'Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all Scripture and reason; and others have utterly disregarded it.'  John Wesley

 Today's society is 'appetite' driven. It's desire for food is encouraged by  a plethora of 'fast food' as well as specialty restaurants. It's desire for more things is encouraged by a bombarding of advertising, and the extensive variety of shopping malls, department stores and car dealers.  It's desire for recreation is pushed by the rise of attendance at professional sports, the vast variety of health clubs and gyms, recreational centers, beaches and amusement parks. Even it's desire for sex is encouraged by adult book stores, Go-Go bars, the sale of pornographic material in our grocery stores not to mention the prolific diversity of  hard core pornography on the Internet.

 We are a driven people...driven to satisfy our ever increasing appetite for the  immediate gratification of our desires. Fasting has no place in our modern society. Except for a few who use it as a means of weight loss, the word is dead in our language.

 Unfortunately, the Church is not much different. Pentecostals and Charismatics see fasting as a normal part of the Christian experience. Many feel that if you are not fasting, you are not really spiritual. Main line denominations (Lutheran, Methodist, Episcopal, Baptist) see fasting as an Old Testament action not relevant to today. They remember the abuses by the monks of the Middle Ages and want nothing to do with it.

 Scripture always pleads with us to live a balanced life, in all things. It is the intent of this paper to place fasting within the Biblical context and to encourage the Church to develop the spiritual discipline of fasting. Like most things in the Church, leadership must take the lead, they did in the Bible with regards to fasting (Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Christ, Paul) so they are our example.

DEFINITION
 In Scripture fasting refers to the abstaining from food for spiritual purposes. It means to do without, to practice self-denial. It generally is related to 'not eating' food. (Wallis, p. 15)

DIVERSITY
 The following categories of fasts are taken from 'Celebration of Discipline' by Richard Foster and 'God's Chosen Fast' by Arthur Wallis.
 
     NORMAL FAST: In Scripture this type of fast is abstaining from all food, solid and liquid, but not water. (Lk. 4:2)

     PARTIAL FAST: In Scripture this type of fast is a restriction from your diet certain foods but not total abstention.
                                  (Dan. 10:3) This may be practiced when working with underprivileged people to help you identify
                                  with their plight.

     ABSOLUTE FAST: In Scripture this type of fast is a total abstention from food and water. It is a desperate measure
                                       for a desperate situation. Reserved for spiritual  emergencies. (Esther 4:16, Acts 9:9)
 
    SUPERNATURAL FAST: In Scripture this type of fast is total abstention of food and water for  extended periods
                                   of time. This is the EXCEPTION in fasting. This must be done ONLY under the clear call of God.
                                   (Deut. 9:9, 1 Kg. 19:8)

     GROUP FAST: In Scripture this type of fast is corporate and done by all in the worshipping community.
                                 (Day of Atonement) Today this is done were  people have prepared and have one mind.
                                 This is for serious situations in the church. This fast is usually one day only.

FREQUENCY
 The 'Didache', a second century document of the  early Church prescribed fasting two days each week; Wed. and Fri. John Wesley would not ordain a minister if he did not agree to fast 2 days each week. However, there is no Biblical mandate or command to fast regularly. For Paul, he stated that we were to  'fast often'. (2 Cor. 11:27) Jesus said 'When you fast' in Matt. 6:16. this seems to make the assumption that His people will in fact fast. But He is not commanding it here.

 In Matt. 6:2,15,16  it says 'When you give alms...When you pray...When you pray'. The church is eager to teach its people the first two but not the third. Yet Jesus uses the same wording with the same expectations in each case. It would seem they ALL have equal weight.

 Jesus also said 'When the bridegroom is taken from them...they will fast.' (Matt. 9:15). From this statement , it would seem Jesus is telling us that NOW is the time to fast, until we are united with Him in glory.

PURPOSE
 Jesus' first statement in the New Testament about fasting concerns motive. (Matt. 6:16-18) Fasting is not done to manipulate God or to impress man. Fasting must have it's central focus on God. It must be God initiated and God ordained. There must be an assurance of God's calling an individual to fast. If our fasting is not God directed, it will fail. (Zech. 7:5)

 The primary purpose in fasting is to focus on God and to seek His face. There are, however several secondary purposes to fasting.

 1. It can reveal that which controls us.
 2. It can humble us.
 3. It can remind us that we are sustained by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
     Food does not sustain us, God does. (Matt. 4:4)
 4. It can help to give us balance in life. (1 Cor. 6:12)
 5. It can help us understand God's guidance in our lives.
 6. It can help to increase concentration.
 7. It can help improve our physical well being.

Arthur Wallis give five other purposes for fasting.
 
 1. For personal sanctity (sanctification, humility, consecration) Ps. 69:10
  -Humility is a basic ingredient of true holiness.
  -Fasting is a divine correction to the pride of the human heart.
  -Fasting requires humility which leads to repentance and then to consecration to God for service. (Acts. 13:3)

 2. To be heard on high.  (Ezra 8:23)
  -Fasting here is connected with seeking God, drawing near to Him and prevailing with  God. It increases the effectiveness of our intercessory prayer. It 'awakens'  God to hear  the cries of His people.

 3. To change God's mind. (Jonah 3:5,10)
  -If the people will humble themselves (fast) repent of their sins, seek God and  then God  will not deliver the judgment on them as He said.

 4. To free the captives (Isa. 58:6)
  -Many in society (even many in the Church) are in bondage to one thing or another; sex,  drugs, alcohol, gambling, materialism or even fear, resentment, bitterness and jealousy.
  -A fast when undertaken by God's direction will strengthen the intercessor to maintain     prayer pressure until Satan loosens his grip on the one held in bondage.

 5. To buffet the body. (1 Cor. 9:27)
  -We are to 'buffet' our body with discipline, not place it before a 'buffet' for greed.
  -Christian discipleship includes self-discipline.
  -Paul states 'we are not to make provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.' (Rom. 13:14)
  -In Gal. 5:22-23 Paul says the fruit of the Spirit is self-control.'

FASTING & THE BODY
 Some will say that fasting is dangerous to the body. They will say that fasting is nothing more than voluntary starvation. We must realize, however, that food is necessary to sustain life, but air, water and sleep are more important. The body can not live more than a few minutes without air, or a few days without water and sleep. But under normal conditions, the body can go quite well for several weeks without food.

 There are four stages of a prolonged fast and each affects the body in a different way.

 1. Cravings for food, usually lasting a couple of days or longer is the significant sign of the first  stage of a prolonged fast. It will usually end and there will not be a strong craving or  temptation to eat. A 'fast headache' will usually occur for those who consume large amounts  of caffeine. Bad breath and an unpleasant taste in the mouth also accompany this stage.

 2. The second stage is characterized by a feeling of weakness, fatigue, and fainting which may  last 2-3 days. Dizziness, sleeplessness, nausea and abdominal discomfort may also be found  during this stage. Extended periods of rest will be needed as the body is beginning to rid itself  of gross waste and poisons Then gradually these symptoms will disappear.

 3. The third stage eases slowly into a time of renewed strength with little or no cravings for food. There may be short periods of weakness but these will be few. In this stage most feel they can fast indefinitely.

 4. The return of sever hunger pangs marks the final stage of a prolonged fast and signals the body is going into starvation mode. this is time to break the fast. In certain cases this can happen as early as 21 days but most can go to 40 days before starvation begins.

PRACTICE
 It is very important to remember and never forget...fasting is a PROCESS, slowly increasing the duration of the fast as you become accustomed to regular fasting. The following is a fasting plan designed by Richard Foster.

 1. Begin with a 24 hour PARTIAL fast. Noon to noon is usually easiest as you are only missing  two meals. Do not eat any solid foods but drink ample amounts of water and fruit juices (non acidic). Do this for a couple of weeks.

 2. Next, attempts a NORMAL fast for 24 hours. Noon to noon once again. No not eat any food and drink only water, but drink a lot of it. the hunger pangs you will feel is not real hunger. It is the conditioning of the stomach by your eating habits. Usually drinking water will make the pain go away. Devote the time you would eat to prayer and meditation in God's Word. Do  this for  a couple of weeks.

 3. Now attempt a PARTIAL or NORMAL  fast for 36 hours. Dinner to breakfast (Mon-Wed).
     Do this for several weeks until you feel comfortable.

 4. You are now ready for an extended PARTIAL or NORMAL fast. This fast should be from  3-7 days in length. this fast will probably have the most affect on your life. The first three days will be the hardest but ut will get better.

 5. The longest PARTIAL or NORMAL fast should be no more than 40 days. This is an exceptional fast for exceptional reasons and must be called by God.

HELPFUL HINTS TO A SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF FASTING

 1. Don't 'stock-up' on eating before a fast. This will make the hunger pangs more prominent.
 2. Cut out all caffeine 2-3 days before the fast.
 3. Place lemon in water for a change.
 4. Drink hot water during meal times this will trick the stomach into thinking it is eating.
 5. If it get real tough, drink fruit juices.
 6. Eat light after a fast. After a 3 day or longer fast eat even lighter (juice/fresh fruits and veges)
 7. Fast and pray to humble yourself and purify your worship.
 8. Take time to pray and read God's Word during a fast.
 9. If you fail, don't give in to condemnation. God will reward even the effort.

SPIRITUAL CHECKLIST BEFORE FASTING

 1. Am I confident that God is calling me to fast?
 2. Are my motives right?
 3. What are my spiritual objectives in this fast?
 4. Journal your feelings and progress during a fast. It will help to sort through the feelings and  will be a source of joy when you look back and see how God worked in your life.

SCRIPTURE RELATED TO FASTING

 2 Chron. 20:1-4,  Ezra 8:21-23,  Esther 4:15,  Isa. 58 (key passage),  Jer. 14:10-12; 36:6-10, Joel 1:14; 2:15,
Jonah 3:5,10,  1 Sam. 7:6; 14:24-48; 31:13,  Judges 20:26,  Daniel 6:18,  Psalm 35:13; 109:24,  Neh. 1:4; 9:1,
Matt. 6:16-18; 17:21,  Mark 1:13, Lk. 5:33,  Acts 13:2-3;   Acts 14:23.

 I believe that fasting IS for today and that Jesus expects us to fast. However, our fasting is not to manipulate God or to make ourselves look spiritual to others in the church. Fasting is a private commitment of denying your will and giving preference to the will of God in your life. It is an extended time of seeking His presence through prayer, and meditation in the Word. It is a time to let God know that you are serious about something in your life or in the life of your church  or family. Fasting done for the right reasons will hearken the ears of God to our cries. Fasting and prayer go hand in hand.