Tips on Fasting, Types, Etc

[five10]

There are indeed demonic strongholds which can not be broken down by nothing but prayer and fasting. Fasting is not to be a simple ritual observed once a week, or once a month e t c , fasting, rather is something which is practised when a special need arises. JESUS fasted 40 days in the wilderness and subsequently began preaching the kingdom of GOD with signs and wonders following him? Not before fasting, but after fasting did the signs occur. Combining fasting can result in a [SPIRITUAL ATOMIC TIME BOMB] that pulls down spiritual strongholds and releases the [ POWER OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE.] The important thing is to fast unto [ GOD ]. Don't go out of your way to let people see that you are fasting. We see a reward during the time of fasting, but it does not stop there, we also will be rewarded by seeing things come forth in the future. as answers to our prayers. Fasting is an important [ KEY ] to getting the victory over hard situations that do not seem to respond to normal prayer. The fasting acts as a spiritual [ DYNAMITE ] to speed things up in the spirit that would normally take a longer time to come to pass. The absolute fast taken no food or liquid. The absolute fast can last for a maximum of 3 days, but this is not required. An absolute fast for a day or 2 days can be greatly used by GOD. The absolute fast is a desperate call by the people of GOD to which GOD always responds. Do not underestimate the most powerful act of fasting. Breakthroughs do not come during a fast , but after a fast.

[five10]

MORE TIPS ON FASTING

;D There are various different kinds of fasts in the scriptures, eg absolute fast, no liquids or food, water fast, partial fast. A period of 3 to 7 days is a good time period and will probably have a substancial impact on the course of your life. Be prepared for spiritual conflicts, fasting can bring breakthroughs in the spiritual realm that could never be had in any other way. You will be attacked by demonic forces seeking to induce you to give up the fast.If you humble yourself by prayer and fasting, you will also see your problems ; fall upon each other ; and destroy themselves. The overall purpose of fasting is to get GODS attention for an urgent request, for divine intervention, don't boast on account of your fasting abilities. It is very important not to argue or fight with anyone while you fast. The aim of fasting is to humble oneself, to abase oneself before GOD. The object here is to admit your own short comings, not others, the purpose of fasting is to afflict yourself. We should fast when in danger or death threaten us, and fast when in need of protection. PSALM 107 repeatedly shows how GOD rescues people from distresses and affliction upon their hunger and thirst. Find GODS promises that cover your situation and believe you will receive before the fast begins.

[five10]

TYPES OF FAST

THE NORMAL FAST. Definition . "The normal fast " refers to abstaining from all foods, but not from water. THE ABSOLUTE FAST. Definition ," Abstaining from food and water." THE PARTIAL FAST. Definition. "Restricted diet rather than total absention." [1 or 2 meals ] fasts - Genesis 24;32-33 ; 2 sam 1;11-12 . 1 day fasts - judges 20;26 ; 1 sam 7;5-6; 20;34 ; Ezra 9;5 . 3 day fasts- esther 4; 15-16. 7 day fasts, 1 sam 31; 11-13. 21 day fasts - daniel 10;2-3. 40 day fasts - Exodus 34;28. Fasts of unspecified length - 1 sam 1; 7; 1 Kings 13; 8- 9; 21;27.

[Michael]

Five10, Thanks for your recent postings. I have included all your recent info on Fasting under one thread. If you want to post other material on Fasting please click the reply button on this thread and fill in the message box which pops up!

Also there is a related thread on fasting @:-

pafn777.proboards26.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1073825034

Every blessing,

Michael.

[rapha777]

MORE NOTES ON FASTING

Fasting is a very important discipline. Fasting is going without food or drink voluntarily, generally for religious purposes. Fasting, however, could also be done for other reasons. It was sometimes done as a sign of distress, grief, or repentance. This significant term implies that the essence of scriptural "fasting" lies in self humiliation and penitence, and the subduing of something, whether fleshly or spiritual. Isaiah 58:4-7 declares, "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? Once that the principle is acted on, "He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks" (Rom 14:6), and "food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse" (1 Cor 8:8), fasting and eating are put in their true place, as means but not ends.

There are now 28 yearly fasts in the Jewish calendar. Daniel's (Dan 10:3) mode of fasting was, "I ate no pleasant bread," i.e. "I ate unleavened bread, even the bread of affliction" (Deut 16:3, paraphrase), "no meat or wine came into my mouth." In Matt 9:14 "fast" is explained by "mourn" in Matt 9:15, so that fasting was but an outward expression of mourning (Ps 69:10), not meritorious, nor sanctifying in itself. A mark of the apostasy is "commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving" (1 Tim 4:3). The "neglect (not sparing) of the body," while seeming to deny self, really tends "against the indulgence of (satiating to repletion) the flesh" (Col 2:18-23). Ordinances of "will worship" gratify the flesh (self) while only seeming to mortify it.


From the Fausset's Bible Dictionary, Electronic Database Copyright (c)1998 by Biblesoft, we find the following:

Instances of special fasts of individuals and of the people in the Old Testament, either in mourning and humiliation or in prayer, occur in Judg 20:26; 1 Sam 1:7; 20:34; 31:13; 2 Sam 1:12; 12:21; 3:35; 1 Kings 21:9-12; Ezra 8:21-23; 10:6; Est 4:16; Neh 1:4. National fasts are alluded to in 1 Sam 7:6 (wherein the drawing of water and pouring it out before Jehovah expressed their confession of powerlessness and utter prostration: Ps 22:14; 58:7; 2 Sam 14:14); 2 Chron 20:3; Jer 36:6-10; Neh 9:1; Joel 1:14; 2:15. In New Testament times the strict Jews fasted twice a week (Luke 18:12), namely, on the second and fifth days. While Christ is with His people either in body or in spirit, fasting is unseasonable, for joy alone can be where He is; but when His presence is withdrawn, sorrow comes to the believer and fasting is one mode of expressing his sorrowing after the Lord. This is Christ's teaching, Matt 9:15. As to the texts quoted for fasting as a mean of spiritual power, the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus manuscripts omit Matt 17:21; they omit also "and fasting," Mark 9:29. They and Alexandrinus manuscript omit "fasting and," 1 Cor 7:5. Evidently the growing tendency to asceticism in post apostolic times accounts for these interpolations. The apostles "prayed with fasting" in ordaining elders (Acts 13:3; 14:23). But this continuance of the existing Jewish usage never divinely ordered does not make it obligatory on us, except in so far as we severally, by experience, find it conducive to prayer. Moses', Elijah's, and Christ's (the great Antitype) 40 days' foodlessness was exceptional and miraculous. Forty is significant of punishment for sin, confession, or affliction. Christ, the true Israel, denied Himself for 40 days, as Israel indulged the flesh 40 years. They tempted God that time; He overcame the tempter all the 40 days (Gen 7:4,12; Num 14:33; 32:13-14; Ps 95:10; Deut 25:3; 2 Cor. 11:24; Ezek 29:11; 4:6; Jonah 3:4).

In this year of surrounding your enemies with violent praise, I believe the fast led by Jehoshaphat is an important pattern. He called for a fast in all Israel when they were opposed by the Moabites and Ammonites (2 Chron 20:3). Jesus said to His disciples: This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29). We are entering a season where we must incorporate the spiritual disciplines to open up the heavens and win the war ahead.

[Michael]

This information was primarily taken from the book “Fasting For Spiritual Breakthrough: A Guide to Nine Biblical Fasts” by Elmer L. Towns, published in 1996 by Regal Books, Ventura, California.

Our body is designed to heal itself. When a disease enters our body from bad dietary habits or from the outside, our bodies begin to fight it. Doctors, surgery, or medicines are most often designed to remove the source of the problem, but the healing is done by the body itself. Many common diseases are easily prevented with basic good nutrition and exercise habits.


STEP ONE: BE SPECIFIC
Daniel was not vague in his objection to the Babylonian diet. He defined the problem immediately.

1. The king’s food was against dietary laws.
2. Daniel and his friends had vowed against wine.
3. The king’s food had been offered up to idols/demons.


STEP TWO: FAST AS A SPIRITUAL COMMITMENT
The Daniel Fast involves a spiritual commitment to God. “Daniel proposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” (Dan. 1:8).


STEP THREE: REFLECT INNER DESIRE BY OUTER DISCIPLINE
Many people have an inner desire for better health, but they can’t discipline themselves to avoid junk food, and other foods that were not good for health. The physical health you seek from God may be more than an answer to prayer. Your physical health may be linked to any of the following factors:

a. Your food choices.
b. The level of your spiritual commitment as reflected in constant prayer during the fast.
c. Your time commitment. If you determine to fast for a certain time, keep it. For example, if you determine to fast 10 days, don’t stop on Day 9.
d. Your testimony commitment. Your fast is a statement of faith to God that you want Him to heal your body.

Faith is foundational to the Daniel Fast.


STEP FOUR: PRAY TO PERCEIVE SIN’S ROLE IN POOR HEALTH
Notice James 5:13-16:

• Sin is something related to the cause of sickness.
• Lack of health/healing may be the result of spiritual rebellion.
• Lack of health/healing may be due to sin of wrong intake, i.e. drugs, pornography.
• Repentance is linked to health according to James.
• Elders have a role in healing both spiritual and physical health.
• Sick people must desire to be well
• The anointing oil could mean
1. medicine for healing,
2. symbolic of the Holy Spirit, or
3. it could be baptism
• Prayer alone may not gain healing, faith is the major factor.
• In Greek there are several words for “sick”. James uses “Kanino”, which not only includes disease, but also means weak or weary.
• Attitude is important. James said, “are there any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.”


STEP FIVE: FAST AS A STATEMENT OF FAITH TO OTHERS
Daniel was making a statement of faith when he asked for only vegetables to eat and water to drink, then dared the overseer to compare the appearance of the four sons of Israel with the young men who ate the king’s food.


STEP SIX: LEARN THE EFFECTS OF THE FOOD YOU EAT
Why are some foods good for us, and other foods not? What does certain food do to your body? If we really knew, there would likely be some things we would never eat again.


STEP SEVEN: YIELD ALL RESULTS TO GOD
Daniel said, “as you see fit, deal with your servants” (Dan. 1:13).

REMEMBER:

• The Daniel Fast will lead to spiritual insight. “to those four young men God gave knowledge”.
• The Daniel Fast is longer than one day. These young men fasted for ten days.
• The Daniel Fast is a partial fast. They ate, but only vegetables and water.
• The Daniel Fast requires abstinence from party or junk foods.
• There is no indication that they ever began to eat the king’s food.


GUIDELINES FOR DANIEL FAST
(Foods We May Eat)

Whole Grains: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley

Legumes: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed Peas

Fruits: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cantelope, Cherries, Cranberries, Oats, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Rasberries, Strawberries, Tangeloes, Tangerines, Watermelon

Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Gingerroot, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabagas, Scallions, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini

Seeds, Nuts, Sprouts

Liquids: Spring Water, Distilled Water, 100% All-Natural Fruit Juices, 100% All Natural Vegetable Juices

(Foods to Avoid)

Meat
White Rice
Fried Foods
Caffeine
Carbonated Beverages
Foods Containing Preservatives or Additives
Refined Sugar
Sugar Substitutes
White Flour and All Products Using It
Margarine, Shortening, High Fat Products

From kpginternational.com/TheDanielFast.aspx

[andrew]

Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. Concerning that from which one fasts, and the period of fasting, a fast may be total or partial. Fasting practices may preclude sexual activity as well as food, in addition to refraining from eating certain types or groups of foods; for example, one might refrain from eating meat. Medical fasting can be a way to promote detoxification.

Fasting for religious and spiritual reasons has been a part of human custom since pre-history. It is mentioned in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testament, the Qur'an, the Mahabharata, and the Upanishads. Fasting is also practiced in many other religious traditions and spiritual practices.

Fasting is also used in a medical context to refer to the state achieved after digestion of a meal. A number of metabolic adjustments occur during fasting and many medical diagnostic tests are standardized for fasting conditions. For most medical purposes a person is assumed to be fasting after 8-12 hours. A diagnostic fast refers to prolonged fasting (from 8-72 hours depending on age) conducted under medical observation for investigation of a problem, usually hypoglycemia. Fasting has occasionally been recommended as a therapeutic intervention by physicians of many cultures, though it is uncommonly resorted to for this purpose by modern doctors.