The benefits of fasting and the consequences of not abstaining
Written by Senior Pastor Ndayiragije-Misigaro Joel; January 24, 2023
Reading verse:
“and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” Luke 2:37
INTRODUCTION
The Bible has from the Old and the New Testaments, verses that speak about fasting, and why people ought to fast, but there is a need to understand this topic of "fasting". And most of the questions that arise in my mind that I need to address here are, what benefits are, and what are the consequences of not denying oneself?
Here we have the story of a woman whom the writer of the Gospel according to Luke, calls Anna, a Prophetess. In the Old Testament and the New Testament, women possess the gift of prophetic powers. Deborah (Judges 4:4), was one of the earliest leaders of Israel, and the daughter of Philip the Evangelist prophesied (Acts 21:9). Anna was a widow of about fourscore and four years. Anna had lived with her husband for seven years before his death. “If she was married at the age of twelve, she must have been over one hundred years of age, unless Luke intended eighty-four years to comprise her total age. Like Simeon, she belonged to the pious remnant of Judaism.” (The Wycliffe Bible Commentary)
Both the Old and New Testaments teach the value of fasting, which is abstaining from food or drink in order to focus on prayer and seeking God's will. Fasting occurs over 70 times throughout Scripture. In the Old Testament, there were two types of fasting: public and private. Both types offer considerable spiritual benefits.
Through many examples of people in the Bible who fasted, we can know that God grants supernatural revelation and wisdom through this practice. Moses, Daniel, and even Jesus fasted! Scripture tells us that fasting will help us grow a more intimate relationship with Christ and will open our eyes to what He wants to teach us.
1. FOR GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION.
Anna, as old as she was, never ceased to pray, worship, and fast, but all of this was for her to get God’s guidance and direction. It is remarkable her faith in showing confidence that this infant was the promised means of national redemption. (Luke 2:39)
Believers must understand that there is no such thing as fasting without praying, not at all. The benefits of fasting are seen in the way of prayer, fasting associated with prayer means a proper fast that is full of potentiality and in agreement with divine discourse.
We can look at the below verses, it is apparent that the church was given direction and guidance by the Holy Spirit on what to do, and in order to accomplish that they had to fast and pray, when they finished fasting then the Holy Spirit said to the believers to sperate two men for a special task that the Holy Spirit had for them.
Acts 13:2-4 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So, after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
2. WHEN TO WORSHIP & PRAY!
The scripture shows Anna serving God in the temple with fasting and prayer and the combination of the two gives a proper service of worship towards God. Most Bible translations speak of the word “worship” and KJV has omitted the word “worship” and only speaks of fasting and prayer instead.
Luke 2:37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.
Prayer is also associated with fasting; we see Ezra calling for fasting, why because at that time the pillar of clouds was not there to lead them to the Holy land, but the hand of their God was upon them, so, we see here another benefit of fasting and praying, it gives God hand to be upon those who run to Him for help.
Ezra 8:23 So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer.
3. WHEN MOURNING!
Scripture speaks of instances where the children of God after hearing the heartbroken news. They would mourn and fast, and this fasting in difficult situations was the way to sustain them to bear and understand god’s plan or will, as to why things did not go their normal and would offer prayers to God for that matter.
And the fasting benefit makes a believer stronger, and accept God's will to happen!
Nehemiah 1:4 "When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
Nehemiah, upon hearing the distressing news from Jerusalem, that Jerusalem’s walls and gates have been destroyed, confesses to God the sins of Israel and prays for deliverance for His people.
Psalm 69:10 "When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach." For the psalmist here, the fast made him humble before God.
4. WHEN EXPECTATIONS ON PRAYER ARE NOT MET!
We see another benefit of abstaining. It is effective when dealing with or facing unanswered prayer. It does not mean that all of what believers pray for will automatically be answered! But we should expect that our prayers can be subtle and lack answers. In this aspect, fasting will help you comprehend God’s will, and why you did not get the answer to what you prayed for.
Psalm 35:13-14 "Yet when they were ill, I put on a sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered, I went about mourning for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother."
5. THE DON’TS OF FASTING
Jesus warned us to show off that we were "fasting", which is very erroneous. Do not even pray with wrong motives rather when denying yourself, avoid criticizing others or indulging in fleshly acts. What goes in your mind is dangerous, if not what the Holy Spirit inspires you.
Matthew 6:17-18
Luke 18:9-12 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or, even comparable this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of what I get.
6. FOR SPIRITUAL POWERS ENDOWMENT!
Fasting aligns you with the path of God and enables you to affect your duties, such as in the ministry of deliverance.
The disciples here were rebuked for lacking faith and power to cast out demons;
Mark 9: 29 And he said unto them, this kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
Matthew 17:21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
CONCLUSION.
Fasting is not to be disassociated with prayer, as this is the right way to approach God in a proper worship service, and the biggest benefits that fasting accords are that it humbles a believer, and the believers have the ability to hear and understand the mystery of God. It gives the power to bear the loss and mournful news. "Fasting" allows the power to convict sinners of repentance, as Jesus’ followers confirmed while on the way to Emmaus "our hearts burned with fire" Luke 24:32.
It energizes believers when in difficulties, and helps them see and know that God is in their midst, like Ezra! The consequence of not "fasting" properly is that you are robbing yourself of the endowment of spiritual powers, and healing when under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
For those who are sick and have health conditions, it is always advised to consult your physicians or Doctors before embarking on "fasting".
If Anna was as aged as she was, but was powerful in serving the Lord, with fasting and prayer, worshipping, what are the reasons you for anyone else who might be below 84 years old for not "fasting"? To me, the prophetess, Anna, set the standard in our New Testament, that Fasting is very crucial and a must or duty for every believer to do.
God bless you.
