Why are we fasting? I am sure we all have our reasons but I thought it might be good to take a look at the Biblical references as a reminder. We have been fasting together for several years now since my friend Mike Martin got me started. Here’s what I found!
Biblical fasting can be defined as abstaining from food for spiritual purposes. Simply going without food because it is not available or for medical reasons is not biblical fasting. There must be a spiritual motivation to qualify as fast as biblical.
In his book “A Hunger for God,” John Piper writes, “Christian fasting, at its root, is the hunger of a homesickness for God. Christian fasting is not only the spontaneous effect of superior satisfaction in God, it is also a chosen weapon against every force in the world that would take that satisfaction away.”
2. Some Biblical Examples and Purposes of Fasting
- Jesus fasted to acknowledge His dependence and to gain spiritual strength through reliance on the Holy Spirit and God’s Word. He did this before He began His public ministry (Luke 4:1-2).
- Nehemiah fasted for confession, repentance and favor in the sight of the king to get permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:4).
- David humbled himself, asking God to intervene because of injustice (Psalm 35:13). In 2 Samuel 12:17-23, he fasted for healing and miraculous intervention.
- Mordecai and the Jews fasted upon hearing the news of Haman’s wicked plot for their extermination (Esther 4:3).
- The early church fasted while worshiping and committing their ministry to the Lord. They also sought the Lord through fasting for guidance and confirmation during the appointment of elders (Acts 13:2, 14:23).
- Jesus expected His disciples to fast, but He did not command it (Matthew 6:16).
This is meant only to get us thinking about it and investigating on our own to better understand its amazing power.
For me, every time I feel hunger I am reminded to stop and pray throughout the day. I thank God a lot for all that He has done for one like me.
LIFE meets tonight at 7:00, we will continue our journey in Jude. Join us if you can! Bless you, Jim