"SPIRITUAL FASTING"

Good Evening to All!

As much fun as I had on my vacation, I am sure glad to be home and back in church getting fed spiritually again. I really missed being in God's house and getting my "meal from God".

Wednesday night was wonderful. It was my first night back, and I was swept up in the presence of God and His message.

When was the last time you fasted to show God how much you care? Fasting isn't about doing without food because you want to get healthy although that is one of the rewards. It is about crucifying your flesh. Showing your flesh "who's boss". Disciplining it to give up something for God.

The following is "some" of what my Pastor brought to us straight from God's "lips" to his (my Pastor's) heart.

Matthew 17:21 states Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. This comes about due to the disciples being unable to cast a demon out of a man's son. The disciples asked Jesus why they were unable to do so and He said it was because of their unbelief or lack of faith. Then stated also in Matthew 17:20 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.

What is Spiritual Fasting?

Webster's Dictionary states: to keep from eating all or certain foods; to eat very little or nothing.

The Hebrew word TSUWM, meaning to cover the mouth, to fast.
The Greek word for fasting is Nestis, which means: not eating; to abstain from food.

What Spiritual fasting is NOT:

(1) A dieting process or program to help you lose weight. (2) Missing a meal or two because were too rushed or busy to eat. (I've been guilty of that one) UNTIL NOW. (3) Being without food because we are too poor to buy it. (4) A hunger strike to get someone...or the government to do something. (5) A physical health obtaining act.

What fasting IS:

(1) A spiritual pursuit to help subdue the
flesh so we can more clearly hear from God and be willing to submit to Him. (2) A spiritual and mental declaration of doing without food in order to achieve spiritual strength, answers, and direction for ourselves and others. (3) Fasting can and does assist in receiving the Holy Ghost. (4) Devils and spiritual strongholds of some types can not be cast out with out fasting and prayer (Mark 9:14-19). (5) Our fasting is to be unto God and not for the purpose of drawing attention to ourselves. (Zechariah 7:5; Matthew 6:18). (6) Fasting helps us to obtain skill, understanding and wisdom (insight and understanding). (Daniel 9:2-3; 21-22). (7) Fasting is an accompaniment with prayer to have maximum effect. In other words, when fasting, we need to have our focus set on God, and not other things to keep our mind off our hunger.


Here are some things that we should NOT do while fasting: (1) Do not indulge in most pleasure and preoccupy yourself with business. As I said earlier, focus on God. Pray, worship, praise Him, but we must not busy ourselves with "worldly things to keep us from thinking about our stomachs. (2) Don't fast for strife and debate. Don't bicker while you fast. (3) Don't Smite with the fist of wickedness. Don't fist fight. (4) Don't be of a sad countenance. Don't have a sad, or miserable look about yourself while fasting that would make people feel sorry for you. Your fasting is not to be "advertised. It is a special thing you do between you and God.

There is much more to this lesson, but I will skip for the benefit of space and tired eyes. However, I do want to tell those of you who are interested in checking it out, there are different types of fasts. Three types of fasts that are documented by Scripture in the Bible are: 1) The Normal Fast - On this fast, NO Food is eaten, but water is drunk. style="font-weight: bold;"> 2) The Absolute Fast - During this fast, you abstain from BOTH food and water. It is recommended that you do not go over three days without water unless supernatural help and strength is provided. 3) The Partial Fast - Here, the diet is restricted rather than total abstinence from food.

There are even a few others ways that we can fast: 1) The Jewish Fast which is eating only one meal a day at sundown or evening. 2) The Daniel Fast which is eating primarily fruits and veggies. 3) The Selective Fast is where you choose a food type you will fast such as meats, starches, sweets, and so on. and last but not least, 4) the 40 Hour Fast where we fast for 40 consecutive hours.

There is also a 5) a Progressive Fast which is gradual. Day one, no sweets/desserts. Day 2, no meats, Day 3 no starches, Day 4 fruits and veggies only, Day 5 Juices and broths only, and Day 6 Water only.

The Media Fast is where there is no internet, No video games, No radio, No TV, No DVD, video , No Facebook Twitter and so on.) You can use your phone for calls or texting only.

Now Three things that We Should Do Before We Fast are: 1) Have an objective. Have a reason for fasting. Have a specific reason, whether it is something you need, or needing to be healed. Maybe you have a friend who has a problem and you want to help them. 2) Schedule Prayer Times during your time of fasting. 3) Make up your mind that NOTHING is going to hinder your fasting. If need be, ask a friend to help you by being accountable to them. Before my best friend passed away that's what I did because I am NOT disciplined. It helped that she would call during the day and asked if I had eaten anything because I didn't want to embarrass myself by having to admit I ate a bag of potato chips.

Some things that we should do while fasting are Loose the Bands of Wickedness - in other words don't do anything "wrong" that you know you shouldn't be doing. Undo heavy burdens - get rid of things that are hindering you in your walk. Let the oppressed go free - forgive. God tells us that He cannot forgive us if we don't forgive others. That tells us that not to forgive is a sin. Sin is not allowed in heaven. Therefore, unforgiveness is definitely a hindrance in our walk with God. Break Every Yoke- Again, lay aside those things that hinder your prayer life, and your walk with God. Give Bread to the Poor and Hungry, and clothe the Naked. This is telling me to show charity to others. Hid not ourselves from our own flesh. Don't shut ourselves away from others.

Anoint your Head and Wash your Face. Clean yourself up and don't look disheveled while fasting. Take care of your grooming. As you would any other time.

The anointing was part of the Jews everyday ritual when they woke up. Appear not unto men that we are fasting. Don't let it show that you are fasting to others and fast unto thy Father which is in Heaven. Let our fasting be strictly for HIS glory. We are not doing it to gain recognition from others.

Think about all of the benefits that will arise out of fasting. Better health, a closer walk with God, answers to our prayers. and many, many more.

Now, I have a question to ask you. Which of these fasts do you think you, yourself could handle? Comment and let me know.

I have much more on this subject so if you are interested in learning more, just contact me.

Reference: Pastor Greg Hardin
Forty Days of Fire Literature
Holy Bible

Good Night to All and May God Bless!

"FASTING AND HOLINESS OF LIFE"

Good Evening to All!

People fast for many reasons. Sometimes doctors want us to fast before they do lab work on us. Other times we fast because we are trying to lose weight. Even another reason is for "cleansing our bodies of toxins. The kind of fasting I am talking about this evening is Spiritual fasting. This type fasting is very important to our souls. It can bring about clarity, it can bring us closer to God. Not only that it can also bring us answers to our prayers. Jesus said certain things could not be accomplished but by prayer and fasting, such as when the disciples were trying to cast the demon out of the boy. I truly believe that it is still that way. To get answers to our most difficult questions or problems I believe that it takes sacrifice on our part of prayer and fasting

There are many other aspects to Holiness and Christian Living as well as the ones I have written about in previous posts. There is Fasting
“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ¹⁷ But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.(Matthew 6:16-18) (Matthew 9:14-15; 17:21), For the interest of clarification, fasting DOES NOT earn favors from God, nor is it meant to punish the body. What it does is helps a person to discipline him/herself, it helps them to focus on priorities, and draw closer to the spiritual realm. Where some people make a mistake is not understanding fasting. When I first started, I thought as long as I went without food, I was doing what I was supposed to do. I was wrong. Going without food is just part of it. While doing without food, a person is supposed to spend their time praying reading God's Word and contemplating on God. This is not being done for health reasons, or because we "didn't have time to eat. It is to be done with a specific purpose in mind, and that is spiritual.

I didn't really understand what "holiness" was until these last 11-12 years. I just figured as long as I got dressed up and went to church, that was being holy. I never really tried to dig deeper than that. Not only that, I don't think I even opened my Bible except when I was "in church". Once I walked out the door of the church it went home with me and was put on a shelf until the following Wednesday night when I returned to church again. I wish I could say it was because I was young, but truth be told I did that even in my adult years. As I said before, I didn't get serious about my relationship with God until 1999, when I was baptized in Jesus Name and received the Holy Ghost. Since then my hunger for God has been insatiable. I can't get enough. Part of my learning experience has been adjusting my whole outlook of my relationship with Him and His Word, as well as what He expects of us from the holiness point of view. Below is just a touch of what I have learned by reading His Word.

Another aspect is Holiness of life. This is VERY IMPORTANT. Pursuing holiness is as important as the new birth. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord". (Hebrews 12:14)

God commands His people to be holy in all conduct because He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). According to God's Word, We are to obey this command in order to (1) Please God, for we belong to Him, (2) communicate Christ to others, and (3) benefit ourselves, both now and for eternity.

For God's people, holiness means conformity to God's character--thinking as He things, loving what He loves , hating what He hates, and acting as Christ would act. Specifically holiness is (2) separation from sin and the world system and (2) dedication to God (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:17-7:1).

Holiness is both inward and outward. Being "holy" includes a different attitude than the "world's" attitude, and different thought processes, but it also takes into account one's actions, appearance, and physical stewardship. (stewardship being how we maintain our spirits and our physical beings. Both aspects are essential. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? (20) For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." Another reference is 2 Corinthians 7:1 :Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God and last but not least is Thessalonians 5:23 which states: Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This being said, I get exasperated when people says "it doesn't matter what we look like on the outside because God looks at our hearts. The point is , if one reads God's Word they will read how he wants us to take care of our appearance, how he wants us to dress, and so forth. So He does care what we look like on the outside. If we are filled with His Spirit, then we will want to obey Him and do as He asks. Including the way to dress, act and speak. This is what is meant when it says He looks at our heart. If we love Him, and our heart is right, then we will want to please Him in every way, not just the way we want to in a hit and miss fashion. We either believe all of His Word or none of it.

The life of holiness is a continual striving for perfection (Matthew 5:48; 2 Corinthians 7:1 and Philippians 3:12-16). No one is absolutely perfect, but everyone can be relatively perfect and mature. God expects continual growth in grace and knowledge and increasing production of spiritual fruit. (John 15:1-8; 2 Peter 3:18). Our daily goal is to overcome sin (John 5:14; 8:11). He IS NOT to sin, but if he does, he can receive forgiveness by repenting and confessing his sin to God. (1 John 1:8; 2:1).

Holiness is not a means of earning salvation, but a result of salvation. It comes by (1) faith, (2) love, and (3) walking after the Spirit. All aspects of salvation, including the Holy Spirit's sanctifying work, come by faith (Ephesians 2:8). If someone truly believes God, he will obey God's Word. Not only that, but if we love God we will obey God's commandments (John 14:15, 23; 1 John 2:3-6). Love is far more strict and more demanding than law or duty. The Holy spirit conveys a Holy nature. through the Spirit's guidance and power, the believer can overcome sin and live righteously (Romans 8:2-4; Galatians 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8).

There is much more to this subject of holiness, so I will close this for tonight and continue it in tomorrow's post. This is a very interesting subject if you will allow yourself to delve into the Word of God and read the scriptures which are being provided. I pray that you will allow God to speak to your spirit and investigate this subject more fully.

Good night to All and May God Bless,