Q&A - November 2021

Fasting under the New Testament: Is it essential, necessary, required? - What exactly is fasting? - What does it do physically, emotionally, and spiritually?

What exactly is fasting

2 Sam. 12: 16-20

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (Chapter 6)

16 “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 17 “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

2 types of fasting

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 6

5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners bso that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

2 types of fasting

2 - Is it essential, necessary, required?

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (Chapter 6)

16 “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (Chapter 2)

18 John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and they came and said to Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “While the bridegroom is with them, the attendants of the bridegroom cannot fast, can they? So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 “But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.

3 - What does it do physically, emotionally, and spiritually?

Born of Water and the Spirit: Where does it begin?

First: Discuss the passage (John 3:1-6)

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (Chapter 3)

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (Chapter 3)

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (Chapter 3)

4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (Chapter 3)

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Second: Break down the phrase (:5)

Born

Of Water

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (Chapter 5)

(Ephesians 5:25-26)

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

and the Spirit

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (Chapter 1)

(1 Peter 1:21)

21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.