1. The Discipline of Fasting
Encounter Service 5 May 2018 |Cecil Ang

2. Live to Eat or Eat to Live?
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit Rom 14:17 ESV

3. What is fasting?
Fasting (nēsteuō): A deliberate abstaining from food for a set period of time in order to give oneself more completely to prayer and seeking God’s face. It’s an outward act that expresses an inward humility toward God. There are 3 different kinds of fast:
Normal: abstaining from all food but not from water (Lk 4:2)
Partial: restriction of diet but not total abstention (Dan 10:3)
Absolute: abstaining from both food and water (Est 4:16; Acs 9:9); the human body cannot go without water for more than 3 days. Moses & Elijah engaged in what might be considered supernatural absolute fasts for 40 days (Dt 9:9; 1 Kg 19:8), which should never be attempted unless one receives a clear command from God

4. Why do we fast? To humble oneself before God (2 Chron 7:14)
“When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.” Ps 69:10-11 ESV
To pray for the recovery of others (2 Sam 12:15-18)
“But I, when they were sick – I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest.” Ps 35:13 ESV

5. Why do we fast? To repent of our sins and wickedness (Jon 3:4-10)
To receive divine guidance & direction (Acs 13:1-3)
To receive divine power to defeat demons (Lk 4:14; Mk 9:29)
To seek God for His help and favour in a specific matter
“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.” Ezra 8:21,23 ESV

6. Why do we fast?
To cultivate self-discipline to overcome fleshly desires
“But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” Cor 9:27 ESV
To improve overall physical and mental health
Slowing the aging process
Giving you clear skin & bright eyes
Relieving stress, tension & anxiety
Eliminating chronic fatigue

7. Who can fast? All healthy believers can fast except the following:
Pregnant women & nursing mothers (don’t want to unload toxins on an unborn or new-born child)
People with a serious illness such as diabetes, liver or kidney disease, tuberculosis, hypoglycaemia or heart problem (fasting releases toxins into the system that would be too stressful for someone already weakened by disease)
People who are extremely underweight or suffering from anorexia nervosa/bulimia
When in doubt, always seek medical advice.

8. Who can fast? People who fasted:
Bible characters: Moses, David, Daniel, Hannah, Esther, Anna, Elijah, Jesus, Paul, etc.
Church reformers: Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, John Knox, etc.
Knox fasted and prayed so much that Queen Mary said she feared his prayers more than all the armies of Scotland.

9. When can we fast?
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.” Mt 6:16 ESV 33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” Lk 5:33-35 ESV

10. When can we fast?
If given a choice, fast on a day(s) when your work load is lighter. Getting too few hours of sleep, working strenuously for long hours, or running all over without a moment to spare makes fasting difficult.
Types of fast mentioned in the Bible
1-day e.g. day of Atonement (Lev 23:27-28)
3-day e.g. Esther & the Jews (Est 6:16)
7-day e.g. mourning over Saul & his sons (1 Sam 31:13)
21-day e.g. Daniel (Dan 10:2-3,12-14)
40-day e.g. Elijah (1 Kg 19:8)
Emergency such as a national crisis e.g. King Jehoshaphat (2 Chron 20:1-4)

11. Where can we fast?
A place where you can get a good supply of water and find time to be alone with God
Preferably in a place away from food temptations such as kitchen, pantry or where cookbooks are around
Exercise lightly while fasting to help you breathe well and aid in the cleansing process
Be very cautious about taking a sauna or a hot Jacuzzi as they can weaken you further

12. How do we go about fasting?
Seek the Lord whether He wants you to go on a fast and for how long.
If you’re fasting for the first time, start by skipping a meal and then building up to a full day or more fast. Abstain from solid food but drink liquids. You may also consider going on a partial fast (Daniel) instead.
Water is the best, since soft drinks ‘poison’ the digestive system and inhibit the purifying process, while coffee and tea stimulate the nervous system. Squeeze a few drops of fresh lemon juice into your water if bad breath is a problem. Consider drinking warm water if you feel cold.

13. How do we go about fasting?
Do not take vitamins or medication while fasting, unless you absolutely must. Pills of any kind on an empty stomach are not good for you.
Limit your activity and exercise moderately. Rest as much as your schedule allows.
Set aside specific and significant time to worship and seek God. Use the ACTS model of communication with God. Take time to listen (read & meditate on God’s Word) with a pen and notebook by your side. Monitor the inward attitude of your heart and don’t call attention to what you’re doing unless absolutely necessary.

14. How do we go about fasting?
The first 3 days are usually the most difficult in terms of physical discomfort and hunger pains as the body is beginning to rid itself of the toxins that have built up over years of poor eating habits. This is the reason for the coating on the tongue and bad breath.
Headaches are especially common to those new to fasting and have mistreated your body with processed food or if you regularly have caffeine drinks like tea, coffee and soft drinks. They are a sign that the body is trying to release something impure. Once the poison is out of the system, the headache will go away.

15. How do we go about fasting?
Nausea and occasional vomiting accompany the fasts of very toxic people. It is a sign that there are things in the stomach that need to come out. This is a natural way for the body to rid itself of what it doesn’t need. Drinking a very warm cup of peppermint herbal tea will help a great deal.
Weakness, dizziness or light-headedness are common and there’s no reason to be alarmed by these symptoms unless they are extremely unbearable, at which time you should call off the fast.

16. How do we go about fasting?
For a 24-hour fast (1–day) i.e. skip 2 meals such as dinner & breakfast. Drink fresh fruit juices. Attempt this once a week for several weeks. After 2 to 3 weeks, you are prepared to attempt a normal fast of 24 hours by drinking plenty of water only.
Break your fast with light meal of fresh fruits & vegetables; no more than 3 different foods at once.

17. How do we go about fasting?
Dr. Julio C. Ruibal – a nutritionist, pastor, and specialist in fasting and prayer – suggests a daily schedule and list of juices you may find useful and satisfying. Modify this schedule and the drinks you take to suit your circumstances and tastes.
5 a.m. - 8 a.m.
Fruit juices, preferably freshly squeezed or blended and diluted in 50 percent distilled water if the fruit is acidic. Apple, pear, grapefruit, papaya, watermelon, or other fruit juices are generally preferred. If you cannot do your own juicing, buy juices without sugar or additives.

18. How do we go about fasting?
10:30 a.m. - noon
Fresh vegetable juice made from lettuce, celery, and carrots in three equal parts.
2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Herb tea with a drop of honey. Avoid black tea or any tea with caffeine.
6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Broth made from boiling potatoes, celery, and carrots with no salt. After boiling about half an hour, pour the water into a container and drink it.

19. God’s Chosen Fast
6 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ Is 58:6-9a ESV