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Most of us here have the WRONG idea of fasting

Christian_Victor

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And I'll tell you why.

Fasting isn't about the ammount of food you eat or don't eat, it isn't about detox (unless you're doing it for physical reasons only), and it isn't about denying anything physical (although you can deny something physical).


Jesus says when mentioning the topic of fasting that it is to get closer to God. Heck, when you say "I'm going to fast for 24 hours" that can be either:


A) Not eating, just drinking for a day.


B) Reading your Bible, praying, and getting close to God for the whole day, wake to sleep.



Keep in mind brothers and sisters: fasting isn't about food, it's about getting closer to God.


God bless you all.
 

Vaneeza Malkah

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Fasting litteraly means "to put the fork down". It is about avoiding food, so that you can be closer to G-d.

In Matthew 17:29 Yeshua (jesus) mentions a type of demon that can be expelled only by prayer and fasting.

Strong's 3523 nestis: root word of nesteuo (found 2 times in KJV)
fasting, not having eaten

Strong's 3522 nesteuo: root word of nestia (found 21 times in KJV)
1) to abstain as a religious exercise from food and drink: either entirely, if the fast lasted but a single day, or from customary and choice nourishment, if it continued several days

Strong's 3521 nesteia: (mentioned in Matthew 17) (found 8 times in KJV)
1) a fasting, fast

a) a voluntary, as a religious exercise

1) of private fasting

2) the public fast as prescribed by the Mosaic Law and kept yearly on the great day of atonement, the tenth of the month of Tisri (the month Tisri comprises a part of our September and October); the fast accordingly, occurred in the autumn when navigation was usually dangerous on account of storms b) a fasting caused by want or poverty
 
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Child of JC

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whitneysyed said:
In Matthew 17:29 Yeshua (jesus) mentions a type of demon that can be expelled only by prayer and fasting.

I recently discovered this in scripture. When I asked about it in the deliverance ministry forum, I was told that Jesus told them to fast and pray to increase their faith, and not that the demon would actually be casted out because of the fast.

You had alot of good strong facts in this post! Good Post!
Bev.
 
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musicionary

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I can't find Matthew 17:29 in any Bibles at my house! (-; What version do you guys have that has verses 28 and 29 in it? Mine only go to verse 27 and it's talking about Jesus telling Peter to take money from the mouth of the first fish he catches and give it to taxes or something, then it goes on to chapter 18 talking about who the greatest is in the kingdom of heaven. Could the reference wrong by any chance? Thanks! (-; God bless y'all!
 
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Smiggy

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BTw, the word " and fasting" was not there in the original manuscript.
It was added by the translator.

What it means is the demon comes out by prayer.. period.

TO cast out demons, we do not need to fast. All we need is to command in Jesus name..

 
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Smiggy

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Fasting will not get you near to God. If you are a Born again believer, you are already made near by the blood of Jesus. You are sitting in Christ and with Christ in the heavenly places at the right hand of the Father. How near more do you wanna get? This is your spiritual postion right now in heaven.

We feel far from God because our mind and thinking is not renewed yet. That is why God seems so alienated.



 
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Smiggy

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flaglady said:
Isn't it also about denying the flesh? That by denying those things of the flesh (sic: food) we make space in our minds and consciousness for God?

if we are honest.. fasting dont make always make conscious me more of God.
It makes me conscious of how loud my tummy can growl and how grouchy we can get without food..


 
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roseglass6370

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AMEN!
 
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JacobsDream

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flaglady said:
Isn't it also about denying the flesh? That by denying those things of the flesh (sic: food) we make space in our minds and consciousness for God?

I agree 100%. Food is probably one of the most important things in life and when you temporarily abstain from that, something has to fill the gap and thats where getting closer to God comes in. Yes, we are already close to him buy being born again but we grow in him. He doesn't want us lukewarm does he
 
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spirit1st

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JESUS CHRIST SAID WE ALL WOULD FAST!Fasting should be done with water only.It is to allow our inner man to gain control.The flesh is weakened in about 3 full days.Then we are walking in our inner man or spirit[the same]We should hear the HOLY GHOST clearly then .If we eat or drink juice or anything.it feeds the flesh and the spirit will not gain control.
When the LORD says walk in the spirit.He is talking about our spirit ,born of GOd.Mat 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. Mat 6:18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
at 9:15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
fasting will cause us to grow faster in the LORD!
But few can put them selfs aside and do it right.it takes effort.as satan will try very hard to keep you from it.the 1st day is easy .the 2nd he trys everything to stop you .the 3rd ,your mind is very clear ,you feel great.but tire easy.But on this day.You should hear the LORD easy and talk with him.I would say write down questions you want to know before you fast!
 
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training4utopia

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It is not the abstaining from food. Resisting hunger when we feel really hungry.
You better get ready to turn off your t.v. keep relationships with others at an extreme minimum. Obligations should be the only thing that hinder you. They better not eat up the majority of your day either. No internet, no radio, no entertainment Christian or secular. Water only. If you're not reading a Bible you'd better be praying. If you're not doing either you better be meditating on the word of God. Personally I don't think it to be good to listen to preachers much during this time. This is all about Focusing on God and only God. If you're even thinking about the food you're abstaining from, you might as well eat it. If you're thinking about the entertainment you're abstaining from, you might as well watch it. If you are going to do things other than read the Bible and pray, it should be extremely rare and should still involove reading and have a Christian vibe around it. Even that is questionable, especially if you're looking forward to it. This is all about seeking God's heart and mind, bringing your flesh captive under your spirit and dicipline. While fasting in itself doesn't bring you closer to God, those things I just mentioned do. And you can really take advantage on focusing on those things when you fast. This is about our relationship with God people. Praying and reading the Bible should consume 90-95% of our day at least. Fasting is'nt abstaining from food.... It's reading the Bible, praying and doing nearly nothing else.
 
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tmahomes

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Fasting is to be taken seriously. If the only thing you get out of fasting is a growling tummy then the reasons for entering into the fast must be evaluated. Fasting is discipline, we always want what we want when we want it. God is a God of order and we need to line up with His plan not Him line up with ours. I would encourage every believer to fast only if you feel led by the Holy Spirit to do so. I have seen God move in mighty ways on my behalf as well as others not just only because of a fast, but because of living a lifestyle of obedience. If God says fast, who are we to question Him? Just do it and watch Him move.
 
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spirit1st

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Well,We all are to be led by the HOLY GHOST and have the signs and gifts.Few recieve much of anything , from the HOLY GHOST?Because few count JESUS CHRIST ,there LORD and MASTER.Perfering to lead there own lifes and only when really in need ,go to the LORd .But We are to talk with HIm always.Study the bible,ASKING THE HOLY GHOST TO TEACH US!MANY ARE CALLED?FEW CHOOSEN!
 
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elvenstar

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Wow, I never knew that. Guess I'm one of thsoe people getting the wrong idea. Thanks! I find it hard to fast for an entire day, so I usually fast for half days. Some may call it cheating, but at least it's something.
 
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TraciFisher

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I recently started fasting by accident, at first. I was studying in the mornings as soon as I would take my son to school- and I would be so into the Word that I wouldn't stop to eat for hours. When I realized that I had been fasting for certain hours of the day- and gaining so much from my study, where I depended on the Bible as my nourishment- as the most important focus in my life- I got "it"- it is an act to put God first... out of reverence for Him... and I believe that the guidelines are specific to each person, based on what God puts in their heart. If God hasn't suggested to you that you fast- or lead you to it- then you should probably pray about it or set a specific time out of each day, first to give to God. I don't think it helps if you're at a time where it would be a distraction to be hungry... I dunno... I would start with a few solid hours while reading or studying and praying... and push yourself to show God you feel it is important to Him and have Him lead you to what you should be doing. It's an act of faith to try...
 
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