Power Beyond Human Limits PT 2

1 Kings 19:1-18, Exodus 34:27-35, Matthew 4:1-11

In 1965, 27 year old Angus Barbieri admitted himself to the hospital in an effort to lose weight. At the time he admitted to the hospital he weighted 456 pounds. He was considered morbidly obese and Angus was desirous to reach an ideal healthy weight. He fasted a world record of 382 days or 1 year and 17 days achieving the longest fast ever recorded. During the time he spent in the hospital, Angus consumed: black tea, coffee, water, multi-vitamins, and electrolytes. He was constantly monitored by medical staff and the last few months of his fast he introduced small amounts of sugar and milk into his coffee and tea. At the end of his fast Agnus lost 276 pounds dropping from 456 pounds to his set goal of 180 pounds. He broke fast by eating a boiled egg and a piece of toast. While many would look at this as a miraculous fast, it is not, despite it being a long fast, there is little in the realm of it being miraculous. In fact, one can live without food for a prolonged period of time. Agnus was being supplemented with the proper vitamins and nutrients to sustain his bodies needs. He was medically monitored and thus able to maintain a level of medical health and dietary needs were provided. What his story does teach us, is that fasting can bring incredible benefits to us if we discipline ourselves to engage in fasting with the proper motive.

We are going to look at three individuals in the bible and their fasts.

We find Moses on the top of mount of Sinai, a mount range with great significance as we will see in this study.

Fasting in God’s presence

Notice that Moses is fasting in the presence of God.

What is happening while Moses is fasting in God’s presence?

He is receiving the Ten Commandments.

What were the conditions of Moses’ fast?

He did not eat or drink at all.

Is it humanly possible to go that long without food or water?

No. In fact the longest one could go without food or water is ~7 days.

There have been some recorded instances of surviving longer in extreme survival situations, but many of those were about 8 days. One person who claimed to have survived 18 days in a damp cell with condensation (which it is believed that he licked the condensation to survive).

A man named Bobby Sands went on a hunger strike for 66 days but did drink fluids.

How did Moses survive so long without food and water?

God supernaturally sustained him.

Fasting Transformation

How did Moses appear when he came down from mount Sinai?

His skin shone brightly.

Ladies, he had the new toner on, the one that really gives you that shine you always dreamed about.

What did Moses have to wear?

A veil.

It probably looked and felt weird for Moses to have a veil. But the difference it made on Moses while he fasted in God’s presence had a lasting effect on him. It was not permanent, but he did have a physical change because of fasting.

Fasting offers many health benefits, some of which include:

Metabolic Health

Improved insulin sensitivity – Helps the body use glucose more efficiently.

Lower blood sugar – Can help manage or prevent type 2 diabetes.

Better cholesterol profile – Often lowers triglycerides and may raise HDL (“good” cholesterol).

Reduced blood pressure – Particularly with repeated intermittent fasting.

Cellular Repair & Longevity

Autophagy activation – The body breaks down and recycles damaged cells and proteins.

DNA repair mechanisms – Stress response pathways (like sirtuins) turn on, protecting cells from damage.

Stem cell regeneration – Especially after multi-day fasts, supporting immune renewal.

Brain & Mental Health

Increased BDNF – Supports brain cell growth and protection, possibly lowering risk of neurodegenerative disease.

Improved mental clarity & focus – Common during ketosis.

Reduced inflammation in the brain – May support mood stability.

Weight & Body Composition

Fat loss – Uses stored body fat as energy.

Preservation of lean muscle – Especially in shorter fasts or when paired with resistance exercise.

Inflammation & Immunity

Lower systemic inflammation – Beneficial for arthritis, asthma, and other inflammatory conditions.

Immune system “reset” – Encourages production of new immune cells after prolonged fasts.

Digestive & Hormonal Health

Gives the gut a rest – May improve gut barrier function and microbiome diversity.

Balances hunger hormones – Can reduce levels of ghrelin (the hunger hormone) over time.

At what durations of fasting do some of these begin to take place?

0–12 Hours

Main change: Blood sugar begins to drop as your body uses stored glycogen from the liver.

Benefits:

Lowered insulin levels.

Slight improvement in insulin sensitivity.

Rest from constant digestion.

12–24 Hours

Main change: Glycogen stores deplete; the body begins shifting to fat-burning mode (ketogenesis starting).

Benefits:

Beginning of autophagy (cell cleanup/recycling damaged proteins).

Lower blood sugar and insulin.

Early anti-inflammatory effects.

24–48 Hours

Main change: Ketone levels rise; fat becomes the main fuel.

Benefits:

Enhanced autophagy.

Increased production of brain-protective compounds (BDNF – Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor).

Clearer thinking and mental focus for many people.

Boost in human growth hormone (HGH), aiding muscle preservation.

48–72 Hours

Main change: Insulin reaches very low baseline; ketosis deepens.

Benefits:

Immune system reboot begins — stem cells start regenerating immune cells (seen in some studies).

Strong anti-inflammatory effects.

Significant fat burning.

May reduce some markers of chronic disease risk.

3–5 Days

Main change: The body is fully adapted to fat and ketones.

Benefits:

Major autophagy and cell regeneration.

Enhanced immune system reset (Valter Longo studies).

May promote healthier gut microbiome diversity.

Risks: Higher chance of nutrient deficiencies and electrolyte imbalances without supervision.

5–7 Days

Main change: Continued ketosis and deep autophagy.

Benefits:

Potential reduction in autoimmune symptoms (reported in some patients).

May reduce blood pressure and improve cholesterol ratios.

Risks: Significant loss of lean mass possible; must manage electrolytes.

Over 7 Days

Main change: Body in full preservation mode; metabolism slows.

Benefits: Mostly spiritual/mental discipline unless done with medical oversight — physical benefits plateau for most people.

Risks: Muscle wasting, electrolyte imbalance, heart rhythm problems, fainting — not recommended without professional supervision.

It is not recommended to engage in long fasting (over 7 days, I would advise you not to do it.).

I simply want you to be informed and know that it is impossible to fast for such a prolonged period as Moses did without supernatural intervention.

Let’s look at our second person of interest.

1 Kings 19:1-18

Here we find Elijah. One of my favorite bible characters because his high and low is shown to us in scripture. I can relate to his feelings.

Fasting in Opposition

What state do we find Elijah in the beginning of the chapter?

Fear.

Why is he afraid?

Jezebel has threatened to take his life.

What is the backstory to this event?

God used Elijah to overcome the false prophets of Baal on Mt Carmel.

How did Elijah react to this news?

He request that he might die.

I don’t know about you, but for me, when things are bad or not going well, my appetite is low. I imagine Elijah having a fairly low appetite at this point of him fleeing into the wilderness and collapsing under the tree exhausted and depressed.

I think we all could relate to a situation like this in our lives. The stress and opposition outwardly affecting our emotional and physical state.

Fasting in the Journey

What happens to Elijah when he is under the tree?

An Angel touches him and tells him to eat.

Who is this angel of the LORD?

This typically denotes a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ rather than a prophet sent by God.

We call this a Christophany in theology and it is significant to the source

What does the angel tell Elijah the second time he instructs him to eat?

The journey is too great for thee.

The truth is that the journey of life is too great, many trials and tribulations are more than we can bear in life.

Sometimes it is fasting that will carry us through the difficult points in our journey of life.

Fasting is what draws us closer to God, and draws us away from the things we depend on in this world, whether it is food or material.

Does the Bible say that Elijah went without food and water?

No, but it is implied.

It is implied by the angel instructing him to “eat and drink” as if it would be the last he would partake of both. Traditionally it is believed that Elijah did fast without food and water. Thus it connects him to the same supernatural fast of Moses.

Fasting for the Whisper

What happened to Elijah when he got to mount Horeb?

God spoke to him.

What reason did Elijah give for coming there?

He felt alone as if he was the only one left serving God.

How did Elijah react when he heard the still small voice?

He wrapped his face with his mantle.

This was a sign of humility and reverence before God and knowing that he was standing in God’s presence.

Elijah wrapped his face in his mantle as a gesture of humility and reverence when he sensed God's presence in the "still small voice" at Mount Horeb[1]. This action was a common Jewish response when one believed they might be in the presence of God[2]. Wrapping his face demonstrated Elijah's awareness of his unworthiness and inability to directly face God's glory[1][3]. It also signified a sense of awe and godly fear, as Elijah recognized the special nature of this divine encounter[1][4]. The act of covering his face may have been prompted by his need for shelter as he stood at the entrance of the cave[3]. This humble response to God's presence was seen as a positive spiritual attitude, showing Elijah's willingness to acknowledge his own limitations before the divine[1][5].

[1] David Guzik, 1 Kings, David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible (Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik, 2005), 1 Ki 19:13–15. [2] Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah : A Study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events, Rev. ed. (Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 2003), 767. [3] Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible, vol. 1 (New York: Robert Carter and Brothers, 1853), 704. [4] Matthew Bryce Ervin and Joel Richardson, The Divine Messenger: Appearances of the Son of God in the Old Testament (Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock, 2023). [5] C. H. Spurgeon, “God’s Gentle Power,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 62 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1916), 69–70.

Fasting Revives

Was Elijah really alone? Did God mention others who were faithful servants?

Elijah was not alone. God revealed to Elijah that there were still seven thousand in Israel who have not bowed to Baal.

What actions did Elijah take after receiving this news?

He started recruiting.

How do you think Elijah’s spirit felt after he left mount Horeb?

Refreshed, revived, and encouraged.

Fasting can refresh our hearts and minds. It brings to light all that is important in our lives. It gives an unexplainable strength to our soul and spirit.

Lastly we will look at Jesus, who also fasted for 40 days.

Matthew 4:1-11

Fasting in Temptation

Notice that Jesus is being tempted.

Did Jesus fast both without food and water?

Though it is not explicitly stated, it is held that Jesus did fast without food and water as this is a direct connection to Moses and Elijah.

I will say, that even if Jesus did drink water during this time, it is still an example of a very long fast, even to a supernatural degree. A fast lasting 40 days with no food and water is miraculous.

Why would fasting in temptation be beneficial?

What is the devil tempting Jesus with?

Food.

Would it have been wrong for Jesus to turn the stones into bread if He wanted to do so under normal circumstances?

No, Jesus did turn the water into wine.

Since it is a temptation, it would be considered sin.

Sometimes, what we do in our state of fasting may not be sinful, but it is possible that during that time, when we are spending time in God’s presence and communion, it would not be wise to break that fast.

We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit while we fast, so that we know what is the correct time and moment to end our fast.

There are three temptations that the devil is using here, all the same old tatics:

The lust of the flesh.

The lust of the eyes.

The pride of life.

All these are the same temptations from the beginning, and the devil’s tactics have not changed, simply the devices in which he executes them.

Fasting in Truth

How did Jesus respond to the devil during His temptation?

“It is written”

Our fasting needs to be focused on God’s word and a focus on communion with Him.

Fasting should revolve around meditating on God’s word and rehearsing it in our hearts, mind, and our lips.

The only way we can combat the attack of satan is with the word of God.

Fasting in Triumph

What happens at the end of Jesus’ temptation?

Angels minister to Him.

Fasting brings a different type of triumphal reward, it brings a supernatural ministering from the LORD that nothing else in this world can achieve.

It is not that we boast in a triumph because we fasted, but we partake in the spiritual triumph that fasting yields when the Holy Spirit rains out blessing to our soul.

Let me ask you, what do you desire more:

To hear God whisper a secret into your heart or to have all that the world covets?

What are the common threads?

What does the number 40 represent in the bible?

Testing, preparation, or transformation.

What significant events in the bible are marked by 40?

The flood lasted 40 days

The children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years

Jonah preached 40 days in Ninevah

What about locations?

Moses and Elijah were both on mount Sinai (also called Horeb).

Jesus was in the wilderness.

What else ties these three together in location?

Jesus will be with Moses and Elijah on the mount of Transfiguration. All three are the only people in the bible who fasted 40 days.

What is the divine significance of these fasts?

Non of these fasts are biologically possible without supernatural aid.

In each case God directly sustains His servant:

Moses: In God’s presence, physically transformed his face.

Elijah: Empowered by angelic food for a 40 day journey.

Jesus: Sustained until angels minister to Him afterwards.

What is the transfiguration connection?

The only three in the bible to have fasted 40 days.

Moses represents the law, Elijah represents the prophets, and Jesus fulfills them both.

The meeting on the mount of transfiguration reveals that Jesus is the fulfillment of them and the unity of God’s plan throughout history.

The mention of the 40 day fast is not simply that it is mentioned as a note, there is significant events happening that surround them.

The 40-day fasts are not just personal discipline — they are cosmic preparation points:

Moses — Receives God’s covenant law for Israel.

Elijah — Restored as God’s prophet to call Israel back.

Jesus — Overcomes Satan’s temptation to inaugurate the New Covenant.

To conclude today’s study, what are some tips to fasting that could help me fast beyond 1-2 days?

Drink water, stay hydrated (electrolytes for prolonged fast).

Drink black tea or coffee (plain).

Drink sparkling water.

Stay active.

Read the Bible and pray.