"Fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual
purpose."
Your Level of
Participation:
Enter into time of prayer and fasting at whatever level you
can. Prayerfully consider your
limitations as you determine your level of participation. Some cannot participate in a food fast
due to health reasons, pregnant, or other reasons. However, even those limitations can find a way to
participate in this time of fasting;
or a part of it. If not
food, one could abstain from television, the internet, or something else on
which time is spent. Abstaining
from food is the most powerful, but fasting from entertainment can have
powerful benefits. Remember,
the details are not as important as the spirit in which you participate.
Primary
Purpose of Fasting?
To more fully know God by removing the flesh so the Spirit
can be alive. Fasting is not some
kind of hunger strike that is forcing the hand of God to move. Prayer is warfare.
You use the time you would normally eat to pursue God. Fasting is a biblical practice and a
spiritual process that God anoints powerfully. Fasting is not a diet;
it's a spiritual discipline.
As you neglect yourself to purse God, you are winning the war against
the flesh. The walls come down
when you approach God with this kind of focus, intentionality, and passion.
There is no mandate in the Bible to fast except on the Day of
Atonement. But fasting is assumed
just as is praying and giving (Matthew 6). Biblical fasting takes a lot of discipline and strength.
Types of
Fasts:
* Absolute Fast
(no food/drink) Ezra 10: 6; Esther
4:16; Acts 9:9
* Normal Fast
(no food, drink only liquids such as water and juices). This appears to be what the Lord did
for 40 days. This is the most
common type of fast.
* Partial Fast
(certain foods are given up). This
is what Daniel did in Daniel 10:3.
One could give up a meal or a particular kind of food. Daniel fasted for 21 days.
Our Times of
fasting:
We will join together one day a week for two weeks to fast
during lunch on Wednesdays, January 13 and 20.
Then we will fast for a full day following the Jewish fast
beginning and ending at sundown.
On Tuesday, January 26, we will join together at sunset ending our fast
on sunset on Wednesday, January 27 (with out evening meal at church at 5:00).
This
Wednesday, January 13
Read Luke 5:33-39
Rejoice you are the bride of Christ having been chosen by the
Father for His Son. Ephesians
1:3-6; 5:23-27
Are you a faithful bride? Seek God to remove all idols that compete for the love of
the groom in your life. Take
specific steps to cut off the "life of that idol" and start feeding
the Spirit man with the Word, communion in prayer and fellowship of other
believers in worship, prayer, and Bible study. (II Cor. 4:16)
Prayer does not change things, it changes you. Cultivate the desire to change more and
more into His likeness and pray for our church to embrace constant change in
order to fulfill the mission He has called us to. II Corinthians 3:18
Online resources helpful for fasting:
* If you have questions about whether you
should fast due to your physical condition, contact your physician.
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