Fasting continued
Fasting is a powerful tool of repentance. We repent by turning from all sin to the fruit of the Spirit, to an active pursuit of God. In this self-denial, we surrender to Jesus more deeply so He can work His perfect will in us more completely. Sometimes we feel helpless to help someone or feel helpless in the face of extremely difficult trials or sufferings. In such cases, a deeper repentance, humbling, and brokenness is required to give us the faith to obtain the particular blessing that we need. Fasting and praying is one way to help us to get to that faith and blessing.
Isaiah 58 tells us how not to fast and how to fast. Fasting will loose the bands of wickedness, undo heavy burdens, let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke according to Isaiah 58:6. Christians should fast when loved ones are sick, in times of war or the threat of one, when seeking God’s forgiveness, when seeking His protection, when dealing with temptation, when serving the Lord, when beginning a work for the Lord, when directed by Him to do so; whenever the occasion requires Divine help. Jesus gives us the perfect example of how to fast in Matthew 6 immediately after His model prayer.
Jesus stated in Matthew 9: 15 and Luke 5:35 that the disciples did not need to fast as long as He, the Bridegroom, was with them. But the day was coming when the Bridegroom would be taken away (His death on the cross) and they would then ‘need’ to fast. This is very true today! Fasting before we petition (pray to) God shows Him that we are sincere about what we are asking Him to do for us and/or for others. It weakens us just enough to make us trust and rely on Him totally; submitting completely to His will.
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Fasting is a powerful tool of repentance. We repent by turning from all sin to the fruit of the Spirit, to an active pursuit of God. In this self-denial, we surrender to Jesus more deeply so He can work His perfect will in us more completely. Sometimes we feel helpless to help someone or feel helpless in the face of extremely difficult trials or sufferings. In such cases, a deeper repentance, humbling, and brokenness is required to give us the faith to obtain the particular blessing that we need. Fasting and praying is one way to help us to get to that faith and blessing.
Isaiah 58 tells us how not to fast and how to fast. Fasting will loose the bands of wickedness, undo heavy burdens, let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke according to Isaiah 58:6. Christians should fast when loved ones are sick, in times of war or the threat of one, when seeking God’s forgiveness, when seeking His protection, when dealing with temptation, when serving the Lord, when beginning a work for the Lord, when directed by Him to do so; whenever the occasion requires Divine help. Jesus gives us the perfect example of how to fast in Matthew 6 immediately after His model prayer.
Jesus stated in Matthew 9: 15 and Luke 5:35 that the disciples did not need to fast as long as He, the Bridegroom, was with them. But the day was coming when the Bridegroom would be taken away (His death on the cross) and they would then ‘need’ to fast. This is very true today! Fasting before we petition (pray to) God shows Him that we are sincere about what we are asking Him to do for us and/or for others. It weakens us just enough to make us trust and rely on Him totally; submitting completely to His will.
View Other Answers | Submit a Question | Leave Feedback About this Question | Back to Fasting