We are living in a society that ranks “eating” as the number
one passion.
A. We could take the whole time just naming these
places...pizza, roast beef, fried chicken,
hamburgers, Greek food.....and-on-and-on.
1. We have been programmed to eat at set times.
a. There may be no hunger involved....we
eat out of habit.....”because its there”.
1.) As a general rule, Americans eat
too much and too fast.
a.) 80% of Americans are over-
weight.
B. Many are very dependent upon food.
1. Not just for survival:
a. For dealing with anxiety, depression,
boredom, and many other emotional
disturbances.
b. Rather than eating to live....many live to
eat.
1.) These people eat for the taste only.
With this all in mind....we can understand why fasting can
be so much of an emotional issue.
A. People fear to fast.....there are some who,
subconsciously fear starvation.
1. It may come from a real past of not having
much to eat.
2. It could be coming from a lack of faith and
trust that God WILL provide our needs.
B. Many do not want to fast, because they enjoy
food...too much.
1. Could one say that food can be our master?
Now.....on the other side of the coin are the different
degrees of fanaticism concerning fasting.
A. Some of these ideas can a often do turn a person
off.
1. John Wesley said, “Some have exalted
religious fasting beyond all scripture and
reason, and others have utterly disregarded
it.”
a. There are those who feel that fasting
needs to be bound upon all Christians...
as a matter of faith.
1.) They have made rules and reasons
for fasting and try to control others
in this exercise.
b. Then there are those who consider fasting
totally unnecessary....undesirable...and
very inconvenient.
1.) In short.....they feel as though they
can ignore all that is said, in
Scripture, concerning the practice
of fasting.
Even though this subject may be a touchy one or one that
we are comfortable in ignoring......I think that we do need
to take a new look at the concept of fasting.
A. The list of Biblical people who fasted becomes a
“who’s who” of scripture.
1. Moses, David, Elijah, Esther, Daniel,
Jesus Christ, the Apostles, Paul....to but name
a few.
a. There are more teachings on fasting in
the New Testament, than on repentance
and confession.
b. Jesus taught more on fasting than on
baptism and the observance of the Lord’s
supper.
Because the Bible has so much to say on the subject....it is
only right that we consider several points concerning the
subject.
I. Occasions of fasting in the Old Testament.
NOTE: Old testament writings are almost always the
foreshadowing (or the figure) of something to
come, in the New Testament.
1. The Old was the fleshly....the carnal.......The
New is the Spiritual application of this
example or principle or law.
A. Fasting was called for on the “Day of Atonement”.
Lev. 16:29-31 - 29“On the appointed day in early autumn,
you must spend the day fasting and not do any work. This
is a permanent law for you, and it applies to those who are
Israelites by birth, as well as to the foreigners living among
you.
30On this day, atonement will be made for you, and you
will be cleansed from all your sins in the LORD’S
presence. 31It will be a Sabbath day of total rest, and you
will spend the day in fasting. This is a permanent law for
you.
Lev. 23:26-32 - 26Then the LORD said to Moses,
27“Remember that the Day of Atonement is to be
celebrated on the ninth day after the Festival of Trumpets.
On that day you must humble yourselves, gather for a
sacred assembly, and present offerings to the LORD by
fire. 28Do no work during that entire day because it is the
Day of Atonement, when atonement will be made for you
before the LORD your God, and payment will be made for
your sins. 29Anyone who does not spend that day in
humility will be cut off from the community. 30And I will
destroy anyone among you who does any kind of work on
that day. 31You must do no work at all! This is a
permanent law for you, and it must be observed wherever
you live. 32This will be a Sabbath day of total rest for you,
and on that day you must humble yourselves. This time of
rest and fasting will begin the evening before the Day of
Atonement and extend until evening of that day.”
Numbers 29:7 - 7“Ten days later, you must call another
holy assembly of all the people. On that day, the Day of
Atonement, the people must go without food, and no
regular work may be done.
1. This was the only fast that was commanded....
under the Law of Moses.
a. Even though the word “fast” was not used
in these passages....Acts 27:9 connects fasting
to the day of atonement.
2. In Levitcus 16:29 in other translations...the
phrase, “afflict one’s soul” appears and explains
the purpose of this fast.
Lev. 16:29 (NKJV) - 29“This shall be a statute forever for
you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month,
you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether
a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells
among you.
a. From this, we can deduce that fasting should
have an effect on the soul.
1.) Even though it will affect the body...the
flesh....it is not done for the flesh, but to
remove the obstructions of the flesh and
to address the spiritual side of each one
who fasts.
B. There were other notable fasts recorded in the Old
Testament times.
1. People fasted without any specific
commandment in place.......Some fasts were
communal in nature, while others were private
a. They fasted in time of conflict....and
when war seemed imminent.
1.) Israel fasted at Bethel in the war
against the Benjamites (Jud. 20:26)
2.) Again they fasted at Mizpah
during the war with the
Philistines. (I Sam. 7:6)
b. Bible characters fasted when loved
ones were sick.
1.) David fasted and wept for his
son. (II Sam. 12:16-23)
c. They fasted when loved ones died.
1.) The men of Jabesh Gilead
fasted seven days for Saul
(I Sam. 31:13; I Chron. 10:12)
2.) David and the people fasted
for Saul and Jonathan.
(II Sam. 1:12)
d. Much fasting was done in seeking
God’s forgiveness.
1.) Moses fasted forty days
because of the sin of Israel.
(Deut. 9:15-18)
2.) Ahab fasted to be forgiven.
(I Kings 21:17-29)
3.) Nineveh fasted at the
preaching of Jonah.
(Jonah 3:4-10)
4.) Daniel fasted as he confessed
the sins of Israel.
(Dan. 9:3-5)
5.) There was a general fast at the
reading of the law, by Ezra.
(Neh. 9:1-3)
e. The people fasted when they faced
impending danger.
1.) The Jews fasted when they
heard that Haman had
obtained the King’s decree
against them. (Esther 4:3)
f. The Israelites set up times of fasting,
to commemorate certain events.
1.) The tenth day, of the fifth
month was set aside in
commemoration of the
burning of the Temple.
(Jer. 52:12-13)
II. The purposes....nature...and length of fasts are also
recorded.
A. The purpose:
1. To “afflict the soul” (Lev. 23:26-32)
2. To “chasten the soul: (Psalm 69:10;
Psalm 35:13)
a. Those who fasted felt that by so
humbling themselves....they would
be more likely to incur God’s good
favor. (Ezra 8:21-23; Isaiah 57:15;
Isaiah 66:1-2)
** Because they were seeking God’s favor....fasting was
ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED WITH PRAYER!!
B. The nature of fasting.
1. Normal fast was total abstinence of all food,
but not of water.
2. Sometimes the fast was a partial one...a
restriction of diet. (Dan. 10:2-3)
3. On rare occasions there was a total and
absolute fast...no food...no water....
NO NOTHING!!!
a. The people of Nineveh (Jonah 3:5-10).
b. Queen Esther (Esther 4:16).
c. The Apostle Paul (Acts 9:9).
C. The length of the fast:
1. Often only one day....from sunset to sunset.
(Judges 20:26; I Sam. 14:24; II Sam. 1:12)
2. A fast might be for one night. (Dan. 6:18)
3. The fast of Esther continued for three days.
(Esther 4:16)
4. A the burial of Saul, the fast by Jabesh Gilead
was for seven days. (I Sam. 31:13; I Chron.
10:12)
5. David fasted for seven days.
(II Sam. 12:16-18)
6. The longest fasts on record in God’s Word
were forty day fasts done by: Moses, Elijah,
and Jesus Christ.
(Ex. 34:28; Deut. 9:9; I Kings 19:8;
Matt. 4:2; Luke 4:2)
III. Fasting, as found in the New Testament.
A. Jesus fasted forty days in the wilderness.
(Matt. 4:1-9; Luke 4:1-2)
Luke 4:1-2 - 1Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left
the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit to go out into the
wilderness, 2where the Devil tempted him for forty days.
He ate nothing all that time and was very hungry.
1. This fast was done under a lot of stress.
a. Christ was just as hungry as you or I
would be........he fasted, as a human.
B. Christ taught fasting in his “sermon on the mount”
(Matt. 6:16-18).
Matt. 6:16-18 - 16“And when you fast, don’t make it
obvious, as the hypocrites do, who try to look pale and
disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I
assure you, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17But
when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18Then
no one will suspect you are fasting, except your Father,
who knows what you do in secret. And your Father, who
knows all secrets, will reward you.
1. Notice.....Jesus said, “when”....not, “if”.
2. When done properly....Christ promised a
great spiritual reward from the Father.
a. Fasting was placed in the same status
as praying and the giving of alms.
3. Jesus described a time when His disciples
would also fast.
Matt. 9:14-17 - 15Jesus responded, “Should the
wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom?
Someday he will be taken from them, and then they will
fast. 16And who would patch an old garment with
unshrunk cloth? For the patch shrinks and pulls away from
the old cloth, leaving an even bigger hole than before.
17And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. The old
skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and
ruining the skins. New wine must be stored in new
wineskins. That way both the wine and the wineskins are
preserved.”
C. Christ taught about the power that would be
released when prayer and fasting are combined.
Matt. 9:23-29 (NKJV) - 23Jesus said to him, “If you can
believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24Immediately the father of the child cried out and said
with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” 25When
Jesus saw that the people came running together, He
rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb
spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no
more!” 26Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly,
and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that
many said, “He is dead.” 27But Jesus took him by the hand
and lifted him up, and he arose. 28And when He had come
into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why
could we not cast it out?” 29So He said to them, “This kind
can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
IV. Fasting in the Lord’s Church.
A. The Church at Antioch
Acts 13:1-3 - 1Among the prophets and teachers of the
church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called
“the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the
childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul.
2One day as these men were worshipping the Lord and
fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul
for the special work I have for them.” 3So after more
fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and
sent them on their way.
1. The Christians at Antioch fasted and
prayed before sending out (ordaining)
Paul and Barnabas.
a. This was done as an example of a
group combining fasting and
prayer in serving the Lord.
B. The Churches in Galatia. (Acts 14:21-23)
1. This prayer and fasting was connected with
the serious task of appointing Elders to the
Church.
** As we look at these passages, we see that this was
done in every Church.....not just the “Jewish”
congregations.
1. This is a CHRISTIAN ACT......not just a
carry over from Jewish law.
V. Fasting in the ministry of the Apostle Paul.
A. Fasting was a trademark of his ministry.
1. Fasting is mentioned apart from normal
hunger and thirst.
II Cor. 6:5 (NKJV) - 5in stripes, in imprisonments, in
tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings
II Cor. 11:27 - (NKJV) - 27in weariness and toil, in
sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often,
in cold and nakedness.
a. In both of these passages, Paul refers to
fasting as a mark or proof of his ministry.
B. Paul also taught that fasting might have a place in
the lives of others.
I Cor. 7:5 - 5Do not deprive one another except with
consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting
and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not
tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
1. I believe that this is a specific point of fasting
.......that the marriage bond might be strength-
ened.
a. In this passage we have a very specific
problem that is mentioned.....the lack of
self control.
1.) Understand this.....when you fast....
you completely deprive self from
controlling you.
VI. How this all affects us....today....as Christians.
A. The teachings of Jesus Christ assume fasting by
those who would follow Him.
Matt. 6:16-18 - 16“And when you fast, don’t make it
obvious, as the hypocrites do, who try to look pale and disheveled
so people will admire them for their fasting. I assure you, that is
the only reward they will ever get. 17But when you fast, comb
your hair and wash your face. 18Then no one will suspect you are
fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in secret. And
your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.
1. Twice in this passage we read the phrase,
“When you fast”.
a. There is no question that the followers
of Christ were expected to fast.
2. We are His disciples....we are His followers...
could there be any doubt that Christ would
expect His followers to fast....win control
of self and all that self would put forth:
a. Pride, lust (for food, in this instance),
self-will, stubbornness, etc., etc..
B. Christ said that His disciples would fast when
He was gone.
Matt. 9:14-15 - 14One day the disciples of John the
Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why do we and the
Pharisees fast, but your disciples don’t fast?”
15Jesus responded, “Should the wedding guests mourn
while celebrating with the groom? Someday he will be
taken from them, and then they will fast.
C. We see that Jesus taught all who claim to be His
disciples.....how to fast.
1. We readily see that Christ had instructed the
Apostles, but do we not see a principle
here?
a. Christ has been taken from us....us as
much as the Apostles.
D. We, as Christians, imitate the early Church, as
much as possible.....let us look at the early
Church.
Acts 13:1-3 - 1Among the prophets and teachers of the
church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the
black man), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood
companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. 2One day as these
men were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
“Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work I have for
them.” 3So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their
hands on them and sent them on their way.
1. Fasting was not reserved to only the Apostles.
2. Great things were connected with fasting.
3. Fasting was an universal practice of the
New Testament Church...can we do less?
E. If we are following the Apostle Paul....as He
was following Christ.....is there any doubt that
fasting should be a way of life....as it was with
Paul.....as it was with Christ.
VII How should we, as Christians, fast?
A. Not to be seen of men. (Matt. 6:16-18)
B. Not as some kind of religious ritual.
(Matt. 9:14-17)
C. Not from a false heart or an unrepentant heart.
(Isaiah 58:3-9)
SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR FASTING.
1. Don’t fast if you doctor advises against it for a
medical reason (ulcers, diabetes, etc..)
a. This does not add credence to the doctor’s
personal opinion that he may think that you
are silly or some other non-medical opinion.
2. Remember that there are a variety of partial fasts
that can also accomplish what we want to do....and
are equally pleasing to God.
3. Drink a lot of liquids while fasting.
4. Unless time limits are imposed (such as in a group
fast), you set the time limits.
a. Even in a group fast....if you realize that you
are not doing well, physically......STOP.
5. If you find yourself becoming ill....stop the fast.
6. Have a reason....a goal....an issue....to fast for.
7. Make sure that you can spend some time alone, in
prayer, while you are fasting.
CONCLUSION:
Let the examples and teachings that come from God’s word
guide you.
A. Study to see and prove to yourself, the
effectiveness of prayer and fasting.
Try it......especially try it when your heart fervently desires
something from God.....or if you see a particularly large
and seemingly unsolveable problem in your life.
A. Try it........you will be blessed.
