Luciano Subirá - The Fast
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ScribdTranslationsLuciano Subirá - The Fast
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ScribdTranslationsThe Fast
Fasting is the total or partial abstinence from food for a defined period and specific purpose.
Many Christians today are unaware of what the Bible says about fasting. Or they received distorted teaching.
you have received no teaching on this subject. The Church today lives divided between two extremes:
those who do not value fasting at all and those who excessively emphasize it.
Does the Bible command fasting?
No. In the Old Testament, in the law of Moses, the Jews had only one fasting day instituted:
the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:27), which also became known as "the day of fasting" (Jer. 36:6). When
Jesus told the disciples that they could not cast out a demon due to lack of fasting (Mt.17:21), he did not
limited the problem only to this but spoke about the lack of faith (Mt. 17:19,20) as a decisive factor in
failure of that attempt at liberation.
2) WHAT DID JESUS TEACH ABOUT FASTING?
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do; for they disfigure their faces with
end of appearing to men who fast. Truly I tell you, they have already received their reward. You,
but when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, and
yes to your Father, in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
Although Jesus is not commanding us to fast, His words reveal that He expected this practice from us.
He instructed us even on the correct motivation one should have when fasting. Jesus made it very clear that the practice of
fasting in the way that was done in their days was not what God expected. The motivation was wrong, the
people fasted to prove their religiosity and spirituality, and Jesus taught to do it in secret, without
boast
Although the Lord Jesus himself fasted for forty days and forty nights in the desert, and many
times would go without eating (either due to lack of time ministering to the people - Mark 6:31, or for spending nights alone
praying without eating - Mark 6:46), we must recognize that He and his disciples did not observe the fast of
Jews of their days (except for the Day of Atonement). It was customary for the Pharisees to fast two days a week.
(Lc.18:12), but Jesus and his disciples did not do so. In fact, they even questioned Jesus about it.
Luke 5:33-35
You know, fasting can be an empty practice if not done correctly. (Is.58:3,4). On the other hand,
The text is inferring that if observed correctly, God would pay attention to this and their voice would be heard.
3) THE PURPOSE OF FASTING
Fasting does not change God. He is the same before, during, and after your fasting. But, fasting will change
you. It will help you remain more open to the Spirit of God.
Fasting will not make God kinder or more merciful towards us; it is directly linked to
we, to our need to break the barriers and limitations of the flesh. Fasting will leave our spirit
careful for it mortifies the flesh and afflicts our soul.
The primary purpose of fasting is to mortify the flesh (the old nature, not just the body), which will make us...
more susceptible to the Holy Spirit.
a) In the Old Testament, we find different purposes for fasting:
Consecration - The vow of the Nazarite involved abstinence/fasting from certain types of food.
(Num. 6:3,4);
Repentance of sins – Samuel and the people fasting at Mizpah as a sign of repentance of
your sins (1 Sam. 7:6, Nehemiah 9:11);
Lamentation - David fasted in expression of grief for the death of Saul and Jonathan, and later for the death of Abner.
Sm.1:12 and 3:35;
Afflictions – David fasts for the child that was born to Bathsheba, who was ill, unto death (II
Sm.12:16-23); Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast throughout Judah when he was at risk of being defeated by the
Moabites and Ammonites (2 Chronicles 20:3);
Seeking Protection - Ezra proclaimed a fast by the river Ava, asking for God's protection and blessing.
about your trip (Ed.8:21-23); Esther asks her people to fast for her, for protection in her meeting with the
king (Esther 4:16);
In times of sickness - David.fasted and prayed for others who were sick (Ps. 35:13);
Intercession - Daniel praying for Jerusalem and its people (Dan. 9:3, 10:2,3)
b) In the Gospels
To be with the Lord - Anna did not leave the temple, praying and fasting frequently (Luke 2:37);
Preparing for the Ministry – Jesus only began his ministry after being filled with the Spirit
Saint and prepared in fasting (prolonged) in the desert (Luke 4:1,2);
c) In the Acts of the Apostles, we see the Church practicing fasting in various situations, such as:
Ministering to the Lord - The leaders of the church in Antioch were fasting only to worship the Lord
(At.13:2);
Send ministries – At the time of laying on of hands and sending commissioned ministries (Acts 13:3);
Establish elders - Besides laying hands with fasting on the sent ones, they also did so.
about those who received authority of government in the local church, which reveals that fasting was a principle
practiced in the ordinations of ministers (Acts 14:23).
d) In the Epistles, we only find mentions of Paul having fasted (II Cor. 6:3-5; 11:23-27).
4) DIFFERENT FORMS OF FASTING
There are different ways to fast. The ones we find in the Bible are:
a) *Partial Fasting*. Normally, partial fasting is practiced for longer periods or when the
a person cannot fully abstain from food (because of work, or problems
of health, for example). The prophet Daniel (Dn. 10:2,3) specifies exactly what he refrained from consuming: meat,
wine and desirable pudding. Probably limited to a diet of fruits and vegetables, we do not know
to the point.
It's important to say that when a person decides to fast by abstaining from breakfast.
For example, your first meal should be lunch, if breakfast is eaten later, then no.
there was abstention (and fasting is abstention) from breakfast, just a change in timing
dele*.
b) *NORMAL Fasting*. It is the abstinence from food, but with the intake of water. It was the way that
Our Lord adopted fasting in the desert. (Mt.4:2). We refer to this form of fasting as
normal, as we understand this to be the most suitable practice during regular fasts (such as a one-day fast).
c) *Total Fast*. It is abstinence from everything, including water. In the Bible, we find few mentions.
of having someone fast without water, and this within a limit: at most three days. Water is not food, and
our body depends on it so that the kidneys function normally and toxins do not accumulate in
organism. (Et. 4:16; At 9.9).
Medicine warns against a period of more than three days without water, as it is harmful. We must
take care of the body while fasting and not to harm it; remember that you will be fighting against your flesh (nature and
impulses) and not against your body.
5) THE DURATION OF THE FAST
How long should a fast last? The Bible does not set rules of this kind, therefore each person is
free to choose when, how, and how much to fast.
We see several examples of fasts of different durations in the Scriptures:
1 day - The fast of the Day of Atonement
3 days - Esther's fast (Est. 4:16) and Paul's fast (Acts 9:9);
7 days - Fast in mourning for the death of Saul (1 Sam. 31:13);
14 days - The involuntary fast of Paul and those with him on the ship (Acts 27:33);
21 days - Daniel's fast in favor of Jerusalem (Dn.10:3);
40 days - The Lord Jesus' fast in the desert (Luke 4:1,2);
Note: The Bible speaks of Moses (Ex.34:28) and Elijah (I Kings 19:8) fasting for periods of forty days. However
It is worth noting that they were in special conditions, under the supernatural of God. Moses did not even drink.
water in these 40 days, which is humanly impossible. But he was enveloped by divine glory. The same applies to
he met with Elias, who walked for 40 days on the strength of the food that the angel brought him.
Can we say that we are fasting?
Some people are extremists about the discretion of fasting, while others, like the
Pharisees, they sound the trumpet before themselves. In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus condemns the showiness of the Pharisees
wanting to appear saddened to men to attest to their spirituality. He did not prohibit commenting
about fasting, otherwise the Bible itself would be violating this by recounting the fast that Jesus did... How did they know
that Christ (who was alone in the desert) fasted for forty days? Certainly because He counted!
He didn't announce it to everyone, but discreetly shared his experience with those close to him.
disciples.