Fasting

[The Simple Plan]

Fasting should draw us in a closer communion with God. Whether food, TV or even the internet, it should bring us in close alignment with God so we can understand his will for us, and have the right motive.Going through some of my bible study notes and found this....
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PURPOSES OF FASTING

Repentance
"Even now," declares the LORD , "return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning."  Joel 2:12

Freedom
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke? . Isaiah 58:6

Spiritual Renewal
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Matt 4:1,2

Wisdom
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. Acts 13:2,3

Unto God
"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matt 6:16-18.

The main purpose of fasting is spiritual and Biblically it comes with sincere prayer and a mindset of repentance. From Moses to Jehosphat from Nehemiah to Elijah from Esther to Jesus, the Bible shows us the power and purpose of fasting. Primarily it points us to self control and submitting to God's will and has the benefit of keeping us healthy. Not only is the body purged/rested and renewed spiritually but physically as well.

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Thoughts?
Dave

 

[GraftMeIn]

Something I've found insteresting about fasting, and that's that most of the time when reading through the Bible it seems to take place in times of despair. When Gods guidance or wisdom is needed the most.

 

[ZiSunka]

Fasting lets you put aside your physical self for a while and concentrate on nurturing your spiritual self.

 

[Bruno]

Let me make sure I am receiving this right. Fasting is not necessarily witholding food?

 

[ZiSunka]

Huh-uh. It can be abstaining from anything.

Like spending. I've gone on spending fasts before and find them really freeing. Or sex. Paul talked about a situation in which a married couple might abstain from sex for a short while to devote themselves to prayer. Or whatever is in the way of hearing from God. Or whatever you think you need to give up for a while to show God how serious you are in seeking Him.

 

[Bruno]

Oh, THANKYOU LORD!!!

Once again my prayer has been answered. I was confused about this issue and prayed for an answer last week and here it is! Thanks guys.

 

[ZiSunka]

A young woman I know went on a dating fast for a while last year while she sought out what God says about being a good wife and a good husband. She didn't date at all until she felt she fully understood the purpose for marriage and the qualities of a good spouse.

 

[Homie]

Fasting is "not eating". This is what it means in the Bible. Although the purpose of it is not to get slim.

 

[EPHRIAM777]

Fasting according to the Bible is a form of WORSHIP...done by us to God...!

 

[EPHRIAM777]

For the teaching please review MATT 6:1:18.....!

The 3 types or ways we can worship God today is GIVING...PRAYER...and FASTING...verses 4...6...and 17...

OF which the greatest is GIVING..it is the one way we worship God that makes him LOVE us even more and makes ALL grace abound ..( not just some....ALL ) ..in our life....!

See 2 COR 9:7...for the tie in...!

 

[altya]

Fasting is normal like praying. We do it for different reasons and just as praying can sometimes be with wrong motifs.

For the chastening of the soul
Psalms: 69:10: When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.

For the humbling of the soul
Ps 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

The reason for fasting is because people are body soul and spirit. By withhold ourselves from food is to suppress the body’s need and to withhold from sexual activity is to suppress the soul’s need in order for our spirit to rise up in us. This will cause us to enter into a spiritual realm.

In the fasting time we have to do certain things like:
Do spiritual warfare to set people free from any demons and demon activities and some of them won’t go without fasting.
(Matthew 8:28 –32)

Isa 58:6,7 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

We have to love people and when Gods love is working through us we will care for people. Our eyes will be open to see the needs of those around us
Isa: 58:7: Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

FASTING IS ACCOMPANIED BY:
Prayer
Da 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplication, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Confession of sin
1Sa 7:6; And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel
Mourning
Joe 2:12|Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
Humiliation
De 9:18; O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.

Promises connected with fasting the Lords way.
Isa:58:8: Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
Isa:58:9: Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
Isa:58:10: And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

 

[Gerry]

I was hoping you would add a post Alta, since you likely have more experience fasting than anyone here. Thanks!

 

[altya]

Thanks Gerry – I wish to know more but one thing I surly know is that a 40 day fast is the most difficult one of all I have ever tried. The number 40 stands for testing and as from day one you will find yourself on trails.

 

[Gerry]

Yes, I understand. It is one additional trial in the Christian walk which is filled with trials and testings! Sometimes they are difficult and bitter but in the end the victory is sweet!

 

[Sharky]

Someone mentioned fasting isn't only for eating. Can it be like not watching TV or going out to usual leisure events and just end up spending time with God?

 

[altya]

I know people do fast all kinds of stuff. I do have a friend who is holding fasting camps but no one is allowed to talk, the only talk they are allowed is to talk to God. I tried to complete on camp but my mouth could not take it.

I haven’t run across any scripture to convince me that fasting of stuff is biblical. But on the other hand I have seen that the people doing such things get blessings from God. My motto is always if you feel God is telling you to do such a fasting you will not loose anything by obeying God, but if you don’t you will.

 

[Gerry]

Well said Alta!

 

[Sharky]

Originally posted by Gerry
Yes, I understand. It is one additional trial in the Christian walk which is filled with trials and testings! Sometimes they are difficult and bitter but in the end the victory is sweet!

Oh yes! And many times i've seen it happen. People who go through trials end up gaining so much back than before

Like someone i know. She was once abused, mentally, physically, spiritually but made it through. Now she's one awesome publisher with an awesome church. Joyce Myer, not sure if you know her but anyway .

 

[EPHRIAM777]

Originally posted by altya [/i]

FASTING IS ACCOMPANIED BY:
Prayer
Da 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplication, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Confession of sin
1Sa 7:6; And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel
Mourning
Joe 2:12|Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
Humiliation
De 9:18; O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.


Eph replies...

Care sgould be taken not to turn "fasting" into some legalistic type of IF this THEN that type thing....Fast when you want..and keep it between you and the Lord...is the main thrust of the teaching on fasting that Jesus spoke of....!

For example Gerry wrote in one post about Altya..."""I was hoping you would add a post Alta, since you likely have more experience fasting than anyone here. Thanks!"""""


Now if this post is factual..from the Biblical scriptural standpoint...we can as Christians assume just from that post alone that..a few things MIGHT have happened here...!

1, Altya is telling people of the fasting he or she does and thus recieves NO credit for it in heaven....

2, Gerry is puffing him or her up with such a post..because of the fasting being claimed is being openly discussed among themselves....which brings us to what Jesus taught in MATT 6:16:18...!

Now if a person is fasting....they should not be letting others know about it..A person can teach on it...but when and IF they use themselves as an example and tell all about their own fasting habits....they actually are stepping out of line with how Jesus said to do it...!

So teaching on a subject of HOW to fast ..isn't the same as telling aothers about HOW you personally have fasted or do fast...!

It therefore is a VERY private matter between US and God when we are fasting...and if a person goes and tells others about their own fasting...?

...Biblically they never really did it..because the reward is LOST in Heaven the moment they tell...!

 

[EPHRIAM777]

Originally posted by altya [/i]
I know people do fast all kinds of stuff. I do have a friend who is holding fasting camps but no one is allowed to talk, the only talk they are allowed is to talk to God. I tried to complete on camp but my mouth could not take it.

I haven’t run across any scripture to convince me that fasting of stuff is biblical. But on the other hand I have seen that the people doing such things get blessings from God. My motto is always if you feel God is telling you to do such a fasting you will not loose anything by obeying God, but if you don’t you will.

Eph says...

According to JESUS...this type of fasting would border on the heretical...Since JESUS said it is something we should do without others knowing we are doing it...!

Please open your Bible to MATT 6:18..Jesus said do this in SECRET...that means without others knowing your doing it....!

To hold a camp where everyone is there to FAST...is wrong according to Jesus's instructions...!

FLEE from that type of "wrong teaching" and stick with what JESUS taught...!