The Benefits Of Fasting And The Consequences Of Not Abstaining Series

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.