THE SPIRITUAL PRACTICE OF

FASTING JANUARY 2017

CONTENTS

Introduction................................................3
The Call to Fast..........................................5
Why do we Fast?.......................................9
Kinds of Fasts...........................................10
FAQs on Fasting........................................ 11

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INTRODUCTION
Church,

Fasting is a spiritual discipline that not a complete food fast instead, he

focuses our prayers, opens our hearts, abstained from certain luxuries in his
and releases Gods presence into us. It is diet. He ate no meat, nor did he drink any
an ancient practice that finds its root in wine, but did eat vegetables and drank
biblical history and has been a blessing to water (see Daniel 10: 2-3). We would like
the global church for thousands of years. to challenge you to ask the Holy Spirit
However, it remains a practice that can what sort of luxury he might be calling
be confusing for some and one in which you to lay aside for this 21 day period. The
people can have a lot of questions. This key is not so much what you give up so
booklet aims to provide both theological much as what is done in its place take
foundations and an understanding for that additional time in your life to pray,
why we fast here at The Vine, as well as cry out to God, and seek His face.
practical tips and advice for the practice
of fasting itself. To help you as you in this we will be
opening the Sanctuary, the Vines Prayer
As you may know January is our Sabbath Room, between Monday, 9th January and
month here at The Vine. We put the first Friday, 27th January. Connecting in with
month of the year aside for us to start the the Story of Jesus sermon series, this will
year with a focus on personal rest and be a quiet space full of inspiring prompts
prayer with God. Included in this is a call that you can use as you engage personally
to a 21-day church wide fast where we with God during your fast. For those who
encourage all of us to prayerfully consider want to learn more about prayer we will
doing a Daniel type fast. For 2017, our also be running The Prayer Course over
fast will begin on Sunday, 8th January and 6 Wednesday nights in January and
will be broken on Sunday, 29th January. February. This course will address key
topics such as intercession, listening to
We recognise that Chinese New Year God, and Spiritual warfare and aims to
celebrations will be beginning during the equip you, however confident you are in
period of the fast this year but a Daniel praying, to grow in this important spiritual
fast is designed specifically to ensure discipline. Please see our website and
that all of us can be involved in some eNews to sign up for these.
way no matter what sort of lifestyle or We desire to listen to all that the Spirit has
commitments you have. Daniel was called to say to the church and as we corporately
to fast for three weeks, but his fast was fast and pray we are expecting that God

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will speak to many of you with words
of encouragement, blessings, vision,
challenge, and direction. Please feel free
to pass on anything you think would be
relevant for our leaders to pray through
and receive. You can do this by emailing
jemma.stephens@thevine.org.hk.

We hope that you will be joining us this

year as we seek Gods face together as a
community. Our heart is that as we rise
up together as a church in fasting and
prayer, God will prepare our hearts for
the blessing that is ahead!

Jemma Stephens
(Prayer Co-ordinator)

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THE CALL TO FAST
Fasting is one of the most misunderstood
subjects in the Bible. It is mentioned
more than 50 times and is common Jesus submitted to the
both in the Bible (Old Testament & New discipline of the spirit in
Testament) and in church history. Jesus fasting and was equipped
did it. Almost every great church leader for the work he had been
over the centuries has done it. It has a called to do
close connection with church revival.

Much of what we need to know about

fasting can be found in three specific what the Kingdom requires. In vs.6-7
scriptures where we see the practice of Isaiah describes what this looks like: loosing
fasting either mentioned or carried out. the chains of injustice; setting people free;
breaking every yoke; and helping those
Lets break each down briefly: who are hungry to be fed, the poor to have
homes, and people who are naked to be
Isaiah 58 clothed. You will notice there is nothing
The background here is that God, through here about food! You see fasting can take
Isaiah, calls the Israelites to account for a number of forms. Food is probably the
how they were fasting and the way they clearest and easiest and is usually what is
were making fasting a purely legalistic being referred to in Scripture when it talks
exercise. Isaiah warns them not to abuse about fasting. But, we can also fast through
fastingnot to make it something where our time, our money, our lives, our talents,
they have double standards. They felt that and our gifts. In fasting we make sacrifice,
God was not responding to them how He and put God and others before our own
shouldtheir focus was on themselves, interests. We fast our own desires for the
not God. So God tells them first what true Kingdom desires of God.
fasting is all about, and then what the
great benefits of fasting are. Both of these Second, Isaiah also lays out some of
are great encouragements to us today. the benefits of fasting. V.8 mentions
revelation, healing, and wholeness,
First, fasting according to God is seen in righteousness, and the presence of God.
self-sacrifice to the Kingdom, and doing V.9 mentions answered prayer.

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 operating in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Note the difference that fasting brought
Our fasting is something we do to Jesus. In v.1 He was filled by the Holy
before God, not before others Spirit and led into the desert. In v.14, after
His 40 days of fasting, He was operating
in the power of the Holy Spirit. The time
of fasting prepared Him for the ministry
that was ahead. Jesus submitted to the
Vs.11-12 speak of guidance, contentment, discipline of the Spirit in fasting and was
strength, refreshing, and restoration. equipped for the work He had been called
These are some of the fruits of fasting to do.
and God meets His people in them as we
seek His Kingdom desires and purposes. Matthew 6:16-18
This passage is the most direct teaching
Luke 4:1-14 we have from Jesus on the practice
This passage is one of the most of fasting, and presents some simple
significant in the early life and ministry truths about how we are to fast. His
of Jesus. It gives the details of the main concern is that we make fasting a
temptation Jesus faced by Satan in focus between ourselves and God, rather
the desert just after His baptism and just than ourselves and others. He tells us
prior to the beginning of His ministry. that when we fast (note not if you fast!),
In vs. 1-2 we read that Jesus was filled we are not to draw undue attention to
with the Holy Spirit and was led into ourselves or make it obvious that we are
the desert where He did not eat for fasting. Our fasting is something that we
forty days. Jesus fasted food during do before God, not before others. In fact,
this time and was led into both the where at all possible, our fasting should
fast and the experience in the desert by be hidden from others, so that we dont
the Holy Spirit. At the end of the narrative allow any sense of spiritual pride to come
in v.14 we read that Jesus returned to upon us. God knows our heart and why
Galilee after the fast, having overcome He has called us to do it, we dont have
the temptation of the enemy and was now to advertise this to the world.

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Fasting is a personal and intimate
discipline we do in relationship to God.
So, in summary, the call to biblical fasting Fasting is an act of sacrifice
involves: that moves us into the realm
of faith
1. A focus on God, His heart, and His
Spirit.

2. An intentional form of sacrifice to God that we put Him first in all areas
that clears a path for us to spend of our lives, even our natural desires and
more time with God and understand the way we have been made.
His heart and Kingdom desires.
Fasting therefore requires sacrifice.
This does not have to be food, although If it is simple and easy, it is not a fast.
food is often involved. Fasting is an act of sacrifice that moves
us into the realm of faith. God calls
3. A personal, private discipline us to be people of faith, and faith, like
that draws us into intimacy with our fasting, requires sacrifice. Because fasting
Father. involves sacrifice and faith, it has power to
transform our Christian lives. It places us
in complete reliance before God, relying
Fasting calls us to put aside the way we on and looking to Him for all things.
are made in order to focus in on God. We
are made to get hungry, to need food and
water, we cannot survive without it. Our
bodies are designed to crave it, and we
are designed to respond to that craving
by eating and drinking. When we fast, we
are putting aside these natural desires
in order that we might seek heavenly
desires. Fasting is a prophetic statement

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WHY DO WE FAST?

1. In obedience to Gods word. Fasting Acts 13:3-4: So after they had fasted
is deeply engrained in Gods word and prayed, they placed their hands
(mentioned 56 times), Both in OT and on them and sent them off. The two
NT, it is a tool of successful leaders. of them, sent on their way by the
Joel 2:12 : Even now, declares the LORD, Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia
return to me with all your heart, with and sailed from there to Cyprus.
fasting and weeping and mourning.
Acts 14:23: Paul and Barnabas appointed
2. To humble ourselves before God and elders for them in each church and, with
obtain His grace and power. James prayer and fasting, committed them to
4:10: Humble yourselves before the the Lord, in whom they had put their
Lord, and He will lift you up. Fasting is trust.
humbling yourself before God.
6. To take the focus off ourselves and
3. To overcome temptations in areas place it on God. The important thing
that stop us moving into Gods to remember through all this is that is
power. Jesus did in the wilderness; that God is the focus, not us.
so can we! See Luke 4:1-14.
We fast because we are trying to draw
4. To become untangled from sin ourselves before God, not draw others
(and help others to). Jesus took away before ourselves. We are not trying to
all the sins of world at Calvary and yet show or prove how spiritual we are. We
many of us have to deal with entangling are not trying to gain Gods favour
sins that pop up time and time again. because then the focus is on us and not
God not only wants to defeat those in God (see Matthew 6:16-18). God is not
our lives, but wants us to stand in gap seeking some legalistic or ritualistic act
as intercessors for others. See Daniel in order for Him to respond to us. What
9:3-5. He is seeking from us is our whole lives
and a sacrifice of faith. As we act in faith
5. To obtain Gods anointing, support, to expand His Kingdom, He responds in
and direction. Fasting was often kind towards us.
used as discipline to prepare and
anoint people as they moved
into a new journey with God.

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KINDS OF FASTS

1. Complete fast. Eat or drink nothing do in the month of January. No meat,

not normally recommended, and wine or fine foods. But be led by the
we are not recommending this as part Holy Spirit.
of our corporate fast in January. This
is a fast of desperation and urgency 4. Corporate or group fast. There is
found in Ezra/Esther. It was this fast great power when a group or nation
that Esther used to bring salvation to fast together, and this is why we
herself and the nation of Israel. If you are planning as a church to do so
ever feel led to such a fast come and in January. A corporate fast turned
see us first! Gods wrath from Nineveh (Jonah).
Ezra called one, Esther called one,
2. Normal fast. Suggested for those who Jehosophat called one, Joel beseeched
have fasted before. Like Jesus, total the people to call one. As a church we
abstention from food with a regular call one at the beginning of each year.
intake of water. A squeeze of lemon
juice helps tasteor herbal tea. Avoid
tea/coffee & other caffeinated drinks.

3. Partial (or Daniel) fast. Recommend-

ed if youve never fasted before, at least
at first. Daniel ate no meat, but did eat
vegetables and drank water. God will
honour this just as much as a total fast.

Daniel 10:2-3 At that time I, Daniel,

mourned for three weeks. I ate no
choice food; no meat or wine touched
my lips; and I used no lotions at all
until the three weeks were over.

This is the model for our 21-day fast,

and what we expect most people will

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FAQs ON FASTING
How long should I fast? If you have never How do I start? Start small, in moderation.
fasted beforestart with a day, even a Just as you dont start jogging by running
single meal. Try one day a week if you a marathon, we doubt whether a 40-day
can. Try water only, or juices. We suggest: fast is the best way to begin fasting! It is
begin after dinner, fast until dinner next just as scriptural to do a one-day fast, or
day, or fast all day and break fast with even a partial fast.
breakfast.
What can I expect during a fast?
Why do I feel so bad when you tell me At first maybe headaches, nausea,
its so good? You may get a headache. dizziness, or a stiff neck. The good news
Why? Because we have accumulated is after these days you will feel good (you
poisons that are purged when we rest wanted to hear that)! Give disciplined
the intestines and stomach (makes fasting times to Bible reading / prayer and
sound like a good idea, eh?). listening to Gods voice.

Will it cure what I need curing? How do I start/break the fast?

Fasting is not a cure-all, but it can How to start the fast: Not with a big
bring us victory in the Spirit realm. It blowout on a local food buffet! You need
doesnt mean we can fast and go on wisdom. Ask God to show you the best
sinning. It is not a cure-all, but it is a time to start and how.
powerful weapon.
How to break the fast: Not with a huge
What if I have a moment of weakness? juicy steak and extra fries or four Big Mac
God is not a headmaster. He has a sense meals you will hurt yourself! We suggest
of humour. Dont kick yourself. You start small helpings of fresh fruit, some salad,
with a heart desire to please God, and coleslaw, or yoghurt.
He loves that.

How do I spend the time? Pray and seek

God. Full stop. Please respect your bodies
during fasting. Dont be cruel to your body!
If you feel weak, sit down and rest. Drink
regular water, and you may need to amend
normal exercise habits.

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Wan Chai, Hong Kong info@thevine.org.hk

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