The Discipline of Fasting

1) Donald Whitney initially defines fasting as “a Christian’s voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes”

2) Types of Fast:
a. Normal Fast—Abstain from all food but not from water (e.g. Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness, Matt. 4:2)
b. Partial Fast—Limitation of the diet but not abstention from all food (e.g. Shadrach, Meshak, Abednego in Dan. 1:12)
c. Absolute Fast—Avoidance of all food and liquid, even water (e.g. Ezra 10:6; Ester 4:16; Acts 9:9)
d. Supernatural Fast—During Moses’ meeting with God on Mt. Sinai he did not eat or drink for 40 days. Likewise Elijah had a similar experience in I Kings 19:8

3) Groups for Fasting:
a. Private Fast—Jesus says our fasting should be done so as not to be noticed by others (Matt. 6:16-18)
b. Congregational Fast—Churches/religious groups may call for a fast in a time of intense spiritual need for the group (e.g. Joel 2:15-16; Acts 13:2)
c. National Fast—Nations sometimes are called to fast in times f peril (e.g. Jehoshaphat and Israel II Chron. 20:3; Ninevites Jonah 3:4-8)

4) Times for fasting:
a. Regular Fasts—The Old Testament prescribed a regular fast for Israel on Yom Kippur.
b. Occasional Fasts—Fasts done on special occasions as the need arises.

5) Most Christians today practice normal, private, occasional fasts.

6) Fasting is often a disregarded discipline in the modern world.
a. Richard Foster claims fasting developed a bad reputation in the Middle Ages due to excessive ascetic practice of the outward form of fasting which was devoid of spiritual power.
b. Our culture has convinced us we must have three large meals a day with several snacks as well.

7) The Bible and Christian history books, even to modern times, are filled with examples of those who fasted.

8) Purpose of Fasting:
a. Primary Purpose—to center one’s focus upon God.
b. Secondary Purposes:
1. To reveal the things which control us—pride, anger, jealous, fear, etc…
2. To be reminded we are sustained by the Word of God
3. To develop balance in life and to remove nonessentials

9) Fasting must be undertaken with a spiritual purpose
a. to strengthen prayer
b. to seek God’s guidance
c. to express grief
d. to seek deliverance or protection
e. to express repentance and the return to God
f. to humble oneself before God
g. to express concern for the work of God
h. to minister to the needs of others
i. to overcome temptation and dedicate yourself to God
j. to express love and worship to God

10) The Practice of Fasting
a. Progression
1) Partial fast of twenty-four hours
a) Drink fruit juices
b) Monitor inner attitude of the heart
c) Do tasks as a sacred ministry of the Lord
d) Break the fast with a light meal of fresh fruits and veggies

2) After 2-3 weeks attempt a normal fast of 24 hours
a) Drink only water in healthy amounts
b) Devote mealtimes to meditation and prayer
c) Don’t call attention to the fact you are fasting

3) Attempt a 3-7 day fast or more
a) First three days are usually most physically uncomfortable
b) Coating on tongue and headaches are due to toxins exiting the body and withdrawal from caffeine
c) Feelings of weakness and dizziness by the fourth day are natural, rest is the best remedy
d) Strength and alertness return by the sixth day, hunger pangs are only a minor irritation by the ninth or tenth day
e) At 21-40 days hunger pangs will return, this is the first stage of starvation, fast should be broken at this time.

b) Advice on Fasting
1) Don’t “stock up” on food before a fast, eat lighter in days preceding the fast
2) Stop drinking caffeine drinks in advance of the fast
3) An extended fast should be broken with fruit or vegetable juice in small amounts at first, second day fruit, milk, and yogurt can be added, next add salads and cooked vegetables.
4) One of the most critical periods spiritually is at the end of the fast when there is a tendency to relax (e.g. Jesus’ temptation by Satan at the end of His 40 day fast)
5) Fasting can bring spiritual breakthroughs that may never happen any other way.