Post by SpeakCunningham on Oct 6, 2015 7:29:56 GMT -5
One of our group member and a dear friend of mine sent this to me months ago and I decided to share it hear for our Prayer and Fasting Days.
I hope it blesses you as much as it blessed and continues to bless me!
Fasting – Hebrew (tsom: fasting, a fast ; tsum: to abstain from food, fast) - Greek (nésteia: fasting, a fast, nésteuó: to fast) (H-sum “to cover mouth” G-nesteuo “abstain)
· What is a fast or fasting? A fast is to abstain from something and a biblical fast is to abstain from food (tsum: to abstain from food, fast) Fasting would be one abstaining from food (biblically) or from anything other than food (secularly).
· Isaiah 58 show what a true fast is from God. Showing the contrast between a godly fast and a self-absorbed fast. Joel 2:12 is the first and only time documented in scripture of God declaring a fast other than the expected one on the Day of Atonement.
· The Day of Atonement was a day of fasting.
· Fasting was expected by Christ, hence His, “Whenever you fast…” Mt 6:16
· Fasting is associated with tragedy or to seek the Lord. Most often a fast was called, and this was immediately, when tragedy hit. Judges 20:26, 1 Sam 7:6, 1 Sam 31:13, 2 Sam 1:12, 2 Sam 12:16, 1 Chronicles 10:12, Ezra 8:21, Esther 4:16….there are many more.
There are 3 types of fast;
· Partial – the Daniel fast would be considered a partial fast. He chose to abstain from the choicest foods. Daniel 10:3
· Absolut fast – This is focal fast of the bible. Either abstain from food and drink water or to abstain from both for a short period of time no longer than 7 days. Paul in Acts 9:9
· Supernatural Fast – No food or water for 40 days or a period longer than 7 days. Moses, Elijah and Jesus. Moses – Deut 9:9, Elijah 1Kings 19:8
Why you should fast; (From an article; You may be led to fast for whatever God puts on your heart to fast for.)
· Fasting was an expected discipline in both the Old and New Testament eras. For example, Moses fasted at least two recorded forty-day periods. Jesus fasted 40 days and reminded His followers to fast, "when you fast," not if you fast.
· Fasting and prayer can restore the loss of the "first love" for your Lord and result in a more intimate relationship with Christ.
· Fasting is a biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21). King David said, "I humble myself through fasting."
· Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life.
· The Holy Spirit will quicken the Word of God in your heart and His truth will become more meaningful to you!
· Fasting can transform your prayer life into a richer and more personal experience.
· Fasting can result in a dynamic personal revival in your own life-and make you a channel of revival to others.
· Fasting and prayer are the only disciplines that fulfill the requirements of II Chronicles 7:14:
· "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Psalm 35:13 (NASB)
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled my soul with fasting,
And my prayer kept returning to my bosom.
Psalm 69:10 When I wept in my soul with fasting, It became my reproach.
Ezra 8:21 (NASB)
Protection of God Invoked
21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions.
Daniel 9:3 So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.
I hope it blesses you as much as it blessed and continues to bless me!
Fasting – Hebrew (tsom: fasting, a fast ; tsum: to abstain from food, fast) - Greek (nésteia: fasting, a fast, nésteuó: to fast) (H-sum “to cover mouth” G-nesteuo “abstain)
· What is a fast or fasting? A fast is to abstain from something and a biblical fast is to abstain from food (tsum: to abstain from food, fast) Fasting would be one abstaining from food (biblically) or from anything other than food (secularly).
· Isaiah 58 show what a true fast is from God. Showing the contrast between a godly fast and a self-absorbed fast. Joel 2:12 is the first and only time documented in scripture of God declaring a fast other than the expected one on the Day of Atonement.
· The Day of Atonement was a day of fasting.
· Fasting was expected by Christ, hence His, “Whenever you fast…” Mt 6:16
· Fasting is associated with tragedy or to seek the Lord. Most often a fast was called, and this was immediately, when tragedy hit. Judges 20:26, 1 Sam 7:6, 1 Sam 31:13, 2 Sam 1:12, 2 Sam 12:16, 1 Chronicles 10:12, Ezra 8:21, Esther 4:16….there are many more.
There are 3 types of fast;
· Partial – the Daniel fast would be considered a partial fast. He chose to abstain from the choicest foods. Daniel 10:3
· Absolut fast – This is focal fast of the bible. Either abstain from food and drink water or to abstain from both for a short period of time no longer than 7 days. Paul in Acts 9:9
· Supernatural Fast – No food or water for 40 days or a period longer than 7 days. Moses, Elijah and Jesus. Moses – Deut 9:9, Elijah 1Kings 19:8
Why you should fast; (From an article; You may be led to fast for whatever God puts on your heart to fast for.)
· Fasting was an expected discipline in both the Old and New Testament eras. For example, Moses fasted at least two recorded forty-day periods. Jesus fasted 40 days and reminded His followers to fast, "when you fast," not if you fast.
· Fasting and prayer can restore the loss of the "first love" for your Lord and result in a more intimate relationship with Christ.
· Fasting is a biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21). King David said, "I humble myself through fasting."
· Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life.
· The Holy Spirit will quicken the Word of God in your heart and His truth will become more meaningful to you!
· Fasting can transform your prayer life into a richer and more personal experience.
· Fasting can result in a dynamic personal revival in your own life-and make you a channel of revival to others.
· Fasting and prayer are the only disciplines that fulfill the requirements of II Chronicles 7:14:
· "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Psalm 35:13 (NASB)
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled my soul with fasting,
And my prayer kept returning to my bosom.
Psalm 69:10 When I wept in my soul with fasting, It became my reproach.
Ezra 8:21 (NASB)
Protection of God Invoked
21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions.
Daniel 9:3 So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.