FASTING – Spirit, Soul and Body
Going without food or drink voluntarily, generally for spiritual purposes. Fasting,
however, could be done for other reasons. For health to Detoxify your body. The
body is designed to heal itself, however, the average person is carrying around 7-10
lbs of toxic waste. By fasting 3 days a month and getting those toxic materials out of
your body, allows your body to spring into health. Fasting has been proved to
extend your life 3-7 years on the norm and up to 14 years in high risk people.
Jesus tells us when we fast indicating it is something we should do! (Matt 6:17-18)
Jesus tells us some things only come out with prayer and fasting (Matt 17:21, Mk 9:
29). Praying and fasting is like praying in agreement, it combines our powers.
Moses did not eat bread or drink water during the 40 days and 40 nights he was on
Mount Sinai receiving the law (Ex 34:28). Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights before
His temptation (Matt 4:1-2).
Voluntary group fasts were engaged in during time of war, such as when the
Benjamites were defeated by the other Israelites (Judges 20:26-28), and when
Samuel gathered the people to Mizpah during the Philistine wars (I Sam 7:6-8).
Jehoshaphat called for a fast in all Israel when opposed by the Moabites and
Ammonites (II Chr 20:3-13). Reacting to Jonah’s preaching, the men of Nineveh at
the king’s order, fasted and put on sackcloth (Jonah 3:5). Those about to return
with Ezra from the captivity fasted at the river of Ahava because of the dangers
faced on the journey (Ezra 8:21, 23). Esther and the Jews fasted when faced with
the destruction planned by Haman (Esther 4:3, 16, 9:31).
In times of grief, people fasted. A seven day fast was held when the bones of Saul
and his sons were buried (I Sam 31:13).
Fasting was practiced by individuals in times of distress. David fasted after hearing
that Saul and Jonathan was dead (II Sam 1:12). Nehemiah fasted and prayed upon
learning that Jerusalem had remained in ruin since its destruction (Neh 1:4). Darius,
the king of Persia, fasted all night after placing Daniel in the lions’ den (Dan 6:18).
Going without food or water was not automatically effective in accomplishing the
desires of those who fasted in the prophet Isaiah’s time. People complained that
they had fasted and that God had not responded favorable (Isaiah 58:3-4). The
prophet declared that the external show was futile and told them what fast God
wanted (Isaiah 58:5-7)
Fasting puts our body under the authority of our spirit, lining us up as God originally
created us and brings us closer to hearing from God, when we fast from the heart
and not for mere show. (Ps 35:13, 69:10, 109:24, Dan 9:3, Joel 2:12)
Anna at the temple ‘served God with fasting and prayers night and day’ (Luke 2:37).
John the Baptist led his disciples to fast (Mk 2:18). Jesus said after He was gone,
His disciples would fast (Matt 9:14-15). Are you a disciple of Jesus?
Cornelius was fasting and praying at the time of his vision (Acts 10:30). The church
in Antioch fasted and prayed then sent Paul and Barnabas off on the first missionary
journey (Acts13:2-3). Paul and Barnabas prayed with fasting at the appointment of
elders in the churches (Acts 14:23).
(II Cor 6:1-5, 11:23-27)