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Fasting
101...
What you
REALLY
need to know
“Fasting” isn’t a word we hear often in today’s church. With an increasing number of sermons about what we can get fromGod, the concept of fasting isn’t very popular. On the few occasions we hear about fasting, it is usually in the context where one church criticizes another church about their fasting practices. The few times when a church may call for a fast is in light of an event, hoping a fast will gain God’s attention and give a favorable outcome. The extremes many take to fasting (either citing it as mandatory or as totally irrelevant) cause us to question what exactly is fasting and what our attitude toward fasting should be. Is fasting relevant? Is there more than one way to fast? What role should fasting play in the Christian life?The word “fasting” is found in the New International Version of the Holy Bible twenty-four times; the word “fasted” fourteen times; and the word “fast” (in the context we are speaking) is found twenty-seven times. We should, therefore, take note of fasting based on the number of times it is mentioned in the Scriptures. Even though the word is mentioned many times, its context does not change. Whenever individuals or nations were called to fast, it was for the purpose of repentance for sins and prayer, as we can see in Joel 2:12-13: Even now, declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity. (NIV)
What does it mean to fast? In Luke 5:33, the word “fast” is from the Greek word “nesteuo,” which means, “to abstain as a religious exercise from food or drink: either entirely, if the fast lasted but a single day, or from customary or choice nourishment, if it continued several days.” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, #3522) From studying the Scriptures and the origins of the word as found here, fasting is an opportunity for either an individual or a group to step back from something that is customary or choice and focus on heavenly things.
The definition offered above indicates there are two types of fasting: there is the complete fast, when one totally abandons a substance for a short period of time, or a partial fast, where one eliminates something for a longer but limited period of time. There are only two examples of a complete fast for more than a limited period of time in the Bible, and both instances were for a specific purpose: we see Jesus engage in a forty-day fast before entering His ministry (Matthew 4:1-12), and Moses engage in a forty-day fast as well when receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28). If we are called to fast, we must decide how we are going to fast, and from what. This comes through self-examination and prayer.
Traditionally, people have fasted from food or water, as to go without food was a great sacrifice. Living and working in the hard labor of agricultural societies meant food was very important: how well one ate represented their status within society. For common laborers, to go without the little food they might have had was a physical sacrifice as they would find themselves hungry until the fast was broken. In days of old, fasting from food and water was a powerful reminder of man’s mortality and sinfulness.
Today, we find there are many health benefits to a temporary fast from food; it cleanses the body of toxins, helps one to appreciate all they have, and can also, in moderation, help prevent illness. We can see from the definition above that fasting was never done in extreme measures; so when one is doing a complete fast, they must limit the length of time to a wise period to avoid physical complications. When doing a food fast, we must keep in mind its spiritual purpose; fasting should never be used as a diet or for weight loss purposes. Likewise, people with chronic illnesses or physical limitations should exercise caution and consult a physician before fasting for long periods of time, especially if one is diabetic, hypoglycemic, has heart ailments, low blood pressure, or is taking certain medications.
Let’s also never forget that fasting is a principle which can apply far beyond food intake. As the purpose of fasting is to sacrifice something for a period of time to apply one’s focus on spiritual things, we can fast from anything that distracts us from heavenly things. While doing a fast from food may not be a sacrifice for some today, there are plenty of other things that can become status symbols or overly important in our lives. We live in a world of distractions, noise, and attention-grabbers, all of which easily carry us away from necessary time in prayer and praise with our heavenly Father. Statistics show the average American watches more than four hours of television per day (A.C. Nielsen Ratings); spends at least three hours a day on the internet (Stanford Institute for the Quantitive Study of Society); and has at least one gaming console in 41% of American homes (A.C. Nielsen Ratings). People spend billions of dollars annually on entertainment, shopping, and recreation. Why not go on a “fast” from these things which, when pursued heavily, can easily draw one away from God? We can easily plan a fast which limits or eliminates frivolous spending, gaming, and entertainment means and devote that time to prayer, ministry, and Scripture reading.
We must always check our motives before doing any sort of fast. Many who fast do so in the hopes that everyone will notice them and commend their religiousness, but Jesus condemns this in Matthew 6:16-18: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, Who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (NIV)
Fasting for show does not bring about spiritual growth, but rather puffs up the flesh and carries one away from the true purpose of a fast. Fasting, likewise, is not a substitute for walking in the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) or for behaving in proper Christian conduct (Isaiah 58:1-4). The basic call to fast is a call to limit or eliminate something that either represents a call away from God or directly calls us away from God. It is a time to refocus, to refresh, and to renew our faith lives and pursue spiritual things more than material ones. Fasting reminds us that all which is around us is temporary, and rather than call us to mortality as New Covenant believers, it can remind us of the transformation of the body to come at the return of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:51-55).
Fasting of any kind is another passage from glory to glory and faith to faith as we walk our Christian journey. As we conquer our bad habits, addictions, and idols, we gain another victory and a testament to the great work God does in those who are faithful to Him. <>
by Apostle Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino, Ph.D., D.D.
Kentucky, USA
Apostle Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino, Ph.D., D.D.
Apostle In Office
Apostolic Fellowship International Ministries
522 Bolivar Street
Owensboro, Kentucky 42303-3521 USA
© 2008 First Lady Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved. May not be duplicated without written permission. Click here or send all requests to FLMezine@gmail.com. Or write: First Lady Magazine at PO Box 1233, Mableton, GA 30126.
