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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:
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)
How to Fast:
- 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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