The Lord has recently dealt with me on the issue of fasting. I am interested in your views on the poll and your thoughts in general from a personal perspective.
How and when do you fast?
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by NaasPreacher (C4K), Sep 16, 2006.
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I fast when there is a special need
6 vote(s)24.0% -
I fast on a regular basis
2 vote(s)8.0% -
I either don't fast or do so very rarely
14 vote(s)56.0% -
I don't choose to answer
3 vote(s)12.0%
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Personally, fasting is a very meaningful event for me. When I am especially burdened about something, thats usually when I do it. Sometimes, I do when I am really seeking the Lord about something. I dont always get "the answer" but I always come away with a closer relationship with the Lord.
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Sometimes I feel like I’m doing something similar to fasting although I’m not, but may even be finding it hard to eat as a certain passage and/or related passages keep running through my head while comparing to life situations and I can’t think of anything else. I have never actually fasted but have considered it on several occasions; I probably should.
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I fast during revival's. I usually do about 10 per year and I try to have one at the Church about every other month. Anytime I am in revival I fast until after the service only taking in water and my normal meds. I figure it's similar to the fast from 6 to 6.
When I am doing the revival, I try and stay in the room, on my knees most of the day but there are times when the pastor will take out or by members to eat etc... I'll always accept members invitations but will tell them know I am fasting which they usually understand (even though they just cooked up a mess of food) and will send me back to the room with a plate for later.
I fast during revivals as a way of sacrificing myself as the vessel delivering the word trying to remain humble and obedient to the message giver lest my flesh get in the way. I really want my vessel emptied so that I may be filled with the holy spirit. I pray each night that spirit does well enough that they will not only return the next night, but invite someone to come with them. Then my prayer is for the salvation of any unsaved and for the reviving and edification of the saved. -
Scarlett O. ModeratorModerator
(Matthew 6:16-18) Well, technically, we're not supposed to talk about it. :laugh: :laugh:
Just kidding. The bible says we are not supposed to tell people when we are fasting so as to make our selves look spiritually "superior". But I think conversations like this are probably good to stimulate interest in fasting.
LeBuick's case is an exception because people are sometimes inviting him to lunch when he is fasting and he has to tell them.
I believe fasting is important. Fasting can include abstaining from food, the media (tv, radio, magazines), or even conversation/daily social requirements if one is so led by the Lord. The bible says that even married people can mutually agree to abstain for a designated period of time as to increase their spirituality as a couple.
There's a lot more to fasting than just deciding to forego meals.
I decided a few years ago, for 40 days before my 40th birthday that I would do a "media" fast from the television, computer, cd player, newspapers, novels and magazines and spend more earnest and critical devotion to bible study and prayer every day for 40 days. I wasn't nearly as hard as I thought. (I'm a tv nut!)
I can honestly tell you, God spoke to me more clearly than He ever has. And I think it was because my mind wasn't filled with absolutely worthless junk that I thought was so very important.
I think fasting, in whatever manner God speaks to you about, is a good thing. -
One that took advantage of fasting was the renowned Mahatma Gandhi of India. It seems all religions of the world hold this act in high regard. The world did take notice of this man, even many in our churches while this man was at the height of his popularity of "holiness". He did not know Christ, but even those in churches did not care about that. He was so "pious", so dedicated to his cause/s that surely this was a man of God. How easily we are fooled.
I believe fasting goes with that of fervent prayer. It is to be done in our closet, and Gandhi had his 15 minutes of glory as he did it on the street corner for all to see. -
I had never thought much about fasting, even though I studied through it quite a bit. It just never seemed like a "big deal" until I noticed in the New Testament how it was more or less taken for granted.
Jesus said, "When you fast ..." like it was a matter of fact that it took place. Peter, I think it was said, "three days ago, while I was fasting..." Things like this piqued my interest.
Then I read again how Jesus told the disciples that certain things don't happen unless there is prayer and fasting so we decided to try fasting on a regular basis in our little church.
I don't know how to explain it, but since then we have seen God do some mighty works in our midst. God has done things we had been praying about for years and we have seen prayer after prayer answered in accordance with His will.
We fast as a church every other Friday. We get together in the evening to pray and then we break the fast together with a light supper. We try to follow the Bible principles and don't make a big deal about it, or what we are doing on the day. If we get invited to lunch we try to just order a cup of tea. It has become a wonderful and blessed time for all of us together.
I don't know how to explain the relationship between our prayers and God's will - I wish I did. I do know that I am grateful for His word and His leadership in this matter.
I would certainly consider it inappropriate to questions other's motivations for fasting and prayer. -
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This is given in love, and I hope you will take it as such, but it may not seem so for Jesus was very pointed, blunt and unashamed of what He said, and how He said it. "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward", Matthew 6:5.
Matthew 6:16-18, "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18. That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly."
Muslims fast, Buddhist fast, Hindus fast. Do they pray to "our Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ having the Holy Spirit make intersession for them?
I had hoped my first post would be of help to you. I hope you believe Him.
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Jesus said "when you fast, do not do it this way"
No one here would advocate fasting with a sad countanance and disfigured faces, like the Pharisees did, to make a show of themselves.
Those who do fast, as Jesus said, should do it this way - "When you fast, clean yourself up and act like it is a normal day." -
Before the hypoglycemia and then the diabetes kicked in, I used to fast at least once a year for at least 24 hours. I remember those days with fondness. I would leave my husband with the kids and go up to the family cabin in the mountains and be entirely by myself for two days. The first day was always fasting and the second devoted primarily to sleep and reading the Bible. It was a time of total rest and restoration.
Now, I can't, of course. But I'm a little 'jealous' of those who can and do. It is a special time when your concentration switches from life on an everyday basis to time alone with God. It is a time when the money you would have spent on your own stomach can go to feed someone else's. -
Helen, those are good words for an Christian who has never fasted, "It is a special time when your concentration switches from life on an everyday basis to time alone with God. It is a time when the money you would have spent on your own stomach can go to feed someone else's." -
Excellent post LeBuick.
Its not about us - what a perfect thought in this matter! -
This post was erased for some unknown reason. This was posted September 17th
I didn't indicate any here did that.
You missed the point of my post. I was making reference to my remarks of Gandhi, viz. "I believe fasting goes with that of fervent prayer. It is to be done in our closet, and Gandhi had his 15 minutes of glory as he did it on the street corner for all to see".
My following post was to give you His Word directly, of which you may accept or reject.
Gandhi in prayer and fast wanted the world to see. I was showing scripture to show His Word points toward Prayer and Fasting go together and they are to be done secretly with God.
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I really can't understand your taking exception with what I said. Did I not say it is about my and your heavenly Father. Are we not to go to Him in private prayer and fasting. Do you find I said conversely?
It is someone else that says they believe other than making it "private" and personal
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I apologise, but I am mystified by your comparison of those who fast with Ghandi. -
Your first post reads as follows: "The Lord has recently dealt with me on the issue of fasting. I am interested in your views on the poll and your thoughts in general from a personal perspective".
I voted, and then tried to follow instructions, so I gave you my thoughts, and they are from a personal perspective. I saw Scarlett made a good point, and I gave example of same. Many here, perhaps you in particular are not old enough to remember Gandhi, or have not paid close attention in your studies of this man, which is understandable. The point of pointing to Gandhi was the unsaved put great faith into "fasting", and I see a danger of we in the Body Church of putting too much emphasis on practices of the "Kingdom Church" that are not shown in scripture held over into the "Body Church".
You now ask, "Then why is there disagreement here." When I posted there was no "disagreement", until "disagreement" was made with what I posted. Otherwise I would most likely not have made another post. But I know when we post, agreement, "dismissal with a comment", no comment, or forthright disagreement, can be expected.
So in love (which I do not always include in writing) I will answer that posed to me straightforward, or in a back handed manner, which I did.
May times scripture not meant to point out error of what some one has posted, but for proving what was said (about Gandhi) was "scriptural" as to knowledge and not as to judging, makes one that made a post uneasy, perhaps what they had posted.
I'm not sure why you protest. Do you? It was not I that was in disagreement in the beginning. I only gave you my thoughts, from my personal perspective. -
Thanks for clarifying. I appreciate you making me feel young for not remembering Gandhi. I don't get to feel young very often ;).
I think your comparison to Gandhi is interesting, but a bit unjust IMHO. Gandhi fasted (or went on hunger strikes) to achieve political ends. Like Bobby Sands and the other IRA hunger strikers their goal was simply political manipulation. Their hunger strikes had nothing to do with New Testament fasting.
I don't think the problem is putting too much of an emphasis on Biblical fasting, but too little. As mentioned above Jesus seemed imply that we would fast just like we prayed. "When you pray...when you fast..." He then gave instructions on how to do both. The early church fasted and prayed for wisdom in sending out missionaries, Peter mentioned that God dealt with his heart while he was fasting. Jesus told the disciples that certain things are not going to happen apart from prayer and fasting.
I would certainly not make fasting a "rule" for a local church. I would not pressurise anyone into doing it. It is not a cure all for the ills and problems in a church. It certainly is a personal matter.
However, I do wonder if the modern church takes fasting seriously enough. In no way should anyone see fasting as a method to get their way with God, but it can very well be a way for us to put aside material desires for a time to focus on Him as we use the time to "walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit" in a very tangible way. -
They Israel were to fast after He was gone for the "kingdom was at hand", and the tribulation had to come. They would be fasting as they prayed the Lord's Prayer for deliverance. We are not Israel, and we look for the "rapture" and not the "tribulation", and the "kingdom" that will follow.
I have fasted before as my first wife was dying. This was not some legalistic ritual, some sort of effort for merit on my part. I fasted because of sorrow and grief, and prayer was in a sense my "eating".
My point is "fasting" is something we may do during our lifetime, but if we believe it is to be made a part of our lives because we think we are required to do it we are into legalistic works, and we have our reward. First thing you know we could be into 40 days of this and 40 days of that, right back in bondage of Law.