Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
How fasting was done in Bible times
Lengths of fasting
1-day fast - also called Yom Kippur fast
3 days fast
Esther - Esther 4.16
7 days
David - 2 Samuel 12.15-17
40 days
Moses - Exodus 34.28
Kinds of Fasting
Normal fast
The normal fast is going without food for a definite period during which you ingest only liquids (water and/or juice).
The duration can be 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 1 month or 40 days.
Extreme care should be taken with longer fasts
Absolute fast
The absolute fast allows no food or water at all, and should be short.
Moses fasted for 40 days; but this would kill anyone without supernatural intervention, and should never be attempted today.
Be sure to test the spirit that tries to talk you into a 40-day fast
Moses and Jesus practiced absolute fasts at least once.
Partial fast
The partial fast is one that omits certain foods or is on a schedule that includes limited eating.
It may consist of omitting one meal a day.
Eating only fresh vegetables for several days is also a good partial fast.
John Wesley are only bread and water for many days.
Elijah practiced partial fast at least twice.
John the Baptist and Daniel with his three friends also practiced partial fasting.
Rotational fast
A rotational fast consists of eating or omitting certain families of foods for designated periods.
For example, grains may be eaten only every fourth day.
The various food families are rotated so that some food is available each day.
Main Points
The Purpose of Fasting
To humble the soul
Psalm 35.13
Psalm 69.10
To seek the Lord
2 Chronicles 20.3-4
Ezra 8.21, 23
To prepare for spiritual warfare
Matthew 17.21
When to Fast?
When facing the judgment of God
1 Kings 21.27-29
Joel 1.14
Joel 2.12-14
During periods of national mourning
1 Samuel 31.11-13
When challenged by personal concerns
2 Samuel 12.15-17
When facing danger
2 Chronicles 20.2-3
Ezra 8.21-23
Esther 4.15-16
When seeking guidance concerning current and future events
Daniel 9.1-4
When engaged in spiritual warfare
Mark 9.29
When ordaining ministers to the ministry
Acts 13.2-3
Acts 14.23
Activities that Accompany Fasting
Personal demeanour
Matthew 6.17
Prayer
Fasting is really praying in a deeper level.
Abstinence from sexual contact
1 Corinthians 7.5
confession of sin
1 Samuel 7.6
Nehemiah 9.1-3
Humiliation
Psalm 35.13
1 Kings 21.27
Worship
Nehemiah 9.1-3
Reading the Scriptures
Nehemiah 9.3
Jeremiah 36.6, 10
God’s Chosen Fast
Israel’s hypocritical fast
Isaiah 58.3-5
“you find pleasure” - you entertain yourself while fasting
“you exploit all your labourers” - you commit sin against God and others
“you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of unrighteousness” - you intend to do harm against other people, to exalt yourselves above them
Fasting that pleases God
Isaiah 58.6-8
“to loose the bonds of wickedness”
“to undo the heavy burdens”
“to let the oppressed go free”
“to share your bread with the hungry” and care for the poor
The Rewards of the Right Fast
Isaiah 58.8-12
“your light shall break forth like the morning”
“your healing shall spring forth speedily”
“your righteousness shall go before you”
the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard”
“you shall call and the LORD will answer”
“your light shall dawn in the darkness”
“your darkness shall be as noonday”
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