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Fasting

7 Spiritual Disciplines:

  1. Worship Humbly
  2. Pray Continually, talking to God throughout the day
  3. Read Daily, study, and meditate on scripture
  4. Meet Faithfully with your Christian bothers and sisters
  5. Give Generously - Tithes and Offerings
  6. Serve Joyfully using your spiritual gifts
  7. Share Boldly Christ with others
 

* Inward Disciplines:

  • Worship Humbly
  • Pray Continually
  • Read, Study, and Meditate Daily

* Outward Disciplines:

  • Give Generously – Offerings
  • Serve Joyfully
  • Share Boldly

* Corporate Disciplines:

  • Meet Faithfully 
  • Worship Humbly
  • Give Generously - Tithes
  • Serve Joyfully
  • Share Boldly

 

3 Reasons NOT to Fast

  1. Do not Fast, if you’re doing it, to be noticed by men. "When you fast,  do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces  to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast,  put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18: (NIV)
  2. Do not Fast because you want your wishes to come true.
  3. Do not Fast, if you don’t understand fasting.

 

6 Reasons To Fast

  1. Fasting is Feasting on God

Jesus left Galilee and went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John kept objecting and said, “I ought to be baptized by you. 

Why have you come to me?” Jesus answered, “For now this is how it should be, because we must do all God wants us to do.” Then John agreed.  So Jesus was baptized. And as soon as he came out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove. Then a voice from heaven said, “This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him.” Matthew 3:13-17

The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert, so that the devil could test him. After Jesus had gone without eating  for 40 days and nights, he was very hungry.  Then the devil came to him and said, “If you are God's Son, tell these stones to turn into bread.” Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say: ‘No one can live only on food. People need every word that God has spoken.’” 

Jesus answered, “The Scriptures also say, ‘Don't try to test the Lord your God!’” Finally, the devil took Jesus up on a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms on earth and their power. The devil said to him, “I will give all this to you, if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus answered, “Go away Satan! The Scriptures say: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ Then the devil left Jesus, and angels came to help him.” Matthew 4:1-11

  1. Fasting is a means through which we draw near to God, and He rewards us with the knowledge of His presence.

"Messengers told Jehoshaphat "A large army from Edom, east of the Dead Sea has invaded our country..-' Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he asked the Lord what to do. He then told the people of Judah to go without eating to show their sorrow. They immediately left for Jerusalem to ask for the Lord's help."  II Chronicles 20:1-4

"Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do." Esther 4:15-16

  1. Fasting is a way to tune our attention to God, express our desperation for Him and make us still to hear His reply and see His hand.

"My meat is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." John 4:34

  1. Fasting is a time to express to God, that you’re joined with Christ in completing His mission.
Personal Responsibilities:

      • Worship Humbly

      • Pray Continually

      • Read Daily

      • Meet Faithfully

      • Give Generously

      • Serve Joyfully

      • Share Boldly

  1. Fasting is a means to declare to God that the thing that sustains us most, is doing His will, and joining with Him to give hope to a decaying world. 
  2. Fasting is a means for wearing the sackcloth; a way to enter into mourning over the sins that separate us from God.

"They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth." "Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent, and with compassion, turn from his fierce anger, so that we will not perish." Jonah 3:7-10

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." John 6:51

“Then John’s disciples came and asked him, ‘How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?’ Jesus answered, ‘How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come, when the bridegroom will be taken from them - then they will fast.’” Matthew 9:14-15

 

7 Spiritual Disciplines

  1. Worship Humbly
  2. Pray Continually
  3. Read, Study, and Meditate Daily
  4. Meet Faithfully
  5. Give Generously – Tithes & Offerings
  6. Serve Joyfully
  7. Share Boldly
“Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
James 1:22