// FASTING \\
HOW ? WHO ? WHAT ? WHEN ? WHERE ? WHY ? PRE CHURCH AGE: THE CHURCH AGE
------- ------- WHAT ?
Fasting:---- The [[Hebrew]] 6684 tsuwm (tsoom); a primitive root; to cover over (the mouth)], i.e. to fast:
KJV-- X at all, fast. 6685 tsowm (tsome); or tsom (tsome); from from 6684; a fast: KJV-- fast (-ing).
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Fast:----- The [[Greek]] 3522 nesteuo (nace-tyoo'-o); from 3523; to abstain from food (religiously):KJV-- fast.
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Fast:----- The [[American Heritage Dictionary]] fasted, fasting, fasts: To abstain from eating all or certain foods, especially as a religious discipline or as a means of protest
Fast day:-- A day reserved for fasting; especially, a day thus reserved by ecclesiastical authority
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-------- -------- HOW ? --- Jesus said
Matthew 6:16 "And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, who try to look pale and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I assure you, that is the only reward they will ever get. (NLT)
17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. (NLT)
18 Then no one will suspect you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in secret. And your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. (NLT)
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-------- -------- WHERE ?
Both the old testament & new
Moses - Ex. 34:27-28, Israelites - Judg. 20:26, Samuel - 1 Sam. 7:5-6
David - 2 Sam 12:16, Elijah - 1 Kin. 19:18, Ninevites - Jon. 3:5-8,
Nehemiah - Neh. 1:4, Darius - Dan. 6:9,18, Anna - Luke 2:36,37 etc
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-------- -------- WHO ?
Pre Church age: [[Jesus]]
Matt 4:1 Then [[Jesus]] was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And when He had [[ fasted forty days ]] and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. (NKJ)
Immediately after this Jesus ministry started. (healing & deliverance)
Matt 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. (NKJ)
24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. (NKJ)
Fasting is repeatedly referred to throughout scripture as a sacrificial form of prayer warfare that produces results available in no other way. This is especially emphasized in the demoniac's deliverance in Christ's day (Matt. 14-29)
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Church age: [[Early christians]] fasted birthed the ministry of Barnabas & Saul
Acts 13:1
1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. (NKJ)
2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." (NKJ)
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----(not only who but also) -- WHY ?
Jamie Buckingham A.B. B.D. M.R.E., D.H.L. Former Pastor-- Tabernacle Church Melbourne, FL comments: Fasting and Prayer
Leaders of the early church arrived at decisions only after fasting and prayer. In Antioch the prophets and teachers fasted and prayed, seeking God's direction for the church. While they waited on God, the Holy Spirit gave direction(v2), this beginning the missionary ministry, which eventually took the gospel to the whole world. Godly leaders rely on God for the direction and the empowering of their lives and ministry. Disciplined fasting and constant prayer are proven means for this, and such, are mandatory in the lives of leaders.
* * * * * * * THE RESULTS * * * * * * *
Acts 14:3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. (NKJ)
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------ ------ WHO ? -also-- (results)
Acts 10:30 So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was [[fasting]] until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, (NKJ)
Results-- Verses 30-48 Not only did he and the others receive the good news of Jesus : ::::: :
Acts 10:45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. (NKJ)
They also got baptized in the holy spirit.
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----WHEN & WHY ? --- Leaders were appointed
Acts 14:23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (NKJ)
Another example
Acts 13:1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord and
fasted, the
Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
3 Then,
having fasted
and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
(NKJ)
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Fasting involves a sacrificial denial of necessary nourishment whil turning one's attention to seeking God during that denial.
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Fasting is simply an outward indication of an inward sincerity evidence of the urgency we feel when praying for special needs.
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- ---- ><> ---- Last Modified 0-00-23 ---- <>< ---- -