Biblical Fasting
Part One
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MANY BOOKS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ON "HEALTH" FASTING. MANY HEALTH BOOKS CONTAIN CHAPTERS ON "FASTING." BUT FOR THE CHRISTIAN, WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY ON "SPIRITUAL" FASTING? SHOULD WE FAST AT ALL? IF SO, WHEN, WHY, AND WHAT FOR? THESE QUESTIONS AND OTHERS WILL ALL BE ANSWERED IN THIS ARTICLE ON BIBLICAL FASTING. by Keith Hunt SHOULD CHRISTIANS FAST? |
Do God and Christ expect us to fast? Should fasting be a part of
a Christian's life?
We are to live by every word of God. (Mt 4:4) What does God say
to us on this topic?
Christ said, "Moreover, when you fast ......" (Mt 6:16).
Notice! He did not say IF you fast, but WHEN. Christ expected
His disciples to fast.
The disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus on one occasion
and asked Him why His (Christ's) followers did not fast. His
answer to them was not that they should NEVER fast but that there
was no need to fast while He was with them.
".....Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the
bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the
bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast"
(Mt 9:15). After Christ was no longer on this earth His followers
were to fast - "Then shall they fast."
Christ fasted (Mt 4:2).
He set us an example that we should follow in his steps (I Pet.
2:21).
Paul was inspired to write, "Defraud you not one the other (do
not withhold sexual relations from each other, v.2-4) except it
be with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves TO
FASTING and prayer ......" (I Cor 7:5).
Paul wrote that ministers should prove themselves ".....in much
patience.....in labours.....in fastings....." (II Cor. 6:4-5).
Paul fasted (2 Cor 11:27). He said we are to follow him as he
followed Christ (I Cor. 11:1).
Christians, then, are to FAST!
WHAT IS BIBLICAL FASTING?
The Hebrew word for 'fast' is 'tsoom' - which means 'to cover
over.' The Greek word is 'nace tyoo-o' - which means 'to
abstain.' See Strong's Concordance of the Bible.
The Hebrew and Greek words alone would strongly indicate that to
fast in a biblical way is to COVER OVER the mouth and ABSTAIN
from anything entering the mouth into the stomach, or - abstain
from FOOD and DRINK.
But God does not leave us in any doubt about what HE says is
biblical SPIRITUAL fasting.
God interprets His own meaning as to the word 'fast'.
"Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, AND
FAST you for me, and NEITHER EAT NOR DRINK three days, night or
day ....." (Esth 4:16).
"In those days I Daniel was mourning (fasting - comp. with Ps
35:13; Isa 5::l-5; II Sam 1:12) three full weeks. I ATE NO
PLEASANT BREAD, NEITHER CAME FLESH NOR WINE [alcohol, juice,
drink] in my mouth .. ..." (Dan 10:2,3).
There we have the 'thus saith the Lord' as to the meaning of
'fast.' It may not be what men or women want to say fasting is,
but that is what God says to His followers it is. To fast in a
biblical way - to fast spiritual - is to ABSTAIN, to COVER OVER
the mouth from both FOOD and DRINK.
FASTING IS AFFLICTION!
Some will say, then, that to go without food and drink will
surely be hard - it will be painful and it will be affliction.
And God would not want me to be afflicted, would he?
David, a man after God's own heart, said - "But as for me I
afflicted (see mrg. ref.) my soul with fasting ....." (Ps 35:13).
In Psalm 69 David again said: "When I wept, and chastened my
soul with fasting, that was to my reproach" (v.10).
David knew that to fast - take no food or drink - was not a bed
of roses; it hurt sometimes.
The word of God does not say it will be a PHYSICAL joy. It may
well not be.
God says through Isaiah the prophet - "Wherefore have we fasted,
say they, and thou seest not? Wherefore have we AFFLICTED our
soul, and thou takest no knowledge?" God did not recognize their
fasting because, "Behold, in the day of your fast you find
PLEASURE and exact all YOUR LABOURS" (Isa 58:3).
Fasting is not for pleasure or labour. Fasting spiritually -
biblical fasting - is to afflict our souls.
God gave Israel (the church in the wilderness - Act 7:37, 38) one
specific day they were to fast on - The Day of Atonement (Lev.
23:26-32). This day not only reminds us of Christ's atoning
sacrifice for us, but also the coming time when this whole world
will be at one with God - when Satan will be chained, no longer
to deceive the world, when all sins will be placed on the one who
started it all - Satan. Mankind will then be at-one - atoned to
God (Comp. Lev. 16:20-34 with Heb. 13:11; Rev. 20:1-3).
The DAY OF ATONEMENT (10th day of 7th month) was to be
celebrated with AFFLICTION, see Lev.23.
"For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that
same day, he shall be cut off from among his people (Lev 23:29).
God interprets through David that to AFFLICT ourselves is to FAST
(Ps. 35:13).
WHEN SHOULD WE FAST?
Ecept for the one specific Day of Atonement given to us in Lev.
23, on what other days should Christians FAST?
The church at Rome in Paul's day were all mixed up over this
question. Some were saying that you should 'fast' on this
specific day of the week, while others said no, it should be
'this' day or 'that' day. Paul had to straighten them out on
this, as they were to the point of condemning each other over
when to fast; when to eat or when not to eat.
"Who art you that judgest (Gr. kree-no, to distinguish, decide,
condemn) another man's servant? To his own master he standeth or
falleth ..... God is able to make him stand. ONE MAN esteemeth
one day above another; ANOTHER esteemeth every day alike. Let
every man be fully persuaded in his OWN mind. He that regardeth
the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not
the day, to the Lord he does not regard it. He that eateth,
eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth
not [fasting], to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks
..... But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you set
at nought your brother? For we shall all stand before the
judgment seat of Christ" (Rom. 14:4-10).
Paul told the Christians at Rome, and he also tells us likewise,
that to eat on a certain day, or NOT TO EAT on that day - to
'fast' on one day or NOT TO FAST on that day, is an INDIVIDUAL
matter.
The word of God does not tell us on what day or days of the week
to fast. Except for the Day of Atonement, God has not instructed
us as to WHEN to fast. All God is concerned about is that His
servants DO fast. The day or days, He has left up to us. And
Paul says that God will accept our choice of day because we are
doing it to God - in honor of God, to serve God. We are not to
condemn each other for choosing this day as opposed to another
day.
That is what the Christians at Rome were doing, condemning each
other over the matter.
The day we, as an individual, choose to 'fast' on is left to us
to decide upon. God will accept it.
HOW LONG SHOULD WE FAST?
DANIEL fasted for THREE full weeks at one point during his and
Judah's captivity (Dan 10:2-3).
MOSES, when receiving the commandments of God on Sinai, fasted
FORTY days (Ex 24:18).
ELIJAH also went without food and drink for FORTY days at a very
crucial point in his life (I Kings 19:8).
CHRIST fasted for forty days and nights, just prior to the start
of His ministry (Mt 4:2).
The above examples are of long 'fasts' - under very special times
and events. The prophets and men of God were very strong
physically back then. We have degenerated a great deal
since that time. Few people today could go without food and
drink for 21 days - let alone 40.
The AVERAGE Christian would not be able to 'fast' much longer
than TWO to FOUR days; and that only after being able to go for
24 hours with no food or drink with comparative ease on other
occasions during the year.
My advice to those who have never fasted in the biblical way (no
food or drink) is to go slow at first. Start your fast from the
mid-afternoon and end it with a light breakfast the next day.
After two or three times like this, you then miss out lunch and
go from say 12 noon to breakfast. The next step is then a
complete 24 hour fast.
How many times a year should one fast?
There is no command of the Lord. So I give my judgment as one
guided by the Spirit of God. One day per month would not be too
often. There may be times when we will need to fast more than a
day a month. The main point is that we fast more than on the Day
of Atonement.
WHY SHOULD WE FAST?
The basic reason why God wants us to fast is to draw close to Him
and to change our life (Ezra 8:22, 23).
"Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn you even to me with all
your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with
mourning: and REND YOUR HEART, and not your garments, and TURN
unto the Lord your God (Joel 2:12,13).
"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of
wickedness, to undo the heavy burden, and to let the oppressed go
free ..... To deal thy bread to the hungry ..... when thou
seest the naked, that thou cover him ..... Then shall thy light
break forth as the morning ..... Thy righteousness shall go
before thee. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer.
Thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am ....."(Isa 58:6-9).
WHAT TO DO WHEN FASTING
God tells us to PRAY while we fast, "And I set my face unto the
Lord God, to seek by PRAYER and supplications, with FASTING
....." (Dan 9:3).
It is a good time to CONFESS our SINS, "..... The children of
Israel were assembled with fasting .... and the seed of Israel
separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed
their sins ....." (Neh 9:1-2).
We should READ the WORD OF GOD, "Therefore go thou, and read in
the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the
Lord in the ears of the people in the Lord's house upon the FAST
DAY ....." (Jer 36:6).
A FAST DAY should not be spent doing 'our own thing' (Isa 58:3).
It is not a day for housework, gardening, car repairing, sports,
etc. It should be a day of prayer, bible study and meditation.
OTHER REASONS FOR FASTING!
Fasting was done on occasions of PUBLIC CALAMITIES (2 Sam 1:12).
When approaching DANGER (Esth 4:16).
In times of BEREAVEMENT (I Sam 31:13; 2 Sam 1:12; 12:16,21-23).
God's minister fasted when ORDAINING MEN TO THE MINISTRY
(Act 13:3; 14:23).
HOW SHOULD CHRISTIANS FAST?
Should we today 'rent our clothes,' put on 'sackcloth and
ashes,' and go about our fasting with painful-looking faces and
mournful noises?
Christ told us how His followers are to fast:
"Moreover, when you fast, be NOT as the hypocrites - of a SAD
COUNTENANCE: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear
unto men to fast ..... BUT YOU, when thou fastest, ANOINT THINE
HEAD, and WASH THY FACE; that thou APPEAR NOT unto men TO
FAST, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father,
which seeth in secret, shall reward you openly." (Mt 6:16-18).
EXAMPLES OF FASTING!
God's word is full of examples of fasting. Here are some for you
to study.
When the Israelites went to Mizpeth for the Ark (I Sam 7:6).
David, at the death of Saul (2 Sam 1:12).
Ahab, when Elijah prophesied the destruction of himself (I Kings
21:27, 20-29).
Jehoshaphat, at the invasion of the Canaanites and Syrians (2 Chr
20:3).
Ezra, on account of the idolatrous marriages of the Jews (Ezra
10:6).
The Ninevites, when Jonah preached to them (Jonah 3:5-10).
Jesus, before He began His Gospel preaching and ministry (Mat.4).
By Paul, at the time of his conversion (Acts 9:9).
.................................................................
Written in 1980
Biblical Fasting
Part Two
IS IT REALLY WITHOUT FOOD AND
WITHOUT WATER ?
by
Keith Hunt
Some are saying that fasting in the Bible may not have always
been without having any water or drink, maybe no food they say,
but not always without water. So, I suppose the argument is, or
I suppose these people are trying to teach that when Christians
"fast" as Christians should do according to Jesus (for Jesus
said: "WHEN you fast" not "IF you fast"), they need not stop
drinking water.
There are some today who doubt that anyone has fasted without
food and water for very long, before being at death's door. Now,
if you believe the Bible is INSPIRED, then you will believe
Exodus 34 where it is written that Moses was up in a mountain
with the Lord for 40 days and forty nights and that "he did
neither eat bread nor drink water...." verse 28.
It would seem that Elijah was able to do the same as Moses. See
1 Kings 19:7,8.
Are we to imagine that Jesus Christ could not, and did not, do
the same as Moses and Elijah, in His fasting for 40 days and
nights? See Matthew 4:2. I say Christ was able and that He did
exactly what Moses and Elijah did, fasted for forty days and
forty nights WITHOUT food and water!
I am certainly not implying or trying to teach that anyone on
earth day should try to do what these three men are recorded in
being able to do, go for forty days without food and water. They
were in many ways special men, who no doubt were given special
strength from the Eternal to do something that no other men/women
have ever been recorded doing, fasting for forty days and forty
nights without food and water. Most today could hardly make it
through four days without food or water. True, we do hear now and
again of some adult or even a child surviving in an earthquake,
trapped without food or water for 6,7,8,9 days......but most of
us going on a voluntary fast of no food or water could last that
long without serious side effects.
Some want to call "heath fasting" a fast. That is, going on a
strict liquid diet for a week or two or more is to them a "fast."
And if looking at it only from what some doctor or health
practitioner or clinic want to interpret as a "fast," a liquid
fast, then so be it for them. But as Christians who want to let
the Bible interpret itself as to what the Bible calls a "fast"
then we can ONLY have the Bible as our interpreter as to what is
fasting as taught in the Bible.
Hence, we look up all the verses where the words "fast" or
"fasting" are used. We search the Scriptures and let the Word of
the Lord teach us about the meaning of "fast" as used in the
whole Word of God, the Bible.
The word "fast" is used 41 times. The word "fasted" is found
and used 15 times. The word "fastest" is used one time. We find
the word "fasting" used 17 times. And the word "fastings" is used
4 times. All this from the KJV and Strong's Concordance of the
Bible.
The VAST majority of times these words are used as words in a
verse relating that someone or some group or nation of people
simply fasted, period. No other information is added. No other
definition is given as to what is fasting as used in these
majority of verses. We have only a FEW verses in the entire Bible
that nails down for us a Bible interpretation as to what is "fasting"
as used in the Word of God, the Bible.
I will give you those verses very shortly.
We can find that fasting in the Bible is often connected with
mourning, affliction, sorrow, anguish, and of course with
sackcloth and ashes. Apart from sackcloth and ashes some would
argue that all the rest of the words connected with fasting could
be taken as MENTAL, within the mind, and of course that is true.
Hence Psalm 35:13 and the word "humble" or "afflicted" connected
with the soul or life in fasting could be mental more than
anything physical.
But, there is really no way of "getting around" Psalm 109:24
which reads: "My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh
faileth of fatness." Now, I personally have done a "health" fast
(liquids only) a few times (once for 7 days) in my life time, and
I can tell you that after or in the third day of such a health
fast, the body is swept clean and the energy and engine of the
body just runs like a race horse. I never felt my knees weak at
any time. A health fast of various kinds of natural liquids and
juices does not make the knees go weak. If you are basically in
good health, going on a water only fast for a few days will not
make your knees go weak.
I submit that David's knees were weak through fasting BECAUSE
he was doing a Bible definition fast, a "spiritual" fast, a fast
WITHOUT food or water. Actually the Bible is silent on any
so-called "health fast." Just does not talk about it. So, all
the passages that use the word "fast" or the others I gave above,
are only relating to us the only "fast" the Bible is concerned
with, the spiritual fast, or fasting for spiritual intent and
reasons. Hence, we are then back to having the Bible define for
us "fast" or "fasting."
And here are the only TWO sections of Scripture using the word
"fast" that DEFINE for us the word "fast" as used in the Bible.
"Go, gather together all the Jews.....and FAST you for me, and
neither EAT nor DRINK three days, night or day: and I also and my
maidens will FAST likewise......" (Esther 4:16).
"So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast,
and put on sackcloth.....For word came unto the king of
Nineveh.....And he caused it to be proclaimed and published
through Nineveh....saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor
flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water....."
(Jonah 3:5-7).
There it is. The only two passages of the Holy Scriptures that
define for us "fast" as used in the Bible. But, define the word
it does, very clearly fasting as used in the Bible was and is
always having no food and no water, no liquids.
Oh, there is the argument that it is said of Jesus that "He was
hungry" after His forty days of fasting, for it is written, "He
was afterwards an hungred" (Mat.4:2 KJV). They say, "He was
hungry, hence had not ate any food for 40 days, but it does not
say, He was thirsty, so He probably did drink water during those
forty fasting days."
Why does it leave out anything about "thirsting" after those
forty days? Very simple. When Jesus had determined to break the
fasting, after doing what Moses and Elijah had done for 40 days
and nights, He could have easily reached a water supply out in
those hills. A nearby spring, a running brook, or a small
stream. He no doubt had wandered by a few of them during those
40 days. And coming off a fast of that length of time, water
would have been the first desire for the human body, and from a
stream it would have been obtained. But good wholesome, full of
vitamins and minerals fresh baked brown bread.....well that just
was not behind the bush or desert tree, unless He commanded the
stones to turn into that great smelling wholesome stuff. And
that is just what the Devil tempted Him to do, turn the stones
into loaves of bread. But Jesus would control His power, and
wait till He was in the town with friends to eat food. The water
would have already been there in the form of a stream or brook
for Him to enjoy, the bread not yet. And He would not misuse His
power to satisfy His hunger.
TWO PASSAGES LEFT TO UNDERSTAND
Some have seen two passages in the Gospels (one really as it is
one account of the same event recorded by both Matthew and Mark)
that they seem to think and believe teaches that fasting in the
Bible may not always mean you cannot drink water. So, I guess to
them, you can fast a spiritual fast by deleting only food but not
liquids.
This passage we are here concerned with is found in Matthew
15:29-39 and Mark 8:1-10.
We note some important points. (1) Jesus, His disciples, and
the multitude, were up in a mountain, Mat.15:29. (2) It was also
a wilderness, Mat.15:33; Mark 8:4. (3) They all had been together
3 days, Mat.15:32; Mark 8:2. (4) Some had come from far away,
Mark 8:3. (5) The disciples did have some food with them, for
Jesus asked them "how many loaves have YOU?" And it was THEY who
answered Him what they had, Mat.15:34; Mark 8:5.
We need to first use some natural logic. The disciples of
Jesus did have some food, they did bring some along with them.
They were used to their Master going off into some wilderness
place and staying for a time in such a location, so they would
have learnt from experience to take along food for a few days at
least. Would it not be reasonable to assume that at least some
of the multitude, which included women and children (Mat.15:38),
would also have brought some food and water with them, at least
for a day or two? I suggest it was more than likely by many that
they so did. We need to note CAREFULLY that in verse 32 of
Matthew's account and verse 2 of Mark's, we do not find such a
sentence as, "they continue with me now three days and have had
nothing to eat" or "for the three days they have continued with
me they have had nothing to eat."
This is important, because we can often read into words a
meaning that is not there at all. In both Matthew's and Mark's
accounts of this event, the words "have nothing" is in the
PRESENT INDICATIVE tense. Jesus was actually saying,
"and have presently nothing to eat" or "at this present continuous
time they have nothing to eat."
Jesus did not say that they had nothing to eat for three days.
We are frankly not told HOW LONG they had gone without food,
only that at the present time when Jesus was talking to the disciples
and for WHATEVER length of that present time was, the multitude
had not eaten food.
Had some not eaten for three days? Maybe! For it is quite
something to behold how the human body can go on fired up
adrenalin and excitement of some great spectacular event such as
they were observing and part of, that is, Jesus healing many and
doing fantastic miracles. Many under such a situation would not
even be thinking about food, and not even water, I dare to say,
especially if you were someone who had brought with you a lame,
bind, dumb, or maimed person etc. to be healed. You would have
been too preoccupied in getting them before Jesus to be healed.
Well, whatever the case was, by the time Jesus spoken to His
disciples on the third day about food for the multitude, they had
presently been without food for a time period, not specifically
given to us, but long enough that if sent away without food, some
would have fainted by the way, for some were from afar, so Mark
tells us.
Had they been also without water? The accounts do not tell us,
but I think we can say with some reasonability, that being in the
wilderness water may have also been a problem, once whatever
supply brought with anyone had been used up.
To argue that they all had water, but no food, is to argue
without proof, for the accounts clearly do not mention water at
all. It is just not talked about or commented on period. Hence to
argue either way, they had water or they did not have water is
speculative at best, given we say fasting can be understood as
only no food eating with water being allowed. Then if we say,
we shall go with the Bible's interpretation in the two passages
we have already considered above, as to what is fasting, we then
would say Jesus by using the word "fasting" was telling us the
multitude for some length of time had been without both food
and water.
Why was Jesus concerned with food for the multitude and water
is not mentioned? Again we could speculate, but it would only be
speculation, as the reason for no water mentioning is not given.
But, once more looking at it from the human fellowship and host
politeness of Jesus' day and I would add, our time today, it is
the custom of a caring host, looking after people for some length
of time, to provide them with food before they depart.
Under this situation, of having to walk back home, and for some
that was a far distance, and not having food for above the normal
amount of time that humans eat food, Jesus classified it as
"fasting" and knew some would be weak in the knees, and probably
faint by the wayside before reaching their homes, hence as a good
host wanted to make sure they ate food to strengthen them for
their journey homeward.
Water is wonderful to break a fast, but solid food gives you
the needed sugar energy and fuel for the muscles to hold up and
sustain the body, when a possible long walk back home is having
to be undertaken.
So, we see here, the emphasis in the two accounts is on FOOD,
and not on water, after fasting for some length of time.
A POSSIBLE EXCEPTION
The Bible often contains many BASIC rules or NORMS, and then
gives now and again, some EXCEPTION to the norm or rule. Could
this account in Matthew and Mark be a possible exception to the
norm?
Yes, it is indeed a possibility!
I say it MAY be possible, for once more let me repeat, we
cannot know for sure if the multitude had water to drink, either
brought with them, or from a stream, they were remember in the
mountain wilderness. But, for the sake of the argument, we shall
say they did have access to water, but had used up any food they
had brought with them. So, IF that was the case, then Jesus uses
here the word "fasting" in a loose sense, a "food" fast,
possibly, as some "health" practitioners, health and diet books,
and people who often go on "juice" fasts, call their no food
intake, a "fast" or "fasting."
Be that as it may, and if it was so here with Jesus, there is
still one VERY IMPORTANT point to note in all this mountain
wilderness situation. The three day event was NOT undertaken by
Jesus or His disciples, as a DELIBERATE and planned "fasting"
to "draw nigh to God" experience. It was NOT for the purpose of
getting close to God in some "religious" vain, as was the fasting
for Esther and the Jews, and also for the people of Nineveh when
Jonah was sent to tell them they faced utter destruction if they
did not change their ways.
Jesus was here in the mountain doing a "healing ministry." He
was serving and helping and working miracles for people. It was a
hard three days work for Him, for He often had to go away by
Himself alone to re-store His batteries so to speak, after
undertaking such long healing services, so it is written
elsewhere in the Gospels.
Whatever fasting this was by the people, and remember the
disciples did have some food left, when Jesus inquired of them,
they were fasting BECAUSE of a situation THAT WAS TO SOME
EXTENT out of their control. A circumstance they happened to find
themselves in at the time, in the excitement of the time. In
other words, they had not sat down and with planned forethought
said to themselves, "Well, we shall go to Jesus in the mountain
for a day or more, with our loved one to be healed, and we will
take along nothing to eat or drink, for we shall fast."
It was not that situation at all, but one that came up on them,
and they and Jesus found they were fasting whether they liked it
or not.
So, here is the IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE. The only two examples
we have in the Bible where the word "fast" is used, and so gives us
a Bible interpretation as to a "fast" that is planned with
forethought, and that is DESIGNED with GOD in MIND, to DRAW
CLOSE to Him, to PETITION Him for some reason, to get into a
"spiritual mind set" and to see our human weakness and so the
Mighty and Holiness and Righteousness and Power of the Eternal
God to hear and help and serve us in that particular spiritual
need that we are fasting for, is CLEARLY shown for us to be a fast
that is WITHOUT FOOD AND WITHOUT WATER!
Such a spiritual fast is to humble us, relate to us that we are
but human flesh and blood, it is to afflict our soul or life, to
give us a little or great "weak in the knees" experience. And
nothing does that better than to go without food and water for a
day or more. Oh, how we soon know that everything we have to
sustain us in this physical life comes to us and is given to us
by our heavenly Father.
Nearly every verse in the Bible (one exception is this account
in Mat.15) that uses the word "fast" or "fasting" is in the
context of "religious fasting" in a spiritual mode to mind
set oneself to draw close to God for a purpose that could be for
a specific reason or just to change the direction of life, in
yourself or in a community of persons. This we saw in the first
study on this subject.
So, for this "fasting" unto the Lord, a planned and "religious"
mind set towards the Eternal God, we should then cover our mouth,
delete from our body BOTH food AND water or liquids. Many may to
be reasonings and arguments to try to allow the drinking of water
during a religious mind set fasting period to the Lord, but I
think they all fall short when we take into account the whole
Bible and the examples given to us for undertaking a "spiritual"
fast.
Of course, we can be close to the Lord and grow in spirituality
each and every day, as we eat and drink. Jesus knew that, just
as He said God always heard Him for He always did His will and
was yielded to the Father at all times, but that still does not
"do away" with the fact that Jesus often went by Himself into the
mountain or wilderness to pray and draw close to God in a special
way that really did have mental benefit.
And, yes, although while Jesus was with His disciples, they did
not fast, as the Pharisees complained to Christ concerning this
fact, the answer Jesus gave clearly showed that when He was no
longer going to be with them, then they would fast.
As Jesus said to His followers, it was not "IF you fast..."
BUT it was "WHEN you fast...."
Jesus expected His brothers and sisters to FAST from time to
time. And what a wonderful experience for the spiritual mind it
can be, to humble ourselves and draw close to the Father with a
fast that is BOTH without food and water.
......................................
Written September 1999
All articles and studies by Keith Hunt may be copied, published,
e-mailed, and distributed as led by the Spirit. Mr. Hunt trusts that
nothing will be changed without his consent.
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