Fasting

To fast is to abstain from certain foods and/or drinks for a specific period of time.  Christian fasting is primarily a tool by which we humble ourselves before God, by subjugating the flesh's will to the spirit's will in reverence to God.   Jesus demonstrated a classic example of this when he fasted for 40 days in the wilderness prior to facing the devil in temptation (Luke 4:1-2).   The Bible's many examples of fasts suggest that fasting was an important part of a person's walk with God and ministry.   The Apostle Paul mentioned he fasted often during his ministry (2 Corinthians 11:27).

Purposes and examples of fasts in the Bible

Breakthroughs for Guidance:  

• Strategic breakthroughs and specific direction from the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2-3; Acts 9:1-19)
• Ezra proclaims fast to humble themselves, seek guidance and protection (Ezra 8:21); God answers their prayers in Ezra 8:23.

Confession and repentance:

• Daniel fasts and prays, confessing sin and asking mercy from God, forgiveness for Israel’s sins and restoration of Jerusalem. His prayers are answered and Gabriel comes to give Daniel wisdom (Daniel 9)
• Nehemiah prays and fasts for many days, confessing Israel’s sin and asks the Lord for the favor of the King (Nehemiah 1:4)
• The people confess their corporate sin to God prior to renewing the covenant (Nehemiah 9:1-2).
• Ezra fasts and confesses corporate sin of Israel (Ezra 9:3-15)
• Israel repents from sin before Samuel and fasts at Mizpah (1 Samuel 7:6)
• People of Ninevah fast in repentance to avert the prophesied destruction (Jonah 3:5-10).  God relents.

Humbling oneself before God:

• David prays for enemies who are sick, explaining, ^"But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart" (Psalm 35:13 NKJV).
• David fasts and weeps for his son in case God may spare him (2 Samuel 12:16,21-23)
• King Ahab humbles himself before God by fasting, wearing sackcloth and mourning in 1 Kings 21:25-29. God relents, sparing Ahab of calamity (28).
• Chasten the soul (Discipline or purify): Psalm 69:10
• People of Ninevah fast in repentance to avert the prophesied destruction (Jonah 3:5-10).  God relents.

Protection:

• The Jews fast and pray after they learn of Haman’s plan to exterminate them (Esther 4:2-4).
• (& Guidance) Ezra holds prayer and fasting to humble themselves before God, and to seek the right way to travel from Him. God answered their prayers (Ezra 8:21-23).
• Jehoshaphat proclaims fast when he learns of a large army coming from Syria to attack (2 Chronicles 20:2-4)

Spiritual strengthening, exerting the spirit's will over flesh's will:  

• Jesus fasted for 40 days prior to facing the devil in temptation (Luke 4:1-2)

• Certain demons only can be routed through prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21)

Types of Fasts

• Full (no food or water):   Saul (Paul) for 3 days (Acts 9:9);  Esther for 3 days (Esther 4:16)
• Vegetables & water:  Daniel ate only vegetables & water for 10 days (Daniel 1:12)
• Food only:  Jesus in Luke 4:1-2 ate nothing for 40 days; mighty men mourned Saul’s death 7 days (1 Samuel 31:13); David pleading  for mercy on his son 7 days (2 Samuel 12:16-22)
• Day long (unspecified): resolution of conflict between Benjamin and rest of Israel’s tribes (Judges 20:26); repentance (1 Samuel 7:6); Israel mourning Saul's death (2 Samuel 1:12)

• Identify the purpose, type and duration of the fast
• Combine it with prayer: widow serving God in the temple (Luke 2:37); Cornelius (Acts 10:30); Elders sent out (Acts 14:22-24); Saul and Barnabas sent out (Acts 13:3)
• Pray as a "spiritual sacrifice" during the times you would normally eat
• Refrain from sex during fast: ^"Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer" (1 Corinthians 7:5 NKJV)
• Forego comfort:  Ahab tore clothes and wore sackcloth (1 Kings 21:27 NKJV); Ezra tore garment and plucked out hair; prayed on his knees w/hands spread out in confession (Ezra 9:3-15); Nehemiah wore sackcloth and put ashes on head (Nehemiah 9:1)
• Express appropriate actions of feeling:   Ezra prayed on his knees w/hands spread out to God in confession (Ezra 9:3-15);  Nehemiah wept and mourned in prayer (Nehemiah 1:4); Mordecai wept, wailed and lay in sackcloth and ashes (Esther 4:1-2); David wept his son (2 Samuel 12:16-22)
• Do it sincerely, not pretentiously:  Joel said to weep, mourn and rend your heart, not your garment  (Joel 2:12-13); Don't fast in duplicity - modern example:  fasting to seek guidance and to lose weight
• Fast to be seen by God; not openly for man’s approval (Mathew 6:16,18); not as a means to earn religious honor or respect among people (Luke 18:9-14); anoint your head and wash your face (Matthew 6:17), so that people don’t realize you are fasting
• In obedience:  The purpose for a fast will be nullified by the continuation of sinful habits.  God instructed the people, "Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion everyone to his brother. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother" (Zechariah 7:9-10 NKJV); cease oppression of poor and observe the Sabbath with pure and joyful worship, not pleasure seeking (Isaiah 58:6-14).

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