What is Fasting and Why is it Important for Christians?

 

 

by Mihran Kulhanjian

 

 

My dear Friend,

I am going to offer you an introduction to fasting from Scripture.  Primarily, I am going to share a commentary of Isaiah 58:6-12 on acceptable fasting.  But first, let's acknowledge that biblical fasting is abstaining from food for spiritual reasons alone.  Albeit, fasting in general, is healthful for body, mind and above all, the spirit, fasting is also a discipline believers should incorporate into their life.  It is important that Christians fast, for there are many good reasons to fast.  

 

I have taken a small section of a book I am writing called:  How to Fast for Christians: A Lesson in Practical Fasting for Spiritual Renewal, Restoration and Breakthrough, to share with you how to fast and a few benefits from fasting.  Fasting is a discipline and if you have problems that are not being satisfied by prayer, that is, your prayers don't seem to be answered, fasting with prayer may be necessary.  It takes faith to fast, to deny oneself and rely on God and the work He has completed. Proper fasting also takes humility.  We humble ourselves in faith that God will deliver us from our oppression and afflictions, and demons, with all power and authority given to us in the name of Jesus Christ.   We know that Jesus prescribed  prayer and fasting necessary to expel stubborn demons. We also know that prayer and fasting will renew and restore a weakened fellowship one might have when a believer has left God out for a while and has gotten caught up in the world.

 

With fasting, we crucify the flesh to get closer to God.  We set self aside; that is, we deny ourselves of the physical, the flesh, the carnal, in this case food, that we might receive the mind of God by meditating on Him, His Word, the provisions in His Word and to gain the knowledge of God, and with answers from God.  Christian fasting is a discipline and should be observed by all Christians. Jesus said in Matthew 6:17-18: 

 

"But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,  so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."

 

It is "when" you fast not "if" you decide to fast. Jesus expects us [believers] to fast.  Jesus also says in this passage to keep your personal fasting a secret.  Don't brag about it or boast drawing attention to yourself.  We fast for a reason. We fast for spiritual reasons. Keep it that way and you will receive the blessings of God, the answers you seek, and His nearness when you fast. Pure fasting (abstaining from food) purifies the blood and the mind when executed properly, in humility.

 

God expects us to fast, to deny our flesh to get near to Him. Jesus fasted, the Old Testament prophets, and the New Testament disciples all fasted.  Historically, fasting for spiritual purposes was common among God's obedient people and common among the Israelites. Fasting (no food and/or drink) is Scriptural.  When we fast we deny ourselves, we humble ourselves, and we seek God and His mind. When we fast, we set priority and the priority is to get near to God. That is, when we fast we prioritize what is important before God.  For, we know that "man cannot live by bread alone, but by the every word out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:5).

 

Jesus expects us to pray and fast. If we are serious about prayer let us also be serious about fasting with prayer, as this is in the Word of God. Jesus said in Matthew  17:2:  "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”  Jesus was explaining to His disciples of what was required to remove stubborn demons from the afflicted. So, we know fasting is necessary with prayer to expel nasty demons.

 

Different Types of Fasts

There are several different types of fasts:

  • Absolute fast (No food or water) Scriptural.
  • Normal fast (No food, water only) Scriptural.
  • Food only fast (juices and water okay)
  • Intermittent fast (typically 14 to 23 hours [my interpretation])
  • Partial fast (referred as the Daniel fast [fasting from certain foods; for 21 days Daniel ate only fruits and vegetables]) Scriptural.
  • Corporate fast (with others) Scriptural.
  • Non food fast (for people on medication or other medical conditions)

 

I do not believe fasting from using a cell phone, or watching T.V. or not eating desert after dinner are true fasts; but if you have a medical issue or take medication and need food with your condition or medication, then this type of a fast is perfectly alright. Remember, you are fasting are a spiritual purpose.  A biblical fast is denying oneself of food or denying oneself of food and water or sacrificing something of importance or of necessity for you. Before you fast, pray over your fast. Your prayer could be something like this:

 

Heavenly Father,
 
     This day I will fast.  I will not eat food for twenty-four hours. I will deny my flesh to come near to you and to expel once for all this demon(s) of  (mention the demon or strongholds   that you are battling).  For instance:  healing from infirmities, lust, fornication, fear, unbelief,  fantasy, cigarettes, alcoholism, food addiction, gambling, drugs, generational curses, poverty and financial curses, and for unsaved friends and family. Thank you Father for this day of salvation and complete deliverance.
             
     Father, I thank you for a sound mind and for giving me the authority and power in the name  of Jesus.  Thank you Father for all the provisions you have given me in your Word.
 
     Forgive me Father of my sins, known and unknown; sins that  have willing and unwillingly committed against you, I ask for your forgiveness. Cleanse me of my secret faults and  restore me by the blood of the Lamb.  Thank you for forgiving me, Father.
 
     Lead me this day to be in your will, doing the things that please you and avoiding all things that displease you. 
 
     In Jesus' name I pray.  Amen.

 

 There are millions of false Christians who need true salvation. We must not give up on them: Another, more specific prayer for a friend or relative not saved could be something like this.

 

My Heavenly Father,
 
            I thank you Father for this day revealing the power of prayer and fasting.  I will fast starting today for a period of three days. I will deprive myself of food and drink only water. I will deny my flesh to come to you, Lord, to petition the salvation of my two friends (name of friends).  Although, my friends profess to be believers, the Holy Spirit has told me they are not, for they have not     repented or sin, lack all gifts of the Spirit and they bear no fruit in word of deed. I besiege you  now, that the revelation of God comes upon them and that they are born again with the living Spirit.  Thank you, Father for this day of salvation.
 
            Lead me this day to be in your will, doing the things that please you and avoiding all things that displease you.  I bless you Lord with all my soul. And I am grateful that you have revealed truth to me; for you gave peace, love, and deliverance to me freely and abundantly.  Thank you, Lord.
 
     In Jesus' name I pray.  Amen.

 

During your fast, take breaks and pray for your friends who need salvation. As directed by the Holy Spirit, pray.  Whether you pray five times per day or twenty times, it is important to humble yourself, to listen and hear the voice of God. Read your Bible, particularly the Psalms. Meditate on His Word. Before you go to sleep, pray. God reveals Himself many times in dreams. Answers for which you are seeking may come in the middle of the night 3:00-4:00 am. Through my own experiences, God has spoken to me ( both audibly and in my mind) and has placed words out from my mouth many times during the hours of 3:00-4:00 am.  Short sentences and Scripture in my mind (as I awoke), off my lips, audible words have been produced. Many words were not from my normal vocabulary, yet the Holy Spirit has not given me a confused answer or message. The answer is clear and direct. His voice is soft, calming and beautiful.

 

Fasting in the Old Testament

Let's look now in the Old Testament where fasting was used. We will begin with the promises of God from acceptable fasting for restoration in Isaiah 58:6-12.

 

Isaiah 58:6-12  

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
“If you take away the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10 If you extend your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the afflicted soul,
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
And your [darkness shall be as the noonday.
11 The Lord will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
12 Those from among you
Shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.

 

Fasting is about deliverance. It breaks the bonds of wickedness in us and removes the heavy burdens (anxiety and worry). Fasting delivers us from oppression. Fasting also is sharing food with the hungry, the poor, and orphans. You can take the food that you have not eaten and give it to the poor and hungry.  For instance, if you predominately eat at home, your food cost could be $5 per day. If you fast eight days per month, you could take the $40 you saved from not eating and sponsor an orphan with a month offering of $40.  If you spend a lot of time in restaurants you could save $400 or more and offer this amount to the church, orphans, widows, missionaries or to medical missions.

 

When fasting you could share your home, and the meals you did not eat while fasting to struggling individuals and families. You can also give shelter and clothing.

 

The Scripture (verse 8) says fasting will bring about speedy healing from illness and disease.  Fasting satisfies the afflicted soul and brings light into your life again. The light is the light of men. Light is holiness and righteousness and the Lamb of God.

 

We fast to seek God. Job said:

"I have not departed from the commandment of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth
More than my necessary food"   (Job 23:12)

 

Job treasured [esteemed] God's Word more than food.  We know in the New Testament that Jesus is the bread of life.  He is life.  As bread is for the physical body, fasting from bread, the foods that sustain the body is for complete health of spirit, soul and body.

 

Our fasting enables us to hear the Lord and to receive Him more clearly.  Darkness is evil. We know from the Gospel According to John that the darkness could not comprehend the light [the devil cannot overcome Jesus, the light] (John 1:5).  The darkness in us will vanish and we will be as bright as the noonday sun when we execute an acceptable fast prescribed by God.

 

Isaiah 58 explains God's promises to us when we execute a righteous fast.  Not only are we blessed when we fast according to God's way, but our children and their children will also be blessed.  Proper fasting repairs the breach, restores what was lost and blesses the generations.

 

In the New Testament, through Jesus, God hears our prayers and petitions.  And when we fast, as the children of God, we receive the promises and blessings through Jesus as our Lord and Savior. God is faithful, and the promises of the Old Testament are alive for who receive them in faith in the name of Jesus.

 

When we fast, let's fast in truth as we pray in truth. Let's fast and pray in the spirit, and believe.