WHEN YOU FAST / MATTHEW 6:16

(KJV) Matthew 6:16

Moreover 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.

In the Bible, fasting refers to the discipline of abstaining from food for a limited time in order to give greater attention to spiritual matters. Although it is often linked with prayer, it can be a spiritual exercise all its own. In fact, fasting can be called “prayer without words,” in which case our time without food should be an intense time of listening to God, trying to gain a sense of His direction and meditating on His Word (pondering its principles over and over to consider how they apply to specific situations in our lives).

1. There are three main forms of fasting presented in the Bible. 

1. The normal fast: abstaining from all food, solid or liquid, but not from water (Matthew 4:2).
2. The absolute fast: abstaining from both food and water (Esther 4:16; Acts 9:9). Normally this kind of fast should not be for more than three days because the body then begins to dehydrate. (Because of certain physical reasons, some people cannot endure such an extreme fast; anyone who intends to go on an extended fast would be wise to seek direction from someone who is knowledgeable in this area, such as a physician.) Moses and Elijah experienced the absolute fast for 40 days, but only under supernatural conditions (Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:9, 18; 1 Kings 19:8). 
3. The partial fast: a restricted diet rather than complete abstinence from food (Daniel 10:3).

2. Christ Himself practiced fasting (Luke 4:2) and taught that it should be a part of Christian devotion and an act of preparation for His return (Matthew 9:15). The New Testament church practiced fasting (Acts 13:2-3; 14:23; 27:33)
3. Fasting with prayer has several purposes:

1. To honor God (Matthew 6:16-18; Zechariah 7:5; Luke 2:37; Acts 13:2)
2. To humble ourselves and put spiritual concerns above our own desires (Ezra 8:21; Psalms 69:10; Isaiah 58:3) so that we may experience more of God’s power (1 Peter 5:5) and presence (Isaiah 57:15; 58:6-9)
3. To mourn over personal sin and failure (1 Samuel 7:6; Nehemiah 9:1-2)
4. To mourn over the sins of the church, nation and world (1 Samuel 7:6; Nehemiah 9:1-2)
5. To seek grace -God’s undeserved favor and blessing – for a new task and to reaffirm our devotion to God (Matthew 4:2)
6. To deepen our relationship with God and strengthen our resistance against spiritual forces of evil (Judges 20:26; Ezra 8:21, 23, 31; Jeremiah 29:12-14; Joel 2:12; Luke 18:3; Acts 9:10-19);
7. To show repentance (remorse for sin, readiness to turn from our own way and surrender to God) -both for ourselves and for God’s people as a whole – so that God has a reason to change His plan of judgment (2 Samuel 12:16, 22; 1 Kings 21:27-29; Jeremiah 18:7-8; Joel 2:12-14; Jonah 3:5, 10)
8. To rescue people from slavery to evil (Isaiah 58:6; Matthew 17:14-21; Luke 4:18)
9. To gain spiritual insight and wisdom concerning God’s will (Isaiah 58:5-6, 11; Daniel 9:3, 21-22; Acts 13:2-3) 
10. To open the way for the Holy Spirit to operate powerfully among God’s people as He prepares them for Christ’s return (Matthew 9:15).

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1. IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE / MATTHEW 6:15
2. IF YOU FORGIVE / MATTHEW 6:14
3. DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE / MATTHEW 6:13
4. FORGIVE AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN / MATTHEW 6:12
5. DAILY BREAD / MATTHEW 6:11
6. YOUR WILL BE DONE / MATTHEW 6:10
7. THIS THEN IS HOW YOU SHOULD PRAY / MATTHEW 6:9
8. PRAY IN SECRET / MATTHEW 6:6
9. ‘ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS’ BEFORE MEN / MATTHEW 6:1
10. DO NOT RESIST AN EVIL PERSON / MATTHEW 5:39
11. LOOKS LUSTFULLY / MATTHEW 5:28
12. ANGRY … RACA … FOOL / MATTHEW 5:22
13. UNLESS YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:20
14. GREAT IN THE KINGDOM / MATTHEW 5:19
15. THE LAW TO FULFILL / MATTHEW 5:17
16. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS / MATTHEW 5:14-16
17. PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:10
18. THE PEACEMAKERS / MATTHEW 5:9
19. THE PURE IN HEART / MATTHEW 5:8
20. THE MERCIFUL / MATTHEW 5:7
21. HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:6
22. THE MEEK / MATTHEW 5:5
23. THOSE WHO MOURN / MATTHEW 5:4
24. BLESSED POOR IN SPIRIT / MATTHEW 5:3
25. SERMON ON THE MONT / MATTHEW 5-7
26. THE KINGDOM AND HEALING / MATTHEW 4:23
27. FISHERS OF MEN / MATTHEW 4:19
28. IT IS WRITTEN / MATTHEW 4:6
29. FASTING FORTY DAYS / MATTHEW 4:2
30. JESUS … TEMPTED / MATTHEW 4:1-11
31. THE TRINITY IN EXAMPLE / MATTHEW 3:17
32. SPIRIT … ON HIM / MATTHEW 3:16
33. JESUS … BAPTIZED / MATTHEW 3:13
34. WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / MATTHEW 3:11
35. FRUIT IN KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE / MATTHEW 3:8
36. PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES / MATTHEW 3:7
37. KINGDOM OF HEAVEN – REPENT / MATTHEW 3:2
38. WARNED IN A DREAM / MATTHEW 2:22-23
39. ESCAPE TO EGYPT / MATTHEW 2:13
40. CHIEF PRIESTS AND TEACHERS OF THE LAW / MATTHEW 2:4
41. HEROD – MAGI / MATTHEW 2:1
42. NO UNION WITH HER UNTIL / MATTHEW 1:25
43. VIRGIN … GIVE BIRTH TO A SON / MATTHEW 1:23
44. JESUS / MATTHEW 1:21
45. MARY … JESUS / MATTHEW 1:16
46. CHRIST – SON OF DAVID / MATTHEW 1:1
47. GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST / MATTHEW 1:1-16
48. I AM WITH YOU / MATTHEW 28:20
49. KILL ALL THE BOYS / MATTHEW 2:16
50. FORGIVENESS OF SINS / MATTHEW 26:28
51. SATAN / MATTHEW 4:10
52. DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS / MATTHEW 25:41
53. MONEY / MATTHEW 6:24
54. GO … MAKE DISCIPLES … BAPTIZING / MATTHEW 28:19
55. SALT OF THE EARTH / MATTHEW 5:13
56. YOU ARE WORTH MORE / MATTHEW 10:31
57. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME

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Summary

Article Name

WHEN YOU FAST / MATTHEW 6:16

Description

In the Bible, fasting refers to the discipline of abstaining from food for a limited time in order to give greater attention to spiritual matters.

Author

Margarita Crews

Publisher Name

Guided By Grace

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