Fasting

Thank you Rev. Greg Bowman

Bible Study-Fasting

For Bible Study I go to numerous sources and becomes a sponge then put it all together and with the help of the Lord it works.

And Now about Fasting...

I look for a lot of either funny stories or illustrations from various sources, books or online however I told my wife you know there are no illustrations concerning the subject of fasting to be found. We need to understand though that it is an important practice in our Christian life.

Fasting was encouraged in both the Old & New Testament.

Old Testament

The prophet Joel appealed to the priests to call a public religious gathering (solemn assembly) in which all would participate and would turn to the Lord in fasting and weeping. It was to be a time of turning your heart to God and a time to focus all thoughts and affections on Him.

In Judah locust plagued the land and the land laid waste. Joel spoke for mourning in the land:

Joel 1:14-15

14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,

15 Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

KJV

In Joel 2 there was a call to repentance and in that call the prophet said Joel 2:12

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:

KJV

The Purpose of Fasting

What is the purpose of fasting? To make me hungry? To help me lose weight? Here is what is so important for us to understand¦

1. Fasting DOES NOT change God. After all the scripture tells us that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Whether I fast or not He is still the same God and has all power in heaven and in earth. Who does fasting change then? (Man)

2. It is not a hunger strike to force Gods hand. I had someone tell me once Well Im just gonna fast until God does something about it