Definition:
Heb.= to cover over the mouth
Grk. = to abstain from food
SCRIPTURAL BASIS
OLD TESTAMENT: Moses (Ex.34:28); Elijah (1Kgs.19:8); Ezra (Ez.10:6); Daniel (Dn.10:3); David (2Sam.12); Even the whole nation of Israel (Num.29:7; Neh.9:6). Day of Atonement, (Yom Kippur), for 3,000 years, the Jews have observed this with a day of fasting.
NEW TESTAMENT: Jesus fasted, (Lk.4:2) and he taught on fasting: see Mat. 6:16ff. Anna (Lk.2:36-37); Paul and Barnabas (Ac.14:23); Church leaders of Antioch, (Ac.13:2)
DIFFERENT TYPES OF FASTS
a) Regular Fast: abstaining from all food and liquids except water. (Mt.4:3
b) Partial Fast: (Daniel Fast) abstaining from a certain meal, or certain types of food, eg. meat, deserts, etc. (Dan.10:3)
c) Liquid Fast: limiting your food to certain liquids, (broth, juice, water, etc.) but no solid food for a certain period of time.
d) Absolute Fast: (or “supernatural fast”) This is a complete fast from all food, both solid and liquid for a short period of time. (Acts 9:9).
e) Sacrificial Fast: making a sacrificial offering of doing without something that one desires or some specific enjoyment (especially for those who cannot abstain from food or liquids)>
FASTING IS PART OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
- It is Christianity 101
- A lost art that God is restoring
- Fasting exposes our hearts; our weaknesses and our humility.
- Fasting is not trying to prove something to God to gain or earn God’s favour.