What is the Necessity of Fasting in Prayer?
Samuel Smith
23 Jan'19
5
LESSON 6
WHAT IS THE NECESSITY OF FASTING IN PRAYER?
You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.In this edition, we continue with our series on Biblical Perspectives on Prayer and Fasting. The topic for this study is: What is the Necessity of Fasting in Prayer? People do fast for various reasons. Some may fast as a result of emotional reasons while some may fast for health reasons. However, the kind of fasting that the Scriptures call us to partake is of a religious nature, and actually a complementary aspect to prayer. While prayer may be observed alone, fasting has to always go with prayer (see
For fasting to yield the necessary effective results, it must be done with a clear purpose in mind. In fact, the issue of adding fasting to prayer should be considered when one intends to seriously seek the face of the Lord on a very significant issue. One time the disciples of John and the Pharisees came to Jesus to enquire of him something that had perplexed them for some time. We read the account from
2:19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
2:20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days."
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1) When the people of Judah knew that they had been sold out by Haman to be destroyed on a particular day, they called upon God in prayer and fasting. We read the account of this story as follows:
4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
4:17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him."
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9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:"
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8:22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
8:23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us."
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2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil."
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5) In the early portion of the New Testament, we read about how Christ prepared Himself for His work of redemption for mankind through an extended period of prayer and fasting. We read the following account from the gospel of Matthew:
3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
"4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him."
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17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
17:16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
17:21 HOWBEIT THIS KIND GOETH NOT OUT BUT BY PRAYER AND FASTING."
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13:2 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.
13:3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away."
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9) Besides the examples we have enumerated above, there are several other instances we may face in life that will require us to come before the Lord in prayer and fasting. Some of these include seeking the will of God in relation to the choice of a career path, the choice of a life partner, long term travel, the scheduling of very important projects, and all other things that you realise are critical to require that you come before the Lord in prayer and fasting.
10) Prayer and fasting can help us to develop a closer relationship with God. From the various points above, we may be tempted to think that we must come to God in prayer and fasting only when there are critical issues that we need the Lord to come through and help us with. However, one important reason for prayer and fasting is to get closer to God. As we leave the things that we cherish and love, and determine to spend time with God, the discipline helps us to begin to love God the more, and enables us to develop a closer walk with Him. If you desire to have a closer personal relationship with God, I will encourage you to try prayer and fasting. As you commit to this spiritual discipline, you will begin to see amazing positive changes in your Christian walk.
From the example of Christ in the wilderness of temptation, we can glean the point that the main approach to religious fasting is one in which the participants forgo food and water for an appointed period of time (see
Friends, Jesus' prophecy to the disciples of John is also applicable to our time (see
The Lord has graciously granted us this time of peace so each one of us can make the important heart preparation for heaven. Are you struggling in your walk with the Lord? Are there various forms of sins that you have failed to overcome? Are you failing to bear the fruits of the Spirit of God? Are you losing the urge to give your best effort for the cause of Christ? The simple Bible-based answer to all these situations is to approach God in fasting and prayer. Some have asked how do we fast? Beloved, the kind of fasting that the Scripture outdoors for us is not any kind of difficult spiritual exercise but rather an opening of the heart to commune with God by forgoing the basic necessities of life such as food and water, or the seemingly pleasurable activities that usually divert our minds from easily seeking the face of our Maker in fervent contrition of soul.
Exhortation: From the Holy Scriptures and the Spirit of Prophecy, we read the following accounts in relation to the form and manner of fasting which pleases the Lord:
58:2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.
58:3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
58:4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
58:5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
58:7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
58:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward.
58:9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
58:10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:
58:11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
58:12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
58:14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it."
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6:17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
6:18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly."
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C) "For certain things, fasting and prayer are recommended and appropriate. In the hand of God they are a means of cleansing the heart and promoting a receptive frame of mind. We obtain answers to our prayers because we humble our souls before God." -- (Letter 73, 1896; CD 187.6)
D) "Now and onward till the close of time the people of God should be more earnest, more wide-awake, not trusting in their own wisdom, but in the wisdom of their Leader. They should set aside days for fasting and prayer. Entire abstinence from food may not be required, but they should eat sparingly of the most simple food." -- (The Review and Herald, February 11, 1904.)In our next study, we will consider the topic: Are there some dangers associated with modern forms of prayer? The Bible Study references for this study are
Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.
Maranatha!
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