1. Fasting In The Bible What does the bible really say about this topic?
2 Tim 2:15
Fasting In The Bible
What exactly does the Bible says about this topic? We been talking for a while but we need to define and understand what does the Bible says.
We must be prepare to answer to every one who demand a reason for the faith that is in us.
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2. Luke 18:12 'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'
Mt 6:16. "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.
Luke 5:33 Then they said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?"
Luke 18:12 'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'
Mt 6:16. "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.
Luke 5:33 Then they said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?“
Luke 18:12 'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.‘
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.
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.

3. 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,
Acts 13:3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
1Co 7:5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
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,
Acts 13:3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
1Co 7:5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

4. Fasting & Customs Holy kissing (Romans 16:16; 2 Cor. 13:12)
Custom of congeniality
Not a part of worship (vis. song service; prayer service; preaching service; kissing service?)
Some commands regulate a current practice that was already going on
Must rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15)
Holy kissing
Romans 16:16… Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.
2 Cor. 13:12… Greet one another with a holy kiss.
Custom of congeniality
Not a part of worship (vis. song service; prayer service; preaching service; kissing service?)
Some commands regulate a current practice that was already going on
Must rightly divide the word of truth 2 Tim. 2:15… Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

5. Fasting & Customs Custom of necessity/hospitality
Foot Washing (Jn. 13:1-17)
Custom of necessity/hospitality
Traveling on dirty roads. . .dirty feet
Often given to sojourners (Gen. 18:4; 19:2; 24:32; 43:24; Jud. 19:21; 1 Tim. 5:10)
Foot washing is not a part of worship, is it? No! Some sectarians are doing it, but that’s not a part!
Disciples were already practicing foot washing. Jesus gave a spiritual principle through a cultural practice—humility (v. 12ff)
Foot Washing
John. 13:1-17…Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You washing my feet?“ 7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.“ 8 Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.“ 9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!“ 10 Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.“ 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean.“ 12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 "Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Genesis 18:4 "Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
Genesis 19:2 And he said, "Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." And they said, "No, but we will spend the night in the open square.“
Genesis 24:32 Then the man came to the house. And he unloaded the camels, and provided straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
Genesis 43:24 So the man brought the men into Joseph's house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed.
1Ti 5:10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

6. Fasting & Customs Fasting (Matt. 6:16-18)
Practice customarily associated with mourning (Neh. 1:4; Esther 4:3; 9:31)
Associated with the wearing of sackcloth and ashes (Neh. 9:1; Ps. 35:13)
Afflicts the soul and body (Ps. 69:10)
Done during times of adversity (Ps. 109:22-25)
Mt 6:16 "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.
Nehemiah 1:4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Esther 4:3 And in every province where the king's command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
Esther 9:31 to confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had prescribed for them, and as they had decreed for themselves and their descendants concerning matters of their fasting and lamenting.
Nehemiah 9:1 Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads.
Ps 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart.
Ps 69:10 When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting, That became my reproach.
Ps 109:22 For I am poor and needy, And my heart is wounded within me. 23 I am gone like a shadow when it lengthens; I am shaken off like a locust. 24 My knees are weak through fasting, And my flesh is feeble from lack of fatness. 25 I also have become a reproach to them; When they look at me, they shake their heads.

7. Fasting Commanded on the day of atonement
The sole fast required by the law of Moses was that of the great Day of Atonement (q.v.), #Lev 23:26-32 It is called "the fast" #Ac 27:9
(Easton’s Revised Bible Dictionary)
Le 23:26 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 27 "Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. 28 "And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. 29 "For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people. 30 "And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. 31 "You shall do no manner of work; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 "It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath."

8. National Fast (during captivity)
capture of Jerusalem (Jer. 52:6, 7)
18 Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,
"Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘The fast of the fourth month, The fast of the fifth, The fast of the seventh, And the fast of the tenth, Shall be joy and gladness and cheerful feasts For the house of Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.’
Zechariah 8:18, 19
burning Jerusalem (Jer. 52:12, 13)
Gedaliah murdered (Jer. 41:1, 2)
Zechariah 8:18, 19
Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, 19 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘The fast of the fourth month, The fast of the fifth, The fast of the seventh, And the fast of the tenth, Shall be joy and gladness and cheerful feasts For the house of Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.’
capture of Jerusalem (Jer. 52:6, 7)
burning Jerusalem (Jer. 52:12, 13)
Gedaliah murdered (Jer. 41:1, 2)
siege of Jerusalem (Jer. 52:4)
siege of Jerusalem (Jer. 52:4)

9. Local Fast (after captivity)
Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads.
Nehemiah 9:1
Nehemiah 9:1…
Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads.
Jon 3:5-9… So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.
6 Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. 7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?
compare Nineveh (Jonah 3:5-9)

10. Individuals Fasting (for various reasons)
Hanna provoked by another (1 Sam. 1:6, 7)
Jonathan disgusted with his father and grieving for David (1 Sam. 20:34)
David mourning for Abner (2 Sam. 3:35)
David during his child’s sickness (2 Sam. 12:16)
Ahab at the preaching of Elijah (1 Kin. 21:27)
1 Sa 1:6-7… And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb. 7 So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.
1Sa 20:34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had treated him shamefully.
2Sa 3:35 And when all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, "God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!“
2Sa 12:16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.
1Ki 21:27 So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning.

11. Fasting Times Jonathan ate no food the second day of the month
David would not eat anything until sundown
Inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead fasted seven days over Saul’s death (1 Sam. 31:13)
Daniel fasted three weeks (Dan. 10:2, 3)
Moses, Elijah and Jesus fasted 40 days (Ex. 34:28; 1 Kin. 19:8; Matt. 4:2)
Fasting Times
1 Samuel 31:13 Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
Da 10:2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
Ex 34:28 So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.
1Ki 19:8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.
Mt 4:2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."

12. Binding Fasting As A Religious Commandment?
IF SO:
when would we be required to fulfill the commandment
giving & Lord’s supper on first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1, 2; Acts 20:7)
praying always (Lk. 21:36; 1 Thess. 5:17; 2 Thess. 1:11)
baptism when one first believes, repents, confesses (Acts 2:38; 8:36-38)
when would we command brethren to fast?
Binding Fasting as a religious commandments.
If so:
When…

13. Binding Fasting As A Religious Commandment?
How long would we preach for brethren to fast?
1 day?
1 week?
3 full weeks?
40 days?
often?
once a month, quarter, year?
Binding Fasting as a religious commandments.
If so:
How Long would we preach for brethren to fast?

14. Binding Fasting As A Religious Commandment?
IF SO,
those who refuse to do so are disobedient/sinning and need discipline
how would we know if brethren are fasting when such an act is to be done without anyone noticing (Matt. 6:17, 18)?
Binding Fasting as a religious commandments.
If so: those who refuse to do so are disobedient/sinning and need discipline how would we know if brethren are fasting when such an act is to be done without anyone noticing
Matt. 6:17, 18… "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.

15. Fasting: One’s Personal Liberty
In the New Testament Jesus didn’t bind fasting on the disciples; He simply regulated it
It is therefore left as a personal choice
Fasting: One’s Personal Liberty
In the New Testament Jesus didn’t bind fasting on the disciples; He simply regulated it
It is therefore left as a personal choice

16. Why Fast? May help with developing self-control
Could be a part of disciplining the body (1 Cor. 9:24-27)
Perhaps: If we can withhold ourselves from what we need (food), we can with better strength withhold ourselves from what we don’t need (sin).
Why Fast?
May help with developing self-control
Could be a part of disciplining the body (1 Cor. 9:24-27…Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Perhaps: If we can withhold ourselves from what we need (food), we can with better strength withhold ourselves from what we don’t need (sin).

17. HOWEVER:
submitting to ordinances of ‘do not touch, taste, handle’ and the ‘neglect of the body’ are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh
However:
submitting to ordinances of ‘do not touch, taste, handle’ and the ‘neglect of the body’ are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh

18. Colossians 2:20-23
20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—
21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,"
22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Col 2:20-23…
20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—
21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,"
22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

19. Why Fast? some may have had no choice because of their environment
“in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness” (2 Cor. 11:27; cf. 6:5)
he hungered and was thirsty when there was nothing to eat or drink
he fasted in preferring the salvation of men over physical wants and satisfactions
Why Fast?
some may have had no choice because of their environment
“in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness” (2 Cor. 11:27; cf. 6:5)
he hungered and was thirsty when there was nothing to eat or drink
he fasted in preferring the salvation of men over physical wants and satisfactions

20. Why Fast?
Because of some strain of time, an important event, or some special circumstance
Ac 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.
Why Fast?
Because of some strain of time, an important event, or some special circumstance
Ac 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.

21. 1 Corinthians 7:5, 6 permission (KJV) concurrence (YLT)
5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment.
temporary depravation of physical affection & food
but do not deprave yourself of prayer
permission (KJV)
concurrence (YLT)
consenting (Darby)
1 Corinthians 7:5,6… Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment.
temporary depravation of physical affection & food
but do not deprave yourself of prayer

22. Fasting Why not to fast (Religiously) To lose weight For better health
To brag about devoutness
Matt. 6:16-18
Because others are doing it
Fasting:
Why not to fast (Religiously)
To lose weight
For better health
To brag about devoutness
Matt. 6:16-18
Because others are doing it.