A SCRIPTURES STUDY ON FASTING
Fasting is the single most powerful weapon every believer in Y’shua has available to them in this life time. Fasting super-charges our prayers as we die to our flesh and build up and strengthen our spiritual man. A life of fasting is expected of all those who follow Y’shua. He did not teach, “if you fast.” No! He taught “when you fast!!!” (Matt 6:16-18) Believers that awaken to the conscious knowledge of fasting are most dangerous to the enemy. The following is a journey through the Scriptures of various accounts of fasting.
Personal Fasting, Publicly, Until The Answer Comes
David prayed and fasted until he received his answer. Because he was the king everyone knew he was fasting and praying.
2 Samuel 12:15-23 And Nathan departed unto his house. And YAHWEH struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. V.16 David therefore besought Elohim for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. V.17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. V.18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? V.19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. V.20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of YAHWEH, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. V.21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. V.22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether Elohim will be gracious to me, that the child may live? V.23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
Daniel prayed and fasted until he received the answer on the 21st day by the visitation of the angel. Because he was the prime minister everyone knew he was fasting and praying unto YAHWEH. Many people have erroneously practiced a so called “Daniel Fast” where they give up something, like caffeine, television, Internet, etc. for 21 days. This is completely unscriptural and just another modern religious tradition. The account clearly says Daniel was mourning. Every account of mourning in The Scriptures is described with sackcloth, ashes and fasting.
In Daniel 9:24-27 it was revealed to Daniel that Jerusalem and the temple would be rebuilt and then destroyed yet again. As a very young man Daniel had witnessed that Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. Now by Heavenly revelation Daniel had witnessed it happen yet again. He had every reason to mourn as the future death of Jerusalem and the temple grieved him deeply. Daniel himself bears witness against all those who practice counterfeit manmade fasting.
Daniel 10:2-13 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. V.3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. V.4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel; v.5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: v.6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. V.7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. V.8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. V.9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. V.10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. V.11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. V.12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy Elohim, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. V.13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
One Day Of Public, Corporate Prayer and Fasting
Eleven tribes of Yisrael went up to war against the tribe of Benjamin due to unconfessed, unrepented sin in their land. They prayed on two different occasions if they should go up to fight and who should go first. Two different times YAHWEH told them to go up to fight and Judah should lead the charge. However, both times Judah and Yisrael were defeated soundly. (Judges 20:17-25) The third time Judah and all of Yisrael prayed and fasted before YAHWEH. This time Judah and Yisrael were given the same answer as before, however, they won an overwhelming victory that almost completely wiped out the tribe of Benjamin.
Judges 20:26-28 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of Elohim, and wept, and sat there before YAHWEH, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before YAHWEH. V.27 And the children of Israel enquired of YAHWEH, (for the ark of the covenant of Elohim was there in those days, v.28 And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And YAHWEH said, Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver them into thine hand.
King Jehoshaphat and all of the nation of Judah fasted and prayed unto YAHWEH as one man when they were surrounded by their enemy and defeat was certain. The result that followed was absolutely miraculous.
2 Chronicles 20:3-30 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek YAHWEH, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. V.4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of YAHWEH: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek YAHWEH. v.5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of YAHWEH, before the new court, v.6 And said, O YAHWEH Elohim of our fathers, art not thou Elohim in Heaven? and rulest not Thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in Thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand Thee? V.7 Art not Thou our Elohim, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before Thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham Thy friend forever? V.8 And they dwelt therein, and have built Thee a sanctuary therein for Thy name, saying, v.9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in Thy presence, (for Thy name is in this house,) and cry unto Thee in our affliction, then Thou wilt hear and help. V.10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom Thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; v.11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of Thy possession, which Thou hast given us to inherit. V.12 O our Elohim, wilt Thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon Thee. V.13 And all Judah stood before YAHWEH, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. V.14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of YAHWEH in the midst of the congregation; v.15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith YAHWEH unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but Elohim's. v.16 Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. V.17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of YAHWEH with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for YAHWEH will be with you. V.18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before YAHWEH, worshipping YAHWEH. V.19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise YAHWEH Elohim of Yisrael with a loud voice on high. V.20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in YAHWEH your Elohim, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper. V.21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto YAHWEH, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise YAHWEH; for His mercy endureth for ever. V.22 And when they began to sing and to praise, YAHWEH set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. V.23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. V.24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. 25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much. V.26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed YAHWEH: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day. V.27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for YAHWEH had made them to rejoice over their enemies. V.28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of YAHWEH. V.29 And the fear of Elohim was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that YAHWEH fought against the enemies of Yisrael. V.30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his Elohim gave him rest round about.
Public, Corporate Fasting and Prayer
Hezekiah and all the people of Judah fasted as one man when surrounded by the enemy and defeat was inevitable. Again, YAHWEH miraculously answered!
2 Kings 19:1-2 And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of YAHWEH. V.2 And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
2 Kings 19:35 And it came to be in that night that the messenger of יהוה went out, and smote in the camp of Ashshur one hundred and eighty-five thousand. And they rose up early in the morning and saw all of them dead bodies.
Because David had sinned against YAHWEH all of Judah was in peril. Thus they fasted and prayed before YAHWEH for mercy to triumph over judgment.
1 Chronicles 21:16-17 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of YAHWEH stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. V.17 And David said unto Elohim, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O YAHWEH my Elohim, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on Thy people, that they should be plagued.
Ezra and all the people of Judah prayed and fasted for YAHWEH’s protection as they returned to the land of Judah from exile.
Ezra 8:21-23 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our Elohim, to seek of Him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. V.22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our Elohim is upon all them for good that seek Him; but His power and His wrath is against all them that forsake Him. V.23 So we fasted and besought our Elohim for this: and He was intreated of us.
All of the people of Judah prayed and fasted in the days of Esther because of the decree of the King of Persia that every Jew should be put to death.
Esther 4:1-4 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; v.2 And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. V.3 And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. V.4 So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.
Esther 9:1-5 And in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Aḏar, on the thirteenth day, when the sovereign’s command and his decree came to be done, on the day that the enemies of the Yehuḏim had waited to overpower them, it turned around, so that the Yehuḏim overpowered those who hated them. V.2 The Yehuḏim assembled in their cities, throughout all the provinces of Sovereign Aḥashwĕrosh to lay hands on those who sought their evil. And no one stood against them, because fear of them fell upon all people. V.3 And all the officials of the provinces, and the viceroys, and the governors, and all those doing the sovereign’s work, helped the Yehuḏim, because the fear of Mordeḵai fell upon them. V.4 For Mordeḵai was great in the palace of the sovereign, and his report spread into all the provinces, for this man Mordeḵai became greater and greater. V.5 And the Yehuḏim smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they pleased to those who hated them.
All the people of Nineveh cried out in one voice and asked YAHWEH to forgive their sin and deliver them from certain destruction at the preaching of Jonah.
Jonah 3:4-10 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. V.5 So the people of Nineveh believed Elohim, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. V.6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. V.7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: v.8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto Elohim: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. V.9 Who can tell if Elohim will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? V.10 And Elohim saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and Elohim repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
In every one of these instances we see the people of YAHWEH, Elohim called out to Him in one voice, with one heart and one mind and Heaven answered and intervened in a supernatural and miraculous way.
Most believers do not understand the principle that the Word of Elohim is a two-edged sword. This means that every negative is equally true for the positive and vice-versa. Carefully consider the following account from Genesis 11.
Genesis 11:5-6 And YAHWEH came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. V.6 And YAHWEH said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
This passage is obviously speaking of the evil workings of men who were conspiring against Heaven by building the infamous tower of Babel. However, we have observed, it is equally just as true, that righteous men who pray and fast with one mind and one heart and one voice are also able to obtain the impossible with miraculous Heavenly intervention!
Paul and all those on the boat with him fasted for 14 days while their lives were in constant danger. There are many great allusions in this true account. Paul instructed the Roman soldiers they had to stay in the boat in order to be saved. In a similar fashion we must come to the cross and our flesh must surrender to it that we might be saved. After the fast had ended they threw all the wheat into the sea. This is symbolic of the gospel message being carried to all the nations of the world. The New Testament believer is the wheat and the sea is the nations of the world all throughout The Scriptures.
Acts 27:24-38 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, Elohim hath given thee all them that sail with thee. V.25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe Elohim, that it shall be even as it was told me. V.26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. V.27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; v.27 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. V.29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. V.30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, v.31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. V.32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. V.33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. V.34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. V.35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to Elohim in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. V.36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. V.37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. V.38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
Three Days Of Public, Corporate Fasting and Prayer Without Food Or Water.
Esther 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
Matthew 15:32 Then Y’shua called His disciples unto Him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with Me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
Three Days Of Personal Fasting and Prayer Without Food Or Water
Jonah 1:17 Now YAHWEH had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Acts 9:9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
Fasting is very serious business. It is not meant to be a light thing. It is almost always a matter of life or death in The Scriptures. The spiritual principle is that we die to our flesh and live to our spirit when we fast unto YAHWEH. Fasting is always a matter of life and death for the believer.
Fasting Out Of The Flesh / Counterfeit Fasting
Unless fasting is done unto YAHWEH in spirit and in truth there is no profit in fasting. The following are examples of religious fasting out of tradition and not with power by the Spirit of Elohim. The results can prove disastrous and even deadly. As we discussed earlier the modern day “Daniel” fast is a prime example of a religious counterfeit, by the traditions of men.
Jeremiah 36:9-32 And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before YAHWEH to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem. V. 10 Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of YAHWEH, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the YAHWEH'S house, in the ears of all the people. V. 11 When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of YAHWEH, v.12 Then he went down into the king's house, into the scribe's chamber: and, lo, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes. V.13 Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people. V.14 Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thine hand the roll wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them. V.15 And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears. V.16 Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and other, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words. V.17 And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth? V.18 Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book. V.19 Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be. V.20 And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king. V.21 So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe's chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king. V.22 Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him. V.23 And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. V.24 Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words. V.25 Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them. v.26 But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them. V.27 Then the word of YAHWEH came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, v.28 Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned. V.29 And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith YAHWEH; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast? V.30 Therefore thus saith YAHWEH of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost. V.31 And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not. V.32 Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.
Zechariah 7:1-5 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of YAHWEH came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu; v.2 When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regemmelech, and their men, to pray before YAHWEH, v.3 And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of YAHWEH of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years? V.4 Then came the word of YAHWEH of hosts unto me, saying, v. Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto Me, even to Me?
The Levitical priesthood decided to pray and ask Elohim if they should continue fasting, as they had done while in exile in Babylon, now that they had returned to the land. These were two manmade fasts that the Jews had kept to commemorate the destruction of Jerusalem by king Nebuchadnezzar. YAHWEH answered powerfully and told them they were not fasting to Him at all, but only for themselves. In addition He called on them to feast on these days, not fast! (Zechariah 8:18-19)
Matthew 6:16 “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
Luke 18:10-14 “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. V.11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, Elohim, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. v.12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. V.13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto Heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, Elohim be merciful to me a sinner. V.14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
Corporate Prayer And Fasting On The Last Great Day Of Judgment
The Feast of Tabernacles was supposed to be a time of great rejoicing, however in Nehemiah we find the people weeping and fasting before YAHWEH on the last day of the Feast. This is in agreement with the belief that the last day of this feast is a Feast in its own right called “The Last Great Day”! This is a type and shadow of the second resurrection when all the world shall be judged and the host of devils as well. (Rev. 20:5 & 7-15, 1 Corinthians 6:1-3)
Nehemiah 9:1-6 Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them. V.2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. V.3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of YAHWEH their Elohim one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped YAHWEH their Elohim. V.4 Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto YAHWEH their Elohim. V.5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless YAHWEH your Elohim for ever and ever: and blessed be Thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. V.6 Thou, even Thou, art YAHWEH alone; Thou hast made heaven, the Heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and Thou preservest them all; and the host of Heaven worshippeth Thee.
Personal Fasting And Prayer For My Enemies
Psalm 35:11-14 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. V.12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. V.13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. V.14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
Personal Fasting And Prayer For Salvation, Deliverance And For My Enemies
Psalm 69:1-20 To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. v.2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. V.3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my Elohim. V.4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. V.5 O Elohim, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from Thee. V.6 Let not them that wait on Thee, O Master YAHWEH of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O Elohim of Yisrael. V.7 Because for Thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. V.8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children. V.9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached Thee are fallen upon me. V.10 When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. V.11 I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them. V.12 They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards. V.13 But as for me, my prayer is unto Thee, O YAHWEH, in an acceptable time: O Elohim, in the multitude of Thy mercy hear me, in the truth of Thy salvation. V.14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. V.15 Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. V.16 Hear me, O YAHWEH; for Thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies. V.17 And hide not Thy face from Thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily. V.18 Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies. V.19 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before Thee. V.20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
Psalm 109:21-27 But do Thou for me, O YAHWEH the Master, for Thy name's sake: because Thy mercy is good, deliver thou me. V.22 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. V.23 I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust. V.24 My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness. V.25 I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads. V.26 Help me, O YAHWEH my Elohim: O save me according to Thy mercy: v.27 That they may know that this is Thy hand; that Thou, YAHWEH, hast done it.
Personal Prayer And Fasting For One Meal In Intercession
This is the only example of fasting for one meal in The Scriptures. It is given of a pagan king who inadvertently sentenced his best man to death due to his pride and therefore he had no appetite. This is not a Scriptural fast. Every example of the righteous fasting in The Scriptures is for one full day or more.
Daniel 6:18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
Personal Prayer And Fasting For Personal Sin
1 Kings 21:20-29 And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD. V.21 Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, v.22 And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin. V.23 And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. V.24 Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat. V.25 But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. v.26 And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. V.27 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. V.28 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, v.29 Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.
If YAHWEH will forgive the sin of such a wicked man as Ahab when he humbled himself, how much more will he forgive us when we repent and humble ourselves by the blood of our Savior, Y’shua?
Prayer And Fasting For Sin And Wisdom And Understanding ~ “YAHWEH’S Feast Of The Day Of Atonement Throughout The Scriptures”
1Samuel 7:3-6 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. V.4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. V.5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD. V.6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
Daniel 9:2-23 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. V.3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: v.4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; v.5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: v.6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. V.7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. V.8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. V.9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; v.10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. V.11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. V.12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. V.13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. V.14 Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. V.15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. V.16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. V.17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. V.18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. V.19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. v.20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; v.21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. V.22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. V.23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
Joel 2:12-27 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: v.13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. V.14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? V.15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: v.16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. V.17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? V.18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. V.19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: v.20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. V.21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. V.22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. v.23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. V.24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. V.25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. V.26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. V.27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
Matthew 17:15-21 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Most believers miss the irony that all the disciples and all of Yisrael had just kept the Feast of the Day of Atonement throughout Jerusalem. Y’shua was making a commentary on the heart condition of those who are fasting. If our fasting is not pure unto YAHWEH we will not experience the blessing of Heaven for it.
YAHWEH, Y’shua had spoken the exact same commentary through Isaiah over 700 years earlier. ~ Isaiah 58:3-12 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. V.4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.v.5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? V.6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? V.7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? V.8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. V.9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; v.10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: v.11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. V.12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
Acts 10:30 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,
Corporate Fasting For The Furtherance Of The Work Of The Gospel
Acts 13:2-3 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. v.3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
Corporate Fasting For The Mourning Of Great Loss (or) Death
In the western world when someone dies we typically comfort ourselves with food. We tend to do the same / similar when we experience a great loss. However, YAHWEH wants us to comfort ourselves with Himself only and not with a counterfeit comfort.
Proverbs 15:13b tells us, “by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” In addition, Proverbs 25:28 tells us, “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”
It is no wonder that the whole western world suffers from ongoing sorrow of the heart and a broken spirit that usually results in so many addictions, destructive behaviors and bodily illnesses. We do not fast and pray in our times of mourning and we substitute a comfort of the flesh for the true comfort of the Holy Spirit. It is of great interest to note that YAHWEH would not bless the tithes of the people of Yisrael if they did not mourn for their loss to death with fasting. (Deuteronomy 26:12-15)
1 Samuel 31:11-13 And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; v.12 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. V.13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
2 Samuel 1:11-12 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
Individual Fasting For The Mourning Of Great Loss (or) Death
Genesis 37:34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
2 Samuel 3:31-39 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. V.32 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. V.33 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? V.34 Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him. V.35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
Nehemiah 1:1-4 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, v.2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. V.4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
1 Samuel 1:6-7 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
Personal Fasting For Consecration Unto Elohim
1 Kings 13:1-34 And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. V.2 And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee. V.3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out. V.4 And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him. V.5 The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. v.6 And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before. V.7 And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward. V.8 And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: v.9 For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest. V.10 So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel. V.11 Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father. V.12 And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah. V.13 And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon, v.14 And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am. V.15 Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. V.16 And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: v.17 For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest. v.18 He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him. V.19 So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water. V.20 And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: v.21 And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee, v.22 But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers. V.23 And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back. V.24 And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase. V.25 And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. V.26 And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake unto him. V.27 And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they saddled him. V.28 And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass. V.29 And the prophet took up the carcase of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him. V.30 And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother! V.31 And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones: v.32 For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass. V.33 After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. V.34 And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.
Supernatural Fasting
Exodus 34:28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
Three different times Moses, the prophet of YAHWEH, Elohim, prayed and fasted without food and water for forty days over the period of one year.
Deuteronomy 9:9 When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water:
9:18 And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
9:25 Thus I fell down before the LORD forty days and forty nights, as I fell down at the first; because the LORD had said he would destroy you.
1 Kings 19:7-8 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
Luke 4:2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
How To Fast
Matthew 6:17-18 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; v.18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Many believers miss the New Testament counsel to abstain from sexual intimacy with their spouse while either one of them are fasting unto YAHWEH.
1 Corinthians 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
Personally, when I pray and fast I always ask Heaven to take from me my appetite for food and I also ask for the strength to endure and to accomplish all that I need to do while I am fasting.
In Summary: As believers we are expected by our Master Y’shua to fast, both personally and corporately as a congregation of believers. If we do not fast it is sin against Elohim. (James 4:17) Fasting is serious business with YAHWEH. It literally is the difference between life and death every single time we fast. May YAHWEH, Elohim bless you as you experience Him in the times of fasting He has called you to.
Fasting is an integral part of the covenant established with Yisrael by Yahweh Elohim. This is covered in detail in the blog I posted on Scriptural giving and stewardship.
http://robertarthurmcduffie.blogspot.com/2011/06/scriptural-giving-stewardship-or-are.html
Shalom, shalom,
Robert McDuffie ~ Mismore (Psalm) 119:18
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