Prayer and fasting

What is fasting Dictionary - To eat very little or abstain from certain foods, especially as a religious

discipline.   It is something that a number of biblical ‘celebrities’ have done - Moses the

lawgiver, King David, Elijah the prophet, Queen Esther, the prophet Daniel, Anna the prophetess, the Apostle Paul, and Jesus Christ

In Scripture, the normal means of fasting involves abstaining from all food, solid or liquid, but not from water.

Luke 4:2 describes for us Jesus’ fast of forty days. We are told “He ate nothing” and at the end of the fast “He was hungry.”

There are other fasts described in Scripture, a)Water Only Fast – This is where you have water only The max duration is 40 days.

Jonathan in (1 Samuel 20:34)b) Absolute Fast – This means no water or food. The longest recorded is 40 says. Moses did this in Exodus 34:28 - 28 Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. (First fast mentioned in the bible)c) Partial Daniel-type fast. This fast you deny yourself of only certain food. Maybe cut out meat, maybe desert. This is a fast that can go on indefinitely. An Example of this fast is Daniel found in Daniel 10:3 2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

Why do/should we do it?

1. Jesus says so! However this is matter for some debate

the two verses following are often used.

Matthew 6:16-18

Fasting16 “When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 9:14-15

Jesus Questioned About Fasting 14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

Why do/should we do it?

1. Jesus says so!

2. Focus on God

3. Creates a space

4. Being serious

5. A corporate activity

2 Chronicles 20:2-4

Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon2 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom,[b] from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

The result?

  Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah... 15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s... 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’”

Ezra 8:21-23

21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.”23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

How should we go about it?

1. Know your purposeprimarily to pray about the church and listen to what God might be saying to us – what direction should we be taking what vision does God have for the church.

2. What’s your commitmentHow long you will fast - one meal or the whole dayThe type of fast God wants you to undertake (such as

water only, certain food stuffs)

3.Be prepared Set yourself right with God to start with – confess

your sins and ask forgiveness, ask God to fill you with his Holy Spirit

Expect God to communicate with youCreate some space

Matthew 6:5-12 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray

standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Mathew 6:16-18 Fasting 16 “When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they

disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

How should we go about it?

What should we expect?

Expect to experience God

The unexpected

Heighten your senses be alert!

Health warning

Not for everyone Fasting is not for everyone – diabetics, people with

eating disorders or a heart condition, pregnant or breast feeding mothers shouldn’t alter they diet but could explore alternatives which may be more appropriate.

A different sort of fast Jo Swinney in her article suggestions ‘fasting’ from

shopping, texting, internet use or anything that has a priority in your life.

Probably best to drink though

A place to start1 Chronicles 16:11Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

Psalm 31:3Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Colossians 4:2

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

John 16:13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

Matthew 7:7-8Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Psalm 37:7Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him