FASTING

FASTING

HAPPY NEW YEAR LIBERTY!!!!!

Pastor Richard and Joan are on Vacation, please keep them in your prayers. They will be back next week

Today I want to talk to you briefly on fasting.

Starting tomorrow we are starting our corporate 21 day fast as we do every January at the beginning of a new year.

I’m excited to see and hear what Holy Spirit is going to do during this fasting season.

The world has caught on to fasting.

You see people doing

Juice fast,

Intermittent fast

Alternate day fasting,

But what is biblical fasting?

Biblical fasting is abstaining from food, and possibly drink, for a limited period of time as a mark of religious commitment, and devotion, or as an expression of repentance for sins.

Kinds of fasting we see in scripture

Abstaining from food, and drink Ezra 10:6. Abstaining from food only 1 Samuels 1:7

Duration of fasting in scripture

One day

Three days

Seven days

21 days

40 days

Scripture identifies a number of situations in which fasting is appropriate. there are different kinds of fast. Let me mention some.

People fasted to seek God’s guidance

Acts 13:1–3 NLT

1 Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

Seeking God’s intervention

Esther 4:15–17

Humble yourself before God

Ezra 8:21

Repentance

1 Samuel 7:6

10 Different Types of Fasts in the Bible

1. The Disciples’ Fast (Matthew 17:21) – For deliverance from sin, addiction, bondage. If we fast, we can break the power of sins and addictions that limit our freedom in Christ.

2. The Ezra Fast (Ezra 8:21-23) – For God’s help in solving problems and for protection from Satan. Ezra said that they prayed and fasted and God answered their request.

3. The Samuel Fast (1 Samuel 7:6) - For revival. The people were bound by idol worship and needed deliverance. Samuel called them to seek God and to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem. If we fast and pray for revival, God will pour Himself out on His people.

4. The Elijah Fast (1 Kings 19:4-8) - Mental freedom from emotional problems or habits. Through fasting, God will show us how to overcome emotional problems and destructive habits.

5. The Widow’s Fast (1 Kings 17:9-16) – Fasting to provide for the needy. The widow went without food to meet the physical needs of someone else. Because she sacrificed her food, God made sure that she had more than enough food.

6. Paul Fast (Acts 9:9) - For physical healing and to get direction from God. If we fast and submit our will to God, He will reveal His will to us.

7. The John the Baptist Fast (Luke 1:15) - To enhance our walk with God and witness. If we fast for the influence of our testimonies to reach others for Christ, God will use us.

8. The Esther Fast (Esther 4:16, 5:2) – For protection from the evil one. If we fast for protection, God will deliver us from evil.

9. The Jesus Fast (Matthew 4:1-2) - For spiritual power and victory over temptation, the flesh and the devil.

10. The Daniel Fast (Daniel 1: 5-21; 10:3) – Fasting for health and to seek God’s favor, purpose and vision for life.

Ways to Fast

• Normal Fast – No food, water only.

• Absolute Fast – Absolutely no food or water (Caution: Should not be undertaken over 3 days and only then if you have a clear directive from the Lord and are in good health).

• Partial Fast – This could mean fasting certain meals of the day or abstaining from certain kinds of foods (i.e.: No meat or sweets, soup only, fruit and vegetables only, etc. In Daniel 10:3, Daniel ate no pleasant bread).

• Juice Fast – Fruit and vegetable juices only.

• Corporate Fast – A church or group of people who feel God has called them to

fast together for a certain period of time.

• Jewish Fasting Period – The Jewish fast began at 6:00 P.M. in the evening and ended the next day at 6:00 P.M. (Some people follow this time period to begin and end fasts.)

• Fasting Plus Prayer — Remember, fasting should be combined with prayer. God called us to fast and pray. If you are fasting a certain meal of the day, use the time you would normally be eating to pray. The combination of prayer and fasting is a powerful way to focus on seeking God for breakthroughs and answers to prayer.

• Fasting and Abstinence — Although the word “fast” is used as abstaining from food in the Bible and does not refer to giving up other things, during a fast one can practice abstinence from other pleasures as well, such as entertainment, TV, hobbies and sex, as spoken about in 1 Corinthians 7:1-5.

Fasting And Prayer

Starting this Tuesday, January 3 at 12 PM in the youth room will be having noon soaking sessions. We want you to come and get saturated in the presence of the Lord. Bring your journals, bring your Bibles as God will be speaking to you. Our noon soaking sessions will be Tuesdays, Thursday, and Fridays in the youth room.

Fasting and Worship

Then on Wednesday nights starting this Wednesday, January 4 at 7 PM for three consecutive weeks ending on January 18. We are gathering in the main auditorium as we fast for a time of prayer and worship.

Fasting Facts

Make sure you download the Liberty app or check the website or go on Instagram Liberty‘s Instagram page for our fasting fax through out the fast.

MY MOTHER FASTED

My mama was and still is a praying woman. But every now and then she needed to supercharge her prayers. So she would inform me and my brothers that she was going on a fast.

We would ask how long? Some times it was 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 14 days and on occasion she would say 21 days.

Now me and my brothers only asked how long for selfish reason. We knew we were gonna have to pray, be quite in the house, and possibly fast with her in some way. So we were not happy when she went on a fast.

My Mama prayed what seemed like 24/7 during those times. She knew what supercharge her prayer life and it was fasting. She is going to be 80 years old next year and she’s still wanting to fast and humble herself before the Lord.

What’s your motive for fasting?

What are the specific needs that you are fasting for?

Isaiah 58:3

Fasting should be a time of self-deprivation in order to focus on God and pleasing Him. (Lev 16:29; Zech 7:5

However these people were only interested in pleasing themselves and continuing in their sins.

Isaiah 58:5

This is a satirical portrayal of the people’s fasting as mere external piety without repentance and righteous acts. Ritualistic and insincere fasting is nothing but pomp. Wearing burlap and ashes are expressions of sorrow and mourning.

Isaiah 58:6-7

True fasting creates an awareness of injustice and oppression and prompts the practitioner to reach out to help the needy in their struggles.

Matthew 25:35-36 and James 1:27

MY FAST MY HEALING ON MY SIDE

December of last year I purpose in my heart that 2022 I was going to fast more. I just felt The Holy Spirit leading me in that direction. January our church fast came and I jump right in.

January 23rd Philip Renner came and he had a new book entitled A Fasted Life (Living A Lifestyle of Intimacy And Power With God). So I purchased the book and immediately started reading it. I devoured that book. I never in my life read a book so fast it shock me. I know ALL the other books I have were like what’s wrong with us you only read half of us.

As I was reading the book the Holy Spirit is speaking to me it time to fast. So I purposed in my heart to go on a 3 day fast and The Holy Spirit immediately said no 7. I was like 7 and He was yeah 7.

So I asked God what type of fast He wanted me to go on He said water I said water He water and some juice. I asked can I watch television and His response was no sports. If you know me you know that I love basketball and sports.

What I discovered as I spent time in the presence of the Lord I didn’t think about T.V. sports, I didn’t think about the Warriors game or the football playoffs matter of fact ALL I wanted to do was spend more and more time with Him.

Time praying, studying, worshiping Him, conversing with Him. He would wake me up at 1, 2 or 3 in the morning and I would stay up and just be in He presence It was such a Delight. I was Delighting in God but guess what He was delighting in me as well. He began to show and tell me things that I always wanted to see and hear.

Because I was in His presence and He was satisfying me and it was such great pleasure and gratifying. When the fast was over I didn’t want it to end. I delighted myself in him and he supplied every need all my longings came from Him.

He even healed my body for two years I’ve been having this constant pain in my side the doctors didn’t know what was going on. I took test after test but God healed me.

God also restore a relationship that I was praying for during the fast. An old family friend. As I was talking with that person I just felt The Father’s Love towards them and immediately ALL the hurt was gone and I forgave that person from my heart.

But it isn’t over I still can quiet all the noise and distractions of this world and go and be with my father who loves me and I can just delight in him. And when I do that I can find so much rest and strength in him. And direction in guidance and all my needs are taken care of.