*[[Mat 6:16-18]] KJV*
16Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
The modern church says a fast is to abstain from anything you enjoy for a set time. The purpose for fasting and its effects are different depending on who you ask; most of those answers at best allude to scripture but few are cemented into the word.
Jesus said when you fast (not if), so it is important that we understand the hows and whys.
The word translated fast is specifically about not eating food but I have heard it said some people "fast" from doing certain things. I will leave that between the saint and God; for the motive to fast must come from your Father and you in the secret place(what Paul called the inner man).
That being said the word does not mean, necessarily, a complete abstinence from food. Daniel is an example of this; in chapter one Daniel and his friends have been taken into the house of the king of Babylon.
The king had given a portion of meat and wine for each but the friends not wanting to violate Gods word asked to be given only vegetables and water. The eunuch in charge of them was scarred that they would be drawn and unhealthy but found that they actually looked healthier than those around them.
Jesus tells us that the hypocrites disfigure their face in order for men to notice their fasting; as such the honor of men is all they seek and all they can receive.
Our Lord goes on to say that we should not appear to fast on the outside but instead, as with prayer, it is to be unto God in your secret place.
Isaiah chapter 58 verse 1-7 are a great source for proper fasting.
*[[Isa 58:1-7]] KJV*
1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.
3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
We see in verse one and two that to the outside appearance Israel seems to be eagerly serving God. However the judge of men's hearts sees things quite differently.
In verse three we see them complaining against God that they have fasted and he has not noticed, but our God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek HIM not what they can be rewarded
A wicked motive for fasting is to:
attempt to make God react
Take pleasure from forcing or convincing others they should do as you do
To show piety and draw men to their side of a dispute, create contention, as a way to wound others.
A fast God will not recognize:
Is to weaken the body by affliction
To bow ones head as worthless Or with false humility
In my own words: a fast to God is not to degrade oneself...do we really believe God is pleased by this. God determined we were worth the life of our Lord.
C.S. Lewis said "humbleness is not to think less of oneself but to think of oneself less" and I think that says it pretty well.
What fast does God approve of:
That which is not for self purpose but for others sake to break every yoke, free those who are bound, relieve heavy loads, see the delivery of the oppressed, share our bread with the hungry, bring the poor to our house, cover the naked, that we pour out our life for others.... All these things both in the natural and spiritual.
In the rest of chapter 58&59 show us the results of such a fast. As with all things: it is about giving not receiving. Our providence is in our trust that the Lord will provide what is needful.
Rick Rosamond
A bond slave of Jesus
