The practice of fasting to grow closer to GOD is not a popular phenomenon anymore. As we read in Philippians 3:19, people have made themselves the enemies of the cross because they worship the god of their bellies. Most people don't want to hurt the flesh while trying to build the spirit. However, as an orthodox priest once said "In proportion as the body grows fat, so does the soul wither away".'Some of us have never been on a fast, whereas for others, it could well be many years since they had fasted.
Fasting is not easy. If it was easy, everyone you know would be doing it. People find it it very difficult to stop eating for even just a few hours. On top of that, if you don't have the right understanding of this practice, it will become nearly impossible to fast. Practicing any spiritual discipline without a full divine revelation on that topic will lead to drudgery, legalism and hardness of heart. So is the case with fasting, giving, praying or any other spiritual discipline. It is very important to understand the true essence of the discipline you undertake or else you will soon grow bitter and give up. Therefore, it is very important to know some key truths about this powerful weapon to bring forth the outcome that it is designed to bring.
Some of the common discussional topics revolving around fasting goes like this. Is fasting for today? Is it still relevant? While others get into theological debates on the practicality of fasting, arguing on the length of the fast or the foods to avoid while fasting. And then others wonder whether fasting is part of the old wineskins left over from the Old Testament that has no place in the new, free, celebrating people of God.
The Word of GOD is very clear about the practice of fasting. You must fast. Yes, we have to instill the right kind of fasting as part of our christian lifestyles or else we will fall prey to the strong attractions of sin, satan and the world, never being able to fulfil the perfect plan of GOD for our lives. In Matthew 6:16, we read "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do" Did you notice the word "when" in the verse and not "if". Even though our LORD condemned the wrong kind of fasting in this passage, HE validates and approves the right kind of fasting. The Son of GOD never abolished it or put away fasting. Infact HE recommends fasting and even furnishes us with sound instructions on how to rightly fast. It is of utmost importance for every believer in Christ Jesus to practice fasting. However, make special note that Lord Jesus Christ changed fasting forever; the old system of fasting is now officially obsolete. Lord Jesus introduced a new kind of fasting where in which all the old forms and reasons for fast are made null and void.
The New Testament fasting is totally different from every other system of fasting. It is very different from the old testament way of fasting. We don’t fast like the Pharisees nor like the disciples of John the baptist. Nor do we fast like modern day Jews, Muslims, Mormons, or any other religion.The new testament Christian fasting springs from and expresses a different spirit from all other practices of fasting. Therefore anyone who practices fasting without a true knowledge of the purpose and essence of this new way of fasting are really still in error. The act of fasting when done without proper understanding is useless and a time waster as the LORD reveals to the Israelites in Isaiah 58.
If you study church history, we see that the early church of 1st century A.D. was NOT feasting, instead they were fasting and as long as she fasted she had power. The early church knew not only the power of fasting but also the true essence and purpose of fasting. They practiced fasting regularly. In fact, John Wesley, the renowned christian theologian who lived in 18th century believed that a man should not be ordained to ministry if he did not fast, reasoning that anyone who cannot discipline his own appetite cannot discipline the Church of God. Francis of Assisi was a faster. Jonathan Edward fasted so frequently that he had to hold on to his pulpit on Sundays. Charles Finney often fasted three days in succession. These were men of spiritual power.
Below, we will attempt to unravel one of the most important weapons that the enemy has hidden from the church; the weapon of fasting, which if used rightly will produce tremendous results.
What is fasting?
Why fast?
When to fast?
How to fast?
How not to fast?
What to expect during a fast?
Summary of New Testament Fasting
What is fasting?
Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a duration of time causing affliction to the soul and flesh. It is a sign of sincere repentance. It is a time of humiliation of mind and waiting upon GOD to release the fullness of His presence upon us. It is a time of purification and renewed devotion to GOD. It is a time of real renewal of our minds, hearts and deeds in conformity with Christ and his teachings. It is the time, most of all, of our return to the great commandments of loving God and our neighbors.
There are several erroneous kinds of fasting prescribed and recommended by the fallen man today, like for example fasting from chocolates, fasting from television, fasting from alcohol. However, the holy Scriptures have always associated fasting with regular food. Yes, foods that we eat daily to sustain our body and life. If we think about it, one don't need chocolates to sustain life, nor do they need television to sustain life. However, we all do need food to enter into our body or else after a certain time period, it will end up in fatal results. And therefore one has to fast or deprive oneself of the very thing that is used to sustain their physical bodies and that is food.
There are 3 main types of fasting recorded in the Holy Scriptures.
a) No food and no water
b) No food but water is allowed
c) Foods and liquids that are very simple in nature without any luxury
With either of the above 3 fasts, the main goal is to afflict one's flesh and deprive it of the regular comfort that the body derives from consuming food.
Why fast? - the radical new purpose of New Testament fasting.
Majority of folks fast with the mindset of getting things from GOD. They fast for things and results that are material in nature. People fast for jobs, protection, blessings, houses, finances, church growth etc. However, all these are wrong reasons for a person to fast. Fasting should not be done with the mindset of attaining things. Fast should always be done with the mindset of drawing closer to GOD who has showed mercy and grace unto us. We fast to subdue our fallen flesh so that we can commune closely with our LORD. In the new covenant, we need to be assured that all the blessings of GOD are yes and amen in Christ Jesus through the blood of Jesus. And we fast with gratitude for that glorious privilege of sonship we have received through the sacrifice of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. The blood speaketh for us on behalf of GOD, not our fast. Rather, fasting along with prayer seems to indicate our sincerity and gratitude while drawing more closer to the Most High.
Prayer and fasting as Jesus exhorted may be implying that prayer and fasting are ways where you can quiet yourself and tune to the mind of GOD, helping you to elevate your consciousness and move in the power of GOD, to understand deeply your position in GOD, the consciousness of washing away of sins and thus your faith in the power of GOD to move mountains.
Our "full freedom to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus" (Hebrews 10:19), whether fasting or not fasting, is one of the most delightful parts of that "better thing" which is ours in Christ. Prayer and fasting should not be a burden or a duty, but rather should be a consecrated celebration of God's goodness and mercy to His children.If you belong to the category of people who fast for material blessings, you have missed it and you are still very much in ignorance about the true purpose behind fasting. We see our LORD explaining about the new kind of fasting in the New Testament in Matt 9:14-17 -- Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 “No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. 17 “Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." All old wineskins or old reasons and forms of fasting has been rendered obsolete by GOD. New Testament fasting as Jesus refers is new wine and new wine has to be poured into new wineskins.
So then here are the chief new reasons for fasting in the New Covenant.
a) We fast to deny and mortify our flesh so that we can experience the full communion and fellowship of GOD
New Testament fasting prophesied by our LORD is a fast that proceeds from a grateful heart, overflowing with love for GOD. It propels from a deep yearning to have more of GOD, more of His presence, more of His light, more of His righteousness. That is the chief end of fasting. All other reasons cited below are just a means to attain this end; the end of having the fullness of GOD in our lives. So we fast, not for cars, not for blessings, not for jobs, but New Testament fasting is all about one reason and the reason is GOD Himself. Unless there is the devotion of heart, to experience Him deeper, there is no lasting benefit through fasting, instead it becomes an empty ritual. If you the chief motive behind your fasting is to receive anything or anyone other than the fullness of GOD Himself, you are still in the infant stages of relationship with GOD and is still practicing the old wineskin fasting. True fasting should proceed from a brokenness and realization of one's own sinfulness and how this deplorable condition hinders us from the full presence and communion of GOD. And so you fast, afflicting yourself,with a intense desire to be free from all sin, all barriers and all yoke so that you once again can taste the goodness of the LORD and the sweetness of His presence. You then fast with an yearning and desire for more of GOD in your life, more of His power, more of His love, more of His presence. And you fast to experience His sweet presence by stripping away every narcotic and junk that numbs us from experiencing GOD.We live in a fallen world and we need every profitable thing in our reach to protect our precious communion with GOD. Fasting is a means of carrying on the struggle against the subtle and dangerous hindrances which confront us in our precious communion with GOD. It is one of those chief weapons that will help us remain grounded in GOD in the midst of the fallen world filled with its lusts and pleasures. Our tendency to fall away from faith and pure devotion to GOD is great in this fallen world. So we fast to draw near to GOD showing our earnestness to be in the precious communion of GOD afflicting our fallen flesh and mourning and weeping for the sinfulness that is prevalent in us and around us. When we fast, we express our desire to be chaste and remind ourselves of our moral vulnerability to weaknesses.
b) To loose every band of wickedness
The primary thing that hinders our fellowship with GOD is sin or wickedness that is inherent in us. And when sin tightens its grip on your life, know that it is because your soul is giving consent to it. So we fast to break the power of every sin in our life, every hint of wickedness in us, so that our communion with GOD can be restored. The fast enables a person to cleanse himself of evil, of sinful inclinations, to help him fix his thoughts on God and to be closer to Him. The Bible says every man's heart is exceedingly wicked and leaning toward evil. It is our fallen natures tainted by sin that blocks our continual fellowship and communion with GOD. A child of GOD born of the Spirit of GOD recognizes his depravity and yearns to break free from every ounce of wickedness or sin from his life. And therefore he fasts. The right kind of fasting is accompanied by a realization of one's own sinfulness and the realization of the principle of evil that is ever present within us. With that in mind, when a sincere believer draws near to GOD in humility, wanting to be free from every ounce of wickedness in him or her, such fast is acceptable to GOD. And soon GOD rewards such with His presence and restoration of communion. In the right kind of fast, believers are desperate to silence the flesh and all other distractions so that once again they can freely commune with their Savior and enjoy His sweet presence. And therefore he fasts. Because GOD has promised to purge you clean from all contaminations of evil when you fast as we read in Isaiah 58. Fasting and prayer will help overhaul your relationship with GOD and help you regain communion with GOD and once again hold upon the divine truth.
c) To show true repentance
Therefore also now, says the Lord, turn and keep on coming to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and with mourning until every hindrance is removed and the broken fellowship is restored (Joel 2:1). True fasting along with a deep longing for GOD's presences is also filled with great brokenness and contriteness about one's own depravity that hinders their continual fellowship with GOD. So they mourn through fasting to wail over the sad fallen state of man because of sin. Are you sorry for the seed of wickedness in you? Do you long for every bad seed to be out of it? Do you truly regret your foolish and rebellious ways of sin against the light of the most High GOD? Then mourn, afflict and weep. Express to GOD how serious you are about His presence through repentance and fasting. Apostle James puts it this way in James 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. When you draw near to GOD in this way, HE will draw near to you and restore you quickly. Fasting is a vital part of repentance. GOD requires true repentance to be accompanied with fasting. Repent of your sins thoroughly. Acknowledge your wickedness. Realize that lives have to be cleansed to the very inmost, every sin, both outward and secret. It is our repentance that God desires, not our remorse. We sorrow for our sins, but we do so in the joy of God's mercy. We mortify our flesh, but we do so in the joy of our resurrection into life everlasting. The fast of the righteous in the scriptures were characterized by grief/sorrow/mourning over offending God.
d) To be healed and restored in GOD's presence
Fasting brings spiritual healing into your life. It is a time of death and cleansing and purifying. When you fast in the right way, GOD will heal your mind and everything that bothers you so that you can fellowship with Him closely. Have you been living a life of double mindedness and sin? If so, show your brokenness and repentance to GOD so that HE can heal you and restore you.
e) To grow into the full stature of Christ Jesus
Fasting is an essential pre-requisite if you want to rise to the challenge of discipleship and live a consistent christian lifestyle. Through the afflictions of fasting, we develop a humble obedience to the will of God. We need affliction, to teach us submission. The truth is you will never grow spiritually until you hurt your flesh. And as we afflict our flesh and crucify it through fasting, we also grow more in GOD and become perfect in all our ways.
f) To see the kingdom of GOD come
We fast because we yearn for the kingdom of GOD to be revealed. We fast because we groan for leaving this fallen world and being in the presence of GOD. We fast because we live between the two comings of Christ. We fast because we believe that the King who is our Bridegroom has come to inaugurate His kingdom and we eagerly anticipate His coming again to consummate that same kingdom. In other words we fast with the words of the apostle John from Revelation 22:20 in response to Jesus’ promise to return quickly on our lips: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
g) To undo heavy burden and to get freed from oppression
When the enemy or your flesh brings heavy burdens of depression, you need to fast. If you are dealing with oppression from the forces of darkness, you need to fast. The enemy bombards the saints of GOD millions of negative thoughts of isolation, depression, hatred, you need to fast and pray to shake off the oppression of the enemy. Wickedness, heavy burden, oppression, yoke are all forces that hinders your relationship with GOD and also wil eventually keep you from partaking of eternal life. This we need to realize and set apart time for fasting and prayer to free ourselves from the grip of evil that tries to bent our will to adot and embrace the system like a lamb that goes to the slaughter.
h) To receive insight from God
GOD wants to talk to you and commune with you but there is too much wax in your ears, too many bottlenecks between you and Him. You don't even hear the voice of GOD. Fasting promotes clarity, concentration and keenness. You will be able to hear GOD clearer when you fast. Mind becomes unusually clear and vigorous when you fast. There is a noticeable spiritual quickening and increased power of concentration on the things of the spirit.
To prepare our spirits to receive the Word. To develop a closer relationship with God.
Someone once said about their fasting experience like this. After three days, there are no hunger pains or desire for food. From twelve to fourteen days later, there seems to be a sense of complete cleanliness and mental clarity. After twenty one days, there seems to be an outpouring of spiritual power and creativity that is indescribable, and that continues till the fast is ended. It seems especially after the 3rd week that one is no longer even remotely interested in the trivial physical world around. One's mind by then is filled exclusively with profound spiritual truths and ideas.
i) To build temperance
Fasting in the new testament is a way to exhaust and drain the mind of the flesh. For as we know our body or flesh has a mind of its own. And that mind has to be buffetted and drained off all energy and power so that its fallen propensities don't raise it's head up. --Fasting in the new testament is a way is to discipline our fallen flesh which is conditioned to intemperance and excesses.
-Hence fasting is crucifying the flesh. When you crucify, it doesn't die immediately. As a person on the cross, the flesh dies little by little, gradually until it has no power anymore, not more than a dead man has power after he is dead.
j) To be more spiritually disciplined
This we do also to send a message to the whole world in both the physical and spiritual realm and the message is "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes form the mouth of the LORD. In other words when you fast you send a message to the world, that there is more to life than just your physical body and sustenance of it. There is a spiritual side of man which cannot be neglected. It is a practical acknowledgment of the supremacy of the spiritual. And the spirit of the man lives from every Word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
k) To die to self
The testimony of the saints in the book of Revelation is that were they did not love their lives even unto death. Do you love your life too much that you can’t even spent time fasting to find the Lord. Unless you die, you will never find life in GOD. Glory.
l) To demolish strongholds
Fasting is a time to withstand and overcome the onslaught of the enemy. As we see from the Scripture you and I are in a war in the spiritual realm. And when you are in a war you need weapons and this case you need spiritual weapons. Fasting is one of the chief spiritual weapons that can be used to wage war against satan and his forces. Since many christians have not used this powerful weapon, satan has been able to gain ground over many of their lives. Now how does he do that? The Bible says he does that by building strongholds.
m) To make godly decisions
Fasting and prayer will help you receive GOD's guidance when confronted with tough decisions to make. In Acts 13:2, we read "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away."
n) To prepare for a transition or for a call into ministry
As we see in Luke 4:1-2, 14-18 and Acts 9:3-9, fasting aids you in preparing for your calling into the ministry of GOD.
When to fast?
It is best to resort to fasting and prayer when you sense the following alert signals.
a) When you are deep down in sin
Have you felt that you are deeply entangled in a sin and sees no way out of it. In today's terms, are you addicted to something? and sees no hope of coming out of it? If that is you, the solution to your problem is fasting and prayer. GOD has promised His deliverance to all those who are entangled in besetting sins and addictions, if they repent and turn to Him through fasting and contrite heart.
b) Are you under attack?
Then you need to haste to fast, so that GOD can move quickly on your behalf.
c) Right now
As DL Moody said "if you say i will fast when GOD lays it on me, you never will. You are too cold and indifferent. Take the yoke upon you." Don't wait for a perfect time to fast. Get going with fasting right away rather than looking for the perfect time."
How to fast?
It is very important to understand the right way to fast, the kind of fast that is acceptable in the sight of the Lord. People usually get into trivial debates as to what foods they must fast from, how many hours to fast and whether they should skip chocolate over steak during the fast. But none is as important as the question 'how to rightly fast? To rightly fast means to fast in a way that is acceptable in the sight of the LORD.
a) Fast with the right motive
As Pharisees of the past fasted to show everyone else religious, Lord Jesus calls them hypocrites for they only care to put an outward show of piety without any internal contriteness. Don't do fasting as an empty ritual. Instead true fast involves a refusal to pamper the flesh or engage in any consolation apart from God until GOD's presence is restored in your life.
b) Fast cheerfully
Fasting should never be perceived as a time of morbidity and gloominess. On the contrary, it is a time for joyfulness and purification as our relationship with the LORD is refreshed. We are called to "anoint our faces" and to "cleanse our bodies as we cleanse our souls."
c) Fasting as a lifestyle
Fasting has to be a routine in your lifestyle. Fast atleast once every week. Why? Because yout tendency to fall away is great. Everytime you fast, you remind yourself of your sinfulenss and your need for GOD to looose all wickedness and sin from your life. Your chances of getting complacent is great and hence falling away eventually. Fasting keeps you intune with GOD especially remind yourself of this fallen world, its lusts and excesses and how you need to keep away from it all. Every time you fast you will establish a new spiritual dimension in your life. You can boldly go anywhere where life takes you, as long as you observe the attitude of fasting, walking in the mind of the Spirit shunning the mind of the flesh. And then not a single arrow of the Evil One can proser against you.
d) Fasting accompanied by prayer
One need to place fasting firmly in the context of prayer. Prayer and fasting always goes hand in hand. Fasting is of no avail, if not accompanied by prayer without ceasing or constant communion with GOD. Fast involved a serious dedication to prayer. And as Andrew Murray said "...faith needs a life of prayer in which to grow and keep strong...prayer needs fasting for its full and perfect development."
e) Fasting accompanied by contriteness and a hunger for righteousness
Fasting in the new covenant comes out of a grateful heart that is grateful for his or her salvation but at the same time broken about their sinfulness that keeps them away from the continual communion of GOD. Fasting is practiced to guard the precious communion that a born gain believer has with the Spirit of GOD. To show the LORD, that we love righteousness and we want to continue in that. It expresses the spiritual joy of the Lord's present nearness and prepares us for the future rejoicing when the Lord's kingdom will fully come.
f) Fasting accompanied with sensitiveness toward the fellow men who are in darkness
Merely abstaining from food profits nothing, says Isaiah, when our fast is mere self centered, ignoring the darkness and misery of the people around us who are still in darkness. Fasting should prepare you and propel you to shed the light of GOD in this world that is lost in darkenss.
When our spiritual disciplines like our Bible studies, sermons, church attendance, fasting, rest and retreats—are divorced from the fellow human being's soul health and wholeness; whenever a believer "turns away from their own flesh and blood," then our religion has gone very bad indeed. Conversely, when you care for your neighbor who is in darkness and lead him toward the truth of the gospel, you indeed are doing what is pleasing in GOD's sight.
Break your fast with praise, prayer or holy communion. It is always a great way to end your fasting in celebration of the Lord for the victory HE has given you through prayer and fasting. The fast in the Old Testament times broken at sunset. It is a time of happiness and refreshment after experiencing the pangs of hunger and thirst. The foods that have been used traditionally to break the fast is usually some dates or a light soup with bread or small side dishes.
How not to do a fast?
In Isa 58:3 we read GOD disapproving the fast of israelites and taking no knowledge of their fast. Below are some of the reasons why GOD rejected their fast so that we can learn from their mistakes and not repeat them.
a) Fasting from food but finding pleasure in something else
Fasting along with abstinence from food, should also be a time of abstinence from excess sleep, rest or association with people and so forth. We see in Isa 58:3 where GOD says the reason why I don't take knowledge of your fast is because whenever you fast you keep pleasing yourself during the fast. Instead of afflicting the soul and praying desperately for the presence of GOD to be restored. Instead of repenting greatly about one's sinfulenss that makes them forgetful about GOD and His ways, most do fasting in a very mechanical way trying to get the job out of the way without spending it as a day of seriousness and contriteness to restore broken fellowship with GOD. In the day of your fast ye find pleasure - Fast days are generally days of idleness and pleasure. In numberless cases the fast is turned into a feast. You never turned your TV off during the day off your fasting. You are more into pleasing yourself than pleasing GOD. And therefore GOD says I took no knowledge of your fast.
b) Fasting as a empty ritual
Reflecting Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6, however, the early church emphasized that the inner motive for fasting is not winning applause or a pious image. Fasting, like prayer and giving, must be done for and to the heavenly Father alone.
c) Fasting for material blessings
Don't fast for material things. You don't fast even to solve your personal problems. You fast to get closer to GOD. You fast to loose all bands of wickedness that is inherently present in you from the adamic fall. It is your sin that has kept you away from GOD and when GOD is away, problems are near. When you recognize your sinfulness and take measures to cleanse yourself from all the filth of the flesh and the Spirit through fasting and prayer, the fellowship with GOD is restored and then all your problems will be taken care of. Your problem in the first place is a result of your going astray from GOD due to sin and darkness.
d) Fasting without governing oneself
You fast but you are not even sensitive to the fact that you are on a fast. You get into strifes and debate.
e)Fasting from food but spending time on things other than GOD
Others use fast days for the purpose of settling their accounts, posting up their books, and drawing out their bills to be ready to collect their debts. These are sneaking hypocrites; the others are daringly irreligious.(clarke)
f) Fasting from food but continuing in sin
Isa 58:4
Ye fast for strife and debate
Fast moves satan out of the way of blessings that God has for us. When God is sends His angels to bless us, satan stands up to the angel to block. Our fasting, our praying, our faith, our praise, our worship, our meditation, and our determination moves, satan out of the w
Mar 2:18 and 19
Today, we fast so that everything that has been hindering the sweet presence our GOD, can be weakened and nullified by removing it from our lives. When we fast, we show our deep yearning for GOD's presence and the creation of a heart in us that longs for the kingdom to come. Fasting is willingness to put away all things whether food, entertainment, associastions,eating habits, fallen natures, all things that stand in the way of experiencing GOD 24/7. True New testament fasting can only be enjoyed by those who has dwelt in the courts of GOD evn for one day and have tasted and seen the LORD is good. For a true child of GOD, there is nothing more precious in life than the assurance and experience of the overwhelming presence and love of GOD upon him.
If you are born of the Spirit of GOD and walking in the Spirit, there is a yearning for you to be ushered into GOD's presence again. To leaven this fallen world and its evil and to be with the LORD. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:8, "We [would] prefer to be absent from the body and at home with the Lord." In other words, in this age there is an ache and a longing—a homesickness—inside every Christian that Jesus is not here as fully and intimately and as powerfully and as gloriously as we want him to be. And that is why we fast.
The absence of fasting in the band of disciples was a witness to the presence of God in their midst. Very soon we too will cease from fasting and other labor as soon as we are ushered into the sabbath rest of GOD, into His eternal presence.
What to expect during a fast?
When you declare a fast, expect the enemy to come up with all of hell. Satan's number one goal is not only to restrain you from fasting but if you do end up fasting, he wants to make sure GOD will not take knowledge of your fast or approve it. (isa 58:3)
3 main tactics the enemy will use to sabotage your fast are
a) Debate
b) Strife
c) Wickedness
satan will use people to get you into strifes and debate. He may use your spouse to pull you into an argument.
Summary
Jesus prophesied to the crowd and said, a new way of fasting is coming. A fast that you haven't seen in the old testament. A fasting of people who worship me in Spirit and in truth. These people born of the Spirit of GOD will yearn for the continual presence of GOD and take up fasting to remove from all hindrances and distractions that stand in their way of communion wih GOD.
St Symeon an orthodox Theologian said these powerful words about fasting - 'Let each one of us keep in mind the benefit of fasting... For this healer of our souls is effective, in the case of one to quieten the fevers and impulses of the flesh, in another to assuage bad temper, in yet another to drive away sleep, in another to stir up zeal, and in yet another to restore purity of mind and to set him free from evil thoughts. In one it will control his unbridled tongue and, as it were by a bit, restrain it by the fear of God and prevent it from uttering idle and corrupt words. In another it will invisibly guard his eyes and fix them on high instead of allowing them to roam hither and thither, and thus cause him to look on himself and teach him to be mindful of his own faults and shortcomings. Fasting gradually disperses and drives away spiritual darkness and the veil of sin that lies on the soul, just as the sun dispels the mist. Fasting enables us spiritually to see that spiritual air in which Christ, the Sun who knows no setting, does not rise, but shines without ceasing. Fasting, aided by vigil, penetrates and softens hardness of heart. where once were the vapors of drunkenness it causes fountains of compunction to spring forth. I beseech you, brethren, let each of us strive that this may happen in us! Once this happens we shall readily, with God's help, cleave through the whole sea of passions and pass through the waves of the temptations inflicted by the cruel tyrant, and so come to anchor in the port of impassibility."
St. Symeon continues to say "My brethren, it is not possible for these things to come about in one day or one week! They will take much time, labor, and pain, in accordance with each man's attitude and willingness, according to the measure of faith and one's contempt for the objects of sight and thought. In addition, it is also in accordance with the fervor of his ceaseless penitence and its constant working in the secret chamber of his heart that this is accomplished more quickly or more slowly by the gift and grace of God. But without fasting no one was ever able to achieve any of these virtues or any others, for fasting is the beginning and foundation of every spiritual activity." — Symeon the New Theologian: the Discourses, pub. Paulist Press. pp. 168-169
The new covenant fasting is done in light of greater revelation about GOD's grace and love. Today we know the victorious Son of GOD is seated on the throne, HE has finished the work of salvation, a perfect sacrifice has been paid. Salvation, protection, favor all is available in the name of Yeshua the Son of GOD by being saved through HIS blood. The old testmant way of gaining GOD's favor is over. The only way and the best way now to obtain GOD's favor is to be drafted in Christ Jesus. And so we fast to keep our minds stayed on the great Shepherd of our souls.
Be blessed and watch God move!
When you fast - the practice of fasting in the New Covenant
Fasting is a practice that has been widely misunderstood today and is getting close to extinction. Among those who practice fasting, a good majority do not have a clue about the true essence and purpose behind fasting and as a result they do fasting in vain. While others shun fasting all together and consider it obsolete and useless. Both parties are in great danger because of their lack of correct understanding about fasting and its purpose. Here we will by the grace of GOD unveil the weapon of fasting and its true purpose.
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