PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF FASTING

II Chronicles 7:14 , Matthew 6:16-18

Fasting is defined as abstinence from food or anything that is legitimate in itself  because of any spiritual purpose. Fasting should be done in conjunction with prayer. When done correctly it humbles  and punishes the soul (Psalm 35:13 , 69:10 ) and the prayers of a humble person are more likely to be heard (Ezra 8:21-23). Fasting is more about the condition of the heart, than in the manner that we fast.

OUR WEAPON OF FASTING  (II Corintios10 :3 -4 )

This is the day of practical values​​. Things are measured by whether they produce their intended results. This is true in the world of business and science, it is also true the spiritual realm. We look for the mechanics of success, and shortcuts to conserve time and energy.

Fasting is one of those practices that is thought of as a short cut to getting answers to prayer. Fasting has been ignored by most Christians except as a prescribed duty. To be a winner in the fight between the flesh and spirit, often requires that we resort to additional reinforcements to further strengthening in our spiritual warfare .

There are two powerful centers of domain that  must be overcome in the life of every believer. These are strengths that prevents us from receiving the supernatural things of God as we should. Breaking down these strongholds, enables us to make rapid strides of progress and spiritual advancement . Carnality and unbelief must be conquered so we can truly have victory.

God has given us the spiritual weapon of faith to fight our fleshly nature and unbelief. One of the greatest allies of faith is fasting. Faith and fasting have many things in common. They are so mutual that faith is more efficient, active and developed when this great ally comes to the assistance of faith.

Faith has to fight against our carnal nature , which is made up of our five senses. All knowledge that the natural man has comes through these channels to your brain. Sight, hearing, touch , taste and smell are the senses by which we live. But God does not like us to believe only what we see, hear , feel, etc. The Bible tells us that faith is " the substance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" ( Heb. 11:1 ). Therefore, we must look for more faith to conquer carnality and unbelief, the two things that stop us from enjoying the full blessings of God.

Why is fasting a powerful weapon against carnality and unbelief? Because fasting really hates our five senses, which are the seat of carnality and unbelief. Our five senses are kept in operation by the strength of the "appetite. "Prayer attacks demons and spirits, fasting attacks the flesh and unbelief (I John 3:8 ) . The senses wage war strongly against fasting, this is why many believers are unable to defeat them and enter into a more spiritual life of service to God. Our five senses are opposed to fasting and fasting opposes our senses . When fasting and prayer have free rein without hindrance, the flesh is arrested, then the flesh is forced to surrender and bow to the Spirit. When this is achieved unbelief is destroyed and the Spirit has more access to our lives which is not possible by any other method .

The satisfaction of a full stomach, has resulted in the spiritual failure of many believers. The history of the nation of Israel is an illustration of this fact that shows how quickly a satisfied man forgets his dependence on God (Deut. 6:11-12 ). This is why fasting is very valuable.

Every believer has three enemies : the flesh, the world and the devil. These three, the Lord  defeated for us on the Cross. According to the extent that we defeat these three enemies will determine the extent the  Lord will live His life through us .

Since we have to overcome them by faith in the finished work of Jesus on the Cross, in which He gave us a perfect victory over the flesh, the world and the devil. Then it is clear that what needs to be strengthened and increased is our Faith. The Lord did not leave us without the means to strengthen our faith.

One of the most powerful and effective Biblical methods that God has given us to increase our faith is fasting. If the purpose of our life is to use biblical methods that God has given us so that He may be glorified in our lives we need to learn how to fast more effectively .

We have to understand that fasting is not an end in itself. This is a means of achieving spiritual goals . There is no power in fasting, the power is in Jesus. Fasting is only the believer yielding to God so that He can do in us what He could not do otherwise.

Fasting is a biblical principle that Jesus taught by word and example, for the purpose of growth of every believer. There areas of victory in our lives that will never be realized ​​except by fasting (Matt. 17:21). He taught us by his example how to fast. He did not say if we fast, He said when we fast. In one of his sermons (Matthew 6) Jesus taught three spiritual exercises much needed in the disciplined life of every believer. These three essential spiritual principles are: Giving, Praying and Fasting . The third spiritual principle, fasting, has been almost forgotten by many believers. Including fasting in our lives, a spiritual balance will be reached and our communion with God will be deeply enriched with the consequence of releasing His unlimited power in our lives.

There is a right way to give and also an incorrect. There is a right way and a wrong way to pray and there's a right way and a wrong way to fast (Matthew 6). The 58th chapter of Isaiah tells us much about fasting. The first five verses speak of the wrong way to fast. All remaining verses until the end of the chapter teach us how we should fast, and the benefits of fasting. The motive of fasting should be a clean heart and full of love. Then God will operate to the extent that your fasting and prayer increases in intensity to loosen the bands of wickedness, to remove the heavy burdens, deliver and that you break every yoke . Who would dare to say that there is no need for victory in the world today on these four areas, even within the Church!

The reasons many give for not fasting, are really only excuses, nevertheless the Word of God abides forever (Isí. 58). Fasting is a spiritual exercise (such as prayer) to clean the channel (you) by which the gifts and life of God will flow. God is in charge and He says, "When you give, when you pray, when you fast, do it in the right way and the spiritual benefits will come" (Matt. 6). This is a matter of love and obedience. The people who make excuses for not fasting are the most in need of fasting.

THE MEANING OF FASTING

It is our choice not to eat in order to focus our attention on something more important for us. The simple meaning of fasting is expressed by the Greek word "nesteia" which is translated as voluntary abstinence from food.

Two Hebrew words refer to the practice of fasting. The first means  "retaining all food from the body. " The other describes the effects of fasting as "the affliction of the soul." In the Old Testament it was a form of personal humiliation (Isaiah 58:3-5 , Psalms 35:13 ). Together they communicate the thought of voluntary deprivation of the body, subordinating the soul for spiritual objectives .

HOW WE HUMBLE THE FAST?

We must remember that fasting is the affliction of the soul, not the body. The focus on God is not achieved simply by physical deprivation, it requires exposure of the heart.  Fasting carries out this work called humbling, in several ways.

Fasting is a time for an honest self-examination. We put everything else aside to free our attention for God. As soon we discontinued our external deviations, we discovered a number of interior and defense distractions to know what is in our hearts. By instinct we resist self exposure. But if we persist in honest soul searching, we have the Spirit's help in pointing out areas of unnoticed sin. This conviction causes repentance, grieving for our sins. This process is called rending the heart (Joel 2:13).

Fasting removes many things that quickly pile up and clutter the heart and mind. It oversteps corrosion, renewing our contact with God. The terms of the Old Testament, "the affliction of soul" and "self-abasement" meant removing the mask . This means confronting ourselves.

Abstention from food frees to focus more on God with a fresh intensity and also opens new avenues of spiritual perception and understanding that is not available to us in the rush of our daily routine. When we focus on God through deliberate discipline, God focuses on us in the clarity of direction and renewing our spirit. We can more easily communicate with God when everything else is set aside .

God always calls us to a deeper friendship and closer communion with Him, but for the most part our daily routine activities stops  His call of us. During times of fasting, however, other calls are temporarily suspended and we ourselves to be called into His presence .

Food symbolizes that which is most essential for us. Putting this aside to seek God, we are declaring that He is more important and essential to us. Job expressed this determination to seek God with these words: "I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food " (Job 23:12).

When we focus on Him in prayer and fasting, He looks at our hearts with increased attention. He examines our motivation. He wants to know if we are fasting "for Him." He does not look at the external aspects of the fast or how many meals we missed. He looks at the intent. The religion of some people consists of public spectacle.

REST

Our spirit is assisted in our relaxation before God when we fast . We can receive refreshment and strength from this waiting on God (Isaiah 40:31).

Our rest from food is mandatory if we are to concentrate fully on God. Fasting rest the physical body . Fasting in faith also rest the soul and cleanse our spirit.

Afflict the soul is another name for fasting (Leviticus 16:29-31). Introspection is an important aspect of afflicting our souls. This is the main reason for fasting. Fasting is a real help in calming us of the usual haste and putting aside some time for introspection.

WHY WE FAST?

How should we fast ? First , we must recognize that fasting should not be mechanical and Pharisaic. Fasting is not an end in itself. It is a means of attaining a spiritual purposes.

Do not go on a long fast unless God has called you to do so. If God has called you to go on a long fast, ask Him what type of fast He has called you to do. It assumes that 40 is the magic number. Be sure not to set a goal of fasting longer than the Lord has called you to do. Do not assume that you are going to fast 40 days when He has only given you grace for ten or fifteen days.

Remember the point of fasting is to obey and honor God and draw closer to Him. A renewed approach to God and a greater sensitivity to spiritual things can result from fasting. Many people find that during a long fast, they are able to discern the voice of God more clearly than when they do not fast. But do not be disappointed if you do not have a glorious experience as some have had. Not everyone has this experience. Some just feel tired and irritable and even further away from God in fasting, but find that place of intimacy after they have finished fasting. It is important to have the right motives when we fast. Please do not see fasting as a spiritual way of twisting God's arm and force him to answer your prayer. This does not work that way. Instead , see fasting as a time of separating unto the Lord, putting our seeking of Him above our satisfaction of bodily needs, with the intention of allowing it to touch and change you. Look at fasting as putting you more in tune with Him then trying to get Him to do something for you.

It is very important not to put our focus on the fast as if the act of fasting is worthwhile in itself. Rather, try to keep your focus on God and get more intimate with Him, to be able to hear his heart in a certain matter. But you will be aware that you are not eating, your flesh well begin to clamor for food. This will try to consume your attention.

Sometimes the degree of enemy attacks and spiritual warfare increases on a long fast. The enemy will try to get you to stop fasting. Another common thing that happens when we fast is that subconsciously we expect God to give us special privileges because we are fasting. We expect that He will protect us from the enemy's attack. Guard your expectations during a fast and guard your heart and your attitude. Expect spiritual warfare and enemy attacks to be more intensive than usual when you fast. Do not be disappointed if the fast is not the spiritual experience you expected. There will be times like this, but there will also be many times that will not be like this. In fact, there will be times during a long fast that you will feel "farther away" from God then when you do not fast . This is not surprising.

Our motive in fasting must be to glorify God, not to have an emotional experience, or to achieve personal happiness. When your motives are right, God will honor searching heart and bless your  time with Him. Fasting is not about what you can get from it, with the right motives fasting is an act of worship and an expression of obedience and love for God. As a spiritual discipline, fasting is the act of abstaining from feeding the body to focus more fully in seeking the face of God and nourish the spirit. For the believer the question is not, "Should I fast?", but "I will fast?"