As part of our Lenten observance, SRC’s Consistory invites us to fast during Holy Week, from Wednesday evening after supper to Thursday evening. To assist those able and willing to participate in a fast here are some Biblical Fasting Facts:
Fasting is not commanded in the New Testament, but it is assumed that the friends of Christ the Bridegroom will fast, Matt. 9:15; 6:16-18
There are different kinds and different degrees of fasts:
–from non essential food, drink (sweets, treats, meats) Dan 10:3
–from all food, but not water, Luke 4:2
–from food and water, Esther 4:16; Acts 9:9
–from sleep, also called “a watching,’ II Cor. 6:5; 11:27
–from intimate relations with one’s spouse, I Cor. 7:5
Ultimately, Biblical fasting is a form of worship. It purposes that the believer may draw near, nearer to the Lord. Under that, there are different but related purposes for fasting. Some are:
–to humble one’s self before the Lord, Lev. 23:27; II Chron. 20:1-4; Ps. 35:13; 69:10; Joel 2:12-13; Acts 9:9-11
–to help frame the mind to find out the Lord’s will, Acts 13:2
–to better give one’s self to prayer, Matt. 17:21; Lk. 2:37;
Acts 10:30-31;14:23
–to show prayer earnestness, II Sam. 12:16, 21-23; Isa.58:4
Like all other forms of worship, fasting, the length of one’s fast is between the Lord and the worshipper. In fasting as in otherservice to our Master, we are to be “cheerful givers,” II Cor. 9:7; and are never, never to fast from loving the Lord with our all, our fellow believers as Christ loved us, and loving our neighbors as ourselves, Isa. 58:1-7.
For more info listen to “The Discipline of Fasting” by Jim Harden