Fasting Lifestyle | Intro to Fasting

This message was delivered on 3/26/2011 at the Gateway NRH Prayer Tools class by Travis Gates

What you choose to feed gets stronger. ~Travis Gates

This is just scratching the surface of a larger study I am personally doing this year on fasting and how it relates to the Christian believer’s life. Prayer and Fasting are some of the most important disciplines a believer can utilize and yet the most misunderstood, least practiced,  and when practiced many times out of ignorance. My goal is to uncover some initial truths of fasting as a catalyst to get you interested in digging deeper for yourselves. I will also begin following up with How To’s, Ideas, and more truth from God’s Word. I am convinced that the Holy Spirit is stirring up believer’s to fast and pray for revival in these last days. It is exciting times!!

1. What is Christian Fasting?

Fasting is specifically defined as voluntarily abstaining from food for a specified time to focus more on prayer and fellowship with God. Prayer and Fasting often go hand in hand. You can pray without fasting, and fast without prayer. It is when these two are combined and dedicated to God’s glory that they reach their full effectiveness.
Have you fasted before? If so what types of fasts have you engaged in and what results can you attest to?

Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God. ~Andrew Murray

2. A few occasions where fasting was documented in the Bible

• A time of mourning: “They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword” (2 Samuel 1:12)
• Fasting for repentance: “When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel was leader of Israel at Mizpah” (1 Samuel 7:6)
• Prayer for Healing/Health: “David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground” (2 Samuel 12:16)
• Prayer for Safety: ”There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions” (Ezra 8:21)
• Before Making Major Decisions: As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. (Acts 13:2,3)  So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (Acts 14:23)

3. What did Jesus teach about fasting?

• Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-9)
• Jesus taught on fasting in his sermon on the mount  (Matthew 6:16-18)
• When Questioned why his disciples did not fast and John’s did (Maathew 9:14-17)
• When Jesus explained why the disciples could not cast out a demon (Matthew 17:14-21)

4. Should a Christian Fast? Short Answer “YES”

Discipline in a self centered world, In a culture where the landscape is dotted with shrines to the ”GOLDEN ARCHES” and an assortment of “PIZZA TEMPLES”, fasting seems out of place, out of step with the times – Richard Foster, The Celebration Of Discipline

1. Entertainment is a large portion of our lives and may need to be addressed through fasting media to create a proper balance. Check out a great new read called “Fast Media, Media Fast”
2. Alignment of Prayer and Fasting creates power! (Matthew 17:21)
3. Creating a fasting lifestyle – I believe that creating a lifestyle of fasting will help to balance our lives and potentially prevent many health and financial issues because of the disciplines we learn through a consistent style of fasting such as; not taking a second helping of food, resisting to purchase items that you do not need even when you have the money etc.

• Jesus didn’t say In (Matthew 6:16-18) IF you decide to fast He said “When you fast”.
• Fasting is not a Fad. I have noticed a trend with the Daniel fast I am not happy with in the Christian Community that many turn it into a trendy thing to do and have created special cookbooks to make your fast more enjoyable.
• You need to set some strict guidelines and goals for the fast so that not to sacrifice something and not fill it with Jesus through prayer and the word. I was struggling recently and the Lord gave me Job 23:12 and John 4:31 -34 if you are going to abstain from food you need to make sure you are getting plenty of spiritual food!
• Be responsible with your fast. If you are taking medications etc. make sure to consult your doctor.

That’s what I think fasting is at heart. It’s an intensification of prayer. It’s a physical explanation point at the end of the sentence, “We hunger for you to come in power.” It’s a cry with your body, “I really mean it, Lord! This much, I hunger for you.” ~ John Piper

RESOURCES

1. Your Personal Guide to Fasting and Prayer by Dr. Bill Bright
2. Jentzen Franklin on Fasting
3. Awakening