Fasting
by Pastor Alan Duce | March 15, 2011
God is at work in Richfield! This pre-Easter (Lenten) season God is inviting His Church to pray. Pray so that we can focus on God and grow closer to Him. Pray and listen for His voice. Pray and experience amazing answers to our prayers! Nothing strengthens prayer like prayer with fasting. I invite you to join with our church family and commit to fasting during the next 40 Days as we prepare for Easter. There are a variety of approaches to fasting and prayer. I’ve listed some of them below. I encourage you to listen to the Holy Spirit’s voice calling us to intercede for our world. “A world at its worst needs a church at its best.” A church at its best is a church on its knees.
Types of Fasts:
1. A Normal Fast--Luke 4:2
Abstain from all food but not from water. Most Christians who pursue extended (beyond 3 days) normal fasts drink clear liquids including juices.
2. A Partial Fast--Daniel 10:3
Limits type and kinds of food. Typical includes eating only simple starches and perhaps plain vegetables.
3. A Rabbinic Fast--Luke 18:12
Fast that lasts from evening (typically dark or 10PM) until a designated time the following day (typically 5PM; sometimes 3PM, or noon). Can be done 1 day or multiple days.
4. An Absolute Fast--Ezra 10:6; Est. 4:16; Acts 9:9
5. A Supernatural Fast--Deut. 9:9; Kings 19:8
6. A Private Fast--Matt. 6:16-18
Most individual fasts should be done without publicity. Does not mean that we have to be ridiculous about keeping it a secret.
7. A Congregational Fast--Joel 2:15-16a; Acts 13:2
8. A National Fast--2 Chronicles 20:3; Neh. 9:1; Est 4:16; Jonah 3:5-8
A Nation-wide fast.
9. A Regular Fast--Leviticus 16
Regularly scheduled fasts called for by God for His people.
Reasons to Fast:
1. Jesus Expects it of us--Matt. 6; Matt. 9:14-15
2. To Strengthen Prayer--Matt. 17:21; James 1:6b
3. To Seek God’s Guidance--Judges 20:28
4. To Express Grief--I Sam. 20:34
5. To Seek Deliverance or Protection--2 Chron. 20; Ezra 8:21-23
6. To Express Repentance and a Return to God--Joel 2:12
7. To Express Concern for the Work of God
8. To Overcome Temptation--Matt. 4:1-11
9. To Express Love and Worship to God--Luke 2:37
When You Fast:
1. Seek the Holy Spirit's direction about:
- Reason(s) to fast
- Duration of the fast
2. Don't jeopardize your health--Matt. 6:18b
3. Begin Small--one meal or one day.
4. Begin Now--Matt. 9:15