BIBLICAL FASTING

21 Day Fast  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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INTRO:
I hope that you have joined us in what I believe will be a miracle 21 day fast.
We are currently on day 5
We are believing for incredible things
How many people have a life altering health problem? or habit that needs to be broken?
ILL. According to Reviews.org who did a study on Americans in 2024 (released Jan 1, 2025)
The average American looked at their phone 205 times a day (once every five minutes they were awake)
81% check their phone within 10 minutes of waking up
66% use their phone while on the toilet
43% admitted having an addiction to their phones (which is 24% lower than 2023)
On Average Americans spend 5 hours and 1 minute on their phone per day
That’s 2 1/2 months per year
Why Fast?
It does powerful things in the supernatural realm to change things in the natural realm
Throughout Scripture we see the call to Fast and Pray when God’s people were met by a national emergency. We find without exception that God responded in deliverance.
It is a great way to recalibrate us spiritually and sift away the unhealthy habits we so often embrace.
So often, we ask the self-centered question… “What will we gain by it?”
It is expected of us by God
Matthew 9:15 NLT
Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
Fasting today is an act of mourning the absence of the Messiah, and a preparation for His imminent return in the near future.
Matthew 6:16–18 (NLT)
“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.
But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face.
Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Fasting with pure motives is important
A. Old Testament Examples of Fasting
Isaiah 58:1–14 NLT
“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud! Don’t be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sins! Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to learn all about me. They act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me. ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’ “I will tell you why!” I respond. “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord? “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply. “Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes. “Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly. Then the Lord will be your delight. I will give you great honor and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
Fasting was to deal with hypocrisy and cleansing God’s people
God’s main purposes for fasting:
1. v. 6 “Free those wrongly imprisioned” - That God’s people would release those wronged within their midst
- Forgiveness extended to those you have refused to forgive
2. v. 6 “lighten the burden of those who work for you” - Don’t be a task master to those who work for
- Be a good example of Christ’s character
3. v. 6 “let the oppressed go free”
4. v. 6 “remove the chains that bind people.” - In those days it was probably physical chains
5. v. 7 “share your food with the hungry” - To cut back once in a while and give that food or $ to feed the poor (special blessing in scripture!)
6. v. 8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn”
- Light will break forth like the morning; new insight to problems
7. v. 8 “your wounds will quickly heal”
- You will experience healing and miracles
- People with terminal diseases healed by fasting.
- Auto-immune - Joe Cross (Fat Sick and Nearly Dead)
8. v. 8 “your godliness will lead you forward”
9. v. 8b “the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind”
10. v. 9 “Then the Lord will answer your call”
11. v. 10 “Then your light will shine out from darkness”
- You will be my witness to the world.
12. v. 11 “Then the Lord will guide you” “Give you water” “Restore your Strength”
13. v. 12 “Rebuild your cites” “Restore your homes”
David’s fasts:
Psalm 35:13 NLT
Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them, but my prayers returned unanswered.
David humbled himself for God to intervene because of injustice.
2 Samuel 12:17 NLT
The elders of his household pleaded with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused.
2 Samuel 12:23 NLT
But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.”
David fasted for healing and miraculous intervention for his son born out of adultery with Bathsheba
Nehemiah’s fast:
Nehemiah 1:4 NLT
When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.
Nehemiah fasted for favor in the sight of the king to get permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and it was granted.
Mordecai and the Jewish People:
Esther 4:3 NLT
And as news of the king’s decree reached all the provinces, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and wailed, and many people lay in burlap and ashes.
Mordecai and the Jews fasted upon hearing news of Haman’s wicked plot to kill all of the Jew’s. God turned the circumstances around.
Daniels fast:
Daniel 1:15–21 NLT
At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others. God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams. When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service. Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. Daniel remained in the royal service until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus.
- Incredible Wisdom, insight, and ability to interpret dreams
Jehoshaphat’s fast:
2 Chronicles 20:3 NLT
Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting.
- Threatened by a powerful enemy they watched God miraculously deliver them.
B. New Testament Examples of Fasting
Jesus fasted:
Luke 4:1–2 NLT
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.
- Jesus fasted to acknowledge His dependence and to gain spiritual strength through reliance on the Holy Spirit and God’s Word. He did this before He began His public ministry.
The NT church fasted:
Acts 13:1–3 NLT
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. 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.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.
C. Types of Fasts
A. Water only fast – Just drink water (Sodium Magnesium (good before sleep) Potassium are a necessity to our bodies to function and nerves cells to work, people who drink a lot of water and don’t consume enough electrolytes die.)
B. Juice & Water – More energy (juice from organic produce)
Fat Sick and Nearly Dead
Jason Vale Super Juice Me
C. Skip a meal / Intermittent Fasting – Prayer replaces the time you would be eating
D. Daniel – Eat whatever comes out of the ground. Fruits, vegetables (no pleasant foods)
E. Individual
F. Corporate
CONCLUSION:
We are going to end service praying.
For our Nation
Peaceful Transition of Power January 20
Pray against senseless wars and blood shed
That which is darkness be brought to light
Remove people from positions of power that they do not belong in
For our Community
Churches (For good fruit and to be in the Will of God)
Mayor (For wisdom to lead and to have a fear of the LORD)
Schools (Salvation of students and administrators)
Police and Fire (Protection and Wisdom)
Pray for our Church
To see 2 Salvation each week
To see people’s messes turned into miracles
Pray for Protection and Blessing over our peoples: Faith . Family . Finance . Fitness . Friendships
See the church grow by 30% (150 people over the 3 campuses)
Pray that we will see a 30% increase in our general budget income across all of our campuses
Pray that we can reduce our debt by an additional $150,000 in 2025
Pray that we will be prepared to launch a Spanish speaking service by Labor Day 2025
Pray for and forgive our enemies or those who have persecuted us
Pray for visions, revelations, wisdom, and visitations
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