Draw Near to God Part 4 - Fasting
Fasting
Fasting is a means to draw near to God, but before entering a fast one must ask certain
questions and have clear answers to them. 1) Why am I fasting? Reasons to fast should be pure in
heart, not selfish in seeking blessings or approval of men. Some reasons include spiritual growth,
repentance, breaking bondages and sin habits, mourning and spiritual assault. 2) You must have
clear knowledge of what a true fast really is.
Fasting is a discipline practiced by believers in order to seek God and grow spiritually by abstaining
from food for a set period of time. Fasting is done voluntarily and should humble the soul before
God. Fasting has also been performed during times of grief as a sign of mourning and lamenting as
well as a sign of repentance. The voluntary denial of food weakens the flesh and strengthens the
spirit. Fasting should also include abstaining from certain activities and replacing them with prayer,
the study of God's word and giving attention to the needs of others.
What does God say about fasting? Isaiah 58 explains what fasting should not be and what God says
a true fast really is. Isaiah 58 concludes with "The mouth of the LORD has spoken", so close attention
must be given to this passage. Let us first take a look at what fasting is NOT. Fasting is not a
method of earning God's favor to improve your standing before Him, neither is it a means to gain
prosperity or material blessings. Selfish motives should never be the reason to fast and there is no
Biblical evidence to support prosperity fasting. However Zechariah 7:5-7 reminds us we should fast
during times of prosperity. Fasting reminds the believer what it is like to hunger and forces our
attention to God and the spiritual resources available to the believer during times of poverty - both
material as well as spiritual poverty.
There are several Biblical reasons to fast but the greatest importance should be a fast that pleases
God. Isaiah 58: 3-5 explains the wrong approach and attitude to fast. Fasting should not be made
easier by idleness. The audience Isaiah was addressing was apparently oppressing their laborers due
to their own idleness. It appears they would also make it very apparent to the community they were
fasting, trying to appear socially righteous, while failing to deny themselves pleasure when not in
public view. Prayer offered under such conditions would never even reach heaven.
Fasting should be spiritually motivated to please God, seek His will and draw near to Him. Fasting
should also include denying yourself of pleasures and extending help to others in need. Our full
attention must be directed toward seeking God and His will. Isaiah 58:6-7 tell us the fast God has
chosen and vv eight and nine give us God's response. I find it very significant that the Lord first
mentions edifying yourself and immediately commands us to extend help to the needy. In v 7 the
Lord commands his people to give food, shelter and clothing to the poor during times of fasting.
Most people seem to overlook this verse. However, in this day and age I would not recommend
inviting the homeless into your house to spend the night but that does not mean you can not
provide shelter. Verse 8 goes on to offer certain promises of God to those who fast according to His
will. The Lord promises our light to break fourth, healing, righteousness exposed through us, divine
protection and answer of prayer. Verse 10-12 confirms what we should do during a fast and God's
response, but first we must repent from accusing others and attacking their character and stop
gossiping. Not only should we show and extend love toward our neighbor but we must express our
love toward God by denying our own pleasures during the Sabbath and delighting in Him
(Is 58:13-14).
The priority and focus during any fast should be concentrated on a closer relationship with God.
Prayer should always be included with fasting. Fasting combined with prayer and the diligent study of
God's word is a proven, effective means of growing in ones spiritual life. This does not mean we can
earn anything or achieve a higher spiritual state through self discipline. However, we may break
bondages, strengthen our relationship with God (spiritual growth), understand God's will for our lives
and hear God more clearly during times of fasting. Fasting is a powerful means of witnessing God's
purpose for mankind released. Too often prayers are made in haste. Fasting gives the believer time
for serious prayer that requires concentration and deep thought. Receiving God's will can change the
Christians life. Fasting reminds us of the needs of others and helps us appreciate our blessings and
gifts from God. Before entering a fast make sure your motives are pure and your heart sincere. But
you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be
fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward
you openly. (Matt 6:17-18)
Soon after His baptism Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to face temptation by
satan. The fact that Jesus fasted and prayed during these trials is evidence of His complete
dependence on the Father. Jesus also had a few things to say about fasting. He made it clear that
when the bridegroom (Jesus) would be taken from the earth it would be time for fasting(Matt 9:15).
The first coming of Christ has broken the curse of sin and death as well as introduce a new fast,
because fasting is not consistent with the joy found in our redemption and salvation in Christ.
However, His kingdom has not fully arrived on earth and it is Christ's will that fasting be a part of our
spiritual life. A fasting that promotes thanksgiving, increases faith, promotes spiritual growth that
brings us close to God and makes us aware of the needs of others opening our hearts to give
cheerfully. That is the will of God, now that,… is the Lords fast.
Jesus also demonstrated fasting as an effective means of spiritual assault on demonic forces in
our lives. The Bible does not go into detail, but it does demonstrate fasting accomplishes freedom
from spiritual bondage and oppression. (Mark 9:29).
Fasting is a means to draw near to God, but before entering a fast one must ask certain
questions and have clear answers to them. 1) Why am I fasting? Reasons to fast should be pure in
heart, not selfish in seeking blessings or approval of men. Some reasons include spiritual growth,
repentance, breaking bondages and sin habits, mourning and spiritual assault. 2) You must have
clear knowledge of what a true fast really is.
Fasting is a discipline practiced by believers in order to seek God and grow spiritually by abstaining
from food for a set period of time. Fasting is done voluntarily and should humble the soul before
God. Fasting has also been performed during times of grief as a sign of mourning and lamenting as
well as a sign of repentance. The voluntary denial of food weakens the flesh and strengthens the
spirit. Fasting should also include abstaining from certain activities and replacing them with prayer,
the study of God's word and giving attention to the needs of others.
What does God say about fasting? Isaiah 58 explains what fasting should not be and what God says
a true fast really is. Isaiah 58 concludes with "The mouth of the LORD has spoken", so close attention
must be given to this passage. Let us first take a look at what fasting is NOT. Fasting is not a
method of earning God's favor to improve your standing before Him, neither is it a means to gain
prosperity or material blessings. Selfish motives should never be the reason to fast and there is no
Biblical evidence to support prosperity fasting. However Zechariah 7:5-7 reminds us we should fast
during times of prosperity. Fasting reminds the believer what it is like to hunger and forces our
attention to God and the spiritual resources available to the believer during times of poverty - both
material as well as spiritual poverty.
There are several Biblical reasons to fast but the greatest importance should be a fast that pleases
God. Isaiah 58: 3-5 explains the wrong approach and attitude to fast. Fasting should not be made
easier by idleness. The audience Isaiah was addressing was apparently oppressing their laborers due
to their own idleness. It appears they would also make it very apparent to the community they were
fasting, trying to appear socially righteous, while failing to deny themselves pleasure when not in
public view. Prayer offered under such conditions would never even reach heaven.
Fasting should be spiritually motivated to please God, seek His will and draw near to Him. Fasting
should also include denying yourself of pleasures and extending help to others in need. Our full
attention must be directed toward seeking God and His will. Isaiah 58:6-7 tell us the fast God has
chosen and vv eight and nine give us God's response. I find it very significant that the Lord first
mentions edifying yourself and immediately commands us to extend help to the needy. In v 7 the
Lord commands his people to give food, shelter and clothing to the poor during times of fasting.
Most people seem to overlook this verse. However, in this day and age I would not recommend
inviting the homeless into your house to spend the night but that does not mean you can not
provide shelter. Verse 8 goes on to offer certain promises of God to those who fast according to His
will. The Lord promises our light to break fourth, healing, righteousness exposed through us, divine
protection and answer of prayer. Verse 10-12 confirms what we should do during a fast and God's
response, but first we must repent from accusing others and attacking their character and stop
gossiping. Not only should we show and extend love toward our neighbor but we must express our
love toward God by denying our own pleasures during the Sabbath and delighting in Him
(Is 58:13-14).
The priority and focus during any fast should be concentrated on a closer relationship with God.
Prayer should always be included with fasting. Fasting combined with prayer and the diligent study of
God's word is a proven, effective means of growing in ones spiritual life. This does not mean we can
earn anything or achieve a higher spiritual state through self discipline. However, we may break
bondages, strengthen our relationship with God (spiritual growth), understand God's will for our lives
and hear God more clearly during times of fasting. Fasting is a powerful means of witnessing God's
purpose for mankind released. Too often prayers are made in haste. Fasting gives the believer time
for serious prayer that requires concentration and deep thought. Receiving God's will can change the
Christians life. Fasting reminds us of the needs of others and helps us appreciate our blessings and
gifts from God. Before entering a fast make sure your motives are pure and your heart sincere. But
you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be
fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward
you openly. (Matt 6:17-18)
Soon after His baptism Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to face temptation by
satan. The fact that Jesus fasted and prayed during these trials is evidence of His complete
dependence on the Father. Jesus also had a few things to say about fasting. He made it clear that
when the bridegroom (Jesus) would be taken from the earth it would be time for fasting(Matt 9:15).
The first coming of Christ has broken the curse of sin and death as well as introduce a new fast,
because fasting is not consistent with the joy found in our redemption and salvation in Christ.
However, His kingdom has not fully arrived on earth and it is Christ's will that fasting be a part of our
spiritual life. A fasting that promotes thanksgiving, increases faith, promotes spiritual growth that
brings us close to God and makes us aware of the needs of others opening our hearts to give
cheerfully. That is the will of God, now that,… is the Lords fast.
Jesus also demonstrated fasting as an effective means of spiritual assault on demonic forces in
our lives. The Bible does not go into detail, but it does demonstrate fasting accomplishes freedom
from spiritual bondage and oppression. (Mark 9:29).
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