The Role and Practice of Fasting in Disciple-Making
WHAT IS FASTING?
Fasting is the voluntary abstinence from food (or another normal function), in order to see God breakthrough regarding a specific spiritual purpose.
Fasting is temporarily refraining from the physical in order to intensify our expression of need for the spiritual (primarily, God and his work in and through us). It’s a way
for us to turn our attention away from the seductive voices of the world and toward the great love of the Lord. Fasting and prayer are often linked together (Luke 2:37; 5:33). So by refraining from something like food, the hunger present in our bodies serves as a consistent reminder to pray, and desperately seek God’s face.
Fasting In Scripture:
The practice of regular fasting as normal Christian behavior was taught by Jesus (Mathew 6:16-17; 9:15), exercised by the early church (Acts 13:2), and has been the regular discipline of believers throughout church history.
Three Biblical Fasts:
Partial Fast (a limitation of diet). Specifically, a “Daniel Fast”: which as practiced by Daniel, and involves eating only plants and no luxury foods.
Biblical/Water Fast (no food, only water), practiced by Jesus in the wilderness.
Absolute Fast (no food, no water), practiced by Esther and also by Moses on Sinai.
A Few Biblical Examples: Moses (Exodus 34:28), Queen Esther (Esther 4:13-16), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 9:1-2), David (Psalm 35:13; 109:24), Isaiah (Isaiah 62:6-7), Daniel (Daniel 10:2-3), The king & people of Nineveh (Jonah 4:11), Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11), Anna the prophetess (Matthew 9:14-15), Elders were appointed with fasting, (Acts 14:23; Acts 13:1-3), Paul (2 Corinthians 6:5)
Resource
DBS Passage List: Prayer and Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough
FASTING IN MISSION AND DISCIPLE-MAKING
Although fasting can be a personal discipline (Matthew 6), in Scripture, it is more often a corporate act (Joel 2, 2 Chronicles 20, Zechariah 8, Acts 13). Disciple-makers worldwide regularly fast and pray as they cry out to God to work in ways only he can. Below are two ways fasting and mission/disciple-making are linked:
Fasting reveals to whom and where to go (Acts 13:2)
Acts 13:2-3: 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.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
In Acts 13, where the Church in Antioch first intentionally sends out missionaries to plant the Gospel throughout the world, we see the role of fasting and prayer in highlighting to whom and where to go.
As everyday missionaries, it may be appropriate to spend time fasting in order to discover your particular missional context.
Fasting brings spiritual breakthrough (Mark 9:29)
Mark 9:29: So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” (NKJV)
Fasting is mysterious. Although fasting doesn’t “make God do anything,” supernatural breakthrough is often the result. Fasting frustrates the plans of the demonic and unleashes angelic activity. (Daniel 10)
As everyday missionaries, we carry a spiritual authority as caretakers (Genesis 1:28) and priests (1 Peter 2:9) in our ministry contexts. As we pray and fast, we invite the power of God to break strongholds, and to reveal where he is working, and how we can join him in prayer and action.
“Fasting can bring breakthroughs in the spiritual realm that will never happen in any other way. It is a means of God’s grace and blessing that should not be neglected any longer.” – Richard Foster
GETTING STARTED: HOW TO FAST
Determine the spiritual purpose of the fast
Without a specific purpose, fasting is merely abstaining from food. But with a determined purpose, fasting, and the physical reminders that accompany it, drives us to desperately seek God’s will and breakthrough.
It is also important to determine if this is a personal or corporate fast.
Determine the type and length of the fast
In addition to the types of fasts listed above (partial, water only, absolute), many faithful disciples fast in other ways: a juice fast (only liquids), a Daniel fast (no meat or desserts), a dessert fast (no sweets or delicacies), a coffee/soda/ caffeine fast, an entertainment fast (no TV, sports, games, etc.), a talking fast (commitment to quiet for specific hours), a social media fast (No Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.)
Determine how long you wish to fast. Start slowly if you are new to fasting. But common lengths include: 1 meal, 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 21 days, 40 days. For heavy or significant purposes, it may be recommended to fast longer than 24 hours. (It is not recommended that you fast for longer than 10 days without the co-discernment of your community, or discussing it with a medical professional).
Determine if this is a personal fast or a corporate/team fast
Fasting is important as both a personal spiritual discipline, as well as communal practice in which we corporately cry out for God’s purposes. As everyday missionaries, fasting with your missional team or microchurch can bring clarity and new breakthrough in your mission fields. If doing a team fast, determine your rhythms of checking in with one another and praying together. Coupling fasts with other prayer practices like prayer walks is recommended.
Additional Fasting Tips
Plan when and how you will pray during your fast. Use the time to pray that you would have normally spent doing whatever you have chosen to fast from.
When you fast, spend time in worship and adoration, reading Scripture, bringing your requests before God, and be sure to listen to whatever God wants to express to you during your fast.
If doing a personal fast, it is important to practice the discipline of secrecy. The impulse to tell others is usually a desire for validation, and you will receive your reward in full.
The enemy will try to keep you from focusing on God and seek to discourage you during your fast. Fasting does not always bring about a “mountain top encounter,” so don’t become discouraged or put too much emphasis on the experience. The results may not be obvious at the time, and some results may not fully come until later. But the time you spend in fasting and prayer will not be in vain, for God sees your heart’s desire.
Physically, one to three days is often the hardest stretch, where your body goes through withdrawals. In the four to six day stretch, most will find that hunger pangs have subsided, and there is a clarity of mind and greater awareness of your own embodied feelings.
Specific Fasting Guides