Bible Study Lessons

Notes on Fasting

Definition of fasting

choosing to abstain from food, one meal or several days' meals, to give special attention to some spiritual concern(s). Though fasting is neither a major Biblical doctrine nor a foundation stone of the faith, it may open doors where other keys have failed. It may open the way to new vistas of understanding and strength.

Motivation for fasting

first and foremost, to honor God by giving ourselves more fully to Him.

to express sorrow for our disobedience to God, for doing things our own way instead of His.

to purify our lives and receive God's grace for the purification process.

to turn our affections away from earthly things and toward "things above," eternal things.

to express the seriousness and earnestness of our prayer.

to avert the outpouring of God's wrath against evil; to appeal to God for extra time for His grace to work.

to gain insight into God's Word, especially His promises.

to request the fulfillment of God's prophesies.

to sharpen our spiritual senses.

to increase our creativity in solving difficult problems.

to discern God's will and the steps to accomplish it.

to expose and correct the pride of our hearts.

to mourn with God over the spiritual resistance and darkness of our world.

to rekindle the flame of our desire to lead people to Christ and to see His kingdom come.

to free those who are in satanic bondage.

to choose and ordain elders.

to keep the body and soul in subjection to the spirit. (Note, however, that if fasting becomes a ritual, it loses any effectiveness to restrain fleshly lusts.)

to follow Jesus' words: "When you fast ..." (Matt. 6:16, 17); "But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast in those days" (Mark 2:20).

to avoid the sins of Sodom: "This was the guilt of your sister, Sodom,... pride, surfeit of food, and prosperous ease" (Ezek. 16:49; Jer. 5:17; and Matt. 24:37-38).

to gain insight leading to restoration and healing.

to exercise our faith.

to regain the spark of our "first love" for Jesus Christ.

to discern what talents and skills God has given us and to dedicate them to Him for the fulfillment of His purposes.

to submit to God's chastening.

to seek wisdom about how to abate the moral corruption around us, both within and without the church.

to acknowledge and appropriate God's mercy.

to prepare ourselves for ministry to Christ.

to appeal for God's will to be done in the nations of the world.

to discern and accept our part in bringing the gospel to the nations.

The Kingdom of God may be compared, very roughly, to an apple tree. Much of the fruit can be reached as we stand on the ground extending our arms upward. This is the fruit of the kingdom that is available through prayer, and it is wonderful. However, some of the biggest and sweetest apples can only be picked from the steps of a ladder. Fasting can be that ladder.

Jesus does not want us to be satisfied with a small basket of apples (John 15: 2, 5, 8). He wants our joy to be full and our bushel baskets overflowing, to the glory of God the Father.

Notice that Jesus does not say if you fast, but when. And, in Matthew 6:16, 17, He uses both the singular you and the plural you (though English makes no clear distinction, the Greek text does). Fasting is for individuals and for groups.

Personal guidelines for fasting

Make sure you are physically able to fast. If you suffer from diabetes, ulcers, TB, or other disorders, or if you have undergone any type of gastro-intestinal surgery, you must consult a physician.

Rid your life of any corrupt influences, such as sensual reading material and sensual music. Fasting heightens your sensitivity to the world of the spirit, good or evil. If you have opened doors to Satan's influence in your life and have never closed them, you may find that you are subject to demonic interference when you fast.

Be sure you are wearing the whole armor of God (see Eph. 6:10-17).

Begin with expressions of praise. Maintain a spirit of praise. Allow much time for praise.

Set specific objectives.

Eliminate ungodly motives (Isaiah 58:1-12).

Link fasting with sincere and practical charity. Before you fast, give help to the needy (Is. 58:7).

Avoid ostentation (Matt. 6:16-18; Rom. 3:27; and Luke 17:10).

Try fasting before, rather than after, an emergency arises. But certainly do consider fasting in the midst of a spiritual crisis.

Usually make your first experience of fasting a brief one, say 24 hours or less.

If you fast for 24 hours, try fasting from evening to evening. Important thoughts and insights that come to you in the evening will stay with you through the night and help prepare your mind and heart for the following day.

Give much time to Scripture reading. Allow God's Word to guide you, teach you, and sink into you as you fast.

If at all possible, devote the waking hours of your fasting period to prayer, study, and contemplation. In any case, cut back your activities so that your spiritual intake increases and your caloric requirements decrease to less than the usual per day.

If you decide on a "dry" fast, one without water intake, limit the time to no more than 72 hours, and avoid excessive warmth.

Never ignore the "second hunger" that occurs after about 20-60 days of fasting. This hunger indicates that more than fat cells are now being consumed; the body's reserves are burned up.

Break a fast gradually, with easy-to-digest foods.

Keep in mind that the benefits of fasting often come many days after the fast.

Rewards and warnings

"... Your healing will quickly appear" (Is. 58:8 and, for an unusual illustration, see 1 Sam. 30:11-15).

"Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help and he will say: Here am I" (Is. 58:9).

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jer. 29:13).

"I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten" (Joel 2:25).

"Put a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the sins they see around them.... Kill everyone whose forehead is not marked.... And begin right here at the sanctuary" (Ezek. 9:4-6).

"The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray" (1 Peter 4:7).

"We will cry out to you in our distress and you will hear us and save us" (2 Chron. 20:9).

In one of the most thrilling stories in all of Scripture, King Jehoshaphat led the people of Israel to a mighty victory over their foes using only the weapons of collective fasting, prayer, and songs of praise (2 Chron. 20:1-30).

Daniel, a key example

While studying the prophecies of Jeremiah, Daniel discovered that he was living at a critical time (see Dan. 9:2). His people, the Jews, were about to be returned to their precious homeland. Understanding that the hour of deliverance and restoration was at hand, Daniel sought God with a greater intensity and fervor than ever——fasting, praying, humbling himself (9:3).

Though he was one of the most righteous men who ever lived, Daniel totally identified himself with his people in all their disobedience, backsliding, and rebellion (9:4-19). He said, "We have sinned," not "They have sinned." Daniel linked himself with his countrymen, acknowledging that he and they together justly deserved God's judgments. He exemplified God's message in Ezekiel 9:4-6 and 22:30-31; he was ready and willing to "stand before me [God] in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it."

Daniel sought God's light with a wholeheartedness matched by few other men through the ages. In turn, God blessed him with wisdom and understanding beyond all that Daniel could ever ask or imagine. Today, as in the time of Daniel, the light of God is desperately needed. In these dark days of spiritual lukewarmness and moral degradation, God will give us all the light we need if we prize it highly enough to seek it as Daniel did.

Daniel's intercession demonstrates a very important principle: God's sovereign control over the future never gives us an excuse to sit back and spectate. Rather, God's prophetic words are given to provoke us to fasting and prayer with utmost zeal, humility, understanding, and assurance. God reveals His plan not so that we can vegetate on the sidelines, but rather so that we will know and take out part in the action out on the field, pulling together with other members of the team. Revelation demands involvement!

Our unique role as part of the last generation

In moments of crisis, such as the persecutions of the early church and of today's church in certain anti-Christian nations, believers have always demonstrated their supernatural unity and strength. Today we face the last and greatest crisis of the church. God's timetable for judgment is unfolding right before us day by day (see Is. 24; Rev. 6, 8, 9, 16). We will need God's supernatural intervention to build His church and fulfill the Great Commission in what little time remains.

Jesus described His people as the salt of the earth. One purpose of salt is to preserve. As the salt of the earth, we cannot abolish corruption, but we can restrain it long enough for God's mercy and grace to accomplish His purposes. Jesus also said that "if the salt loses its saltiness.. it is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men" (Matt. 5:13). We would be wise to consider and apply His warning.

In his short, fiery message, the prophet Joel speaks much about the last days. They are days of opportunity for God's people. Just as Daniel interceded for the restoration of God's temple in Jerusalem, so also we who are part of the last days before Christ's return are called to intercede, says Joel, for the restoration of God's people.

Joel begins with a cry to "Wake up!" He continues: "Put on sackcloth. 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... Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand.... The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it? 'Even now,' declares the Lord, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.' Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love" (Joel 1:5-2:13).

The order of events for the last days appears to be this:

God's people will fast, weep, and cry out to Him (Joel 2:12).

God will pour out His Spirit (Joel 2:28) and conquer the enemy (Is. 59:19).

God will build and purify His church (Matt. 16:18: Eph. 5:25-30).

Christ will come back again (John 14:3).

We can, in a sense, "hasten" the return of Christ by completing His Great Commission and fulfilling all His other desires for the church. He has told us that Christ's bride will be ready for the marriage. Specifically, she will be:

radiant with God's glory

united in faith

clearly acknowledging Christ as head

fully mature in the spirit of Christ

holy

without blemish.

As we look at this list of characteristics, we see much work remains to be done, work that begins with both individual and united fasting and prayer.

Suggested plan of action for a collective fast

1. Among the leaders and members of your group, agree on specific goals for the fast, relying on prayer and Scripture to discern God's will.

2. Give each group member the freedom to determine through his or her own communication with the Lord whether or not that person participates in the fast.

3. Choose a day on which every participant will be free to devote time and attention to the Lord.

4. Meet some practical or spiritual need around you by giving financial or other assistance, as appropriate.

5. First evening:

Each person spends time alone at home.

Dedicate the fast to God's glory. Tell God through prayer what you intend to give Him through the fast.

Pray specifically for each group member, especially that the goals of the fast will be accomplished in and through him or her.

Study God's Word, asking for His guidance and insight.

Pray that the goals of the fast will be accomplished through you, your group, your church, and through the whole church of Jesus Christ.

Spend some time in praise before going to bed.

6. Night:

Sleep.

Or, as an option, you may wish to organize a prayer watch, with each participant taking a specific time slot during the night for prayer.

7. Morning:

Continue to pray, more and more specifically, for the goals of the fast.

Mourn with God for the iniquity in your own life, in your family, your church, your community, your nation, the world.

By late morning, individuals may begin to meet in small groups of two to four, continuing together in the morning's prayer activities.

8. Afternoon:

The entire group comes together.

Confess your sins to one another, and join together in prayer for one another's healing, cleansing.

Mourn together for the sins of your group, your church, the world. epray that the church and the land would be healed. Pray especially that God would purify and protect the leaders and would raise up more leaders who meet His standards set forth in Scripture.

Pray again that the specific goals of the fast would be accomplished.

Seek God's direction for your specific part in the accomplishment of those goals in the days and weeks ahead.

9. Early evening:

Praise and worship the Lord. Exalt His name together.

Share communion-acknowledging the power of Christ's sacrifice of His body and blood on our behalf.

Break the fast with a light supper, called "the feast of love." You may wish to arrange for each member of the group to provide some portion of this meal. Or perhaps some person outside the group would be willing to prepare it. Make sure you consider the menu, serving only foods that are easy to digest, e.g., soup or stew, rice, bread, poultry or fish, cooked vegetables, etc.