Fasting in the Bible
Almost every major biblical leader fasted at one time or another. They knew the power and importance of this practice. As we follow their example and the example of church leaders throughout history who had a lifestyle of fasting, we will see God move in us and through our prayers. We will need to pay the price and deny ourselves, being hungrier for God than for food!
Moses fasted.
Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. (Exodus 34: 28)
Elijah fasted.
So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. (1 Kings 19.8)
Ezra fasted.
Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles. (Ezra 10: 6)
Daniel fasted.
I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. (Daniel 10:3)
Anna fasted.
And then was a widow until she was eight-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. (Luke 2:37)
Cornelius fasted.
And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing. (Acts10:30KJV)
Early church leaders fasted.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." (Acts 13:2).
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and
Almost every major biblical leader fasted at one time or another. They knew the power and importance of this practice. As we follow their example and the example of church leaders throughout history who had a lifestyle of fasting, we will see God move in us and through our prayers. We will need to pay the price and deny ourselves, being hungrier for God than for food!
Moses fasted.
Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. (Exodus 34: 28)
Elijah fasted.
So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. (1 Kings 19.8)
Ezra fasted.
Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles. (Ezra 10: 6)
Daniel fasted.
I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. (Daniel 10:3)
Anna fasted.
And then was a widow until she was eight-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. (Luke 2:37)
Cornelius fasted.
And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing. (Acts10:30KJV)
Early church leaders fasted.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." (Acts 13:2).
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and
fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
(Acts 14:23)
Paul fasted.
For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. (Acts 9:9)
He never forgot the lesson of prayer and fasting and later told the Corinthians, in his second letter, that he had been "in fasting often" (2 Corinthians 11:27 KJV).
Most important of all to us is that Jesus fasted.
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. (Luke 4:1-2 KJV)
Paul fasted.
For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. (Acts 9:9)
He never forgot the lesson of prayer and fasting and later told the Corinthians, in his second letter, that he had been "in fasting often" (2 Corinthians 11:27 KJV).
Most important of all to us is that Jesus fasted.
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. (Luke 4:1-2 KJV)
Jesus was wise enough
to know that without the Father he could do nothing. In prayer and
fasting,
he waited in the
Father's presence until endued with power. How can we do less?
Jesus said that
his disciples would fast.
Jesus said that his disciples would fast as they longed
for his return. (Matthew 9:14-15)
