Jesus Fast

Jan 11-15, 2010.

This week we will fast without food, but please drink lots of water. Read and meditate on these scriptures during your regular meal time. Fast and Pray everyday with a purpose.

Monday - For Cleansing

Physical

Da 1:8

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Da 1:15

15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

II Cor. 7: ¹Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Spiritual

Ps. 51: ²Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. ³For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Jer. 33: ⁸And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

Tuesday - For breaking Bondage

Physical

Phm 9-10

9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

… 12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

…. 16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

Spiritual

Gal 4:9

9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Gal 5:1

5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Ro 8:15

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Wednesday - For fighting battles

Physical

2 Ch 32:8

8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

1 Sa 8:20

20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

Spiritual

Eph 6:12-13

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

1 Sa 17:47

47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.

Thursday - For direction and guidance

Physical

Ac 13:2-3

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

Spiritual

Ro 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Eph 1:17-18 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Friday - For health

Physical

3 Jn 2:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Isa 58:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily

Spiritual

Eph 4:23-24

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Biblical accounts of fasting

· Moses fasted for forty days and forty nights, twice back-to-back, without food or water; the first, immediately before he received the tablets on the mountain with God. And the second, after coming down, seeing the Israelites practicing idolatry, and breaking the tablets in anger. (Deuteronomy Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.)

· King David fasted when the son of his adulterous union with Bathsheba was struck sick by God, in punishment for the adultery and for David's murder of Bathsheba's husband, Uriah the Hittite. Nevertheless, the son died, upon which David broke his fast (2 Samuel Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.).

· King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast throughout Judah for victory over the Moabites and Ammonites who were attacking them (2 Chronicles Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.).

· The prophet Joel called for a fast to avert the judgment of God.

· The people of Nineveh, in response to Jonah's prophecy, fasted to avert the judgment of God (Jonah Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.).

· The Jews of Persia, following Mordechai's example, fasted because of the genocidal decree of Haman. Queen Esther declared a three-day fast for all the Jews prior to risking her life in visiting King Ahasuerus uninvited (Esther Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.).

· Saul, later Paul, did not eat or drink anything for three days after he converted on the road to Damascus.

· Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights while in the desert, being tempted by Satan to turn stones into bread and eat them, among other tempations. (Matthew 4:2, Luke 4:2).

· The prophetess Anna, who proclaimed the baby Jesus to be the Messiah, prayed and fasted regularly in the Temple (Luke 2:37).

· There are indications in the New Testament as well as from the Didache that members of an Early Christian Church fasted regularly.

· Jesus teaches on the outward appearance and demeanor of a fasting person (Matthew 6:16). It is also an assumed action of the believer (see: "And when you pray..." Matthew 6:5 - "When you fast..." Matthew 6:16)

· David used fasting as an act of humbling his soul (Psalm 35:13).

· The church in Antioch were worshipping the Lord and fasting when the Holy Spirit told them to send Barnabas and Saul for work (Acts 13:2).

· Paul and Barnabus appointed elders with prayer and fasting (Acts 14:23).

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· Biblical teaching on fasting

· The prophet Isaiah chastised the Israelites in Isaiah 58 for the unrighteous methods and motives of their fasting. He clarified some of the best reasons for fasting and listed both physical and spiritual benefits that would result (Isaiah 58:3-13).

· Jesus warned his followers against fasting only to make others admire them. He provided practical steps on how to fast in private. (Matthew 6:16–18).

· The Pharisees in Jesus' time fasted regularly and asked Jesus why his disciples did not. Jesus answered them using a parable (Matthew Error! Hyperlink reference not valid., Mark Error! Hyperlink reference not valid., Luke Error! Hyperlink reference not valid., see also Mark 2).

· In some manuscripts Jesus ascribes the Disciples' inability to cast out spirits to a lack of prayer and fasting.(Mark 9:29) These, however, are later manuscripts and the words "and fasting" are omitted from many modern translations.