Some of the comments on a different thread makes me think that many don't think fasting is desired of us by God. Why do you think He said in Mat 6:16 'When' you fast, not 'if' you fast? :pray:

Many commentaries take Mat 5,6 and 7 to be the sermon of the lifestyle Jesus intended us to live, of fastingwithprayer, giving, serving, forgiving, etc. as the highest expression of our devotion, and at the end He says anyone who teaches other than this will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.


Mat 9:15 How can the friends of the Bridegroom fast when He is with them? but the days are coming when He will be taken from them, and then they will fast. Then they will fast seems to mean fasting will be a part of their lifestyle, because like the wise virgins of Matt 25, they have oil in their lamps, and also in vessels, they can't get enough oil, they can't get enough of the Holy Spirit, because they have a revelation of the returning bridegroom. Both of these NT revelations of the Bridegroom deal with hunger for God. The foolish virgins only get enough of the Holy Spirit to get through the day, bare minimum and mostly desire other things for fulfillment.

This fasting is to get more of God, get closer to Him and experience His presence more, hear His voice clearer. I think it is the very essentials of Christianity. The gospel in the west is kind of Americanized for our cultural lifestyle but Jesus seemed to be speaking something deeper than just fasting in crisis or for direction, once every five years.

For the healthy, it is fasting food, to be weak in the body is to have strength in the Spirit to experience God (2Cor12:9). Not that you have to fast to experience God, but that you want more. Fasting increases our capacity to experience the Holy Spirit and receive from God, revelation and affection and His presence. Blessed are the hungry for they will be filled. (Luk 6:21) :hug:
Do not be drunk on wine, instead be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18)
You will seek Me and find Me when you seek with all of Your heart. (Jer 29:13)
I pray you be strengthened with might in your inner man... that you may be filled with the fullness of God (Eph 3:16-19)

You forgot an option....

C. Neither

You forgot an option....
C. Neither
unsure of your point here.

The poll question is "Should fasting be a part of a Christian's lifestyle."

The answer options you gave are:
a. Just for the really hungry for God
b. For everyone.

I added:

c. Neither

Your question ASSUMES that all Christians should have fasting as a part of their lifestyle. I disagree with the premise, and added another option.

And, the first option you gave is quite pejorative. If you don't like (c) neither, perhaps we could use

c. for those that really don't want to know God at all

if that would make your poll answers more in line with what you want them to be.

Yes what I am looking for is a way of explaining these Scriptures as not being commands to fast, so I can understand any counter-arguments others might have. Am I reading too much into these Scriptures, if so then how? It was supposed to be a cheeky poll not an offensive one.

In Matthew 6, he was addressing people that used "fasting" as a way of proving how "holy" they were. He was condemning their religious pride, not the act of fasting. But it is certainly not a mandate to fast.

I simply don't find anything in the NT that would be considered a mandate to fast.

delete post.........

In Matthew 6, he was addressing people that used "fasting" as a way of proving how "holy" they were. He was condemning their religious pride, not the act of fasting. But it is certainly not a mandate to fast.

I simply don't find anything in the NT that would be considered a mandate to fast.

Great Point, RabbiKnife! I have never heard this view and yet it makes complete sense.
Thanks.

You forgot another option:

It's personal.

Some of the comments on a different thread makes me think that many don't think fasting is desired of us by God. Why do you think He said in Mat 6:16 'When' you fast, not 'if' you fast? :pray:He was talking to his fellow Jews who practice a ritual fast as part of their religion.


Many commentaries take Mat 5,6 and 7 to be the sermon of the lifestyle Jesus intended us to live, of fastingwithprayer, giving, serving, forgiving, etc. as the highest expression of our devotion, and at the end He says anyone who teaches other than this will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.The only mention of fasting in the sermon is Jesus' instruction that fasting should be done such that others can't tell. Fasting isn't commanded or commended in the sermon.


Mat 9:15 How can the friends of the Bridegroom fast when He is with them? but the days are coming when He will be taken from them, and then they will fast. Then they will fast seems to mean fasting will be a part of their lifestyle, because like the wise virgins of Matt 25, they have oil in their lamps, and also in vessels, they can't get enough oil, they can't get enough of the Holy Spirit, because they have a revelation of the returning bridegroom. Both of these NT revelations of the Bridegroom deal with hunger for God. The foolish virgins only get enough of the Holy Spirit to get through the day, bare minimum and mostly desire other things for fulfillment.With regard to Matthew 9:15, we need to be careful here. When Jesus talks about going away, is he talking about going away into heaven, or is he talking about going into the grave? I think he is talking about the latter. He tells us that where two or more are gathered in his name, he is there. So if we want to say that we fast to be closer to the Lord, it seems to me that fasting is not the way to be closer to the Lord, meeting with other Christians is the way to get closer to the Lord.

As for the parable of the Ten Virgins, I don't think the oil represents the Holy Spirit. The oil and the lamp work together to convey the need to prepare for a delay.


This fasting is to get more of God, get closer to Him and experience His presence more, hear His voice clearer. I think it is the very essentials of Christianity. The gospel in the west is kind of Americanized for our cultural lifestyle but Jesus seemed to be speaking something deeper than just fasting in crisis or for direction, once every five years.

For the healthy, it is fasting food, to be weak in the body is to have strength in the Spirit to experience God (2Cor12:9). Not that you have to fast to experience God, but that you want more. Fasting increases our capacity to experience the Holy Spirit and receive from God, revelation and affection and His presence. Blessed are the hungry for they will be filled. (Luk 6:21) :hug:
Do not be drunk on wine, instead be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18)
You will seek Me and find Me when you seek with all of Your heart. (Jer 29:13)
I pray you be strengthened with might in your inner man... that you may be filled with the fullness of God (Eph 3:16-19)I don't see any Biblical evidence for the claims you are making about fasting. There is very little in the NT about fasting, except a couple of passages in acts in which it is said that the disciples prayed and fasted during critical times when decisions needed to be made about missionary journeys and such. After acts, the practice of fasting is not mentioned again in the NT. In the gospels, Jesus is critical of the Pharisees who fasted for show, and he seems to imply that fasting is the "old wine" that belongs in the old wine skins.

So, I see that Jesus fasted for 40 days, and the disciples fasted when they prayed. But, I don't find any explanation for why Jesus fasted or why the disciples fasted. And I don't have any teachings, either from Jesus or the apostles as to why I should fast, or what difference it makes to God. I don't feel comfortable about cobbling something together from unrelated passages of scripture.

I do believe fasting is both expected of us and of much value to us. I have heard many experienced pastors teach that nothing moves the Hand of God faster than fasting.

Personal experience mirrors that reported by far more experienced Brothers that have fasted far longer than I. After a while prayers seem to be deeper and more intense and periods of meditation on Gods will and scripture more productive.

So, yes, I believe fasting should be part of every Christians life.

I answered "just for the really hungry for God"... I'll add a twist: let me explain.

If one isn't hungry for God, then he shouldn't be fasting; it wouldn't be honest.

It's a catch 22, see if you get it ;) ...

Seeing that fasting means "going without", which is not exclusive to eating only, but to any thing which would distract us from having God in our thoughts; which things are many in this present time. It is when we fast (go without) is when our prayer returns into our bosom, which is the rioght frme of mind.

I believe that fasting is about patience, which is how we apply the following scripture.

1 Cor 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Mt 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Mk 9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Firstfruits

In Matthew 6, he was addressing people that used "fasting" as a way of proving how "holy" they were. He was condemning their religious pride, not the act of fasting. But it is certainly not a mandate to fast.

I simply don't find anything in the NT that would be considered a mandate to fast.

Slowly for surely, I am becoming a fan.

Yes indeed. We do not have to do it. That is what is called .... freedom.

But some of us should do it. (By the way, I do not do it, but I think I should)

Not all are called to be pastors, but some should do it.

Not all are called with the gift of administration, but some are.

Here is a good reason why we SHOULD (I did not say HAVE TO) do it.

Mt 9:15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Mk 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.
20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

Lk 5:34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

The Scripture quoted by Firstfruits is another good one. Those in the ministry dealing with demons should be aware of the extra power inherently given through fasting.

Jesus was taken to the desert by the Spirit to fast 40 days. This is how he returned from fasting 40 days.

Lk 4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

Shalom

I do think that most Christians should fast, although there are some exceptions:
-those who have a medical condition such as diabetes who can't go without food for extended periods
-those who struggle with body image (such as myself) who focus more on losing weight from fasting than upon God

I do believe fasting is both expected of us and of much value to us. I have heard many experienced pastors teach that nothing moves the Hand of God faster than fasting.

Personal experience mirrors that reported by far more experienced Brothers that have fasted far longer than I. After a while prayers seem to be deeper and more intense and periods of meditation on Gods will and scripture more productive.

So, yes, I believe fasting should be part of every Christians life.Doesn't James say the prayer of a righteous man availeth much? I don't see anywhere in the Bible where it says the prayer of a hungry man is any better.

Doesn't James say the prayer of a righteous man availeth much? I don't see anywhere in the Bible where it says the prayer of a hungry man is any better.

Mt 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Mk 9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Lk 2:37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

1 Cor 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Fasting might act as a microphone for prayer.

Shalom

Mt 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Mk 9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Lk 2:37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

1 Cor 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Fasting might act as a microphone for prayer.

ShalomDoes fasting, though, move the hand of God faster? I don't see that.

Does fasting, though, move the hand of God faster? I don't see that.

Who needs the help of fasting more, Jesus or me?

1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

It looks like it worked for Jesus.

It seems to have worked for Paul too.

2 Cor 12:9 (http://webnet77.com/cgi-bin/bible/bible.cgi?BIBLE=48&BOOK=47&CHAP=12&SEARCH=jesus king lord&Read=Read&FIRST=OK&HV=9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Cor 12:10 (http://webnet77.com/cgi-bin/bible/bible.cgi?BIBLE=48&BOOK=47&CHAP=12&SEARCH=jesus king lord&Read=Read&FIRST=OK&HV=10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Shalom

Who needs the help of fasting more, Jesus or me?

1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

It looks like it worked for Jesus.

It seems to have worked for Paul too.

2 Cor 12:9 (http://webnet77.com/cgi-bin/bible/bible.cgi?BIBLE=48&BOOK=47&CHAP=12&SEARCH=jesus king lord&Read=Read&FIRST=OK&HV=9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Cor 12:10 (http://webnet77.com/cgi-bin/bible/bible.cgi?BIBLE=48&BOOK=47&CHAP=12&SEARCH=jesus king lord&Read=Read&FIRST=OK&HV=10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

ShalomSorry, I don't see the connection. In verse 4, the alternative to eating bread is not fasting, but obeying the word of God. In 2Cor. 12, the weakness of Paul wasn't due to hunger but infirmities, persecutions etc. for Christ's sake.

Fasting for me is about me - not "getting" God to do anything or earning anything from Him. Jesus said "when the Bridegroom leaves, they will fast". I fast because it's how I express love for Jesus - it's one of the ways I "miss Him" and reach for more of His presence. When I say "more" it's not as if God "gives more" - it's that fasting positions me to receive more.

I fast because of the benefits to my heart (I'm less dull, more tender). It represents an intensified "no to food" and "yes for God" that is like an "accelerated knock" on the door of my desire. I don't have to fast, but I enjoy what happens to my heart (more sensitive, prayer flows better, the scripture is clearer to me, less of a fog on my mind) when I do.

First, I think it would behoove everyone to define "fasting". We always think of food. But in one of the scripture examples above, sex is what is being held in abstinence.

I also think "fasting", whatever that may be in a persons thoughts, should be done privately. If we talk about what we have fasted from, for how long and why, have we not defeated the entire point of it being between me and God?

Focus. It is to serve the purpose of focus. When you are so wrapped up in study or prayer or listening for that Still Small Voice, you haven't even THOUGHT about food or whatever. In my opinion, this isn't about what we can do for God, it should be about being so wrapped up in God that nothing else matters.

V

I always associated fasting with mourning, since we naturally tend to lose our appetite when we feel extreme sorrow and/or grief. And as I recall, I believe fasting was associated with mourning in the OT. This would account for the comparison between the disciples feelings while Jesus is with them, (happy) and their feelings after he left (sad).

Sorry, I don't see the connection. In verse 4, the alternative to eating bread is not fasting, but obeying the word of God. In 2Cor. 12, the weakness of Paul wasn't due to hunger but infirmities, persecutions etc. for Christ's sake.

I agree with you now. I think the reason why Jesus fasted are the reasons stated by Rookie. My theology is getting better. Thanks!

Shalom

I think I need to fast more than Jesus needed to fast. I do not have to do it. I have not done it with the purpose of seeking God in years. If I start again, I will do it not to get something back, but to give God my undivided attention.

Peace

Fasting for me is about me - not "getting" God to do anything or earning anything from Him. Jesus said "when the Bridegroom leaves, they will fast". I fast because it's how I express love for Jesus - it's one of the ways I "miss Him" and reach for more of His presence. When I say "more" it's not as if God "gives more" - it's that fasting positions me to receive more.

I fast because of the benefits to my heart (I'm less dull, more tender). It represents an intensified "no to food" and "yes for God" that is like an "accelerated knock" on the door of my desire. I don't have to fast, but I enjoy what happens to my heart (more sensitive, prayer flows better, the scripture is clearer to me, less of a fog on my mind) when I do.

Very well said. I agree.

Fasting is a spiritual exercise which profits much. Am thinking though, if Our Lord Jesus said we need fasting and prayer to get certain things done, and if what u said above is true (which it is), then Christians should make fasting a lifestyle.

We need to dump that worldly philosophy called liberty or freedom and take up our cross and follow. We are no longer our own. Otherwise we might as well say its not necessary to evangelise, to pray, to study the scriptures, etc. It is for some to do!

That can't be right

Very well said. I agree.

Fasting is a spiritual exercise which profits much. Am thinking though, if Our Lord Jesus said we need fasting and prayer to get certain things done, and if what u said above is true (which it is), then Christians should make fasting a lifestyle.

We need to dump that worldly philosophy called liberty or freedom and take up our cross and follow. We are no longer our own. Otherwise we might as well say its not necessary to evangelise, to pray, to study the scriptures, etc. It is for some to do!

That can't be right

Can one be saved by grace and never share the gospel, pray, or read the bible? 1 Cor. 3:15 and 1 John 2:28 seems to indicate that the answer is "yes", but it makes for an awkward conversation with Jesus when we see Him face to face.