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FASTING
Is it
for us today?
Text: Luke 5:33 And
they said unto him, Why do the
disciples of John fast often,
and make prayers, and likewise
the disciples of the Pharisees;
but thine eat and drink?
Intro: Fasting means
simply to go without food by
choice. It is often referred to
in Scripture as ‘afflicting the
soul.’
Much of the fasting found in the
Bible was not commanded by God.
In fact some who fasted were not
godly at all; i.e. Worshippers
of idols often observed
ceremonial fasts. We have all
heard of the native Americans
who fasted to the limits of
human endurance seeking that one
big vision which would set the
course of their lives.
1. Why some in the Bible
fasted.
A. Some did it because
it was the natural thing to do
under the circumstances.
1. Darius could neither eat nor
sleep during the night when
Daniel was in the lion’s den
Dan 6:18 Then the
king went to his palace, and
passed the night fasting:
neither were instruments of
musick brought before him: and
his sleep went from him.
If your conscience were
bothering you that much, you
probably wouldn’t eat either!
2. David couldn’t eat
for sorrow as he prayed for his
sick son.
2 Sam 12:21 Then
said his servants unto him, What
thing is this that thou hast
done? thou didst fast and weep
for the child, while it was
alive; but when the
child was dead, thou didst rise
and eat bread.
22 And he said, While the child
was yet alive, I fasted and
wept: for I said, Who can tell
whether GOD will be gracious to
me, that the child may live?
23 But now he is dead, wherefore
should I fast? can I bring him
back again? I shall go to him,
but he shall not return to me.
3. All Israel fasted and
wept bitterly for sorrow over
the slaughter of their own
because of the sin of the
Benjaminites.
Judges 20:26 Then
all the children of Israel, and
all the people, went up, and
came unto the house of God, and
wept, and sat there before the
LORD, and fasted that day until
even, and offered burnt
offerings and peace offerings
before the LORD.
B. Ahab fasted in a pout
because Naboth refused to sell
him his land.
I kgs 21:4 And Ahab came
into his house heavy and
displeased because of the word
which Naboth the Jezreelite had
spoken to him: for he had said,
I will not give thee the
inheritance of my fathers. And
he laid him down upon his bed,
and turned away his face, and
would eat no bread.
Then Jezebel used a fast
of sorrow for the nation as a
tool of deceit.
I Kgs 21:7 And
Jezebel his wife said unto him,
Dost thou now govern the kingdom
of Israel? arise, and eat bread,
and let thine heart be merry: I
will give thee the vineyard of
Naboth the Jezreelite.
8 So she wrote letters in
Ahab's name, and sealed them
with his seal, and sent the
letters unto the elders and to
the nobles that were in his
city, dwelling with Naboth.
9 And she wrote in the
letters, saying, Proclaim a
fast, and set Naboth on high
among the people:
10 And set two men, sons of
Belial, before him, to bear
witness against him, saying,
Thou didst blaspheme God and the
king. And then carry him out,
and stone him, that he may die.
12 They proclaimed a fast,
and set Naboth on high among the
people.
13 And there came in two
men, children of Belial, and sat
before him: and the men of
Belial witnessed against him,
even against Naboth, in the
presence of the people, saying,
Naboth did blaspheme God and the
king. Then they carried him
forth out of the city, and
stoned him with stones, that he
died.
14 Then they sent to
Jezebel, saying, Naboth is
stoned, and is dead.
15 And it came to pass, when
Jezebel heard that
Naboth was stoned, and was dead,
that Jezebel said to Ahab,
Arise, take possession of the
vineyard of Naboth the
Jezreelite, which he refused to
give thee for money: for Naboth
is not alive, but dead.
C. Ahab couldn’t eat
when he heard of God’s judgment
on him for his sins
I Kings 21:27 And it came to
pass, when Ahab heard those
words, that he rent his clothes,
and put sackcloth upon his
flesh, and fasted, and lay in
sackcloth, and went softly.
D. Fasting was common in
connection with a vow. Even the
devil’s people did it.
Acts 23:12 And when it was
day, certain of the Jews banded
together, and bound themselves
under a curse, saying that they
would neither eat nor drink till
they had killed Paul.
13 And they were more than forty
which had made this conspiracy.
14 And they came to the chief
priests and elders, and said, We
have bound ourselves under a
great curse, that we will eat
nothing until we have slain
Paul.
They must have
gotten awfully hungry!
II There was only one
ceremonial fast actually
prescribed by God
Lev 23:28 And ye
shall do no work in that same
day: for it is a day of
atonement, to make an atonement
for you before the LORD your
God.
29 For whatsoever soul it be
that shall not be afflicted in
that same day, he shall be cut
off from among his people.
30 And whatsoever soul it be
that doeth any work in that same
day, the same soul will I
destroy from among his people.
31 Ye shall do no manner of
work: it shall be a statute
for ever throughout your
generations in all your
dwellings.
32 It shall be unto you a
sabbath of rest, and ye shall
afflict your souls: in the ninth
day of the month at even, from
even unto even, shall ye
celebrate your sabbath.
A. The Pharisees had
multiplied the fasts until they
had two each week; or else the
Pharisee was lying!
Lu 18:11 The Pharisee stood
and prayed thus with himself,
God, I thank thee, that I am not
as other men are, extortioners,
unjust, adulterers, or even as
this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I
give tithes of all that I
possess.
The one prescribed fast
typified the affliction of
repentance which God demands of
man when he comes face to face
with the crucified Christ. The
need for repentance stands, but
the ceremonial fasting ended
when the body of Christ was
offered and ended the sacrifices
of the Law.
Col 2:14 Blotting
out the handwriting of
ordinances that was against us,
which was contrary to us, and
took it out of the way, nailing
it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled
principalities and powers, he
made a shew of them openly,
triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge
you in meat, or in drink, or in
respect of an holyday, or of the
new moon, or of the sabbath
days:
17 Which are a shadow of things
to come; but the body is of
Christ.
III What about New
Testament Fasting?
Mat 9:14 Then came
to him the disciples of John,
saying, Why do we and the
Pharisees fast oft, but thy
disciples fast not?
15 And Jesus said unto them, Can
the children of the bridechamber
mourn, as long as the bridegroom
is with them? but the days will
come, when the bridegroom shall
be taken from them, and then
shall they fast.
The old way of
ceremonial fasting and the
outward show it made, is not
sufficient for us now. We have
something new and better!
A. When was verse Mat 9:15
fulfilled?
Acts 1:14 These all
continued with one accord in
prayer and supplication, with
the women, and Mary the mother
of Jesus, and with his brethren.
This speaks of the time
between the ascension and
Pentecost, which would be the
time when the bridegroom was
taken from them, so although it
does not specifically mention
fasting, we might infer from Mat
9:15 that they did.
1.
There was no need to fast as
long as Christ was present,
2. He promised his presence all
the way
Mat 28:20 Teaching
them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world.
Amen.
3. He promised not to
leave us comfortless.
John 14:15 If ye love me,
keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father,
and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide
with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth;
whom the world cannot receive,
because it seeth him not,
neither knoweth him: but ye know
him; for he dwelleth with you,
and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you
comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the
world seeth me no more; but ye
see me: because I live, ye shall
live also.
20 At that day ye shall know
that I am in my Father, and ye
in me, and I in you.
21 He that hath my commandments,
and keepeth them, he it is that
loveth me: and he that loveth me
shall be loved of my Father, and
I will love him, and will
manifest myself to him.
Hence no need to
fast or sorrow.
IV As long as we have
the bread of life as individuals
and the Lord’s Supper as a
church, there is no room for
ceremonial fasting!
There may be times when you are
in sorrow, concerned about the
Lord’s work or care for the lost
and can’t eat. Then spend the
time in prayer.
Mat 6:17 But thou,
when thou fastest, anoint thine
head, and wash thy face;
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.
No fast for concern
and cares of the world for he
has promised us His peace.
Jno 14:27 - Peace I
leave with you, my peace I give
unto you: not as the world
giveth, give I unto you. Let not
your heart be troubled, neither
let it be afraid.
B. We need not fast to
confirm a vow for we are not to
make such!
Mat 5:33 Again, ye
have heard that it hath been
said by them of old time, Thou
shalt not forswear thyself, but
shalt perform unto the Lord
thine oaths:
34 But I say unto you, Swear
not at all; neither by heaven;
for it is God's throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it
is his footstool: neither by
Jerusalem; for it is the city of
the great King.
36 Neither shalt thou swear
by thy head, because thou canst
not make one hair white or
black.
37 But let your
communication be, Yea, yea; Nay,
nay: for whatsoever is more than
these cometh of evil.
James 5:12 But above all
things, my brethren, swear not,
neither by heaven, neither by
the earth, neither by any other
oath: but let your yea be yea;
and your nay, nay; lest ye fall
into condemnation
C. God desires the same
fast of us now that He desired
in truth from Israel.
Isa 58:5 Is it such a fast
that I have chosen? a day for a
man to afflict his soul? is it
to bow down his head as a
bulrush, and to spread sackcloth
and ashes under him? wilt thou
call this a fast, and an
acceptable day to the LORD?
6 Is not this the fast that I
have chosen? to loose the bands
of wickedness, to undo
the heavy burdens, and to let
the oppressed go free, and that
ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to
the hungry, and that thou bring
the poor that are cast out to
thy house? when thou seest the
naked, that thou cover him; and
that thou hide not thyself from
thine own flesh?
Then shall thy light break
forth as the morning, and thine
health shall spring forth
speedily: and thy righteousness
shall go before thee; the glory
of the LORD shall be thy
rereward.
9 Then shalt thou call, and the
LORD shall answer; thou shalt
cry, and he shall say, Here I
am. If thou take away from the
midst of thee the yoke, the
putting forth of the finger, and
speaking vanity;
10 And if thou draw out thy
soul to the hungry, and satisfy
the afflicted soul; then shall
thy light rise in obscurity, and
thy darkness be as the noonday:
11 And the LORD shall guide thee
continually, and satisfy thy
soul in drought, and make fat
thy bones: and thou shalt be
like a watered garden, and like
a spring of water, whose waters
fail not.
12 And they that shall be of
thee shall build the old waste
places: thou shalt raise up the
foundations of many generations;
and thou shalt be called, The
repairer of the breach, The
restorer of paths to dwell in.
This is the denial of
SELF which Jesus said is
necessary for His disciples.
34 And when he had called
the people unto him with his
disciples also, he said unto
them, Whosoever will come after
me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross, and follow
me.
Acts 13:2 As they
ministered to the Lord, and
fasted, the Holy Ghost said,
Separate me Barnabas and Saul
for the work whereunto I have
called them.
Self-gratification (in
this case,food) takes a back
seat to the seeking and carrying
out of God's will.
D. No ceremonial fast is
necessary in spiritual danger
for we already have victory in
Jesus.
John 16:33 These things I
have spoken unto you, that in me
ye might have peace. In the
world ye shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world
I John 5:4. For whatsoever
is born of God overcometh the
world: and this is the victory
that overcometh the world, even
our faith.
Consider Paul’s
instructions to the crew aboard
the floundering ship
Acts 27:33 And
while the day was coming on,
Paul besought them all to take
meat, saying, This day is the
fourteenth day that ye have
tarried and continued fasting,
having taken nothing.
34 Wherefore I pray you to take
some meat: for this is for your
health: for there shall not an
hair fall from the head of any
of you.
F. What of
I Cor 7:5?
King James Bible
I Cor 7:5 Defraud ye not one
the other, except it be with
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.
Basic Bible
I Cor 7:5 Do not keep back from
one another what is right, but
only for a short time, and by
agreement, so that you may give
yourselves to prayer, and come
together again; so that Satan
may not get the better of you
through your loss of
self-control.
Darby’s Bible;
I Cor 7:5 Defraud not one
another, unless, it may be, by
consent for a time, that ye may
devote yourselves to prayer, and
again be together, that Satan
tempt you not because of your
incontinency.
Weymouth’s
I Cor 7:5 Do not refuse one
another, unless perhaps it is
just for a time and by mutual
consent, so that you may devote
yourselves to prayer and may
then associate again; lest the
adversary begin to tempt you
because of your deficiency in
self-control. |
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