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Why Fasting?

Why do Christians fast? And why couple fasting with prayer? Doesn't God hear the prayers of His children even when they do NOT fast?

John Wesley, in his sermon on Mattew 6:16-18, said about fasting that fasting "is not all, nor yet is it nothing. It is not the end itself, but is a precious means to a greater end; fasting is a means which God Himself has ordained through which, when it is properly used, He will give us blessing."

In fact, this agrees with the scripture, which in the passage above, assures us that when we fast in secret, "the Father, who sees in secret, shall reward you openly."

I. What is Fasting?

There are several legitimate kinds of fasting that have been used in Biblical or church history. The most basic, and probably what people anticipate when they read about "fasting," is the actual meaning of the Biblical term "fast" - to abstain from partaking of all food for a specified period of time. This type of fasting usually last for anything from one day to several days.

There is another type of fasting that has been popularized in church use, but which does not really have a Biblical antecedent - some people "fast" by eating very little. For a period of time they take smaller portions, perhaps even a single meal in a day, for a specified period of time.

A third type of fasting has to do with abstention from certain types of food. People who practice this type of fasting often call it "fasting from pleasant food" and it has a Biblical example in Daniel 1:8ff. In that passage, Daniel and his three friends rejected the sumptuous table of the King of Babylon and requested to merely be fed with vegetables as a show of their own separation from the ungodly influences of Babylon's political court. This type of fasting has been popularized in Lenten fasting, where people often swear off some preferred food for the 40 days of Lent.

A final type of fasting involves fasting until nightfall as a means of devoting one's self to seeking God during the day. This practice is foreshadowed in II Samuel 1:12 and other passages.

II. Why Fasting?

Of course, this is the real question. Our culture teaches the indulgence of the body, and if fasting is not required, why would anybody choose to engage in self-denial of something as essential as food. There are several Biblical reasons why people can, and should, fast.

First, people often fast as a demonstration of sadness - but more than a demonstration of sadness, an overt plea to God to relieve their sadness (Matthew 9:14-15).

Secondly, people often fast in order to focus themselves on prayer (Matthew 17:21). More than just a physical focusing, by practicing physical self-denial, we stir up and sharpen our spiritual senses for participation in the discipline of prolonged and powerful prayer.

Thirdly, fasting can be a means of seeking the Lord's will (Ezra 8:21, Acts 13:2-3, Acts 14:23). When we enter times of great confusion or when we have a special sense that we are in need of God's guidance, it may be time to couple fasting and praying as a means of gaining specific Divine direction.

Fourthly, and perhaps most importantly, fasting and praying, when practiced together as a single discipline for a time, can be a means of obtaining great spiritual power, or of focusing the power of God Himself.

In Isaiah 58:3-6, the prophet notes that fasting was given to God's people in order to obtain certain spiritual objectives. Isaiah says that when a man fasts in such a manner as to "afflict his soul," then God will respond by "breaking the chains of wickedness, untying ropes [which bind our souls], setting the oppressed free, and tearing off every yoke [of bondage]."

In Matthew 17:14-21, Jesus Himself comes upon a person possessed of a spirit, whom his disciples had failed to help. Jesus approaches the oppressed person and frees him immediately. When the disciples asked Jesus how it was that He was able to free this person whom they had not been able to free, Jesus replied "THIS KIND does not come out except by prayer and fasting."

There is something unusual that goes on in the lives of people when they become serious enough about their prayers to practice self-denial and humble themselves before God. When we fast and pray, God says that we enable him to break chains, set people free (and since Jesus set ANOTHER PERSON free, we know that sometimes God will do this for third parties when we fast and pray), and overcome all sorts of spiritual oppression.

We lay hold to some sort of special power - a power sufficient to accomplish something that prayers alone will not do - when we fast and pray.

Below are additional links on the topic of fasting and prayer.

Prayer and Fasting Resources

Campus Crusade - Your Personal Guide to Prayer and Fasting: http://www.billbright.com/howtofast/

All About Prayer - Prayer and Fasting: http://www.allaboutprayer.org/prayer-and-fasting.htm

Christian Prayer and Fasting - http://christianprayerandfasting.com/

World Methodist Evangelism – Prayer and Fasting: http://www.worldmethodist.org/prayerandfasting.htm

John Piper – Prayer and Fasting Sermons: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/BySeries/ 5/