'What About Fasting?'

Q: What is the significance of fasting as spoken of in the Bible? Is fasting commanded of Christians, and, if so, how should it be done, and what results should we expect from fasting?

A: By Pastor Ken Burisek,
The Ole Country Church, Medford, Wisconsin
Email:
kburisek@Jesus answers.com

Perhaps the first thing we should look at is just what fasting is. The Bible tells us in Esther 4: 1415 that fasting means to go without food or water. Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, Go gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for 3 days, night or day....

In Matthew 9:14-15 we see that the disciples of John the Baptist came and asked Christ a question. Why is it that we and the Pharisees observe the fast, but Your disciples do not? Christ answered them, . . . the day will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, they will certainly fast then.

These verses tell us that fasting is something that believers should do as Christ said in Matthew 4:4: It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

If we say we love God, then fasting should be a part of our walk with Him.

So just how long should a person fast? Leviticus 23:32 tells us that biblical fasting is from sunset to sunset -- a 24-hour period.

What kind of attitude should we have when we fast? Christ instructed his disciples not ...