Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different...

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Fasting Fasting Principles Principles

Transcript of Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different...

Page 1: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

Fasting PrinciplesFasting Principles

Page 2: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

Fasting is a common practise the world over.Fasting is a common practise the world over.It is performed by many different cultures and It is performed by many different cultures and

religions across religions and faiths.religions across religions and faiths.Some tribes believe and perform the ritual of Some tribes believe and perform the ritual of

fasting to access power from the occult and fasting to access power from the occult and spiritual mediums.spiritual mediums.

Page 3: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

There is the right and wrong way to Fast.There is the right and wrong way to Fast.Let us examine the wrong ways that people fast.Let us examine the wrong ways that people fast.

• Cry aloud, spare not. Lift up your voice like a trumpet Cry aloud, spare not. Lift up your voice like a trumpet and declare to My people their transgression and to and declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins!the house of Jacob their sins!

• 2 2 Yet they seek, inquire for, Yet they seek, inquire for, andand require Me daily and require Me daily and delight [externally] to know My ways, as [if they were delight [externally] to know My ways, as [if they were in reality] a nation that did righteousness and forsook in reality] a nation that did righteousness and forsook not the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me not the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God [in visible ways].[in visible ways].

Page 4: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

• 3 3 Why have we fasted, they say, and You do Why have we fasted, they say, and You do not see it? Why have we afflicted ourselves, not see it? Why have we afflicted ourselves, and You take no knowledge [of it]? Behold [O and You take no knowledge [of it]? Behold [O Israel], on the day of your fast [when you Israel], on the day of your fast [when you should be grieving for your sins], you find should be grieving for your sins], you find profit in your business, and [instead of profit in your business, and [instead of stopping all work, as the law implies you and stopping all work, as the law implies you and your workmen should do] you extort from your workmen should do] you extort from your hired servants a full amount of labor.your hired servants a full amount of labor.

Page 5: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

• 4 4 The facts are that] you fast only for strife and debate The facts are that] you fast only for strife and debate and to smite with the fist of wickedness. Fasting as you and to smite with the fist of wickedness. Fasting as you do today will not cause your voice to be heard on high.do today will not cause your voice to be heard on high.

• 5 5 Is such a fast as yours what I have chosen, a day for a Is such a fast as yours what I have chosen, a day for a man to humble himself with sorrow in his soul? [Is true man to humble himself with sorrow in his soul? [Is true fasting merely mechanical?] Is it only to bow down his fasting merely mechanical?] Is it only to bow down his head like a bulrush and to spread sackcloth and ashes head like a bulrush and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him [to indicate a condition of heart that he under him [to indicate a condition of heart that he does not have]? Will you call this a fast and an does not have]? Will you call this a fast and an acceptable day to the Lord?acceptable day to the Lord?

Page 6: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

Let us look again at these passages:Let us look again at these passages:Cry aloud, spare not. Lift up your voice like a Cry aloud, spare not. Lift up your voice like a

trumpet and trumpet and declare to My people their declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins!sins!

2 2 Yet they seek, inquire for, Yet they seek, inquire for, andand require Me daily require Me daily and delight and delight [externally[externally] to know My ways, as [if ] to know My ways, as [if they were in reality] a nation that did they were in reality] a nation that did righteousness and forsook not the ordinance of righteousness and forsook not the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me righteous judgments, their God. They ask of Me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God they delight to draw near to God [in visible ways].[in visible ways].

Page 7: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

The Lord is saying that:The Lord is saying that:• The Nation of Israel had sinnedThe Nation of Israel had sinned• That they appeared to do the right thingThat they appeared to do the right thing• That their external works looked goodThat their external works looked good• It is not enough to come to churchIt is not enough to come to church• It is not enough to act out Christian ritesIt is not enough to act out Christian rites• It is not enough to practice religious routinesIt is not enough to practice religious routines

Page 8: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

The people ask God why their prayers were not being The people ask God why their prayers were not being answered...God replies:answered...God replies:

3 3 Why have we fasted, they say, and You do not see it? Why Why have we fasted, they say, and You do not see it? Why have we afflicted ourselves, and You take no knowledge have we afflicted ourselves, and You take no knowledge [of it]? [of it]?

Behold [O Israel], on the day of your fast [when you Behold [O Israel], on the day of your fast [when you should be grieving for your sins], should be grieving for your sins], you find profit you find profit in your in your business, and [instead of stopping all work, as the law business, and [instead of stopping all work, as the law implies you and your workmen should do] implies you and your workmen should do] you extort you extort from your hired servants a full amount of labor.from your hired servants a full amount of labor.

Page 9: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

• The facts are that] The facts are that] you fast only for strife and debate you fast only for strife and debate and to smite with the fist of wickednessand to smite with the fist of wickedness. Fasting as you . Fasting as you do today will not cause your voice to be heard on high.do today will not cause your voice to be heard on high.

• 5 5 Is such a fast as yours what I have chosen, a day for a Is such a fast as yours what I have chosen, a day for a man to humble himself with sorrow in his soul? man to humble himself with sorrow in his soul? [Is true [Is true fasting merely mechanical?]fasting merely mechanical?] Is it only to bow down his Is it only to bow down his head like a bulrush and to spread sackcloth and ashes head like a bulrush and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him [to indicate a condition of heart that he under him [to indicate a condition of heart that he does not have]? Will you call this a fast and an does not have]? Will you call this a fast and an acceptable day to the Lord?acceptable day to the Lord?

Page 10: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

The heart of the matter is The heart of the matter is the matter of the the matter of the HEARTHEART

Page 11: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

People judge others by what they look like, but I People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts.”judge people by what is in their hearts.”

for man looks on the outward appearance, but for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.the Lord looks on the heart.

GOD judges persons differently than humans do. GOD judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; GOD looks Men and women look at the face; GOD looks into the heart.”into the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7b1 Samuel 16:7b

Page 12: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

A Fast can sometimes be looked at as a sacrifice A Fast can sometimes be looked at as a sacrifice offering unto God. Remember Cain and Abel offering unto God. Remember Cain and Abel brought offerings to God but He accepted one brought offerings to God but He accepted one and rejected the other.and rejected the other.

Our hearts have to be in the right place so that Our hearts have to be in the right place so that our fast can be acceptable. Sometimes our our fast can be acceptable. Sometimes our Fast helps us to get our hearts into the right Fast helps us to get our hearts into the right place. place.

Page 13: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.returned into mine own bosom.

Psalm 35:13Psalm 35:13

Humble yourself therefore under the mighty Humble yourself therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. time.

1Peter 5:61Peter 5:6

Page 14: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

Say this prayer:Say this prayer:““Lord show me all the contradictions of my Lord show me all the contradictions of my

life that you want dealt with. Help me to life that you want dealt with. Help me to see areas of my life where I need to see areas of my life where I need to change”change”

Create in me a clean heart and renew a Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me...Ps 51:10right spirit within me...Ps 51:10

Page 15: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

This is not sin consciousness but true biblical This is not sin consciousness but true biblical repentance:repentance:

If my people who are called by my name will If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, seek my face and humble themselves and pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked (twisted) ways...turn from their wicked (twisted) ways...

Paul said:Paul said:When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood

as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.a man, I put away childish things.

1 Corinthians 13:111 Corinthians 13:11

Page 16: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

It is time for many of us to grow up and stop It is time for many of us to grow up and stop acting like spiritual babes after being born acting like spiritual babes after being born again for years!again for years!

Too many Christians are Too many Christians are CarnalCarnal::And I, family, could not speak unto you as And I, family, could not speak unto you as

spiritual believers, but as unto carnal, even as spiritual believers, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.unto babes in Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11 Corinthians 3:1

Page 17: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

Symptoms and signs of ‘Childish’ (carnal) believers:Symptoms and signs of ‘Childish’ (carnal) believers:For you are still [unspiritual, having the nature] of For you are still [unspiritual, having the nature] of

the flesh [under the control of ordinary the flesh [under the control of ordinary impulses]. For as long as [there are] envying and impulses]. For as long as [there are] envying and jealousy jealousy andand wrangling and factions among you, wrangling and factions among you, are you not unspiritual are you not unspiritual andand of the flesh, behaving of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard yourselves after a human standard andand like mere like mere (unchanged) men?(unchanged) men?

1 Corinthians 3:31 Corinthians 3:3

Page 18: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

Behaviour and Symptoms of Carnal believers:Behaviour and Symptoms of Carnal believers:• Over eatingOver eating• Over reacting, shouting at others, screaming Over reacting, shouting at others, screaming

down othersdown others• Mood swings, silent treatment of othersMood swings, silent treatment of others• Not talking with someone even though you live Not talking with someone even though you live

together or have their number, FB, Twitter, together or have their number, FB, Twitter, email.email.

• Hitting or breaking things in fits of rage, slamming Hitting or breaking things in fits of rage, slamming doors, phones or speeding off.doors, phones or speeding off.

Page 19: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

• Visiting porn sites, watching inappropriate Visiting porn sites, watching inappropriate movies or materialmovies or material

• Addictions to drugs, substances, food or Addictions to drugs, substances, food or anything which takes over your time or life.anything which takes over your time or life.

• Excessive playing of video games, Excessive playing of video games, entertainment, sport, exercise.entertainment, sport, exercise.

• Over obsession with your appearance, looks, Over obsession with your appearance, looks, hair, clothing etchair, clothing etc

Page 20: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

• Over obsession with natural urges like food, Over obsession with natural urges like food, sex or sleepsex or sleep

• Lying , cheating or stealing at any level – white Lying , cheating or stealing at any level – white lies, exaggerations, deceptions, hiding lies, exaggerations, deceptions, hiding information from your partner, family and information from your partner, family and loved ones.loved ones.

• Jealousy, envy and obsession with someone Jealousy, envy and obsession with someone else including your children, friend etcelse including your children, friend etc

Page 21: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

• Lusting after a boy or girl or someone’s wife or Lusting after a boy or girl or someone’s wife or husband.husband.

• Any form of adultery, emotional adultery, flirting, Any form of adultery, emotional adultery, flirting, inappropriate interaction.inappropriate interaction.

• Skimpy dressing to show off your body and entice Skimpy dressing to show off your body and entice others inappropriately.others inappropriately.

• Thinking evil of others, murderous thoughts, hatred, Thinking evil of others, murderous thoughts, hatred, • Racial discrimination, or prejudice. Not liking someone Racial discrimination, or prejudice. Not liking someone

because they are not cool, in your class of fashion, because they are not cool, in your class of fashion, football club the colour of their skin, their accent or football club the colour of their skin, their accent or race or tribe or social status. race or tribe or social status.

Page 22: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

It is obvious what kind of life develops out of It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition;

Page 23: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

Galatians 5:19-21Galatians 5:19-21

Page 24: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

Let us now look at how to Fast properly:Let us now look at how to Fast properly:

Then Jesus, full of Then Jesus, full of andand controlled by the Holy Spirit, returned from the controlled by the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led in [by] the [Holy] SpiritJordan and was led in [by] the [Holy] Spirit

2 2 For (during) forty days in the wilderness (desert), where He was For (during) forty days in the wilderness (desert), where He was tempted (tempted ([[a]]tried, tested exceedingly) by the devil. And He ate tried, tested exceedingly) by the devil. And He ate

nothing during those days, and when they were completed, He was nothing during those days, and when they were completed, He was hungry.hungry.

Luke 4:1-2Luke 4:1-2

Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13 13 And He was And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with

the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Himthe wild beasts; and the angels ministered to HimMark 1:12-13Mark 1:12-13

Page 25: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

And also:And also:

And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy andand [[a]]sour sour andand [[b

]]dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal countenance, dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal countenance, that their fasting may be apparent to that their fasting may be apparent to andand seen by men. seen by men.

Truly I say to you, they have their reward Truly I say to you, they have their reward [[c]]in full already.in full already.17 17 But when you fast, perfume your head and wash your face,But when you fast, perfume your head and wash your face,

18 18 So that your fasting may not be noticed by men but by your Father, So that your fasting may not be noticed by men but by your Father, Who sees in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will Who sees in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will

reward you reward you in the openin the open..Matthew 6:16-18 AMPMatthew 6:16-18 AMP

Page 26: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

The Message Version:The Message Version:When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to

better concentrate on God, don’t make a production better concentrate on God, don’t make a production out of it.out of it.

It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won’t It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won’t make you a saint. If you ‘go into training’ inwardly, act make you a saint. If you ‘go into training’ inwardly, act

normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. brush your teeth, wash your face.

God doesn’t require attention-getting devices. He won’t God doesn’t require attention-getting devices. He won’t overlook what you are doing; he’ll reward you well.overlook what you are doing; he’ll reward you well.

Matthew 6:16-18Matthew 6:16-18

Page 27: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

Note the following points:Note the following points:• Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to FastJesus was led by the Holy Spirit to Fast• Make sure your fast is not ‘religious’Make sure your fast is not ‘religious’• He was alone in His FastHe was alone in His Fast• There is a place for corporate fastingThere is a place for corporate fasting• There is a place for private fastingThere is a place for private fasting• There was a lot of spiritual contention during the FastThere was a lot of spiritual contention during the Fast• There was also spiritual support from HeavenThere was also spiritual support from Heaven• Fasting is a very SPIRITUAL affair Fasting is a very SPIRITUAL affair • Fasting increases your spiritual power. Even though your Fasting increases your spiritual power. Even though your

natural self becomes smaller, your spiritual self becomes natural self becomes smaller, your spiritual self becomes bigger.bigger.

Page 28: Fasting Principles. Fasting is a common practise the world over. It is performed by many different cultures and religions across religions and faiths.

Note the following points:Note the following points:• Fasting is between you and GodFasting is between you and God• You are guaranteed a rewardYou are guaranteed a reward• There is an earthly reward and a Heavenly oneThere is an earthly reward and a Heavenly one• Fasting is a WHEN not an IFFasting is a WHEN not an IF• You will likely be tempted to let people know You will likely be tempted to let people know

how you’ve fastedhow you’ve fasted• Take measures to hide your sacrifice to God in Take measures to hide your sacrifice to God in

the area of Fasting so that your Father can the area of Fasting so that your Father can respond.respond.