Our church is calling for a fast in January that may include some or all of the first 21 days in January. I commend the leadership for calling for a fast. I believe that fasting on a regular basis is needed in the life of the believer especially, in these last days.
Our church hand out had some biblical fasting examples:
· 1 Samuel 7:6 – Fasting for the purpose of repentance
· Ezra 8:21-23, Nehemiah 1:14-11, Ester 4:16 – Fasting for the protection for favor and for God’s will.
· Matthew 4:2 Fasting for intimacy with God.
· Acts 13:2-3 – Fasting for the commissioning for ministry.
· Mark 9:29 – Fasting for deliverance.
There are many books on fasting and I would recommend reading Fasting by Jentezen Franklin whose church fasts for 21 days to start the new year.
“Cry aloud, spare not;
Lift up your voice like a trumpet;
Tell My people their transgression,
And the house of Jacob their sins.
Lift up your voice like a trumpet;
Tell My people their transgression,
And the house of Jacob their sins.
V.1 Expect God to first bring to your attention areas in your life that need to be addressed before you fast.
2 Yet they seek Me daily,
And delight to know My ways,
As a nation that did righteousness,
And did not forsake the ordinance of their God.
They ask of Me the ordinances of justice;
They take delight in approaching God.
3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen?
Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’
2 Yet they seek Me daily,
And delight to know My ways,
As a nation that did righteousness,
And did not forsake the ordinance of their God.
They ask of Me the ordinances of justice;
They take delight in approaching God.
3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen?
Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’
“In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure,
And exploit all your laborers.
4 Indeed you fast for strife and debate,
And to strike with the fist of wickedness.
You will not fast as you do this day,
To make your voice heard on high.
And exploit all your laborers.
4 Indeed you fast for strife and debate,
And to strike with the fist of wickedness.
You will not fast as you do this day,
To make your voice heard on high.
(V. 4 Their fast days turned into times of physical strife)
5 Is it a fast that I have chosen,
5 Is it a fast that I have chosen,
A day for a man to afflict his soul?
Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush,
And to spread out sackcloth and ashes?
Would you call this a fast,
And an acceptable day to the Lord?
Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush,
And to spread out sackcloth and ashes?
Would you call this a fast,
And an acceptable day to the Lord?
V. 1-5 Israel has yet another transgression, that of defective worship, especially the wrong concept of fasting. Israel worshipped and sacrificed with regularity, but their works gave a false idea of religion. Their conspicuous self-denial was really selfish. They were ignoring the real needs.
6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
V. 5-7 Fasting is a powerful and effective part of the Christian life. Jesus taught that some things are resolved only by fasting (Mark 9:29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”) Jesus is telling us that we must fast so that God can show us how to cast out difficult spirits. The bible says to “Call on Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which we do not know” Jeremiah 33:3. However, fasting and personal holiness are acceptable to God only when we have our priorities straight. Sharing with the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, and caring for own families are the prerequisites of godliness. Fasting becomes offensive in God’s sight when we ignore the people closest to His heart – the poor, the oppressed, and the needy.8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
“If you take away the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
V. 9 The yoke refers to all forms of political, economic, and social injustice. Th pointing ….finger refers to falsely accusing people with fear tactics. Speaking wickedness refers to stirring up trouble.
10 If you extend your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the afflicted soul,
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
11 The Lord will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
10 If you extend your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the afflicted soul,
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
11 The Lord will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
V. 11 Satisfy your soul means that God’s perfect love will provide what is needed for you mind and emotions. Strengthen your bones means that you bone marrow will produce the needed white cells to ward off immune diseases.You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
12 Those from among you
Shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
12 Those from among you
Shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
13 “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the Lord honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,
14 Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord;
And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,
And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the Lord honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,
14 Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord;
And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,
And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
V. 6-14 The fast that I have chosen: The Lord clarifies the meaning of the true fasting for Israel. She must cease to oppress the poor and must observe the Sabbath with a pure and joyful worship. Then the Lord will give light, healing, and full restoration.
From a spiritual warfare standpoint, fasting is a powerful weapon against the enemy. Jesus said in Mark 9:29 “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” Jesus is calling us to fast so that we can hear from the Lord on how to deal with difficult and wicked spirits and how to pray for physical and emotional healing. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you sinful areas of your life that need to addressed before you initiate a fast.
Tony
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