2008-04-13 – Jesse Jenkins – Fasting

// April 14th, 2008 // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

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Fasting
By Jesse Jenkins
Benchley, April 13, 2008

  • As far as I can ascertain, God never commanded a regular fast day for the Jews.
    • Leviticus 23:26-31 – possibly there was a fast involved here.
  • God did on occasion command a fast. Joel 1:14; 2:12
  • Zechariah 8:19 – the Jews sometimes fasted of their own accord.
    • Zechariah 7:5-7 – God did accept their fast when they did it unto the Lord.
    • Jeremiah 52:4 – the fast of the tenth month
    • Jeremiah 52:12-14 – the fast of the fifth month
    • Jeremiah 41:1-2 – the fast of the seventh month
  • I Samuel 7:6 – fasts could be done with God’s approval
    • I Samuel 31:13 – fasting after Saul and Jonathan’s deaths. II Samuel 1:12
    • Ezra 8:21 – fast at the river Ahava
    • Esther 4:16 – fasting for Esther
    • Psalms 35:13 – David fasted for the sick
    • Jonah 3:5 – Ninevah fasts
  • Fasting in the New Testament
    • Matthew 4:1-2 – Jesus fasts
    • Acts 9:9 – Saul fasts
    • Matthew 6:16-18 – to be acceptable, you must fast with the right motivation
    • Acts 13:1-3 – the church fasts before sending out Paul and Barnabas
    • Acts 14:23 – elders ordained with prayer and fasting
  • Summary
    • One must not fast to be seen of men.
    • Fasting is not a local church function.
    • One may fast of his own accord.
    • One may acceptable fast to God if he has the right motivation.
    • Fasting unto the Lord is not a ritual.
    • Many of us have fasted without even realizing it was a fast until later.
    • Simply put, fasting is being more concerned with spiritual things than physical things.
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