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How to Fast According to the Bible
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Jul 20, 2024
Fasting is one of the most powerful spiritual tools that a Christians can use in their walk with God. While people recognize the importance of fasting, most don't know how to do it according to the Bible. If we are not careful, our fasting can be unacceptable to God, making it useless and vain. So, how do you fast according to the Bible? That's exactly what you will learn today! ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ 📌 Join our Teach Us to Pray Course ➤ https://becomingchristiansacademy.com/b/teach-us-to-pray-course 📌 Read the blog version of this video here, "How Should Christians Fast?": https://becomingchristians.com/2016/08/24/how-should-christians-fast/ 📌 Join our FREE masterclass, "The 7 Indispensable Qualities of Highly Effective Prayer" ➤ https://becomingchristiansacademy.com/order?link=9bTLV&free_preview_mode=1 📌 Check out our best online courses at Becoming Christians Academy ➤ https://becomingchristiansacademy.com/ ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
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What is the best way to fast according to the Bible
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This is an important question for us to answer. The Bible reveals that we can be fasting, but we are not truly pleasing to God
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If we don't know how to properly fast, our sacrifices might become in vain
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So today, we want to know, how should you fast? We are going to answer this question straight from the Bible
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Hello everyone, I'm Joshua Infantado of Becoming Christian Academy, the best online course for you if you want to become a zealous, faithful, and blessed child of God
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Today, I want to share with you the biblical way of fasting
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Did you know that we can be fasting and yet God will not acknowledge it
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There is a right way and the wrong way of fasting. If you are to harness the power of fasting
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we need to know what the Bible really says about the proper way of fasting
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We can fast and still not be pleasing to God. There are plenty of ways that we can fast in vain
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The Bible clearly talks about how we should properly fast. First, let us take a look at what Christ said about how we should fast
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Let's read Matthew 6 verse 16. Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites
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hypocrites with a sad continence, for they disfigure their faces so that
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they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly I say to you
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they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash
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your face so that you do not appear to men to be fasting
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but your father who is in the secret place. And your father
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who sits in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 616 provides valuable lessons on fasting and importance of sincerity and humility in our spiritual practices
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Here are some key lessons we can learn from this verse. Avoid hypocrisy
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Jesus warns against fasting with a hypocritical attitude, where one seeks to impress others with their piety
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rather than genuinely seeking God. Hypocratical fasting focuses on outward appearances, rather than the condition of the heart
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Second, maintain joy. Fasting is a solemn and serious practice, but it should not be accompanied by a gloomy or sad countenance Instead Yeshua instructs his followers to maintain a joyful demeanor even while fasting
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reflecting an inner confidence in God's provision and grace. Next, seek God's approval
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The primary audience of our fasting is God himself, not other people
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Rather than seeking recognition or approval from others, we are called to focus on pleasing God and drawing closer to him through our fasting
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Next, practice humility. Think of fasting as a humble heart to heart with God
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It's like acknowledging to him, hey, I'm not in control. I need you to be in my life
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It's a moment to put aside our pride in our ego and recognize that we're not self-sufficient
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We're utterly reliant on his wisdom. and grace. Finally, trust in God's reward
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Yeshua assures his followers that when they fast with sincerity and humility
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their father who sees in secret will reward them openly. This highlights the importance of trusting in God's faithfulness
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and the ultimate reward he provides for those who seek him wholeheartedly
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In summary, Matthew 616 reminds us to approach fasting with sincerity, humility, and
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desire to please God rather than seeking recognition or approval from others
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It teaches us to prioritize our relationship with God above all else
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and trust in his faithfulness to reward those who seek him in secret
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The prophet Isaiah has something to say about fasting as well. In Isaiah 58, the people asked why God did not recognize their fast
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God revealed the answer in verses 3 and 4. In fact, in the day of your fast, you find pleasure and exploit all your laborers
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Indeed, you fast for strife and debate and to strike with a feast of wickedness
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Isaiah was telling us that fasting is nothing if our actions don't reflect God's will for our lives
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We can fast all we want, and yet, if we don't do what God tells us to do, we will be fasting
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in futility. The Israelites at that time were fasting, but they were still indulging in their pleasure
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in their lust and sin. In this case the Israelites didn completely abandon their rebellious attitude and idolatrous worship Thus it is possible that even if we fast we are still sinning Isaiah added that they continue to exploit their laborers
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How true is this for us today, Christians? We might be very diligent in our prayers, in our fasting, in other Christian duties
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and yet we lack good works. We are unforgiving to those who have indebted or have wronged us
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Instead of forgiving, we strive with the feast of wickedness. Notice as well the wrong attitude toward fasting
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Their primary motive is to bend God to their will. They fasted so that God would grant them divine favor
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And when they did not receive it, they murmured and complained to God
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They thought that they could buy God's divine favor by fasting. So how should we fast in a proper manner
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Isaiah continued. Is it a fast that I have chosen a day for a day
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man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush and to spread out sackcloth and ashes
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Would you call this a fast and an acceptable day to Yahweh? Is this not the fast that I have chosen
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To lose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free
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and that your day, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with a
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hungry and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out
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When you see the naked that you cover him and not hide yourself from your own flesh
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that's Isaiah 58, 5 to 7. Now, these verses can be a mouthful and so let me break it down for you
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From these verses, we can conclude. Number one, fasting involves afflicting our souls
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As we have already mentioned, we fast by going without food and drink
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Number two, spreading sackcloth and ashes is a symbol of humility. We need to fast with a humble attitude
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Fasting helps us to recognize that we are nothing and that we are completely reliant on God
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and without food and drink, we get weak and we eventually die
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Since God is the source of all blessings, including food and drink, we need to rely on him
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for our daily sustenance. Number three, the pain and discomfort that we feel during our fast
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don give us the right to God mercy and favor God will answer our prayers because he is loving patient and kind Number four fasting is primarily done to know God will and purpose in our lives It is done to gain understanding wisdom and guidance from God
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Along with fasting, we need to ensure that we have the willing heart to obey whatever God has revealed to us
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Finally, number five, fasting can only be meaningful when we couple it with the righteous acts
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The prophet Isaiah listed some of the examples we need to do before, during, and after fasting
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He said that we should let loose the bonds of wickedness, let go of the oppressed, feed the hungry, and clothed the naked
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In short, we must fast and at the same time not forget our Christian duties to one another
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Christ and Isaiah both concluded in the same voice. They said that if we fast in the proper manner, God who says
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sees us fasting in secret will reward us openly. Then our light shall break forth like the morning
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Our healing shall spring forth speedily. And our righteousness shall go before us. The glory of
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Yahweh shall be our rear guard. Then we shall call and Yahweh will answer. We shall cry and he will
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say, here I am. So fast in the proper way and with the right attitude. Though it may be difficult
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the physical and spiritual rewards are great. It will be all worth it
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So there you have it, the biblical way of fasting. I hope this helped and has offered a better insight
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on how you should properly fast. If this presentation has helped you
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please consider enrolling in one of our best courses. Teach us to pray
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In this course, you'll learn how prayer and fasting work together. Aside from that, you'll also learn what biblical prayer is
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how to pray and how you can improve your prayer life and draw closer to God
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So if you're interested, I have included the sign-up link in the description box
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I'm fully confident that you will love that teach us to pray course
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With that, I want to say thank you so much for joining us today
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I'm Joshua Fandadad of Becoming Christian's Academy, praying that Yahweh the Most High God will bless us with his love, truth, and grace
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