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Fasting

brYce said:
Our Jewish Master did not drink water during the fast days He observed with His people. Biblical fasts are absolute — no food or drink.
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Hello Brother,

Here is how I understand Biblical fasts. They fall into four categories:

1) the absolute fast (some call it the "dry or black fast") - no food or water (Esther 4:16; Acts 9:9)

2) the normal fast - water only (2 Samuel 12:15-23; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:2 [hungry, but not thirsty])

3) the partial fast - giving up of particular foods or drinks. It is also called the Daniel fast (Daniel 1:12; 10:2-3)

4) the supernatural fast - going without food and water for a long time (Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:9-18; 1 Kings 19:8)

Duration for fasts:

1) One night (Daniel 6:18)

2) One day (Lev. 16:29; Judges 20:26; I Samuel 7:6; II Samuel 1:12, 3:35)

3) Three days (Esther 4:16)

4) Seven days (I Samuel 31:13)

5) Twenty-one days (Daniel 10:3-13)

Forty days (Exodus 34:28; I Kings 19:8; Matthew 4:2)

Medically speaking, one should recognize that many in the medical community do not encourage a long absolute fast (more than three days). With that being said, you can find where some have fasted as long as 14 days this way, but keep in mind that there may be serious consequences to an unsupervised total fast past three days.

Blessings
 
DaPastor said:
brYce said:
Our Jewish Master did not drink water during the fast days He observed with His people. Biblical fasts are absolute — no food or drink.
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2) the normal fast - water only (2 Samuel 12:15-23; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:2 [hungry, but not thirsty])
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Thank you for the time you spent listing all those different examples from Scripture, but they were not the norm. I would also like to apologise for saying that "Biblical fasts are absolute", for I meant to connect that statement with the annual and regular fasts that are only one day long. I suppose I assumed that everyone would realise that, since people cannot go without water for several days.

The usual fast is one day long and it involved the total abstinence of food and water. This fast is done twice a year — on Yom Kippur and Tisha B'Av. The other regular fast days that our Master and His disciples observed with all of Israel are observed from sunrise to sunset and they also involve abstention from food and water. It is also common for very pious individuals to fast twice a week (Matthew 9:14, Luke 5:33). This is commonly done on Mondays and Thursdays and also involves abstention from all food and water. These are the normal fasts that individuals undertake.

These short fasts wouldn't be much of a challenge for the average person if they were also permitted to drink water. I think that one of the chief reasons why we fast is to subdue the flesh and focus our hearts and minds on Heaven.

So, why do we fast? There are rewards that come from fasting. Check out what this Pastor has to say about the rewards of fasting.


Shalom
 
Just for clarification, I was not saying that the noise fast was a biblical fast.

In these days, I know everybody comes up with their own stuff for fasting which does not have anything to do with biblical fasting. I was only making a point about spending time with the Lord and how many people will go without a meal, but don't spend time in prayer and they think that just going without the food will move God. In many cases that I have seen, the time without the meal is spent doing worldly things and trying to get through the time of not eating by distracting with outside influences. The noise thing was a part of a 30 day period where each wednesday was fasted and then the last three days in the 30 day period. It was during that time that I realized that doing away with the noise was having a large impact in my life, and I realized how much "noise" is in a regular day that drowns out listening to God. The noise part was a part of a time of fasting for me, but was not fasting in itself. I know this.

I will not use the term noise fast in the future.
 
[Is] not this the fast that I have chosen?
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While Isaiah 58:5-6 has been mentioned before, I think it bears repeating.

In response to specific prayers (about deliverance for those in my house, in my case), I was directed to these verses, and have found that He can and will show us more than one way to fast, PaulNTA.

I suspect that your 'noise fast' was very much what He provided for you at that time, and is thus worthy of mention, in that others may (or may not, even) benefit similarly. The key is to be willing to fast, and to ask Him about what the "fast that He has chosen" for us in a given situation might be.


Blessings,
Mark
 
Paul not the apostle said:
Just for clarification, I was not saying that the noise fast was a biblical fast.

In these days, I know everybody comes up with their own stuff for fasting which does not have anything to do with biblical fasting. I was only making a point about spending time with the Lord and how many people will go without a meal, but don't spend time in prayer and they think that just going without the food will move God. In many cases that I have seen, the time without the meal is spent doing worldly things and trying to get through the time of not eating by distracting with outside influences. The noise thing was a part of a 30 day period where each wednesday was fasted and then the last three days in the 30 day period. It was during that time that I realized that doing away with the noise was having a large impact in my life, and I realized how much "noise" is in a regular day that drowns out listening to God. The noise part was a part of a time of fasting for me, but was not fasting in itself. I know this.

I will not use the term noise fast in the future.
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Brother,

We all knew what you meant. In this day in age there are so many "winds of doctrine" blowing around, I like to attempt to bring Biblical clarity. I love your point about seeking God while fasting, btw - too many people do not understand that going without food, but not praying, is nothing more than going on a diet.

Blessings
 
It seems to me, that the noise fast that Paul mentioned (call it whatever makes you happy) might be a real good species of "waiting on the Lord". :D
 
Certainly, it is a good way to draw closer to the Lord whatever you call it. Sometimes the noise is external, but sometimes the noise is inside your head. That is harder to get away from.

SweetLissa
 
lissa,
i am glad to find out that i am not the only one hearing those voices in my head :D
whew, thought that i was wierd or something
 
:lol:
good one, doc
 
uh oh :oops:
 
I only meant that it is your unique sense of humor and way of looking at life. No need to worry, you are loved.

SweetLissa
 
whew
i thought you were refering to.............never mind
 
not at all
i thought that you were fixin to get me in trouble

just funnin ya, don't go gettin serious on me :D
 
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