Fasting and New Test

Ok, they don't call me bigcountry for no reason. So fasting has never been in my plans. Can somebody point me to scripture on fasting and its meaning and use. Mainly in the New Testiment I am interested.

[Tazman]

bigcountry I don't have a whole lot of time so I will start with this.

Matt:
6:16
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6:17
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

6:18
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

In a nut shell though fasting allows one to draw closer to God by taking a step back/away from the world, of which eating is part of.

[Chuck7]

Big Country,
I am in my classroom. Our computers freeze easily .I will also get back later. Fasting is a 50 cal. machine gun to your flesh. It will help you have ears to hear and the back bone to do God's will intead of compromise.
Chuck

[Tazman]

This is an example in Acts of how fasting helps one draw closer to God.

Acts
10:30
And 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,

10:31
And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

[Tazman]

Another mention in Acts of fasting and prayer bringing ones spirit more in tune with God.

Acts
14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

14:23
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

[Tazman]

Here in first Corinthians we find direction to fast for a very important reason.

I Cor:
7:5
Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

The prevention of Satan leading one astray! When the evil one is leading on you hard to follow him fasting and prayer is one of the most pawerful ways to defeat Satan's temptations, the closer you are to God the less power Satan has over you with temptations.

[Goose 11]

Those are all excellent passages about fasting. It is a practice that every New Testament Christain should take part in.But many preachers don't touch it, cause it's a little touchy. Most guys don't think about it, but the #1 struggle for teenage girls and even ladies, some older,is anorexia and/or bulimia, so as a "youth worker" fasting isn't a doctrine that getspushed a whole lot! In my guys classes, we do teach and encourage it. It's a hard one these days. These girls are so tormented by the way they look, it's really sad! They areso beautiful, but they just don't get it. And by the way, "weight loss" is not a purpose for fasting, it may be a "good side effect" but not a reason to do it, unless that is the sin/temptation you are trying to overcome!
My favorite scripture on the subject is:
Philippians 4:5-7 "Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
God bless,
Trae

[Tazman]

Brother Trae you do bring out a very good point, there are those due to health reasons should avoid fasting, God would not want us to gamble with our own health to draw nearer to him. If one for health reasons can/should not fast there are other ways to draw nearer to God.A good waywould be to select something worldly that distracts you in some manner and deny yourself that for a period of time, any time and any way you eleminate something worldly in your life draws you closer to God and allows the spirit to influence you more.

[DaveH]

Good topic. I recently heard a pastor -may have been John Hagee--preach about "ways" to fast. There were at least 4, but unfortunately I don't remember all of them. The easiest 2 to remember were the ones referred to in Taz's post above (1 Cor 7:5) That is abstaining from food and sex.

Food fasting is good for most people's health provided they don't have anorexia/bulemia etc. It cleanses the system and purges out toxins allowing the nutrients from foods you eat afterward to be more fully absorbed. Juice or water fasts of 4 days minimum are most effective for promoting good health. Jesus, Moses and others did fasts of 40 days, but most people don't advise that today--although I've heard of some who still do. There was a large number of people who did this starting 40 days prior to the last Presidential election. Apparently, it worked!

[Chuck7]

Jesus said "when you fast" in Matthew 6. 16So he expects us to fast. Also in Mark 9 :29 the disciples could not cast out a demon. Jesus said "these can not come out but by prayer and fasting. In other words sometimes prayer is not enough. Fasting is powerful. I have gone 6 1/2 days before with water only and quite a few smaller ones. Here was my experience on th e6 1/2 days. I pretended that I was dead. Romans says to reckon ourselves dead to the flesh. Day 1 tired and spacey.
Day 2 Rather proud of myself and full of energy.
day 3 periods of being bummed out. Tempted to eat. Seen no reason to continue. Day 4 FULL OF THE JOY OF THE LORD. Talked to lots of people about Christ. Day 5 Something overcame me greatly and I cried uncontrllable. I desired to do his will. I felt led to witness to my neighbors goin gdoor ro door.
Day 6 I obeyed and they were blessed as well as I . I spoke in a church unexpectedly that night about dying to self. Also a man called me up tha tnight and God blessed me with a landscaping business.
I mostly fast when someone is serious ill or I have to make big decisions.
Chuck
PS The reason for this fast was revival in my personal life.