Fasting To Break Strongholds
1. Jesus said this kind only come out by prayer and fasting. Lack of faith is a major stronghold the enemy uses to bind us. Matthew 17:21 and Mark 9:28-29.
2. Isaiah 58:6. Fasting breaks strongholds including addictions.
As far as addictions, it doesn’t have to be addictions to things like sex or drugs or alcohol. It can be addictions to social media, Tv, shopping …whatever takes your time and focus off of God.
If you are frequently turning to things instead of God you are allowing that stronghold to have power over you it has become a god in your life. A stronghold isnt always an addiction. It can be depression or crippling anxiety for example.
*By the way, a “serious” addiction or an “acceptable” addiction is all the same to God.
The Different Types Of Fasts
Dr. Peter Holmes
Deciding what to abstain from is one of the choices you must make when preparing to fast. The other is about the type of fast you will undertake. Will you be fasting privately or with a group? For how long will you fast? Most of my fasts are private, extended water-only fasts. This is the most demanding type of fast and is therefore likely to be the most effective. However, it will take most people quite some time to work up to this and many will never take on this type of fast. In this chapter we will look at the various types of fasts you can undertake.
What You Need To Know:
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RECOMMIT TO GOD. The Lenten season is here and fasting prepares you for the works God has ordained you to do. KRISTEN FEOLA tells why you should fast.
Fasting was an expected discipline in both the Old and New Testament eras.Fasting and prayer can restore the loss of the first love for your Lord and result in a more intimate relationship with Christ.Fasting is a biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God.It enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life.
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Why You Shouldnt Fast And The Wrong Motivations For Fasting
- To gain recognition by others. Fasting so that others will say Look at her. She fasts. Shes such a wonderful Christian! is wrong. If others notice that you are fasting, thats fine, but fasting for such recognition is a sin.
that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:18
- To gain recognition from God. Fasting isnt an act that you do for God. It acknowledging His power and grace and that you are completely dependent on Him.
- To up the ante in hopes that God will answer your prayers. Heres the thing about this: its fine to fast and pray for something but it is the FAITH, not the fasting, that is in play here. You may choose to fast as part of your focused prayer time, but, fasting, in and of itself is not a fast track to God answering your prayers.
Lets take a look at the four main types of fasting in the Bible, as well as fasts that fall under each main type:
Fasting And Medical Safety
According to The Foods and Nutrition Encyclopedia, For healthy individuals, no harm results from short-term fasting. The average healthy person can go without food between 21 and 40 or more days before the body begins to eliminate vital tissue . Consult your physician before beginning any fast lasting longer than three days.
If you have underlying health conditions such as pregnancy, anemia, behavioral disorders or other chronic health problems, you should never fast without consulting a physician first.
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Do Christians Need To Fast
Fasting might sound sensational today. But in Jesus culture, it was weird for a religious person not to fast.
The disciples of John the Baptist, an important prophet who prepared the way for Jesus ministry, often fasted. So did the Pharisees, a group of religious leaders who opposed Jesus teachings and conspired to kill Him!
During Jesus earthly ministry, His followers didnt fast. But Jesus assumed they would fast after he returned to the Father . In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives His followers instructions on how to fast, specifically telling them not to make a show of fasting like others in their culture .
Jesus may not have commanded his followers to fast, but He expected them to.
Benefits Of Fasting And Prayer
Why should we fast? There are many reasons to fast and many spiritual benefits of biblical fasting. We see from the biblical examples that fasting should be used as a means to humble ourselves before God and seek His forgiveness, comfort, help, guidance, strength and His will. Fasting allows us to draw closer to God.
In the Bible there is a strong connection between fasting and prayer.
When Daniel realized that the prophesied 70 years of desolations of Jerusalem were almost completed, he urgently reached out to God. Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes . And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession . What follows in Daniel 9 is one of the most powerful prayers in the Bible.
Jesus also connected fasting and prayer. When His disciples discovered they were unable to cast out an unclean spirit, they asked Jesus, Why could we not cast it out? So He said to them, This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting . Fasting and prayer help us humbly access the awesome power of God.
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Chapter : Fasting In The Old Testament And Ancient Judaism: Mourning Repentance And Prayer In Hope For Gods Presence
It is reasonable to ask how theological applications might be derived from the biblical texts related to fasting. An attempt will be made to examine a wide number of biblical passages in order to arrive at what Gerald OCollins and Daniel Kendall describe as biblical convergence. They write that the principle of convergence entails letting the broadest and most varied amount of biblical witness come to bear on the theological question at issue.11 This will also entail acknowledging intersection with certain metathemes and metanarratives in key passages, as will be seen below in discussions of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Moses on Mt. Sinai, and the Day of Atonement, and how these kinds of themes find an answer in the NT literature .12
Other Types Of Fasting
The Bible mentions another type of fasting that has nothing to do with food. It is about setting aside for a time things that are not food. For example, Daniel stopped using perfume when he did the three-week partial fast .
In 1 Corinthians 7: 5 we also find the example of abstaining from sex in marriage for a short time to devote to prayer. This must be done by mutual agreement of the couple.
Today we see people who decide to abstain from the use of social networks or television for a few days because they want to use that time to deepen their relationship with God and focus on seeking their will. You can link this type of fasting to a partial fast.
Whatever fasting we choose, the most important thing is to dedicate that time to seek more of God. The emphasis should be on spending time with him, praying, worshiping him and reading his word. It must be a time in which everything else takes second place, we delight in listening to our Father and in receiving what he wants to give us.
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Different Types Of Fasts
by misfitministries | Feb 24, 2021 | Learning the Word, Spiritual Warfare |
Unfortunately, there are many Christians who are unaware of the powerful impact of fasting and praying. I believe were missing out on the great benefits of the Kingdom of God and many victories over the enemy. There are different types of fasts outlined in the Bible. I want to go over them with you and discuss their differences.
All scriptures are taken from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.
Fast For Intimacy With God Not Praise From Man
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 1so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
-Matthew 6:16-18
As Christians, our intentions matter. Our faith takes life to a level unseen. It is possible to do everything right on the outside, but without the proper heart, it doesnt serve its purpose.
Fasting is one of those things.
If you are fasting to be seen by others as a good Christian,youre doing it wrong.
If youre fasting with a heart that can only focus on the things you lack and not a hunger that drives you into the arms of your Savior to satisfy your needs, youre doing it wrong.
Dont fast for attention, recognition, or the sake of not-so-silent suffering through the 40 days of Lent.
Fast to draw nearer to God and rely on Him on deeper levels than you have before.
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The Ultimate Guide To Fasting In The Bible
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Have you ever wondered what the Bible says about fasting? Or even the types of fasting in the Bible?
Perhaps youve considered fasting and were curious what the rewards and benefits of a biblical fast were.
Were going to cover all that and more in this post so that you can learn more about fasting in the Bible and how to fast for a spiritual breakthrough.
Biblical Examples Of Fasting
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.
Luke 4:1-3
2. Jesus expected His disciples to fast, but cautioned them not to do it for the wrong reasons. .
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. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:16-18
3. In Luke 2:36-37, we learn of Anna, described as a righteous woman who She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
Luke 2:36-37
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More Examples Of Fasting
There are many more examples of fasting in the Bible. I hope these 10 give you insight to the various reasons and types of fasts that the Bible teaches.
Do you have any examples of fasting found in the pages of scripture that has been particularly insightful in your life? Tell us about them in the comments below.
What About Lent Then
Lent is a time of devotion to God, associated with alternating days of complete fasting and days of abstinence lasting 40 days. Lent was instituted by the Catholic Church in the fourth century, in reference to the forty days of fasting of Jesus Christ in the desert and the forty years spent in the desert by the people of Israel between their exit from Egypt and their entry into the promised land. During Lent, Catholics are encouraged to spend time in prayer, penance, and almsgiving.
Whatever fast you choose to do, remember that it is not just about starvation. Fasting before is a time that encourages setting aside, being silent, and thus being receptive to the Word of God.
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Backgrounds For Old Testament Fasting
As shown below, abstaining from food for essentially spiritual purposes was part of the fabric of ancient cultures. By the time such fasting appears in the biblical record, it was already a well-established feature of life in the Ancient Near Eastern context. When the Scriptures address fasting, it is often to criticize, modify, sanction, or appropriate behavior that is common to the human experience. But the Hebrew Bible also introduces particular theological emphases on dependence on God that manifest in messianic, corporate, and individual ascetic themes. The concept of fasting in the Bible should ultimately be subsumed under these larger, theological ideas. The following section briefly reflects on the place of religious fasting in ancient cultural backgrounds for studying the OT and introduces the main terminology that is used to describe fasting in the Hebrew Bible.
Ancient Cultural Backgrounds: Fasting as a Common Human Religious Activity
Fasting arose and was practiced as a human religious activity that transcended the cultures of the biblical narratives. H. A. Brongers writes:
Now turning to our main subject it soon becomes clear that almost the whole range of fasting-rites we meet with in all parts of the world is present in Israel as well.17
Fasting Terms in the Hebrew Bible: Abstaining from Food to Humble Oneself Before God
Esther Fasted For The Safety Of The Jews Esther : 15
Mordecai heard that the Jews were to be exterminated from the kingdom of Ahasuerus. This kingdom stretched from India to Ethiopia . The reason for the genocide was because one man, Haman, did not like Mordecai and his family. He felt that Mordecai did not show him proper respect.
Queen Esther was a Jew but Haman did not know this. Mordecai came to his cousin Esther to ask her to petition the king to spare the Jews. Because of royal tradition, it was not appropriate for Esther to enter the kings court without an invitation. Even as queen she could be executed for approaching the king without an invitation .
Mordecai told Esther that God may have given her the position in the kingdom that she had for the sole purpose of saving the Jewish race . She agreed to approach the king, but she asked Mordecai to spread the word to the Jews that they should fast for 3 days without food or drink. She fasted in the same manner.
Thankfully Esther was accepted into the presence of the king and the Jewish people were saved.
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Darius Fasted For The Safety Of Daniel Daniel : 18
King Darius was tricked into signing a law that put his friend Daniel in grave danger. A law was proposed that for 30 days no one could pray to, or ask help from, any deity or power except the king. The men who wrote the law knew that Daniel prayed three times a day to God. They had the king sign the law so that they could trap Daniel and get rid of him from the kingdom . The punishment for this crime was to be cast into a den of lions.
Of course Daniel was caught praying to God. He was brought before the king who had no ability to back out of the law even though Daniel was his friend. King Darius said that he hoped Daniels God would be powerful enough to save Daniel from being eaten.
Then Darius went to his home and fasted . The Bible does not say what this fast included but it seems to indicate it was more than just food. We are told that the king did not allow music to be played that night. He also did not sleep. The king forfeited more than food for his fast.
King Darius was relieved to find that Daniel survived the night. Darius then proclaimed that Daniels God was the true God. The king even declared that Gods power was greater than all the kingdoms of the earth. He proclaimed that Gods kingdom would be established forever .
When To Fast 3 Different Types Of Fasts And Their Benefits
Over the last couple of years, fastings popularity has increased dramatically as terms like intermittent fasting and time-restricted feeding have made their way into the mainstream media. But before diving straight into fasting, its important to know exactly what fasting is, its prerequisites, and the three different types of fasts.
Fasting Explained
Fasting is the act of going without food for an extended period of time. Looking back at our primal beginnings, fasting was part of everyday life. During this time it was a challenge to source our foods and thus it was commonplace to go without food for an extended period of time. Fast forward to the 21st century and sourcing food is no longer an issue, in fact we can have it delivered to our home at the touch of a button.
With this new era in food sourcing, our pantries and fridges are abundant as ever. Yet at the same time, fasting has gained popularity and is touted as a quick hack to attain your fitness goals. However, fasting isnt for everyone and before you begin restricting your eating there are some prerequisites to keep in mind.
The Prerequisites of Fasting
In order to earn the right to fast there are some staple behaviors that first need to be in order.
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