Fasting

Thesis: Fasting is a spiritual discipline, and thus has a spiritual purpose.

FASTING IS NOT :

• Diet/weight loss
• Being hungry
• Eating disorder

FASTING BASIS:

• Meet w/ God - attitude of faith,fighting,finding
• Personal (not corporate)
• Usually food - but denying of self in some way
• Not compulsory - is voluntary

OLD TESTAMENT FASTING:

• Response to matters of the heart
• Isaiah 58 (personal)
• David (personal)
• Ninevah (Jonah)

NEW TESTAMENT FASTING:

• Matthew 6:16-18 (about God, not self promotion)
• Matthew 9:14-15
• 1 Timothy 6:17
• James 5:13

CHRISTIAN FASTING PRINCIPLES:

• Voluntary feasting on God
• Fighting spiritually over situation
• Humbled by sin
• For "revelation" - clarity
• Condemnation
• Selection
• Direction

WHY FAST IF GOD SOVEREIGN

• Enjoy God
• Show dependence on Him

WHEN YOU FAST :

• Meditate on God/divine realities