Effective fasting

1. TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS

2. GRACIOUS JESUS
4. KINGDOM LIFESTYLE PART 2
True
Righteousness
How to Pray
Fasting
Permanent Wealth
Averting Anxiety

3. FASTING
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
Matt 6:16-18
 Objectives
 Bible Passages
 Reasons for Fasting
 Ritual Fasting
 Righteous Fasting
 Result of Fasting
 Recap
 Discussion

4. FASTING
OBJECTIVES
To understand:
 And acquire the right motives for fasting
 The benefits and impact of fasting
 The biblical perspective on fasting
 Other equivalents of fasting

5. FASTING
BIBLE PASSAGES
16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy
like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their
faces that their fasting may be seen by others.
Truly, I say to you, they have received their
reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head
and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may
not be seen by others but by your
Father who is in secret. And your Father who
sees in secret will reward you. Matt 6
Cf: Isaiah 58

6. WHAT IS FASTING?
Self denial (usually food). Humbling, and
smiting of the soul to mourn for sin of
self, others and the nation.
Fasting is always associated with prayer
and right living.
A fast is a day to afflict the soul; if it
does not express true sorrow for sin,
and does not promote the putting away
of sin, it is not a fast. [1]

7. REASONS FOR
FASTING
 Protection from evil: on the Lord’s mission (Ezra 8:21), of the Lord’s
people (Esther 4:16)
 Release from demons, bondage: Mark 9:29, Isaiah 61:1
 Afflict Soul: 1 Kings 21:27-29; 1 Samuel 7:6; Joel 2:12-15; Daniel 9:3
 Yield to God’s will: Is 58:5,6; Matt 26:39
 Empower God’s leaders: Acts13:3,14:23
 Repentance: Daniel 9:5, Nehemiah 9:1-3
 Salvation: 2 Samuel 12:16, Jonah 3:5-9, Luke 2:37

8. RITUAL FASTING
‘Why have we fasted, and
you see it not?
Why have we humbled
ourselves, and you take
no knowledge of it?’
Behold, in the day of
your fast you seek your
own pleasure,
and oppress all your
workers.
4 Behold, you fast only to
quarrel and to fight Isaiah
58:3,4; Matt 6:16; Jer
14:11-12

9. RIGHTEOUS FASTING
6 “Is not this the
fast that I choose:
to loose the
bonds of
wickedness,
to undo the
straps of the yoke,
to let the
oppressed go free,
and to break
every yoke?

10. RIGHTEOUS FASTING
Is it not to share
your bread with the
hungry
and bring the
homeless poor into
your house;
when you see the
naked, to cover him,
and not to hide
yourself from your
own flesh? Isaiah
58:7

11. RESULT OF RITUAL
FASTING
11 The Lord said to me:
“Do not pray for the
welfare of this people. 12
Though they fast, I will not
hear their cry, and though
they offer burnt offering
and grain offering, I will
not accept them. But I will
consume them by the
sword, by famine,
and by pestilence.”
Jer 14:11-12

12. RESULT OF
RIGHTEOUS FASTING
Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you;
the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you take away the yoke from your midst,
the pointing of the finger, and speaking
wickedness,
Isaiah 58:8-11

13. RESULT OF
RIGHTEOUS FASTING
10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday.
11 And the Lord will guide you continually
and satisfy your desire in scorched
places
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:8-11

14. FASTING- RECAP
Protection from evil:( Ezra 8:21), (Esther 4:16)
Release from bondage: Mark 9:29, Isaiah 61:1
Afflict soul: 1 Kings 21:27-29; 1 Samuel 7:6; Joel 2:12-15;
Yield to God’s will: Is 58:5,6; Matt 26:39
Empower God’s leaders: Acts13:3,14:23
Repentance: Daniel 9:3-5, Nehemiah 9:1-3
Salvation: 2 Samuel 12:16, Jonah 3:5-9, Luke 2:37

15. DISCUSSION
1. Why does Jesus tell the disciples not to fast in his presence
(Luke 5:33)?
2. Compare Isaiah 58:7 with Matt 25:35-40. Who should the
feeding, covering, clothing be directed at? (v 40)
3. How does the above compare with Christ’s ministry in Isaiah
61:1 and impact our calling as His disciples?
4. How does this contradict proponents of social gospel who use
this passage to elicit funds for the poor?
5. What promises, encouragement and reward can we draw
from fasting?(Matt 6:18; Isaiah 58:1-11)

16. REFERENCES
1. Matthew Henry Commentary
2. Elliot’s Commentary for English Readers