Scriptures on Fasting

Scriptures on Fasting

 

Old Testament

Genesis 24:33             Abraham’s servant seeking a bride for Isaac

Exodus 34:27-28        Moses’ for forty days on Sinai

Leviticus 16:29-31       On the Day of Atonement

Leviticus 23:27, 32     On the Day of Atonement

Deuteronomy 9:9, 18            Moses for forty days on Sinai

Judges 20:26-2           Divine guidance

1 Samuel 1:7, 8           Hannah’s prayer for a child

1 Samuel 7:5-6            At Mizpah under Samuel

1 Samuel 20:24           Jonathan grieved at Saul’s actions

1 Samuel 31:11-13      Public disasters

2 Samuel 1:12             Public calamities

2 Samuel 3:35             David of Abner’s death

2 Samuel 12:16           Grief

1 Kings 13:8-24                     Prophet at Bethel

1 Kings 19:2-8             Elijah on his journey to Horeb

1 Kings 21:4, 5, 27-29   Ahab in self-humiliation

1 Chronicles 10:12     The people of Jabesh-gilead, for Saul and his sons

2 Chronicles 20:3        Of Jehoshaphat, at the time of the invasion of the                                        Confederated armies of the Canaanites and           Syrians.

Ezra 8:21-23                          Proclaimed by Ezra at Ahava River

Ezra 10:6                      Ezra mourning exiles’ faithlessness

Nehemiah 1:4                        For the restoration of Jerusalem

Nehemiah 9:1-2           Confessing sins

Esther 4:3, 16                        Following Haman’s decree

Esther 4:16                   Esther prior to meeting with King

Esther 9:31                   Feast of Purim

Job 33:19                     As a result of pain

Psalm 35:13                 For the sick

Psalm 69:10                 Chasten the soul

Psalm 107:17               Sickness

Psalm 109:4, 24          Physical weakness

Isaiah 58                       Pleases God

Jeremiah 36:6              Reading of the scriptures

Jeremiah 36:9              At prophesies against Judah and Jerusalem

Ezekiel 29:11-13          Egypt’s desolation

Daniel 6:18-20                       Darius fasts

Daniel 9:3                     Daniel praying for Jerusalem

Daniel 10:1-3               Daniel’s three week’s partial fast

Joel 2:12                       Returning to God

Jonah 3:5-9                  People of Ninevah

Zechariah 7:3-7          Mourning

Zechariah 8:19           4th, 5th, 7th, and 10th months

 

New Testament

Matthew 4:1-11            Jesus for 40 days

Matthew 6:16-18          Avoid display

Matthew 9:14               John’s disciples

Matthew 11:18             John the Baptist

Matthew 17:21             Power of fasting

Mark 2:18                     John’s disciples & the Pharisees

Mark 8:1-3                              Four thousand people fasting three days

Mark 9:29                     This kind can only come out by

Luke 2:36-37                Anna

Luke 4:1-2                    Jesus for 40 days

Luke 5:33-35                John’s disciples

Luke 7:33                     John the Baptist’s character

Luke 18:12                   Pharisees

Acts 9:9                        Saul encounters Christ

Acts 10:30                    Angel with Cornelius

Acts 13:2                      Commissioning of Saul & Barnabas

Acts 13:3                      Sacred ordination

Acts 14:23                    Appointment of Pastors

Acts 23:12-13              Fasting with evil intent

Acts 27                         Shipwreck of Paul

1 Corinthians 7:5         In marriage

1 Corinthians 8:8         Little value in itself

2 Corinthians 6:4, 5     Apostles

2 Corinthians 11:27     Paul

How to Fast

HOW YOU SHOULD FAST

 

(1) There are many ways to participate. 

The Bible is clear that we, as Christians, should be fasting as part of our regular disciplines; however there are no guidelines as to how a fast should be conducted. Each of you must allow Holy Spirit to guide you in what you as an individual are to do.  The most important thing to remember is that fasting is for the purpose of drawing us closer to God.  One common misconception about fasting is that somehow going without food somehow forces God to respond, nothing could be further from the truth.  Fasting may consist of anything from abstaining from habits or hobbies all the way to a total fast (i.e. abstaining from any food and liquids).  No particular method of fasting is more “spiritual” than the other.  We must allow the Spirit to lead us.

(2) Prepare yourself for fasting. 

The time you spend preparing yourself for a period of fasting can make the difference between a successful, productive fast and a bitter spiritual exercise.  There will be many obstacles for you to face and overcome before, during and after your fast, so the time you take getting ready is of the utmost importance.  Preparing your mind and body will help you avoid both mental and physical hardships during your fast, after your fast and in times of fasting to come.  Get ready for fasting by using the last 24 – 48 hours before you begin to cut down on the amount of food you take in.  It is an easier transition into your fast if you have already eliminated heavy foods or foods which are hard to digest.  It is also helpful, but not necessary, to cut down on or eliminate processed sugars and caffeine (the reason for this will be explained later).

(3) Proper fasting is not bad for your body. 

To the contrary, fasting is a natural way for your miraculous body to work healing.  Hippocrates, from whom doctors get the “Hippocratic Oath”, taught his students the benefits of fasting and exercises instead relying on drugs.

(4) Fasting purifies the body of impurities and pollutants. 

This gives the body time to flush out the contaminants that are in a lot of the food and beverages we consume. This is one of the reasons it is important to drink plenty of pure water before, during and after you fast you will know that this is happening by such symptoms as bad breath, headaches and tiredness.  These are all natural signs that the body is doing the house cleaning.

(5) Drink plenty of fluids. 

The best rest for the body during a fast is to drink bottled or filtered water.  The amount varies by body weight and size, is has been suggested that an individual drink between two quarts and one gallon of water each day.  One doctor suggested one quart of water for every 50 pounds of body weight.  Some choose to drink fruit juices or their regular coffee and tea.  Remember when choosing for yourself, the more natural (free from preservatives) the better.  Caffeine can make you both hungry and thirsty making it harder to concentrate on your objective and to accomplish the desired goals.

(6) Make your focus God. 

During the entire process of fasting you must stay focused on your objective.  Feed constantly on God’s Word it is a light to you and will show you how and where to walk.  God will reveal Himself to you as He has promised, if we will draw near to Him He will draw near to us.  Maintain a perpetual attitude of prayer.  Most of us cannot afford to take a break from “life” to close ourselves away in a mountain cabin for the duration of our fasting.  The answer to this is to maintain a “God consciousness” all of the time during our day even at work.  One exercise that can help with this is to spend sixty seconds at the beginning of each hour giving praise to God.  This will keep your mind focused on Him as you watch the clock in anticipation of your “minute with God.”  Fasting without focus is simply missing meals.

(7) The spiritual victory is often not seen until the completion of the fast. 

Winners cannot be declared until the battle is completed.  Jesus came into His ministry only after enduring His Spirit led fasting and His time of satanic temptation.  The battle is waged over and fought with the accuracy and truth of the Word of God.  With God’s Word you will both feed your flesh and defend your spirit.  Rest assured, the crown, or prize always goes to the winner.

(8) After you fast.

It cannot be stressed too much how important it is to be very cautious in the breaking of the fast.  Always break a fast slowly and by gradually adding things back to your diet.  Some things you may not want to return to like fats, harmful sweets, caffeine, etc.  Eat light breakfasts (juice & fruit), light lunches (salads), and maintain very light dinners for several days following the fasting time.  Take advantage of this opportunity to begin practicing wise eating habits.  MODERATION IS THE KEY.  (Phil. 4:5)  A good rule to live by is to never eat, whether sick or well, unless you are genuinely hungry. 

EAT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE, NEVER AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ANYMORE.  If one diligently adheres to proper fasting procedures they will find they have a greater endurance level, better disposition, freedom from many ailment and viruses, and above all freedom in the spirit.  WHEN BREAKING THE FAST EAT SLOWLY AND CHEW THE FOOD THOROUGHLY.  This aids greatly in proper digestion.  Avoid heavy, spicy meals for this stresses the digestive system that has been in a state of relaxation.  DO NOT OVEREAT!  (Luke 21-34)  Always take several days before gradually transcending to a vegetable diet.  THE FIRST THREE DAYS AFTER YOUR FAST ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT.

No matter how long you fast, hunger may become very intense during the “break-fast”.  This is the most critical point of the entire fast and break in period.  The victories that we will have forever afterwards are determined largely on how we control the appetite after the initial breaking-in period.  Sipping juices can help greatly in most cases.  Continue to rest the first week of eating and also let activity be very gradual.

Sometimes when a fast is improperly broken, many uncomfortable conditions can arise.  Bloating and other conditions can be corrected by spacing your meals at longer intervals, going on a partial fast again, and then proceeding to break the fast properly.

The stomach and intestinal tract go to sleep after a few days of fasting.  When wrong food is placed into them suddenly, and in the wrong manner and quantity, they rebel.  They cannot awake suddenly.  To receive real benefit from fasting, a nutritious build-up diet of natural foods must be taken.  Strength and energy should be conserved more during the initial breaking-in period because great strain and labor is required to enable the stomach to receive food again.  Your strength will pick up as soon as the stomach can readjust sufficiently to assimilate the heavier food soon to be received!

 

 

 

How Not To Fast

 

Are you thinking, “That’s simple, eat!”  Good thinking, but that is not what we are addressing here.  Let’s take a quick peek at four cautions to your fasting motivation:

1) Do not fast to be seen.  While you are probably already loosing weight and fasting sounds very “spiritual”, Jesus had some instruction for us.  “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.  Verily I say to you, they have their reward.  But thou, 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 thee openly.”  (Matthew 6:16-18)

2) Do not fast for strife.  Be sure your motivation is right.  Some may say, “I’m going to fast so that others will see that they are wrong and I am right”.  Sorry, wrong motive.  (Isaiah 58).

3) Do not fast for selfish reasons.  If you go into fasting and prayer to get something you want and have unrepented sin, you will not get it!  The bottom line in fasting is you must be straight with God.  (Check the story of David in 2 Samuel 12:16, 22).

4) Do not fast because of pity.  Some people fast because they feel sorry for themselves.  Zech. 7:5 says that people fasted and mourned, but it didn’t do any good because they hadn’t repented.  You must have the right motivation.

How to Keep a Fasting Journal

How To Keep A Fasting Journal

 

Journals can serve as personal history books, recording even telephone calls and meetings.  They can also serve as recorded expressions of daily prayer and personal feelings.  The benefits of keeping a journal are numerous.  First, it helps to slow down and refocus fast-paced people.  Second, it gives people opportunities to get in touch with and record their feelings.  Third, it provides a means of recording important lessons God is daily teaching.  Also, a journal provides a record of God’s answers to prayers and other good gifts received from the Father.

 

How to Start Writing During your Fast

 

At the beginning or conclusion of each day, take time to record the events and lessons learned during the previous 24 hours.  The most difficult step in any new discipline is often the first step.  If you do not currently keep a spiritual journal, decide to keep one during your fast.  You may find that keeping a journal is a beneficial discipline you want to maintain throughout the rest of your life.  Also, by keeping a journal of your fast days you will have an accurate record of your feelings as you develop the discipline of fasting, and a reference for the special insights you received from God during your fast.

Your journal should include a variety of entries.  Some days your journal entry may represent a personal testimony.  Other days it will include insights from that day’s Scripture reading, a sermon you heard, an article you read or a Bible study you attended.  Often your journal will reflect your daily prayer requests, or praise to God for answered prayer.

Before you begin writing, take time to consider things that happened on your fast day and the lessons you have learned.  Some of these insights will be significant and obvious, and you will have little difficulty recognizing and recording them.  At other times, God may use subtle means to reveal Himself to you and to share important lessons you need to learn.

If you have difficulty finding things to record in your journal, you may wish to use this list to guide you as you write.

1. What has God revealed to you about Himself?

2. What has God revealed to you about His purposes?

3. What has God revealed to you about His ways?

4. What has God done in your life or through your life that has caused you to experience His presence?

5. What Scripture has God used to speak to you about Himself, His purposes or His ways?

6. What particular person or concern has God given you a burden to pray for?  What has He guided you to pray for in this situation?

7. What has God done through circumstances that have given you a sense of His timing or direction concerning any aspect of His will?

How to Break Your Fast

How to Break a Fast

 

After a Fast of 14 to 21 Days:

First Day:  Three meals of fruit juice in 4 to 6 oz. servings; diluted one- third to one-half water.

Second Day: Three or four meals of fruit juices, somewhat less diluted, in 6 to 8 oz servings.

Third Day: Fresh fruit for each meal.

Fourth Day:  Duplicate the third day or a half pint of milk, yogurt, or buttermilk every 2 to 3 hours.  Or eat light soups at meal time.

Fifth Day:  Fresh fruit or soup.

Sixth Day: Very gradually work up from fruit, milk and soup, to a meal of                      vegetables, cheese products, or nuts.

 

After a Fast of 3 to 6 Days:

First Day: Three or four meals of fresh citrus fruits or juices.  (Note: some may not be able to tolerate the acid in citrus fruit, if this is the case, replace citrus with non-citrus fruit)

Second Day:  Light soups, fresh fruit, vegetables, and salads. 

Succeeding days: usually work in regular diet leaving off any unhealthy “habit formed” indulgences, etc.

After a Fast of 7 to 14 Days:

First 2 Days: Break the fast on fresh fruit juice.  At the next meal eat fresh citrus fruit moderately.  For the balance of the two days eat three or four meals of fresh citrus fruit only.

Third Day: Light soups or skim milk, buttermilk, or yogurt.

Fourth Day: Green salad or steamed light vegetables.

Fifth Day:  Three meals of fresh fruit, green salad, yogurt, or some nuts may be eaten.

Fasting Food for Thought

Fasting food for thought

 

Why 21 Days?

God uses a few numbers repeatedly throughout His Word to accomplish His plan.  The breakthrough periods in fasting seem to line up like this:  1) half-fast —until 3:00pm; 2) 24 hrs; 3) 3 days; 4) 7 days; 5) 14 days; 6) 21 days; 7) 30 days; and 40 days.  This seems strange that there are time periods related to spiritual victory.  Take a moment to think about it, God does the same thing with our tithe.  The blessings do not come after 5% or 9% but only after 10% has been given to Him.  We have chosen 21 days specifically because the number 3 represents the Holy Trinity and 7 is the number of completeness or perfection.  Thus 3 times 7 = 21 – “Holy Perfection”.  After completion always comes a new beginning. Begin today to expect God to “perfect” your holiness!

 

77 Year Old Physician Fasts 53 days

Dr. Henry S. Tanner, a medical doctor in the 1880’s sought to prove fasting could improve a person’s health.  At the age of 50, under strict supervision, Dr. Tanner fasted for 43 days without food.  The newspapers covered the story.  At the conclusion of this fast he claimed to have seen Heaven, angels, and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Tanner became a pioneer for the advancement of fasting.  He taught it and prescribed it to his patients.

At age 60, he fasted for 50 days.  In the middle of this he saw “the unspeakable glories of God”.  He came out of his fast feeling 30 years younger and looked only 40.

At age 77, Dr. Tanner fasted for 53 days.  His gray hair was replaced by new black hair.  It was the same color that it was when he was a young man.  He died at the age of 93.

 

Abiding in the Secret Place with the Most High

Through His Word God has appointed special places to meet with man,  sometimes on a hilltop, a certain city, by a well, and always in the sanctuary.  Places are important to Him.  It also is important for you to find a special place to meet with God, a place where you can be alone with Him.  Here are four tips for your special secret place.

1) Music helps!  Playing worship music can help us get into an atmosphere where we can commune with God. 

2) Let God’s Word be your food.  The written Word of God is one of the greatest gifts God has given to His children.  Read passages that refresh your soul as you afflict your flesh.  As you read, listen for God to speak. 

3) Document your prayer time.  It is important to keep open and paper with you while you meet with God.  We document our business meetings at work, why not our meetings with God?  Companies have earned millions by selling “post-it” notes and “Day planners” so we will not forget.  Record what God shows you so you can remember. 

4) Anticipation.  Expect God to be there when you call upon Him.  As you give up meal time for “God” time you show your desire for His habitation rather than a short visit.  He said if we would come close to Him, He would come close to us.

Ethics in Fasting

Ethics in Fasting

 

Only God and you can know whether you are sticking to your vow to fast or whether you “sneak” a bit of candy or a small snack.  Your integrity determines how you fast.  Fasting is not just getting answers to prayer; it is also about how you do it.  The same values you hold in your life will guide you in your fasting decisions.  Fasting is not only the right thing to do to get results, but also an exercise in your character growth and development.  I will leave with you three tough questions for you to use to help you evaluate your fast:

1) Am I doing what I said I am going to do?

2) Am I doing it the way I said I was going to do it?

3) Am I on track with my purpose?

The Pursuit of Love 2010 Fast Outline

The Pursuit of Love

2010 Annual All Church Fast

 

1. The Pursuit of Love

1 Corinthians 14:1a

Pursue love,

 

2. The Commandment of Love

John 13:31-35

31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.  32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately.  33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.  34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

 

3. The Imperative of Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

 

4. The Characteristics of Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-13

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

5. The Foundation of Love

Ephesians 3:14-21

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height —  19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

 

6. The Laws of Love

Matthew 22:34-40

34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  38 This is the first and great commandment.  39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

 

7. The difficulty of love

Matthew 5:43-48

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,  45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?  48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

 

8. The Example of Love

John 15:9-17

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.  10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.  12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.  14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.  15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.  16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.  17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

 

9. The Risk of Love

Romans 5:6-11

6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

 

10. The Security of Love

Romans 8:31-39

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”  37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

11. The Sacrifice of Love

Romans 14:14-23

14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.  22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

 

12. The Debt of Love

Romans 13:8-10

8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

 

13. The Purity of Love

Romans 12:9-21

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.  14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.  17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”  21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

14. The Compelling Nature of Love

2 Corinthians 5:12-18

12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

 

15. The Fervency of Love

1 Peter 4:7-9

7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

 

16. The Walk of Love

Ephesians 5:1-2

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

 

17. The Manner of love

1 John 3:1-3

 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

 

18. The Outworking of Love

1 John 3:10-20

10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

 

19. The Reason for Love

1 John 4:7-11

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

 

20. The Perfecting of Love

1 John 4:12-19

12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.

 

21. The Proof of Love

1 John 4:20-5:4

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

 

22. The Future of Love

1 Corinthians 2:9

 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Quotes on Fasting

Comments on Fasting by Christian Leaders

 

“It would not do to say that preachers study too much.  Some of them do not study at all; others do not study enough.  Numbers do not study the right way to show themselves workmen approved of God.  But our great lack is not in head culture, but in heart culture; not in lack of knowledge, but lack of holiness is our sad and telling defect – not that we know too much, but that we do not meditate on God and His Word and watch and fast and pray enough.”  — E.M. Bounds

 

“I was also led into a state of great dissatisfaction with my own want of stability in faith and love…I often felt myself weak in the presence of temptation and needed frequently to hold days of fasting and prayer and to spend much time in overhauling my own religious life in order to retain that communion with God and that  hold upon the Divine truth that would enable me efficiently to labor for the promotion of revivals of religion.” 

–Charles G. Finney

 

“Our ability to perceive God’s direction in life is directly related to our ability to sense the inner promptings of His Spirit.  God provides a specific activity to assist us in doing this….Men through whom God has worked greatly have emphasized the significance of prayer with fasting….In an extended fast over three days, one quickly experiences a great decrease in sensual desires and soon has a great new alertness to spiritual things.” 

– Bill Gothard

 

“First, let it be done unto the Lord, with our eye singly fixed on Him.  Let our intention herein be this, and this alone, to glorify our Father which is in heaven; to express our sorrow and shame for our manifold transgressions  of His holy law; to wait for an increase of purifying grace, drawing our affections to things above; to add seriousness and earnestness to our prayers; to avert the wrath of God; and to obtain all the great and precious promises which He hath made to us in Jesus Christ….Let us beware of fancying we merit anything of God by our fasting.  We cannot be too often warned of this; inasmuch as a desire to “establish our own righteousness”, to procure salvation of debt and not of grace, is so deeply rooted in all our hearts.  Fasting is only a way which God hath ordained, wherein we wait for His unmerited mercy; and wherein, without any deserve of ourselves, He hath promised freely to give us His blessing.” 

– John Wesley

 

“If you say I will fast when God lays it on me, you never will.  You are too cold and indifferent.  Take the yoke upon you.”

 – Dwight L. Moody

“Learn from these men that the work which the Holy Ghost commands must call us to new fasting and prayer, to new separation from the spirit and the pleasures of the world, to new consecration to God and to His fellowship.  Those men gave themselves up to fasting and prayer, and if all our ordinary Christian work there were more prayer there would be more blessing in our own inner life.”

–Andrew Murray

 

“As a Boomer, I have been conditioned to enjoy the best the world has to offer.  Fasting speaks boldly to consumerism, one of my generational core values.  To set aside what I want to encourage personal spiritual growth is what it means to deny myself and take up my cross daily in the nineties.  I suspect it would be difficult for me to rise to the challenge of discipleship and live a consistently Christian lifestyle without practicing the discipline of fasting.” 

– Douglas Porter

 

“We should fast when we are concerned for God’s work.  I believe the greatest thing a church could have is a staff, deacons, and leaders who fast and pray – not when the church burns down, but in order to get the church on fire.  A lot of dead churches would catch fire if the people in places of leadership would set aside a period of time for fasting and prayer….Fasting brings about a supernatural work in our lives.  God will not entrust supernatural power to those whose lives are not under total control….The Christian who would have the supernatural power of God must be under the total control of the Holy Spirit.”

 – Charles Stanley

A Vow Before God

A Vow Before God Is A Real Deal

 

When you set out to fast and make a promise to God, He judges that very seriously.  To give up, and not fulfill your promise, except in the case of medical reasons, constitutes a violated fast.  This happens when you (1) do not keep the spiritual vow to fast or, (2) break the physical restraints of the fast (ie. eating or drinking what you promised to abstain from).  Sometimes this is done absentmindedly, at other times a person intentionally eats or drinks, just as purposely as a person chooses to sin.

Since the Bible is silent about principles, illustrations or actions to take when a fast is violated, we must draw principles from the general doctrine of the Word.  Let’s look:

1) Nonjudgmental Because all sins have been forgiven at Calvary, a broken vow is covered by the grace of God.

2) Non-benefit If a vow is violated you will probably not receive the benefits for which you fasted.  If the Nazirite vow was broken, according to Numbers 6, the man received no benefit from his vow.

3) Harm Because fasting is not required, a command is not violated.  However, you may have harmed your personal endurance and self-esteem.  You have demonstrated a lack of self-discipline or the weakness of your resolve.  The best thing to do is to return to the making of the vow and start over, keeping it this time.

10 Purposes for Fasting

10 Purposes For Fasting.

 

The Battleground is The Spirit vs. The Flesh to gain control for who runs your will.  Denying the flesh in order to seek God is the best way to win that battle, but fasting is much more meaningful than that.  To find the purposes for fasting we turn to the Word of God.

 

1) To Chasten the Soul – Psalm 69:10.

2) To Humble the soul (overcome our flesh) Ezra 8:21; Psalm 35:13; 69:10.

3) To Repent and seek the Lord – 2 Chronicles 20:3,4; 1 Samuel 7:2-6.

4) To Prepare for Spiritual Warfare – 1 Kings 21:27-29; Matthew 17:21.

5) To Experience God’s Habitation – Matt. 9:14; Mark 2:18-20; Luke 5:33-35.

6) To Receive Spiritual Direction – Judges 20:26-28; Acts 13:2-3; 14:23.

7) To Gain Power over demonic forces – Matthew 7:14; Mark 9:16-29.

To Save our City/State/Nation – 2 Chronicles 20:3-30; Ester 4:3-16; Joel 1:14; 2:15.

9) To Minister to one another – 2 Corinthians 6:4-10; 11:21-31.

10) To Experience Revival – Zechariah 8:16-23.

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