Hi
Here is some useful information I received yesterday on fasting with
scripture references. Please save this for your future use and if you are
touched, go ahead with fasting and prayer. To God be the glory. I'll send a
follow up mail for this with the topic 'When should I Fast'.
May God lead you.
George Fernandes.
> FASTING
>
> "And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications,
>
> with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the Lord God,
> and made my confession... " Daniel 9:34
>
> I. Is there a place for fasting in New Testament times?
>
> A. Fasting was not required of the disciples of Jesus.
> Matthew 9:14 (Mark 2:18; Luke 5:33) "Then came to him the disciples of
> John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but thy disciples
> fast not?"
>
> B. But Jesus spoke of a day when there would be a time for fasting.
> Matthew 6:16-18 (Not "if," but "when ye fast ...") "Moreover when ye fast,
> ... But thou, when thou fastest . . ."
> Matthew 9:14-15 (Luke 5:34-35) "And Jesus said unto them, Can the children
> of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the
> bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall
> be taken from them, and then shall they fast."
>
> II. What guidelines are set forth in scripture concerning fasting?
>
> A. It is to be done in a manner of humility and secrecy. Matthew 6:16-18
> "Moreover when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance:
> for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast.
> Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou
> fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto
> men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret ..."
> Luke 18:9-14 "And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in
> themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
> Two men went up into the temple to pray. . . The Pharisee stood and prayed
> thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are . .
> . I fast twice in the week, I give tithes . . . And the publican, standing
> afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote
> upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this
> man went down to this house
> justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall
> be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
>
> B. Fasting is closely related to prayer and reading of the Word.
> Nehemiah 9: 1-3 ". . . the children of Israel were assembled with fasting
> . . . and stood and confessed their sins . . . and read in the
> book of the law of the Lord their God one fourth part of the day; and
> another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the Lord their God."
>
> Luke 2:37 "And she was a widow of about 44 years, which departed not from
> the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers
> night and day."
> Acts 10:30 "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth
> hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright
> clothing."
> Acts 13:2 "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said
> . . ."
> Acts 14:23 "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and
> had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord . . ."
> I Corinthians 7:5 ". . . that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer
> . . ."
>
> C. A fast may be either absolute or partial.
>
> 1. Examples of absolute (complete) fasts:
> Deuteronomy 9:9, 18 ". . . 40 nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink
> water."
> Ezra 10:6 "Ezra. . . did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned . .
> ."
> Esther 4:16 "Go, gather together all the Jews . . . and fast ye for me,
> and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day .. ."
> Acts 9:9 ". . . and neither did eat nor drink"
> Acts 27:33 ". . . This is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and
> continued fasting, having taken nothing."
>
> 2. Examples of partial fasts (abstinence from certain foods only):
> I Kings chapter 17
> Daniel 10:3 "I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my
> mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were
> fulfilled."
>
> III. How long should I fast?
>
> A. Bible personalities fasted and sought God diligently until they
> obtained from God what they desired (see the examples of Hannah, I Samuel
> 1:6-8, 17-18; and Paul, Acts 9:9,17-19) - or until the Lord made it
> evident that what they requested simply would not be obtained (as in
> the case of David, II Samuel 12:15-23).
>
> B. The length of a fast may vary.
> 1. One night.
> Daniel 6:18
> 2. One day.
> I Samuel 7:6
> II Samuel 1:12; 3:35
> Judges 20:26
> 3. Three days and three nights.
> Esther 4:16
> Acts 9:9, 17-19
> 4. Seven days.
> I Samuel 31:13
> II Samuel 12:16-23
> 5. Fourteen days.
> Acts 27:33-34
> 6. Twenty-one days.
> Daniel 10:3-13
> 7. Forty days.
> a. Moses (at two different times).
> Exodus 24:18; 34:28
> Deuteronomy 9:9, 18, 25-29; 10:10
> b. Elijah.
> I Kings 19:8
> c. Jesus.
> Matthew 4:2 (Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2)
>
> Complete, printed and bound copies of studies (100 topics, 850+ pages, 8
> vols.) may be obtained from:
> Diane S. Dew, PO Box 340945, Milwaukee, WI 53234
> MAIN PAGE <index.shtml>
> ) Copyright <copyrt.htm> 1998 Diane S. Dew
> All Rights Reserved
> Diane Dew o PO Box 340945 o Milw WI 53234
**********************************************************************
This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list.
To unsubscribe, send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
For automatic help, send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
In case of any issue related to the mailing list contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To know more about Jesus Youth, visit http://www.jesusyouth.org
**********************************************************************
