Fasting For Christians Today
The following bible study outline draws our attention to fasting, a neglected spiritual discipline today.
Spiritual Life in Three Parts
Jesus, in clarifying Kingdom living in the Sermon on the Mount, said “When you…” three times:
| Teaching | Passage |
| When you give… | Matthew 6:2 |
| When you pray… | Matthew 6:5 |
| When you fast… | Matthew 6:16 |
New Testament Fasting
Fasting was taught by Jesus, who also suggested His followers would fast once He was gone. The early church fasted together, and the Apostle Paul taught that fasting was a mark of his ministry.
| Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights | Matthew 4:2 |
| Jesus teaches on fasting | Matthew 6:16-18 |
| Jesus foretells a time his disciples would fast | Matthew 9:14-17 |
| Power of prayer with fasting | Matthew 17: 14-21 |
| Fasting at the Church in Antioch | Acts 13:1-3 |
| Fasting at the Churches in Galatia | Acts 14:21-23 |
| Fasting as a mark of Paul’s ministry | 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 |
| Fasting in Paul’s teachings | 1 Corinthians 7:5 |
Purpose of Fasting
The bible offers many spiritual purposes of proper fasting. Here are a few:
| Purpose | Scripture References |
| Humble the soul | 1 Kings 21:27-29 Psalm 35:13 |
| Demonstrate contrition in repentance | 2 Samuel 12:15-16 Jonah 3 Joel 2:12 |
| Deliverance in spiritual warfare | Matthew 17:20-21 Mark 9:28-29 |
| Answered Prayer | Isaiah 58:9 Ezra 8:31-23 Acts 13:2, 14:23 |
Types of Fasting in the Bible
The Bible is full of fasting types, for a variety purposes. Here are a handful of noteworthy types of fasting employed by God’s people:
| Atonement Fast (evening to evening) | Leviticus 23:26-32 |
| Daytime Fast (morning to evening) | Judges 20:26, 2 Samuel 3:35 |
| Twice Weekly Fast | Luke 18:10-14 |
| Three Day Fast | Esther 4:15-16, Acts 9:9 |
| Meat Fast | Daniel 1:8-16 |
| 21-Day Fast | Daniel 10:1-3 |
| 40-Day Fast | Exodus 34:28-35, 1 Kings 19:8, Matthew 4:2 |
Fasting Tips
When approached pridefully or with ill intentions, fasting has been a cause for failure and reproach from God. One of the most notable occasions for this can be found in the words of the Prophet Isaiah:
Fasting goes right when…
| Keep your fasting quiet | Matthew 6:16-18 |
| Set aside distractions in your own life | Isaiah 58:5-7 |
| Remove burdens on those you manage | Isaiah 58:5-7 |
| Break EVERY burden of worldly distraction | Isaiah 58:5-7 |
| Be kind. Feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. | Isaiah 58:5-7 |
| Focus on humility | Psalm 35:13 |
| Be reflective, contrite in repentance | Psalm 139, Joel 2:12 |
| Seek out God’s will in faith | James 1:5-6, Hebrews 11:6 |
| Pray God’s Will | 1 John 5:14, Romans 8:26-27 |
| Praise God for Guidance | Isaiah 58:11 |
| Praise God for Answered Prayer | Isaiah 58:9 |