Matthew 6:16-18
16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
18 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.
Everyone of importance in the Bible practiced fasting: Moses, David, Elijah, Esther, Daniel, Anna, Paul, Jesus, just to name a few. When Jesus taught on fasting, He would say “When you fast” not “If you fast”. He assumed that we would fast. We were created with fasting, think about it, if you sleep 8 hours a day, then you are sleeping 1/3 of your life. If you live, say, 75 years, that’s 25 years asleep, or 9,125 days. When you sleep, you are fasting, that’s why morning meal is called breakfast – it's when you break your fast.
Throughout the scripture we find that fasting is referred to as the abstaining of food for spiritual purposes. It is not a hunger strike or a diet plan these plans are not spiritual or holy. A true fasting and prayer is to focus on God for a spiritual need or desire.
In Scripture, the normal means of fasting involves abstaining from all food, solid or liquid, but not from water. Luke 4:2 describes for us Jesus’ fast of forty days. We are told “He ate nothing” and at the end of the fast “He was hungry.” From a physical standpoint, this is the manner in which Scripture describes fasting. There are other fasts described in Scripture, such as the partial fast in Daniel 10 and the absolute fast in Esther 4, however, the normal means is not eating for a period of time. BENEFITS OF FASTING: 1. Fasting & Prayer helps us overcome the distress of life. Fasting is the Biblical way to humble ourselves (Psalm 35:13; 69:10). Esther fasted when faced with danger (Esther 4:16). Ezra fasted for protection (Ezra 8:21-28). Jehoshaphat fasted in the time of the invasion of the confederated armies of Canaanites and Syrians (2 Chronicles 20:3).
We are often distressed because of so many things that go wrong in our lives. The little things or the one off's we can usually handle, however the things that pile up on us or that are really big we struggle with.
Have you ever been to that point you feel like you are losing your mind because of so many things going wrong. Yes....we can pray and God can help us, but sometimes we need to put more into our prayer. That is why Fasting come to us.
2. Fasting & Prayer renews our connection with God.
Mark 2:20
20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. Jesus said that His disciples will fast when He is gone. When we fast, we get our hunger back for the presence of God.
This last week I spent a day of fasting and prayer. I prayed several times throughout the day and spent more time praying in the morning and late that afternoon. I was not fasting & praying for something specific, however I was praying for this church and the individual's here that needed healing.
Also, just because you fast & pray does not mean that you will end the day or even wake up the next day with everything going great. You need to know that the devil is always on your back even more so when you touch heaven gate. But, we need that communication with God.
I believe that the more we fast & pray for something specific is when we will build our faith by seeing the results of our prayer.
3. Fasting & Prayer empowers us to fulfill God’s calling in our life.
Most of the people in the old testament fasted in a crisis; Jesus fasted for His calling. We should not fast only during problems, but also for our purpose. Anna was fasting for the coming of the redemption of Israel. (Luke 2:37).
4. Fasting & Prayer defeats the devil.
Once, the disciples of Jesus could not cast out a demon. Jesus said, This kind does not leave, but by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21). Fasting helps to break the bonds of wickedness, undo heavy burdens, and empower us to break every yoke (Isaiah 58:6).
It is a good idea to fast & pray can even help us with the unknown things that may be coming our way.
I believe that it is time for us to get back to our root of being Pentecostal. That is we need to get back to Fasting & Prayer. There has been many things that have happened because someone spent some time on their kneed and denied their bodies and was determined to make things happen.