The Purpose of Fasting
There is much in the bible on this topic as well as many other means whereby one can find information on Biblical fasting. This flyer is meant to simply be another one of those resources you may find helpful in your desire to learn more about this spiritual discipline. Let us begin by sharing a definition of fasting.
It is a voluntary, private, and spirit-led separation of one’s usual activities of life; primarily involving the members of God’s body separating certain foods and liquids from one’s diet.
They are usually accompanied by prayer which is intended to heighten focus, intensify fervor, and to gain control over one’s fleshly cravings and human will. There are examples of both individual and corporate fasts given in scripture. Thus they can be both an individual and corporate exercise of spiritual discipline.
As one will see it is a discipline that can be: called for, declared, and commanded in scripture, both the Old and New Testaments
Fasting in the bible
Old Testament
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Lev. 19:29-31 – over national crisis, also linked with a spirit of mourning
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Deut. 9:9 – Moses fasted 40 days
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2 Sam. 1:1:12, 3:35, 12:16 – David fasted over Saul’s, Abners, and his child’s death
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1 Kings 19:7-18 – Elijah fasts for 40 days after fleeing Jezebel
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Dan. 1:8 – Daniel fasts for purification
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Isa. 58:2-6 – God’s reasons for his people to fast
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Joel 2:12 – prophets often called for as a means of producing repentance
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Jonah 3:10 – The entire city fasted and God spared Judgement
New Testament
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Matt. 4:1-2 – Jesus Fasted 40 days
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Matt. 6:16-18 – Now not to be accompanied by Old Testament external rituals
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Luke 2:37 – Annas for redemption of Jerusalem through coming Messiah
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Acts 13:2-3 – Before releasing early missionaries to ministry
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2 Cor. 6:5 – Paul refers to both voluntary and imposed times through circumstances
What Fasting Is
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It brings us into closer union with God!
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Helps to set priorities in our lives!
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To bring justice, get rid of selfishness, and to help others who are in need!
What Fasting Is Not
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Is never to be a public display of spirituality
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Is never meant for the purpose of harming or punishing the body!
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Is never to be viewed as a merit-producing, manipulative, or in any way a manner of bargaining with God!
3 Primary Types of Fasts
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Partial Fast – This is the type of fasting that is referred to in Daniel 1:8. Here and in other places it seems that the one fasting refrained from some forms or types of food while taking some liquids.
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Normal Fast – This is the type of fast Jesus did while tempted in the wilderness. The devil tempted Jesus with bread but not water. So we assume this was a water only fast
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Absolute Fast – This is when no food or liquids are consumed. This seems to be a rare fast and only mentioned a few times in scripture. It seems that this was the type of fast Paul experienced on the road to Damascus. We also see that Moses, Ezra, and Elijah did this type of fast