In the Christian Community there is often argument and controversy about fasting , what makes up a scriptural fast, and how to fast. Many folks have been taught that self-denial of anything can be considered a fast and will potentially draw the same rewards as an abstinence from food. Well known teachers of the bible have proclaimed this idea with good intentions but truly no biblical foundation to affirm their claim.
According to the bible, fasting is constantly defined as not eating food in some fashion. The Greek and Hebrew words found in the bible that indicate Fasting are defined as,"fast, fasting, or fasted". The fourth chapter of the book of James states,
"Draw near to the heavenly father, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
If I give up video games, or Television, or the internet for a given number of days just so I can search the lord instead, guess what: I'll encounter Him, "seek and you will find". The seeking of the Lord is rewarded with conception of His character and might in our lives. But, thats no cause to think that all sacrificial seeking of god can be called fasting; unless we employ another definition of the word Fasting.
Both the bible and secular dictionaries define fasting as refraining from food in some fashion for a certain amount of time. By biblical definition it is also linked with an increased intensity of prayer. It is the sacrifice of that which the body "needs", in order to find that which your spirit needs even more.
At hand are a variety of distinctive methods to fasting that we see in scripture (learn further here), as well as forms that have been recognized by our contemporary culture. Fasting is entirely about seeking our father. Its a earnest prayer to the Lord for a transformation that only He can carry out.
FASTINGS BENEFITS
The rewards of fasting are due to an inner (spiritual) adjustment we can't view that allows for a manifested move of the lord we can see.
"Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do --- so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full." - Matthew 6:16 (NASB)
This warning even shows that fasting has its rewards. Jesus is basically saying that we shouldn't be concerned about the reward itself, but instead we should focus on humbling ourselves as we fast and He will reward us for all to see. The reward may be the redemption of family, a It could also simply be a variation in your personal character. Regardless, these things are still done by the might of our Lord. Fasting prompts us to move, but maybe not the lord.
Instituted by the Lord in things like, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Deuteronomy 16:16), fasting has been an age old, tried and tested technique for positioning our father's people for the heaven-sent.
According to the bible, fasting is constantly defined as not eating food in some fashion. The Greek and Hebrew words found in the bible that indicate Fasting are defined as,"fast, fasting, or fasted". The fourth chapter of the book of James states,
"Draw near to the heavenly father, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
If I give up video games, or Television, or the internet for a given number of days just so I can search the lord instead, guess what: I'll encounter Him, "seek and you will find". The seeking of the Lord is rewarded with conception of His character and might in our lives. But, thats no cause to think that all sacrificial seeking of god can be called fasting; unless we employ another definition of the word Fasting.
Both the bible and secular dictionaries define fasting as refraining from food in some fashion for a certain amount of time. By biblical definition it is also linked with an increased intensity of prayer. It is the sacrifice of that which the body "needs", in order to find that which your spirit needs even more.
At hand are a variety of distinctive methods to fasting that we see in scripture (learn further here), as well as forms that have been recognized by our contemporary culture. Fasting is entirely about seeking our father. Its a earnest prayer to the Lord for a transformation that only He can carry out.
FASTINGS BENEFITS
The rewards of fasting are due to an inner (spiritual) adjustment we can't view that allows for a manifested move of the lord we can see.
"Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do --- so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full." - Matthew 6:16 (NASB)
This warning even shows that fasting has its rewards. Jesus is basically saying that we shouldn't be concerned about the reward itself, but instead we should focus on humbling ourselves as we fast and He will reward us for all to see. The reward may be the redemption of family, a It could also simply be a variation in your personal character. Regardless, these things are still done by the might of our Lord. Fasting prompts us to move, but maybe not the lord.
Instituted by the Lord in things like, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Deuteronomy 16:16), fasting has been an age old, tried and tested technique for positioning our father's people for the heaven-sent.
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