TRUE FASTING (part 1)
Some time ago a friend of mine
asked me about fasting from a biblical perspective.
First of all fasting is not
just a Christian activity. It has been used as way to regulate diet and weight,
or at times people use it as tool to cleanse their bodies from toxins. During
the absence of food, the body will systematically cleanse itself of everything
except vital tissue. Throughout history some have used “fasting” or “hunger
strikes” to achieve their goals. Wikipedia says this: A hunger strike is a
method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an
act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually
with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Mahatma
Gandhi used this method to accomplish political change in
As
you can see each one of these descriptions of how fasting has been utilized has
a goal in mind. My purpose as I write is not to critique those methods but
rather to explore the biblical view on fasting.
Fasting
in the scriptures was, at times, done by individuals or in a corporate manner.
The reasons were numerous, a few examples are as follows: In 1 Samuel 1:7-8 Hannah
weeps and refuses to eat when her husband’s other wife provokes her, and she
prays for a son. She later gave birth to Samuel. In Exodus 24:18, 34:28, Moses
twice spends forty days on Mount Sinai without eating or drinking in mourning
over
At
times the purposes for fasting were noble as some of these mentioned above.
There were times when the motive was as a result of sin as in the case of David
as he fasts and weeps seven days during the terminal illness of his first son
by Bathsheba found in 2 Samuel 12:16-23. The child died but David had hoped for
a different result. In 1 Kings 21 we come across the case of King Ahab, he eats
no food because he is sullen after Naboth refused to
sell his vineyard and his wife Jezebel calls a national false day of fasting to
accuse Naboth of cursing God.
In
the New Testament, Luke 1 observes Anna as she served in the temple night and
day with fasting and prayers, or the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable found in Luke
18 shows his self-righteousness by boasting that he fasts twice a week and
tithes, or Paul and Barnabas appoint elders in the churches, having prayed with
fasting in Acts 14:23.
As
you can see the biblical examples are plenty with both positive and negative
implications. But how do we view it personally and what does God want from us?
First
of all, I would like to stress that the purpose of fasting is not to manipulate
God, as we look closely at the Word of God, we find that the Lord never did
away with the principle of fasting which is still a valid key today that can be
used today to bring us into kingdom living. What is fasting? Biblical fasting
is done to bring spiritual results and is not simply for physical purposes.
Doctors today are discovering the physical benefits of this practice and have
found that abstaining from food (not water) for several days has a wonderful
cleansing effect upon the body. Many impurities are burned up within the body
as it is denied food, thus clearing the mind, and cleansing and healing the
body. Even nature shows us that fasting is good medicine as we automatically
lose our appetites when sickness strikes. Many people in the world are
practicing fasting and finding it not only healthful, but even a wonderful way
to lose weight quickly. However, even though we may enjoy these benefits while
fasting, the Christian primarily fasts for spiritual purposes and not for
health reasons. Obeying spiritual principles can produce positive physical
results, but they are added blessings.
The
Lord tells us that “when” we fast, we are to do it unto the Lord. He doesn't
say “if” we fast, as it states in Matthew 6:16-18 “When you fast, do not look
somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they
are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
But 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.”
We
can see that our motives in fasting must be pure. We are not to do it in order
to broadcast it, but we are to do it as quietly and simply as possible so as
not to attract attention to ourselves. We are to appear to others as though we
are not fasting. There are exceptions, such as when we are fasting as a group
for a specific thing; then it must be announced so that others can take part.
We find this in Joel 1:14 “Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon
the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and
cry out to the LORD.”
The
main thing the Lord desires is that it be done unto Him and not as a show unto
men. Our heart attitude must be right to produce spiritual results.
(to
be continued)
By:
Pastor David Jones