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Fasting a Meal a Day |
Carolyn Smith |
I don't find anywhere in the Word where it tells us to fast a meal a day for a certain length of time for a particular need. (Such as, fasting breakfast or lunch for a week.) Yet, I've heard this used as a model for corporate fasts.
Perhaps because it is easier than some other methods? (which is part of the point of fasting...to deny your flesh.)
Any thoughts on this? I'd be interested to hear what others have to say about this. _________________ "More of Him...less of me."
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Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 5923 11/14/15 10:08 am
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Cojak |
I have heard this many times. Personally I fast as I feel impressed. Or at a time I don't know what else to do. It seems to work, at least I feel better. FAsting is a personal thing methinks. Most of my life (from family teachings) I have thought it was a private thing not to be advertised, but that is from person feelings, no condemnation to any other practice.
Anything that helps one draw nearer to God is a blessing. JMHO _________________ Some facts but mostly just my opinion!
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01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 11/14/15 11:09 am
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Carolyn Smith |
I agree with what you said, Cojak. But when it's used in a corporate setting, I hate not to do what's asked.
There is great power found through fasting, but I'm not sure it's well understood. There are times for personal/private fasting, and there are times for corporate fasting.
Just wondering what other folks think. _________________ "More of Him...less of me."
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Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 5923 11/14/15 11:33 am
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Fasting isn't taught or preached about much |
Ernie Long |
because people refuse to do it and that is sad. I grew up in church, joined the CoG with my family when I was 13 yrs old and I cannot recall one sermon preached on fasting much less called to a fast.
I actually had not fasted till it became popular during the Brownsville Revival. It was at that time I studied the Word and other books about fasting and what a wonderful revelation that was revealed to me. Sadly I fell into following others as they fasted and fasted as they were and I missed God on more than one occasion.
When I call a corporate fast for our church, it is after many hours of seeking God and it is a fast of food and nothing else, unless God directs the individual to fast other things also.
It is my belief that fasting is meant to be a lifestyle for every Christian, not an every once in a while thing to do when we really need an answer to a prayer. |
Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1050 11/14/15 11:52 am
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UncleJD |
its the whole "I'm fasting (insert your one little vice here)" type of fast. I'm fasting "cokes", or "sweets". Well that's called a diet |
Golf Cart Mafia Consigliere Posts: 3147 11/14/15 1:32 pm
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Kenneth Hagin--the fasted life |
Aaron Scott |
I read that Kenneth Hagin, instead of periods of fasting, would seek to lead a "fasted life." He would never eat to fullness. It was his way of trying to keep his heart prepared, I suppose.
I did think it was a good idea. |
Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6042 11/14/15 2:20 pm
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Old Time Country Preacher |
Uncle JD wrote, its the whole "I'm fasting (insert your one little vice here)" type of fast. I'm fasting "cokes", or "sweets". Well that's called a diet.
I fast fat grams all the time. I pray over the food. I speak the fat grams/excess salt & sugar out of the food (per Romans 4:17). An I then dig in. I'm fasting fat grams/excess salt/sugar.
Aaron Scott wrote, I read that Kenneth Hagin, instead of periods of fasting, would seek to lead a "fasted life." He would never eat to fullness. It was his way of trying to keep his heart prepared, I suppose.
So, like, if Hagin usually ate two biskits, he would eat only one? Or if he usually ate two pieces a pie, he would only eat one? |
Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 11/14/15 2:42 pm
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Carolyn Smith |
I believe there is great power in fasting.
I heard a sermon by Jentezen Franklin years ago about the power of a 40 day partial fast (precursor to his book on fasting) that revolutionized the way I think of fasting.
I do believe that fasting things we enjoy are particularly pleasing to the Lord (and much more than a diet. Sorry, Uncle JD!) Daniel & the three other Hebrew boys did a partial fast in the first book of Daniel and look what happened with them! God honored their fast. There are different kinds of fasts, and each one seems to have their place.
From what I understand, fasting is not to get God's attention. It's to deny our flesh and to bring our flesh under submission. To deny our flesh so that our spirit man can hear more clearly what the Lord is saying.
Jentezen Franklin also teaches that you should fast something FOR something. In other words, I had a problem on my job, so I fasted a food item/group while in prayer about the problem on my job. Over the course of the fast, God opened my eyes to some things, gave me wisdom on how to pray about it, and at the end of the fast, I saw some things change. _________________ "More of Him...less of me."
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Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 5923 11/14/15 2:45 pm
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Re: Kenneth Hagin--the fasted life |
Carolyn Smith |
Aaron Scott wrote: | I read that Kenneth Hagin, instead of periods of fasting, would seek to lead a "fasted life." He would never eat to fullness. It was his way of trying to keep his heart prepared, I suppose.
I did think it was a good idea. |
Lester Sumrall also believed in living a fasted life. He would never quite clear his plate. Instead of eating until he was completely full, he would leave some of his food to live a "fasted life." _________________ "More of Him...less of me."
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Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 5923 11/14/15 2:47 pm
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Quiet Wyatt |
A 'partial fast' or 'Daniel fast' is like being kind of pregnant. A biblical fast is abstention from food (and sometimes water too) for a period of time. Anything less is a diet, not a fast.
Last edited by Quiet Wyatt on 11/14/15 8:18 pm; edited 1 time in total |
[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 11/14/15 3:23 pm
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Carolyn Smith |
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Carolyn Smith |
Quiet Wyatt wrote: | A 'partial fast' or 'Daniel fast' is like being kind of pregnant. A biblical fast is abtention from food (and sometimes water too) for a period of time. Anything less is a diet, not a fast. |
Back to the original question...is fasting a meal Biblical? _________________ "More of Him...less of me."
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Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 5923 11/14/15 3:36 pm
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Re: Fasting a Meal a Day |
Link |
Carolyn Smith wrote: | I don't find anywhere in the Word where it tells us to fast a meal a day for a certain length of time for a particular need. (Such as, fasting breakfast or lunch for a week.) Yet, I've heard this used as a model for corporate fasts.
Perhaps because it is easier than some other methods? (which is part of the point of fasting...to deny your flesh.)
Any thoughts on this? I'd be interested to hear what others have to say about this. |
I don't see a problem with that, and for people with blood sugar issues, this may be a practical way to fast that doesn't result in some of the health issues that could occur (like dizziness or whatever.)
I can find an example or two of fasting from sunup to sundown in the Bible.
When I was in Indonesia, the typical fast was to fast from food and water from sunup to sundown. Church leaders (at least in the COG) liked to call fast, asking (or telling) their pastors and church volunteers to fast certain days. Ushers and singers would fast on Friday. Some would fast a meal. A lot of them would have no food or water from sunup to sundown. When they ask them to fast for a month, a lot of them skip a meal or do sunup to sundown. Some voluntarily fast from sunup to sundown. My wife does sunup to sundown fasts, or just skip-lunch fasts quite often.
Indonesian days are about 12 hours long, give or take. Near the equator, seasonal differences between lengths of the day are minimized.
I know that Muslims fast from sunup to sundown with no food or water. So I wondered if the way of fasting was from Muslim cultural influence. I studied fasting in the Bible. I couldn't find any example where it says they abstained from food but drank water, but I could find an example or two of fasting water. And I could find the sunup to sundown fast in the Old Testament. A lot of passages don't tell us how they fasted. I suppose we could assume they drank water, but it doesn't say that.
The sunup to sundown fast involves getting up early and skipping a meal. It is more easily doable in the Fall and Spring and especially winter. Long summer days in the northern hemisphere are harder. If you have less than 12 hours of daylight, you can get up early, eat breakfast, and break your fast again after sundown. _________________ Link |
Acts-perienced Poster Posts: 11849 11/14/15 3:42 pm
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Quiet Wyatt |
Carolyn Smith wrote: | Quiet Wyatt wrote: | A 'partial fast' or 'Daniel fast' is like being kind of pregnant. A biblical fast is abtention from food (and sometimes water too) for a period of time. Anything less is a diet, not a fast. |
So Daniel wasn't fasting? |
Not according to the Bible. Nowhere in the Book of Daniel does it refer to the diet Daniel went on as a fast. |
[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 11/14/15 4:46 pm
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UncleJD |
Quiet Wyatt wrote: | Carolyn Smith wrote: | Quiet Wyatt wrote: | A 'partial fast' or 'Daniel fast' is like being kind of pregnant. A biblical fast is abtention from food (and sometimes water too) for a period of time. Anything less is a diet, not a fast. |
So Daniel wasn't fasting? |
Not according to the Bible. Nowhere in the Book of Daniel does it refer to the diet Daniel went on as a fast. |
yup, sorry Carolyn. And I know people are well-meaning when they do these things and its not without benefit, but its not a fast. Now skipping a whole meal, is a Biblical fast I believe, albeit a short one. But having a burger and no fries? not so much |
Golf Cart Mafia Consigliere Posts: 3147 11/14/15 5:01 pm
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Cojak |
Carolyn, I have no idea if it is fasting or not. It is according to how you see fasting, and the reason I guess. I have a son who does some kind of 40 day fast every year, it amazes me.
My daddy fasted food and water, I have never known the number of days he did this. Mama knew, but I never did. Sometimes his place was set at the table other times he was 'out'. But during dad's time I don't think anyone was mentioning 'less' as a fast.
Once I joined the service I learned the (serious) Catholic boys fasted 'individual things' Such as bread, cokes, steak, and even some beer.
I wasn't used to that so I actually never asked why nor how it worked. _________________ Some facts but mostly just my opinion!
jacsher@aol.com
http://shipslog-jack.blogspot.com/ |
01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 11/14/15 5:58 pm
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Carolyn Smith |
Quiet Wyatt wrote: | Carolyn Smith wrote: | Quiet Wyatt wrote: | A 'partial fast' or 'Daniel fast' is like being kind of pregnant. A biblical fast is abtention from food (and sometimes water too) for a period of time. Anything less is a diet, not a fast. |
So Daniel wasn't fasting? |
Not according to the Bible. Nowhere in the Book of Daniel does it refer to the diet Daniel went on as a fast. |
True, it is not referred to as a fast. And it was not for 21 days as most people think. I'll have to do some research on this.
I still don't think the skip a meal thing is in the Bible, either, though. _________________ "More of Him...less of me."
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Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 5923 11/14/15 5:59 pm
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UncleJD |
Carolyn Smith wrote: |
I still don't think the skip a meal thing is in the Bible, either, though. |
According to the English understanding of the word, I believe it is, i.e. the word "breakfast" means exactly that, and its not referring to skipping a whole day, just going a time without food or drink. But Hebrew scholars may be able to further enlighten us. |
Golf Cart Mafia Consigliere Posts: 3147 11/14/15 6:33 pm
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Carolyn Smith |
UncleJD wrote: | Carolyn Smith wrote: |
I still don't think the skip a meal thing is in the Bible, either, though. |
According to the English understanding of the word, I believe it is, i.e. the word "breakfast" means exactly that, and its not referring to skipping a whole day, just going a time without food or drink. But Hebrew scholars may be able to further enlighten us. |
Fasting while you're asleep doesn't seem to be much of a sacrifice. _________________ "More of Him...less of me."
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Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 5923 11/14/15 6:51 pm
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Quiet Wyatt |
Carolyn Smith wrote: | Quiet Wyatt wrote: | Carolyn Smith wrote: | Quiet Wyatt wrote: | A 'partial fast' or 'Daniel fast' is like being kind of pregnant. A biblical fast is abtention from food (and sometimes water too) for a period of time. Anything less is a diet, not a fast. |
So Daniel wasn't fasting? |
Not according to the Bible. Nowhere in the Book of Daniel does it refer to the diet Daniel went on as a fast. |
True, it is not referred to as a fast. And it was not for 21 days as most people think. I'll have to do some research on this.
I still don't think the skip a meal thing is in the Bible, either, though. |
I should hasten to say that, if one feels God is leading them to give up certain foods for a period of time or for good, one should definitely do that, and God will definitely be pleased with such a sacrifice. But such a sacrifice is not a biblical fast. |
[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 11/14/15 7:24 pm
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