Spirit Led Fasting

[Felicity]

Best thread on the forum at the moment far as I'm concerned. I hope some good quality discussion takes place here.

Whether or not fasting is or can be Spirit led? Absolutely. The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. Fasting was part of that whole experience for Him!

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

I think that we garner a closer intimacy with God through fasting. Its a personal thing. Some things aren't meant to be spoken. Our secret devotion with Him is precious.

Originally Posted by Arphaxad

So that we don't get too full of ourselves like " look at me, I'm fasting, I must be more spiritual than you, and I'm gonna make look like I'm suffering so you can tell how commited I am."


ARPH

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

to make me more APOSTOLIC.

Seriously........

How much do you think the Apostles fasted?

Acts 13:1 - 3 (KJV) 1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

[Arphaxad]

Originally Posted by RevDWW

What do you see as the purpose of fasting?

building up our faith because we have to rely on God even more to get us through the fasting period.



ARPH

[Arphaxad]

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Seriously........

How much do you think the Apostles fasted?

Didn't Paul say he was in fastings often?

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Seriously........

How much do you think the Apostles fasted?

Paul state that he was in "fastings often". Peter was fasting when the men can from Cornelious' house. From what I have read, the Jews practiced fasting 2 days a week.



I think we could both over emphasize, and under emphasize fasting. Fasting has its place in the disciplinary life of the believer. It is us putting our own natural appetite aside to reach out and partake of heavenly things. In a nutshell, fasting is simply saying no to our natural, carnal man.

[Nahum]

When will we come to that time in our lives when God causes us to crave the nourishment of a spiritual feast in His presence more than bellying up to an earthly smorgasbord?

Fasting and prayer should be a time of discovering, exploring, and enjoying intimacy with God. It should be feasting in His presence, identifying with His purpose, and denying the natural to delight in the supernatural. Jesus assumed His disciples would fast when He said, "When you fast," not if you fast (Matthew 6:16,17). .

[Felicity]

• Fasting has a part to play in keeping the flesh under control. When you find your flesh gaining or having gained the upper hand demonstrated by the lust of the world, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life having preeminence rather than the Spirit of Christ then fasting partnered with prayer has a humbling and breaking effect.
  
  
• Fasting was also done in order to obtain the favour of God in seeing prayer answered.
  
  
• Fasting was also a part of humbling oneself in repentance ... in expressing sorrow for sin.
  
  
• Fasting was done in order to set oneself apart and to hear from God, to know what God was saying and desiring in regard to a person seeking after His will and leading.
  
  
• Fasting was done to break to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and to break yokes. (Isaiah 58:6)

Just a partial - not complete - list of reasons why a person might want to fast once in a while.

[Felicity]

Fasting was a normal part of life for Jews and NT believers as well. Certainly the apostles fasted on a regular basis as did Jesus.

[Nahum]

Fasting is a strictly voluntary matter. It should rise out of the heart and should not be imposed on the body by mere external custom. Here are a number of occasions that the Bible suggests for fasting.

1. Fasting may be of value in times of personal sorrow.

2 Sam. 1:12
"They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword."

David and his men mourned and fasted upon hearing of the death of Saul.

Nehemiah 1:4
"When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven."

Nehemiah was fasting and praying before the God of Heaven, when he discovered the sad news of Jerusalem's condition.

2 Sam. 12:16
"David therefore inquired of God for the child; and David fasted and went and lay all night on the ground."

David felt that fasting and prayer was important when a loved one was critically ill.

2. Fasting frequently accompanied repentance as an outward and genuine indication of sorrow for apostasy.

1 Sam. 7:6
"They gathered to Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day and said there, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah."

Jonah 3:5
"Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them"

3. Fasting was practiced in connection with great and important spiritual events

Exodus 34:28
"So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments."

Moses fasted when he received the Law.

Matt. 4:1-2
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.

Jesus fasted when he faced the Devil.

Acts 13:2-3B
2 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

The early church saw the need to fast before important decisions. Acts 14:23 "When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed."

[Nahum]

Has anyone ever heard of the "Daniel Fast"?