue our outward diversions, we discover a host of inner distractions and defenses from knowing what is in our hearts. We instinctively resist self-exposure. But if we persist in honest soul-searching, we will have the Spirit’s help in pinpointing areas of unnoticed sin. Such conviction results in repentance, mourning for our sins. This process is called rending the heart (Joel 2:13).
2. Fasting clears away many things which quickly accumulate and clutter the heart and mind. It cuts through the corrosion, renewing our contact with God. The Old Testament terms affliction of soul and humbling oneself meant “taking off the mask.” It means facing ourselves.
Abstaining from food frees us to focus upon God with fresh intensity and also opens new avenues of spiritual perception and understanding that are not available to us in the rush of routine living. As you focus upon God by deliberate discipline, God focuses upon you in clarity of direction and quickening your spirit. You can partake of God more easily with all else set aside.
God is always calling us to deeper fellowship and closer communion with Him, but for the most part our daily routine of activity keeps His call from us. During times of fasting, however, other calls are temporarily suspended and we allow ourselves to be drawn into His presence.
Eating symbolizes that which is most essential to us. By setting this aside to seek God, we are declaring that He is more important and essential to us. Job expressed this determination to seek God with these words: “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).
God is Spirit and He responds to what we do “in spirit and in Truth.” He sees what we do in the secret response of our spirit and then rewards us accordingly.
As we focus upon Him through prayer and fasting, He looks upon our hearts with increased attention. He examines our motivation. He wants to know whether we are fasting “unto Him.” He does not look at the outward aspects of the fasting or even counts the meals we miss. He looks at the intention. Some people’s religion consists of public show.
The satisfaction of a full stomach, a full wallet and other full things has been the destruction of many people and nations. The history of the nation of Israel is an illustration of this fact that shows how quickly satisfied man forgets his dependence on God (Deut. 6:11-12). This is why fasting is so valuable.
THE POWER OF FASTING
Every believer has the privilege of confessing the biblical words: "I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (Gal. 2:20) and because of that he can consider himself truly dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus (Rom. 6:11). It may be that you have quoted these verses many times and still wonder why there is so little power in your personal life over sin (the flesh), the world and the devil! Why "greater things" (John 14:12) are not manifest in your life? According to the extent that we defeat these three enemies it will be determine the extent the Lord will live His life through us. To be a winner in the fight between the flesh and the Spirit, we are required to frequently resort to further strengthening in our spiritual warfare (II Cor. 10:3-4).
One of the most powerful and effective biblical methods that God has given us to increase our faith is fasting with prayer. If the purpose of our life is to use the biblical methods that God has given us need to learn how to fast and pray more effectively. Fasting is a biblical principle that Jesus taught by word and example, for the purpose of maturing every believer. There are arias of victory in our lives that will never be realized except through prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21). Jesus did not command us to fast; He taught us by his example how to fast. He did not say if we fast, He said when we fast. Many believers know the supreme importance of daily prayer, but fasting, has been almost forgotten by many.
There is a right way and a wrong way to pray and there is a right way and a wrong way to fast (Matthew 6). Chapter 58 Isaiah tells us much about fasting. The first five verses speak of the wrong way to fast. All remaining verses until the end of the chapter teach us how we should fast and the benefits of fasting. The reasons many give for not fasting, are really just excuses, but the Word of God stands forever (Isí. 58). Fasting is a spiritual exercise (such as prayer) to clean the channel (you) through which will flow the gifts and life of God. The people who make excuses for not fasting are the ones most in need of fasting.
There are two powerful centers of domain that have to be overcome. These are large and strong fortresses which prevent us from receiving the supernatural things of God as we should. In collapsing these strong fortresses, we are facilitates in making rapid steps of progress and spiritual advancement. Carnality and unbelief have to be conquered to truly have victory.
God has given us the spiritual weapon of faith to fight our carnal nature and disbelief. One of the biggest allies of Faith is fasting. Faith and fasting have many things in common. They are so mutual that Faith is more efficient, active and developed when this great ally comes to the assistance of Faith.
Faith has to fight against our carnal nature, which are our five senses. All the knowledge that the natural man has comes through these channels to your brain. Sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell are the senses by which we live. But God does not like us to believe only what we see, hear, feel, etc. The Bible tells us that faith is "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). Therefore, we must seek more Faith to conquer carnality and unbelief, the two things that stop us from enjoying the full blessings of God.
Why is fasting a powerful weapon against carnality and unbelief? Because fasting really hates our senses, which are the seat of carnality and unbelief. Our five senses are kept in operation by the strength of the "appetite." Prayer attacking demons and spirits, fasting attacks disbelief and the flesh (I John 3:8). The senses battle strongly against fasting, this is why so many believers are unable to defeat them and enter a greater life of spiritual service to God. Our five senses are opposed to fasting and fasting opposes our senses. When fasting and prayer are free without impediments, the flesh is arrested, and then the flesh is forced to surrender and bow to the Spirit. When this is done disbelief is destroyed and the Spirit has more access to our lives which is not possible by any other method.
THE PURPOSE OF FASTING
A. Increases "Faith".
B. Help our prayers to be answered.
C. Crucifies "the flesh".
D. It gives us spiritual power.
The main reason that we should fast is to obtain Faith so that we believe to receive. Jesus said, "All you ask when you pray believe that you receive and you shall have" (Mark 11:24). Fasting is necessary before we can get to the point of believing that we will receive something we have not seen.
The Lord gave us many promises (Joel 2:32). He said: "Anyone can have anything if you can believe I will." All things are yours nothing will be prohibited. The only condition is that you think you will receive. Therefore, the main purpose of fasting is to build Faith. Faith in whom? Faith in what? Faith in the words and promises of Jesus.
All believers believe in His promises with their minds, but many cannot believe them with their hearts until they fasted. With a full stomach of food it is almost impossible to obey the words of Jesus and "Believe that ye receive them." However, when you stop feeding the natural man, you start to feed the spiritual man. Leave the natural and ascend to a higher spiritual realm. The closer you get to Jesus, the more you can believe and receive. You can request and receive any thing according to your Faith. Through fasting you can receive faith faster than otherwise. It's a good way to shorten the time to get what you want.
Fasting should always have a purpose and spiritual motive. Although we know that fasting can be for different needs some spiritual, physical, material and moral, but it should always be kept in mind that it is for a spiritual purpose and that the name of God may be glorified through the answer. We know that because of fasting God can bless in many ways and it is a physical benefit to our bodies, always keeping the heart and thoughts in a spiritual sense.
When you cannot receive answers to certain needs it is good to fast so God can answer or show you why He does not answer, because there are times that there are reasons why God does not want to answer our requests and only in a state of consecration we can known God's will.
THE ONE DAY FAST
When we got converted we entered into a new life, learning new things, fasting will come to form an integral part of our spiritual life and just like you learn to pray by praying, you will learn to fast by fasting. It is necessary to begin with a one day fast and little by little you can increase the days of fasting, according to the needs that present themselves.
Although we know that it is impossible for the human body to live for a prolonged time without water, it can live up to three weeks without food, and even more, but without water it is advised by doctors that there is danger that the body will begin to experience physically damaged after about three days without water. The only way that the human body can live without water for a long time is by divine intervention, as was the case with Moses (Deut. 9:9-18; Exo. 34:28) and Elijah (I Kings 19:8).
A. In a one day fast it is good to start at six in the morning, (the Bible does not give a specific time as to when we should begin fasting). It is advisable not to eat after midnight, as you will not be showing sincerity eating at these late hours, so you will not be hungry the day of fasting.
B. Start your day of fasting with prayer, being that this is one of the main factors of fasting. As you do not have to worry about eating, spend good time in prayer and Bible reading.
C. During your day of fasting in your daily activities, keep your thoughts within the spiritual realm; evade all kinds of joking, gossiping, etc.
D. Any chance you get during the fasting day pray and study the Bible and other devotional books.
E. You will notice that in the afternoon you will begin to feel tired physically and spiritually and you will even at times find it difficult to pray; do not be discouraged, your body will get tired through fasting and also satanic forces will try to discourage us. Do not make the mistake of judging the outcome of your prayers by what you feel during this period of fasting.
F. It is advisable that in this type of fasting you terminate it before four or five in the evening, this will give you time to pray, prepare yourself for supper and most important of all, time to eat slowly.
G. The meal you eat should be light when possible and small the quantity. When it is not possible for you to determine the type of food, then make sure that the amount you eat is little.
H. Can a person fast while working or at school? The answer is yes! Since the Bible does not teach that this is wrong. In occasions there will be emergency spiritual necessities that will compel you too fast.
VARIATIONS IN THE FAST ONE DAY
A. We should fast as the body gets use to fasting and according to the spiritual needs.
B. Later on you can fast from six in the evening one day until six o'clock in the evening the next day.
C. After a while you can fast two consecutive days.
D. After you have grown in the Lord and you are use to fasting in the other forms that have been mentioned, then you can spend three consecutive days fasting.
E. Although there might not be a specific need, you should fast for your spiritual condition.
GUIDE TO FASTING
A. If you are going to do a prolonged fast resist the temptation to eat long before you begin the fast. The first few days there will be a tendency to think of you favorite dishes, dispose of these thoughts.
B. When the fast is going to be prolonged begin a few days before eating light meals.
C. If you are use to drinking coffee, stop drinking it a few days before, you may suffer from headaches.
D. Have a spirit of optimism, don’t think about the negative: "I may get sick," "I am very weak," "I may not be able to finish the fast.”
E. It is necessary to rest a lot during a prolong fast, because sometimes you well feel physical fatigue, fainting and dizziness. Resist the temptation to sleep a lot.
F. Keep busy in spiritual exercise, prayer, Bible reading, worship, study, etc.
HOW TO END YOUR FAST
Whether short or prolonged fasting, this is one of the most important phase of your fast. This is where many are not careful and the danger exists of not receiving all the spiritual blessings that the Lord desires you to receive. If you do not finish your fast correctly there is a danger of you becoming ill or at least suffering some after ill effects.
Usually when it is a prolonged fasting or when one begins to fast for the first time, they are waiting for the glorious moment when they well end the fast and they can eat once again. The Gospels tell us that after the Lord had fasted for forty days He was hungry (Matthew 4:2) that is when the greatest tests by Satan came.
During a fast the stomach shrinks and is at rest and this is one of the reasons why you should be very careful to when you end your fast. Great care must be taken as to the quantity that you eat, what you eat, and how you eat. When you end your fast much wisdom and discipline is required.
REST
Our spirit is assisted in relaxing before God when we fast. We can receive refreshing and strength from this waiting upon God, as Isaiah promised (Isaiah 40:31).
Rest from food is mandatory if we are to fully concentrate upon God. Fasting will rest the physical body. Fasting in faith will also rest the soul and unclutter the spirit.
Afflicting the soul is another term for fasting (Leviticus 16:29-31). Self-examination is an important aspect of afflicting our soul (fasting). It is the main reason for fasting. Fasting is a real help in quieting us from the usual bustle and in setting aside time for self-examination.
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