Today s Message Bib i li l c i al l T y T pes o f f F a F sts t

Transcription

1 Today s Message Biblical Types of Fasts

2 Isa 58:3-4 'We have fasted before you!' they say. 'Why aren't you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don't even notice it! "I will tell you why!" I respond. "It's because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.

3 Isa 58:5 You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord?

4 "No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. Then your salvation [light] will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. Isa 58:6-8

5 9 Reasons to Fast 1) Free those who are persecuted 2) Lighten the burdens of others 3) Help those in spiritual bondage 4) Break the hold of the enemy 5) Provide for those in need 6) Illuminate your path 7) Initiate divine healing 8) Push for spiritual advancement 9) Petition for protection from enemies

6 1) The Esther Fast Purpose: To free those who are persecuted (Isa. 58:6) Key verse: Esther 4:16 Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king.

7 2) The Exodus Fast Purpose: To lighten the burdens or exploitation of others (Isa. 58:6) Key verse: Exodus 6:6, 12:1,19 I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment... While the Israelites were still in the land of Egypt, the Lord gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron During those seven days, there must be no trace of yeast in your homes. Anyone who eats anything made with yeast during this week will be cut off from the community of Israel.

8 3) The Anna Fast Purpose: To help those in spiritual bondage (Isa. 58:6) Key verse: Luke 2:36a, 37b, 38 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.

9 4) The Jesus Fast Purpose: To break the hold of the enemy (Isa. 58:6) Key verse: Matt 17:18, 19, 21 Jesus rebuked him, the demon went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, "Why weren't we able to cast it out? But this kind doesn't go out except by prayer and fasting."

10 5) The Joel Fast Purpose: To provide for those in need (Isa. 58:7) Key verse: Joel 1:14, Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. Bring the leaders and all the people of the land into the Temple of the Lord your God, and cry out to him there Our food disappears before our very eyes. No joyful celebrations are held in the house of our God. The seeds die in the parched ground, and the grain crops fail. The barns stand empty, and granaries are abandoned.

11 6) The Saint Paul Fast Purpose: To illuminate your path (Isa. 58:8) Key verse: Acts 9:8-9, 18 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink Instantly something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.

12 7) The Daniel Fast #1 Purpose: To initiate divine healing (Isa. 58:8) Key verse: Daniel 1:8,12 But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water," Daniel said.

13 8) The Daniel Fast #2 Purpose: To push spiritual advancement (Isa. 58:8) Key verse: Daniel 10:2-3, When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips "Don't be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.

14 9) The Jehoshaphat Fast Purpose: To petition for protection from your enemies (Isa. 58:8) Key verse: 2 Chron. 20:1, 3-4 The armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat... Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord's help.

15 Today s Message 9 Types of Fasts These are just examples of many types of biblical examples of reasons to fast. Others include: Mourning Anointing Repentance Choosing elders Prophetic insight Choosing missionaries Making a vow to the Lord Seeking an answer from the Lord Inviting a move of God s Spirit & Power