Fasting:
What is fasting?
The word as used in many contexts of the bible means to go without food. There is also another verse that tells of going without other things and that also is a fast. Any time you see mention of fasting it is in the bitterness of the soul. The very first time fasting is mentioned is in this verse:
Judges 20:25-27
25And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword. 26Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 27And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
This is a picture of a people in a bad situation here and they are hurting! They are fighting their own brothers! Throughout the bible you find people fasting because of the pain they feel.
Why should you fast?
*What reason is NOT acceptable to God?*
Isaiah 58:1
1Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. 2Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. 3Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. 4Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. 5Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
In these verses we see what many call a fast is NOT ACCEPTABLE! In verse 4 we discover why their fasting is not acceptable. It is because they are doing it for the purpose of being heard by God just as pagans cut themselves. It is also because they are putting on a show for strife. It is as though they are telling others how badly they feel about each other.
So we see that fasting for show or to be heard by God is not acceptable. Do not go fasting thinking that God will hear you if you deny your body food. God says He will not hear you because you put on a show either to man or to Him.
*What reason IS acceptable?*
6Is 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? 7Is 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? 8Then 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 reward.
God is talking to us here saying that when we fast it ought to be out of a heart that truly cares so much that we just do not want our food! The acceptable fast is the one where we are not fasting to be heard but we are fasting because our heart is so touched.
This is the only reason to fast. It is because our heart is suffering with kindness.
What does fasting do for us?
Remember fasting wrongly gets us nothing because God does not accept it. But lets read on to see what God does for one who cares so much that they cant eat:
9Then 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; 10And 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 noon day: 11And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. 12And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
John 9:31
31Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
God says He will hear us when our heart wants what His wants. God wants us to take things to heart. Those who do are heard in their prayers. We are blessed in all manner of ways.
Matthew 17:20-21
20And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
In this verse we see Jesus talking to the disciples who could not cast a demon out. He lets them know they could not because of their lack of faith. Then He says something interesting. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. Fasting is something that can get you close enough to God that even the strongest demon can not stand next to you.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the word. When you walk close to God He will speak with you and your faith will grow!
How is fasting done?
There is no formula. The bible records different amounts of time people would fast. Some would fast for a day while others 40 days. The amount of time to fast is not determined by formula but by how the heart feels.
The longest records of people fasting was 40 days. This is the maximum the body can handle. Fasting this amount of time lets you know that this person is REALLY in deep distress. Remember though that God is close to the broken hearted (Psalm 34:17-19) and He comforts those who morn (Matthew 5:4).
Application:
Dont fast unless your heart is really hurting for something. When you fast pray.
Dont fast to be heard or for special privilege.
Fast out of a pure heart of care.
What is fasting?
The word as used in many contexts of the bible means to go without food. There is also another verse that tells of going without other things and that also is a fast. Any time you see mention of fasting it is in the bitterness of the soul. The very first time fasting is mentioned is in this verse:
Judges 20:25-27
25And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword. 26Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 27And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
This is a picture of a people in a bad situation here and they are hurting! They are fighting their own brothers! Throughout the bible you find people fasting because of the pain they feel.
Why should you fast?
*What reason is NOT acceptable to God?*
Isaiah 58:1
1Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. 2Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. 3Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. 4Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. 5Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
In these verses we see what many call a fast is NOT ACCEPTABLE! In verse 4 we discover why their fasting is not acceptable. It is because they are doing it for the purpose of being heard by God just as pagans cut themselves. It is also because they are putting on a show for strife. It is as though they are telling others how badly they feel about each other.
So we see that fasting for show or to be heard by God is not acceptable. Do not go fasting thinking that God will hear you if you deny your body food. God says He will not hear you because you put on a show either to man or to Him.
*What reason IS acceptable?*
6Is 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? 7Is 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? 8Then 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 reward.
God is talking to us here saying that when we fast it ought to be out of a heart that truly cares so much that we just do not want our food! The acceptable fast is the one where we are not fasting to be heard but we are fasting because our heart is so touched.
This is the only reason to fast. It is because our heart is suffering with kindness.
What does fasting do for us?
Remember fasting wrongly gets us nothing because God does not accept it. But lets read on to see what God does for one who cares so much that they cant eat:
9Then 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; 10And 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 noon day: 11And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. 12And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
John 9:31
31Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
God says He will hear us when our heart wants what His wants. God wants us to take things to heart. Those who do are heard in their prayers. We are blessed in all manner of ways.
Matthew 17:20-21
20And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
In this verse we see Jesus talking to the disciples who could not cast a demon out. He lets them know they could not because of their lack of faith. Then He says something interesting. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. Fasting is something that can get you close enough to God that even the strongest demon can not stand next to you.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the word. When you walk close to God He will speak with you and your faith will grow!
How is fasting done?
There is no formula. The bible records different amounts of time people would fast. Some would fast for a day while others 40 days. The amount of time to fast is not determined by formula but by how the heart feels.
The longest records of people fasting was 40 days. This is the maximum the body can handle. Fasting this amount of time lets you know that this person is REALLY in deep distress. Remember though that God is close to the broken hearted (Psalm 34:17-19) and He comforts those who morn (Matthew 5:4).
Application:
Dont fast unless your heart is really hurting for something. When you fast pray.
Dont fast to be heard or for special privilege.
Fast out of a pure heart of care.
