Should Christians Fast?
What does the New Testament say about fasting?
Well really that would be a personal decision
Between and God. If you feel that is needed I your relationship , there is nothing that says no to that is written , but it is not mandatory either.
Reference Bible
Mt 6:16“When YOU are fasting, stop becoming sad-faced like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Truly I say to YOU, They are having their reward in full
A secret vow not public.
K&T: In secret? Not bragging, yes, but not secret! Give Scripture! To loose bonds, to humble, to show God sincerity. Believe me, He looks at the heart!
Biblical fasting is a means of drawing closer to God, a tool or discipline that is described and available to Christians to respond to as they are called. There are lots of good spiritual reasons to fast, and more than one way to do a fast. If you are taken away from God by addictions or obsessions, you can certainly look to spending time away from those "diversions" for as long as you need to-- an example would be the modern-day addiction to "social media"-- I frequently 'fast' from the Internet and feel much spiritually and mentally refreshed when I do so. Prayer is the Biblical team-mate for spiritual Fasting. When we fast we are instructed not to blare it from the rooftops but to wash our faces, comb our hair and get on with normal life (i.e, not join a contemplative order of nuns?) and not necessarily let others know about this precious covenant between you and God.
Cyn: Fasting is a "means of drawing closer to God," yet can be done in groups (on one accord) as well as shown in Esther!
Yes, I agree Norine... corporate fasts are another possibility. Good point! Thank you!
As a member of a southern Free Will Baptist church, we "fast" at least annually. We don't quit eating. We quit something that may come between us and God, like TV. The way it works is that when we think about the thing we are "fasting" from, we think of God.
There's Psychological basis for this. Doing somebody else a favor helps you like them more, including God.
Strange you relate your personal vow to your church, like a doctrin. When the vow is between you and God. No one should know but you and him.
K&T:Esther called for a 3 day fast for "all" Jews in her city.There are other scriptures where it is not a "personal" thing but if you desire, so be it, as w/David & others! Humbling yourself is the key! It's usually done w/food & drink,
Kiss and Tales, I think cobrien is just pointing out that they have a fast as an assembly once a year (see Norine Williams' response) and this regimen likely encourages personal fasting in a more private mode at other times.
We are now "free" IN Christ Jesus! Under the New Covenant, it is not a "requirement" to fast, yet one (or a group), may, if he/they so desire. Gal 5:1 says that we are to "Stand fast, therefore, in the LIBERTY with which Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
Scriptures that come to mind are Matthew 9:14; Mark 2:18 and Luke 5:33 in which the Pharisees asked Jesus (Lk 5:33-35) "...Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees, but thine eat and drink?" (Notice John's disciples were believers on One that "would come!") (v34) Jesus responded "Can ye make the sons of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is WITH them? (v35) But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days."
These are those days! If we are IN Christ Jesus, and He is WITH us, (One knows for the Holy Spirit leads and guides us.), then there is not a necessity for fasting. But if the Holy Spirit "puts it in your mind and writes it in your heart" that you "fall short" in an area or areas, "fasting" is of necessity!
Fasting shows humility and humbleness toward God! Scripture shows that fasting is done usually from eating and drinking and in prayer. It gives examples of how it is to be done as well as when it is to be done.
When David realized that He had committed sin against God and was to be punished through the death of his child, (II Samuel 12:16), He "besought God for the child, and David fasted..." (Example: Alone). Esther called for a 3 day fast from ALL the Jews in her city (Esther 4:16) having faith in which she made that famous statement "If I perish, I perish." (Example: Group)
Therefore, we are "free" to fast alone (if Holy Spirit directs) or fast in groups (if Holy Spirit directs) to humble ourselves praying for help in areas of necessity to bring us back to God or to ask Him for deliverance!
Fasting is just another area that the Holy Spirit "leads and guides us" (Jn 14:26; 16:13) into doing, for He will "put His laws in your hearts and write them in our minds." (Jer 31:33; Heb 8:10;10:16)
True to drawing closer , but that is the point
You alone can make that vow, and that should not be a public display to make a display. You do for the love of Jesus, or Jehovah.
K&T: Were they "alone" in Esther? The Jews in the City fasted alone with her!
K&T and NW,
Read my posts on "God's Damned Creation" for a short form of the message of the Bible.
I seem to recall John disciples asking Jesus why his did not fast and his reply was that the bride was with them so they needn't be unhappy
True... but earlier on Jesus did a 40-day Fast at the end of which he was tempted by Satan, so I believe that "ceremonial fasting" is what he was castigating the Jewish critics about.
He did make the point that it is not necessary though. However...fasting is apparently really healthy for you so why not!
Dan: He said "IF HE WAS WITH YOU" you don't have to fast but He is not ALWAYS WITH US, for we all "fall short" and sin sometimes; therefore, He is not WITH US! That's when we need to fast, praying, asking Him to remove anything unlike Him!
So did his apostles but they didn't fast?
Dan: Yes, they sinned but He was "WITH" them to forgive them but when we sometimes sin & "fall" FROM Him fasting is denying self asking Him to bring us back to Him in thought and/or deed!
I think God cares more about our actions rather than if we starve ourselves or not.
The whole point of Jesus death was that our sins are forgiven so things like fasting are not necessary
Dan: "Starving ourselves" shows we are serious desiring Him more than food, humbling! (Is 58) Matt 6:16-18 says "WHEN" u fast, not "IF" u fast! Is 58:9 "Then shalt thou call & the Lord shall answer, thou shalt cry, & He shall say here "I AM!"
Sounds very illogical and catholic haha...really though, there is a distinction made between spiritual food rather than physical food, we don't want to starve ourselves spiritually.
Norine please don't put people off ge to know God with this
Dan: Have u tried? It works! Learn something here! Do u thk it "displeases" God for u to "humble urself?" When I'm gone,then they shall fast." Gone fm His Spirit (sin/fall)! Paul fasted! New Covenant not Catholic! haha
There are 2 kinds of fasting.
1) Refusing to consume food and sometimes water into the body.
2) Refuse to consume the things the world provides to keep people enslaved to corporations.
The first fasting is not required by those "in the likeness of Yeshua called christ" or Christians, once one is born again with testimony of conception, gestation, trivial, birth and growth process through baby/childhood, adolescence and if an adult they are to demonstrate the powers Yoshua demonstrated and more (John 14:12).
The second fasting, when Christians are follow John 3:8 and Matthew 19:29, it become automatic. However, when one has the need for anything spirit has someone to provided it for them (Matthew 6:32-33) when it will be used for spiritual work. This second fasting is mandatory.
Eli: It is unscriptual to say that "The first fasting is not required..." Why do you say this? Jer 23:1! Paul fasted! I Cor 7 tells us to fast! But as I said in my resp "We are FREE" (at liberty to do as HS says) & "the Holy Spirit will lead u
With the seed of spirit keeps us (1 Jn 3:9) on "the straight and narrow" fasting from food is not required. When I felt a need spirit showed me that was not necessary unless food isn't available.
Eli: Although "seed of spirit" in us, we still "fall short" at times for we are human. Spirit will let all know as it did you. We are "at liberty!"
The reason one falls short, they don't give directing their life to it, they cling to addition to world's goods & teachings, not listen to spirit telling them "let them go." The seed is always there, one must obey it if they want not to fall shor
Eli: We r FLESH! Even Paul struggled! I'm growing! Not perfect! I rather have solitude, but can't! Have to deal w/what I have for now. I'm praying! God knows the heart!
Yes, we are flesh but once metamorphosed we surrender our fleshly mentality to spirit with "not my will be done but thine" and the struggle is controlled. You have the illusion of free will but after our rebirth we see the error of that belief.
Eli: Flesh! Rm 7:24 My prayer: More of Him, less of me! I continue to pray! Not perfect!
NW, When it's your time to metamorphose the new birth will raise you from your "body of death" but not until it is your time. Then iw will be more of god and less of your flesh.
Eli: As Paul, not perfect! When I "metamorphose the new birth" I shall be as I Jn 3:2! That's what I'm trying to accomplish! I do have more of God & less of self than in bgning walk w/Him! The Holy Spirit is alive & continuously working! II C
The problems is you are trying -- making an effort not to fulfill the desired end -- Yoshua said all are called but few are chosen, thus, you must be chosen to metaphase like the tadpoles is chosen to become a frog in its fullness of time.
Eli: I'm not sure God died & now you look at the heart to "see" who has been choosen! Did He? All are not perfect as you portray! At least I admit for God knows the heart! No need for insults for He knows!
If god is perfect then everything god made is perfect. Most man want to think they have control over their lives is why they say they are not perfect but they are. God is so its creation.
Eli: We will "never" be perfect for there is a "war" agnst spirit & flesh! If perfect, we wouldn't need His Grace! Gal 6:3 "For if a man thinketh himself something when he's nothing, he deceiveth himself."
When spirit teaches one who they are there is no deception, NW. I surrounded my will to spirit and it as revealed who and what I am, it says to me, everything is perfect because it is in everything. Flesh minds are beneath spirit taught minds, .
Eli: If "in the Spirit," why "judge" who is not? I never said you were not in the Spirit or not "choosen!" Idk as udk! I only state Script "None is perfect!" We are all chging fm glory to glory (II Cor 3:18)! That's Scripture! Walk in the Spirit!
I'm not judging you, NW, your own words are what's judging you. I'm making known what your words say, if you feel judged it's because your heart know it is true. None is perfect except the controlling father within oneself making them perfect.
Eli: "My words" didn't say I am not choosen, but yours! Why did Paul write Rm 7:15-20? Only the WORD can judge! You didn't chose is why you dont know! Many choosen fell in Scripture but was forgiven! R u saying the flesh is perfect? There is a war!
My post 4 hours ago didn't say you are not chosen, I don't know if you are or not, that is only a general statement, if the shoe fits wear it. The "your" in it was used generally and not specifically.
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