FASTING

WHAT IS FASTING?

        The Hebrew word for fasting, used in the Old
Testament, means 'covering the mouth'.

        The Greek word, used in the New Testament, means
'not to eat'.

        The 'Concise Oxford Dictionary' defines fasting as -
"to abstain from food as a religious observance."


TYPES OF FASTING

        1)  Normal Fast - to go without food while still
taking liquids (water)

        2)  Extreme Fast - to go without food or water
        Esther 4:16
                "Go gather together all the Jews who are
present in Shushan, and fast ye for me,  and neither eat nor
drink three days, night or day; I also, and my maidens, will
fast likewise..."

        Exodus 34:28
                "And he was there with the Lord forty days
and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink
water.  ..."

        Ezra 10:6
                "Then Ezra rose up from before the house of
God, and went into the chamber of Johanan, the  son of
Eliashib; and when he came there, he did eat no bread, nor
drink water;..."

        Acts 9:9
                "And he was three days without sight, and
neither did eat nor drink."

        3)  Partial Fast - restriction of diet rather than
total absinence

        Daneil 10:3
                "I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh
nor wine to my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all,
till three whole weeks were fulfilled."


IS FASTING COMMANDED?

        1)  Old Testamen Law commanded only one day of
fasting per year (Leviticus 16:29-31).

        2)  Other special fasts were commanded by kings or
prophets  (Jeremiah 36:9;  Esther 9:21,27,31).

        3)  Jesus and the New Testament

                a.  Jesus, as well as the apostles, fasted 
(Mark 4:1-3; II Corinthians 11:27).

                b.  The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:1-18)
includes teaching on fasting - 6:16 'And when you fast...'
not IF, but WHEN.  This presumes the practice.  The passage
includes instructions on proper observance.

                c.  Two passages (Matthew 9:14,15; Luke
5:33-35) answer criticism of Jesus' desciples not fasting
saying "when the bridegroom shall be taken away...", that is
after Jesus' death, would be the time to fast.

        4)  There is no New Testametn command, but evidence
of both practice in the first century and benefits for the 
Christian of today.


WHY FAST?

        1)  To seek God's and His purposes (Joel 2:12,13;
Ezra 8:21; Daniel 9:3).

        2)  As an act of repentance (Israel in Nehemiah
9:1,2; Ninevah in Jonah 3:5-10; Paul in Acts 9:9).

        3)  To avert God's wrath and/or seek God's mercy
(Ahab in I Kings 21:27-29; David in II Samuel 12:16-22;
Jehoshaphat in II Chronicles 20:2,3).

        4)  In preparation and/or setting apart for 
ministry (Acts 13:2,3; 14:23).

        5)  In intercession for others (Ezra 10:6).

        6)  For healing (Psalm 35:13).


HOW OFTEN SHOULD I FAST?

        1)  No command for the Christian.

        2)  Fasting should always be PURPOSFUL and for
SPIRITUAL reasons.

        3)  Paul fasted often (II Corinthians 11:27),
however, God is more concerned with the inner attitudes than
with the frequency.  In Luke 18:12-14 the boastful Pharisee
professed weekly fasting but was not justified.


HOW LONG SHOULD I FAST?

        1)  Most often, Scriptural fasts were 1 day long.
        
        2)  Some fasts ranged from 3 days (Esther 4:16) to 7
days (I Corinthians 10:12), up to 40 days (Exodus 34:28;
Matthew 4:12).

        3)  The key is the spiritual benefit and guidance of
the Lord.                                                   


INSTRUCTIONS FOR FASTING:

        1)  Be certain of your purpose - wrong motives will
not be honored by God (Zechariah 7:5; Isaiah 58:3).  Fast
unto God and not unto men (Matthew 6:16-18).

        2)  Things to include in times of fasting:

                Nehemiah 9:3    Reading the Word
                                Confession
                                Worship

                Luke 2:37       Service to God
                                Prayer

                Acts 13:2       Ministering to the Lord
                                Worship
                                Prayer

                Deuteronomy 9:3 Prayer
                                Supplication
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