FASTING

I'm glad you brought this up! I'm very curious about fasting. There's nothing I understand about it.

Fire-7 said:

.... And I have even heard of someone (prophet Brian Carn), who went on an 80 day fast without food or water. ...

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I don't know anything about this guy but I will guarantee he didn't go 80 days without fluids.

I no longer fast for health reasons, but I do know that you should never go without fluids, In fact, when I used to fast, I drank gatorade or fruit juice. Getting dehydrated and sick is not going to help your spiritual growth.

I have gone through periods of eating very little or nothing for a few days. It can be done if you are praying a lot, I felt compelled to do it one day. I tried to eat my breakfast as usual but couldn't have more than two bites, tried to drink milk but couldn't have more than one sip. This pattern continued for about 3 days except I could stomach black coffee and a few fruits and vegetables. It was by far the most in tune with God and my spiritual life than I had ever seen before. A few old school pastors recommend fasting a few times a year and crying out to God in fervent prayer. I think they are right to promote it and all christians should give it a try.

God says in isaiah 58 what kind of fast pleases him. Jesus already took care of the flesh and told us to take care of the poor. fasting like we have been taught is like lifting weights-it profits little

gregg said:

God says in isaiah 58 what kind of fast pleases him. Jesus already took care of the flesh and told us to take care of the poor. fasting like we have been taught is like lifting weights-it profits little

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Yes but Luke 16:10 tells us "whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much."

Certainly no one is too important to overlook the small things I'm sure we all fall into this pattern from time to time.

Fasting is a prat of the quote on quote Christian life. We need to understand that fasting starts with in the heart then with the actual obstaining from food or whatever material possessions. We should fast between ourselves and God and not try to be seen by the world.

UHCAIan said:

Fasting is a prat of the quote on quote Christian life. We need to understand that fasting starts with in the heart then with the actual obstaining from food or whatever material possessions. We should fast between ourselves and God and not try to be seen by the world.

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That is a good point have you tried a fast from say technology or your car or whatever else is important to you ?

I'll sometimes fast breakfast and lunch throughout the week. Sometimes it is really easy and makes me feel close to God and my prayers feel more effective. Other times I feel like my sinful nature rises up in those times and I feel completely miserable and wretched with myself and my weakness. Whatever happens during these times when I give up stuff whether food, drink, or other things God wants me to take time from, he is usually pinpointing some part of my life or something else specific that I can pray about in place of what I'm fasting.

In Matt. chapter 6 God says:
"When you pray..."
"When you give..."
"WHEN you fast..."

God expects us to fast. The big 40-day fast? For some, yes, but for all? Probably not. In all my years I have knowingly met only one person who has done one of those. Clear broths, vitamins, etc.

But there are several types of fasts:
- Sunrise to sundown
- One day
- One week
- One meal a day for a determined amount of time.
- 21 day "Daniel Fast" where you eat "no pleasing foods." (No breads, no sugars, no meat, etc.) Google 'Daniel Fast' to see what it's about.

Unless your health is truly poor, you should be able to manage at least one of these.

But fasting is only fasting if it is accompanied by prayer and sincerely seeking God....otherwise it's just a diet.

And fasting isn't giving up TV or Internet time. That is just simple 'sacrifice.' But it can be done in conjunction with fasting.

A fast done in complete sincerity will absolutely alter your relationship with God.

Jentezen Franklin has done in depth writing (and has a very good podcast) about Fasting.

He can witness first-hand into what God can do to/with someone who fasts sincerely. It is actually quite amazing.

I am of the opinion that fasting is a tool that many Christians have either forgotten about or intentionally neglected due to self-doubt or confusion as to what is actually involved and the benefits it can bring forth.

Good point about God's chosen fast!

Isaiah 58:5-7 KJVR
(5) Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
(6) Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
(7) Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

the church at large has defined 'fasting' as going without food and even water in an effort to please God - but this is error - the only thing we can do to please God is to believe Him.

however there is a 'new covenant' (if you will pardon my use of this term) use for fasting - to gain control over one's own flesh:

Matthew 17:18-21 KJVR
(18) And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
(19) Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
(20) And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
(21) Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. (emphasis added)

This is one of the most misunderstood of Jesus' instructions. People seem to think that Jesus is saying that 'this kind of demon goeth not out but by prayer and fasting' - but notice what the subject is here - 'Because of your unbelief'.

Jesus is saying that this kind of unbelief goes not out but by prayer and fasting - as always, the battle is in the mind - but the mind can be and usually is strongly influenced by the witness of the body (what we see, hear, taste, smell and feel).

this same instance is recorded in Mark; and here we get additional insight:

Mark 9:18 KJVR
(18) And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. (emphasis added)

this must have been a powerful visual display - Jesus is saying that fasting (which is warring against the desires of the flesh - not just going without food) gives us power to ignore what our flesh is saying. He's telling the disciples that they could not cast the demon out of this boy because they were focused on the powerful visual display of the demon (walking by sight) instead of the authority that they had over the demon (walking by faith - that comes from hearing the word of God).

the most powerful and effective fast for you is the one that denies your flesh of what it demands most. For example, if you aren't overweight and have little problem controlling what you eat, fasting from food will probably not benefit you very much. but if you love to watch movies and tv shows about wizards, demons, and magic, fasting from this can have a dramatic effect on you by reducing the inflow of unbelief into your mind, making your faith more pure and therefore more effective.

as always, the battle is in the mind - and it's won or lost by what you think on, which is greatly influenced by what you allow yourself to absorb through your senses. when done with a right heart, fasting allows you to practice ignoring what your senses say while you focus on what God has said. This way, when you get into a situation where your senses are raging against the knowledge of God, you'll be better prepared to ignore the sources of unbelief and focus on the source of faith - God's word.

Hope that helps!

GLY!!!

Can someone please explain the point of fasting to me? What's the purpose? Just not eating to not eat doesn't seem to accomplish anything. Not eating doesn't seem to be a good way to get "intune" with God.

WhiteKnuckle said:

Can someone please explain the point of fasting to me? What's the purpose? Just not eating to not eat doesn't seem to accomplish anything. Not eating doesn't seem to be a good way to get "intune" with God.

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-- Why did Jesus fast.
Why did he say the disciples didn't have to fast until he was no longer with them?
Why did he say in Matt. 6 "WHEN you fast" ?

If you just do without food, that is NOT fasting. That is dieting.
If you do without food and use that time praying, reading the scripture and seeking God.......miracles happen.

Why not pray and ask God for yourself. Or, if you are truly interested - and if you say you aren't going to bother after someone actually take the time to answer you, it shows that you are not - look at a book by Jentezen Franklin the next time you are in a Christian bookstore called "Fasting."

It goes into detail as to why God calls us to fast, the benefits of fasting, both worldly and spiritually, and examples of miracles in people's lives that have come from fasting. http://www.jentezenfranklin.org/p570-jentezen-franklin-on-fasting.php?c=423

If you have to ask why fasting is important and beneficial, then you really NEED to get the answer.

Combining fasting with prayer is a good way to clear your mind and focus. I wouldn't recommend going without food for more than 48 hours as your digestive system will begin to shut down and you will find it difficult and even painful to start eating again. Always drink some liquids while fasting.

jdbrown, you make a valid point.

Some are physically able to go without food for longer, but if you have any type of health issues, you should take that into consideration.

But there are fasts for shorter periods (as I listed earlier) as well as fasts of certain food, like the fast that Daniel did.

Again, the fasting must include prayer and striving to grow closer to God or it is nothing more than a diet.

Good thread I actually felt called to fast for about the past 40 hours. Had a few bites of some bread and some fluids but it actually helped me feel feal close to God and answered a few big questions I was dealing with.

It think fasting is soemthign every Christian should try at least ocen. It should be enouraged but only sensibly and should never be imposed on anyone. So on fasting I agree with Haldrych Zwingli who was sick of the church bossing people about during lent and he said, "OK if you want to fast then fast if you don't then fine but let it be a matter of choice."

Fasting teaches us what it is like to go hungry and when we break that fast we appreciate more the fact that we can just come ouit of a fast and be able to eat something, but I wouldn't have the very old or the very young fast.

I fast in a morning before going to church and I've never had problems with fainting but I know a lot of people who have and I think that thsoe people should not have to fast. Like I said it should be done sensibly.

But if fasting is not combined with increased effort to commune with God (prayer and/or time in the Word) it is just dieting.