Table of Contents
Why Fast?
To get Heaven's (God's) attention
- You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Isaiah 58:4 NIV (Implying fasting correctly can get Heaven’s attention)
- So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our pleading. Ezra 8:23 NASB
For stubborn evil spirits to leave/For healing of certain diseases
When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” Mark 9:25-29 NKJV
Reward
- when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Mt 6:17,18 NIV
Receive power
- Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry… Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. Luke 4:1,2,14 NIV
A means of returning to God
- “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping, and mourning Joel 2:12 NASB
For clarity in decision making
- Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed. Acts 14:23 BSB
Means of humbling yourself -->Him lifting you up
- Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:10 NKJV
- I wept and humbled myself with fasting Ps 69:10 AMP
- 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 NIV
To "change" God's mind (Or any crisis situation)
- The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth…Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” Jonah 3:5 & 9 NIV
- “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”… When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. Esther 4:16 & 5:2
For protection & 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. So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He answered our prayer. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. Ezra 8:21,23,31 NIV
Means of worshipping/serving God
- She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Luke 2:37 ESV
- this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. Luke 2:37 NKJV
Fasting not an option but a necessity
- when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Mt 6:17,18 NIV
- Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. Mark 2:19-20 NKJV
Lifestyle Of Fasting
- Daniel: Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank Daniel 1:8 NASB
- Anna the prophetess: She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Luke 2:37 BSB
- Jesus: I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Mt 26:29 NIV
How Do You Start Fasting?
Do what you can:
- She did what she could. Mark 14:8 NIV
COMMENT: Start small e.g. Start by fasting one meal once a week