Fasting is about (a temporary with-holding) what we consume to Sustain our bodily life….
Our bodily LIFE…is BLOOD.
Our (senses) LIFE…is Gods breath. (SOUL)
Meaning…
Ears, eyes, nose, mouth, tongue, flesh….
Are all Sustained via Blood flow.
Ears…hear
Eyes…see
Nose…smells
Mouth…utters sound
Tongue…tastes.
Flesh…….Feels touch
By through of the Power of Gods Breath (Life). That man being given a SOUL from God.
Fasting does not diminish blood flow.
Fasting does diminish intake of food that sustains the body’s life…
(It is a temporary experience of willingly suffering, as Jesus was willing to suffer the temporary treatment inflicted upon Him.)
God bless you.
Glory to God,
Taken
I cant disagree with you what said, but there's a little more to it than that. It says in the OT that we fast to afflict our souls. Which is to say to humble ourselves before God.
Paul told us that it is not I that sins but sin that lives in my body. Our body is all about the 5 senses. Especially the tongue and stomach. Man shall not live by bread alone so there's more going on here than sustaining our life.
When our body is hungry it lets you kknow through your stomach. Feed me. Hunger pains. When we fast and deny the body the food that it craves, we are making the body to stand down and be in subjection to our spirit. (Sometimes when I am fasting and I get hunger pains, I tell my flesh that it better shut up about the food or I'll fast tomorrow too!)
Many people will not fast and deny themselves food. I have to live they say. I dont want to lose any muscle mass. Stuff like that. But a careful reading of scriptures shows us that fasting is not a suggestion from God, it is a literal commandment.
We know that the Lord taught us to pray without ceasing, you have not because you ask not. We know that's a command, right? And in Matthew 6 the Lord said this:
Matthew 6:5
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward..../KJV
He said, when you pray, not "if" you pray, so that is a command then, right? The Lord expects us to pray! And He told us how to do it. But first, He told us how not to do it! WHat's all that got to do with fasting? I'm glad you asked, lol.
Because if you keep reading in Matthew 6 you see that He quickly starts talking about fasting too!
Matthew 6:16
16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward..../KJV
As soon as He had given us the model prayer of how to pray, he starts talking about fasting. And there it is...When you fast...be not as the hypocrites. When you fast, so He expects us to fast, just like praying! Correct me if I'm wrong here, but He just put fasting on the same level as praying...didnt He?
WHy does He want us to fast? Many reasons! If my people will Humble themselves...then I will...for one example. And besides, fasting is akin to parking your favorite car i the garage and not putting miles on it that day. It last longer and does detoxify your body. When you need food for energy and there is no food in the stomach, then your body starts burning off toxins and fat cells and all that so it can have energy.
The longest I have ever fasted was 7 days. I was super surprised about how much energy I did have. After 3 or 4 days the body flushes out toxins and your poop turns blacck and nasty. But then you feel good and have energy. That was a little bit spooky, lol.
So the commandment to fast is part of overcoming the flesh. That is our task, to overcome the flesh and that's scripture too. It forces the flesh into subjection to the spirit. When we fast our spirit is in control. Which is also our instruction.
Did I miss anything?