🙏

Understanding Fasting in Christianity

Aug 22, 2024

Fasting in Christianity: Drawing Closer to God

Introduction

  • Fasting compared to anime character power-ups.
  • Purpose: Denying bodily desires to grow spiritually.
  • Personal experience: Longest fast was seven days, leading to heightened sensitivity to God's voice.

Importance of Fasting

  • Fasting can lead to greater spiritual power and connection with God.
  • Correct way to fast is important to understand.

Steps to Fasting

1. Pick a Purpose

  • Example: Jesus fasted for 40 days before His ministry (Matthew 4:2).
  • Set a specific duration (meal, 24 hours, or longer).
  • Health Warning: Consult a doctor before extended fasting.
  • Reasons to fast:
    • Important decisions
    • Growth in spiritual discipline
    • Seeking closeness to God
  • Reference: Mark 9:29 - certain issues require fasting for resolution.

2. Stop Eating

  • Fasting means abstaining from food, as demonstrated by Jesus (Matthew 4:2-3).
  • Clarification: Fasting from social media or electronics is not considered fasting.
  • It is a sacrifice, not fasting per se.
  • Challenges: Physical hunger and mental justifications to break the fast.
  • Tip: When feeling unbearable hunger, drink water and pray.

3. Keep it Between You and God

  • Reference: Matthew 6:16-18 - don't flaunt fasting.
  • Fasting is personal; it should be a special time between you and God.
  • Avoid making fasting obvious to others.
  • It’s okay to inform others if they ask about your fasting.

4. Pair Fasting with Prayer

  • Fasting is more effective when combined with prayer (Matthew 17:21, Acts 10:30, 14:23, 1 Corinthians 7:5).
  • Use fasting time to pray, read scripture, and listen for God’s voice.
  • Focus on spiritual growth during fasting.
  • Quote: "Hurry is the death of prayer" - Samuel Chadwick.

Personal Examples of Fasting

  • Used fasting for personal direction, romantic decisions, and prayer for others.
  • Felt closer to God during fasting.

Conclusion

  • Encourage others to consider fasting with the outlined steps:
    1. Pick a purpose.
    2. Stop eating.
    3. Keep it between you and God.
    4. Pair fasting with prayer.
  • Reminder: Jesus loves you.

Full transcript