fasting

[>> Hannah <<]

wats the deal with fasting??

should we do it?

if so, how often?

wats the significance of it?

Its something thats been on my mind

wud appreciate some advice and insight in to it ...

[Openly Curious]

Hello Hannah,

Instructions are given for prayer and fasting in

Matthew 6:5-18 I'll let you look it up and read and I will only put emphasis on a few verses in the text

vs 16--Moreover when ye 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 unto you, They have their reward.

vs 17--But thou when thou fastest anoint thine head and wash thy face.

vs 18--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.

Fasting is a spiritual ceremony between you and God that is not something to do lightly. I personally always like to have a specific purpose when I fast and pray and do not like to go into blindly for I expect to recieve something from the Lord.

The word tells us that we are to enter into fasting with a spirit of true humility and do it in secret even not letting others know like waving a flag saying hey look at me I'm fasting because if one does it in that manner then they will have the praises of men but not God and will not get their reward from God this way so their fasting is or will be in vain doing no good at all.

But we are instructed when we fast in vs 17-- to anoint our head this symbolizes a sacred ceremony in which you and the Lord are entering into during this time of fasting as the two of your spirits will join together through denying your fleshly appitites. Then we are told to wash our faces this symbolizes to God that you are in true humility and you are doing it in secret so as not to be seen or draw attention to yourself during this time of fasting.

And then when are instructed to do it in secret in the manner above and the Father would see us in secret and will reward us openly meaning the purpose or thing in which we were seeking God about will be given to us openly in other words you will get the thing you were seeking God for through the fasting ceremony if you do it within the manner in which He instructed us to do.

I like to be wise as I have learned to be this way from experience when I fast and pray because God will reward you for sure and I have not fasted wisely many times and blew it so to speak and didn't ask wisely when God met with me. So think what it is you are seeking God about first and then you can expect your reward during your time of fasting as you follow God prescribed course in his word

that will get results and God's attention.

God bless hope I have helped

Openly Curious

[Leonard]

Don't forget the passage on fasting in Isa. 58 either.

[pointer]

wats the deal with fasting??

should we do it?

if so, how often?

wats the significance of it?

Its something thats been on my mind

wud appreciate some advice and insight in to it ...

It was common for Jews to fast at times of conviction of sin, or when praying for a particular outcome. There is, however, no divine command to fast in the OT. Neither is there any command to do so in the NT, though there are Jesus' warnings about associated hypocrisy. Some early Jewish Christians practised it, perhaps out of habit, but it was not generally adopted by Christians. Fasting was an understandable response before the crucifixion, but it is, imv, much less so now.

The bottom line with fasting is, if it helps, do it. Many find it rather irrelevant, as they find that close fellowship with the Lord makes such things odd and unnecessary. They find that He does not need to be persuaded to give an abundance of good things, and if we do not get them, it is some problem of our own that prevents Him from giving- and fasting will not necessarily help, though prayer and reading/listening to the Word will. When fellowship with Him is broken due to sin, it is restored instantly by repentance when convicted, and one can go on one's way, rejoicing. The Christian should, after all, rejoice always.

Fasting became a feature of false Christianity, being used as a 'work' in burdensome programmes of works justification, and as a dangerous substitute for true repentance and the victory it brings. The Christian must be wary of those who try to enforce fasting, just as the Galatians had to avoid those who urged them to be circumcised.

"Repent and rejoice" is a wonderful saying, a summary of Scripture, to keep in one's head.

[cupajoy]

fasting is in the Bible 17 times, OT- Neh 9:1; -Est4:3;- Psa 35:13;- 69:10; - 109:24;- Jer36:6;- Dan6:18;- 9:3;- Joe2:12;

NT - Mat 15:32;- 17:21;- Mar 8:3;- 9:29;- Acts 10:30;- 14:23;- 27:33;- 1Co 7:5;,

1Co 7:5 is why I try to fast I find this is truly why to fast for strength and to deny thyself to be able to do the will Of our Lord Jesus.:1CO 7:5 consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

fasting;νηστεία

nēsteia

nace-ti'-ah

From G3522; abstinence (from lack of food, or voluntary and religious); specifically the fast of the Day of Atonement: - fast (-ing.)

prayer: προσευχή

proseuchē

pros-yoo-khay'

From G4336; prayer (worship); by implication an oratory (chapel): - X pray earnestly, prayer.

[pointer]

fasting is in the Bible 17 times

So is murder. That does not make it a desirable practice.

1CO 7:5 consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

'Fasting' is not in the oldest manuscripts.

[cupajoy]

fasting is in the Bible 17 times

So is murder. That does not make it a desirable practice.

1CO 7:5 consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

'Fasting' is not in the oldest manuscripts.

?what? we are told not to murder, we are told to fast but not make public of our fasting. It is supposed to be private, God took the time to have it placed in the bible for a reason, therefore I think it is important.

[cupajoy]

I would also like to say that I agree with pointer on fasting should not replace repentance; that is two different things. to me repentance is humbly asking for forgiveness and changeing ones ways away from sin, and fasting is denying oneself, to build strength in ones relationship with God, through prayer and fasting to be able to know God's will in my life. and to with stand the temptations that come my way.

[pointer]

fasting is in the Bible 17 times

So is murder. That does not make it a desirable practice.

1CO 7:5 consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

'Fasting' is not in the oldest manuscripts.

we are told to fast

Where, please?

[cupajoy]

1CO 7:5 consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

pointer i know you are fixing to enlighten me on things I'm ready , bring it on LOL I am willing to learn I know what i have read , and I know you have other resources that you bring things from, you said that fasting is not in the oldest transscripts which ones are you talking about? yes I am reading the KJV I am trying to get a NASB bible to be better equiped. to place all of God's word in my heart and I really do believe fasting is important, not for repentance but for building my relationship with God