joceey:
Why do xtian fast?
Are you a Christian in practical not just professing one?if truly you are a genuine Christian ,you don't need to ask why Christian fast the Bible is your guide even Daniel, Elijah and so on in the Bible fasted including David....anybody or pastor that tell you not to fast is an enemy of your soul quote me well...except if you are having health issues like ulcer and so on there are some health issue that even need fasting...even animal knows the benefit of fasting,they abstain from food n water when they are sick....Pls read your Bible it's your best guide. Jesus said in the book of Mark 9:29 and I quote..This kind can come forth by nothing but prayer and fasting

gentlegenius:
The religious practice of staying hungry for some time in order to pray to God is very common among Muslims and for some reasons I can't ask why they do it. But as Christians, should we continue with such practice?
If prayer is the only thing we do during fasting, then why staying hungry to pray when we know that Gods only answers the prayers of a good man through FAITH? Elijah, Daniel, Paul, Silas and many other great men in the Bible didn't go hungry but they prayed and miracles happen.
The Bible hasn't commanded us anywhere to go hungry and pray before God can hear and answer us.
Fasting was a common practice among the ancient Jews but those who were close to Jesus(his disciples) never fasted. People once ask Jesus why his disciples don't fast and he replied "how can they fast when the bridegroom is still with them...?"
Today, we Christians believe that God is still with us through his spirit, so why should we fast?
God is merciful but Sometimes, we make it look like he is a hard hearted God who won't hear our prayers unless we stay hungry. I know some churches and Pastors who now gives fasting as a punishment to their members when they go wrong. I also heard how a Pastor died while attempting to fast for 40 days like Jesus did. With the way he died, do you think Jesus will congratulate him on the day of rapture for attempting to equal his record? Must we fast just because Jesus fasted?

gentlegenius:

My dear you are wrong. Tell me about anyone in the Bible that gain God favour through fasting.
But here are 3 people in the Bible that gained God's favour without fasting...
Mary (Luke 1:30).
Joseph (Acts 7:9-10)
David (Acts 7:45-46).

gentlegenius:

Why don't you back this up with the scriptures?
Moses received so many instructions from God at so many instances. He didn't have to fast at any instance before hearing from God. If you think he did, give me the Bible portion.
The problem I have here is that Many people came here to argue based on what they think and based on what they see as the general norm in our society but not based on the word of God.

opius:


YOUR IGNORANCE IS OVERWHELMING , STOP PREACHING WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW

Batam:

You are an ignoramus christian who is looking for the lazy ones like you who is afraid of fasting.
Isaiah 58: 1-6 explained what fasting can do. You inner may not be strengthened if you cannot fast Isaiah 40:31 and you may not grow spiritually.
Any pastor that is telling not to fast is an enemy of your spiritual growth

StackNerd:
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will heal their land. 2nd Chronicles 7vs 14

Note the word HUMBLE


What's the purpose of fasting

Before fasting choose your objectives in fasting. Here are some Biblical objectives:-
First:- To humble yourself before God. David said "I humbled my soul with fasting."
God will not humble us as He has told us to humble ourselves. If you fast with the right motive,
and in faith, you can humble yourself, and when you do this God will lift you up.
Second:- Another motive is to come closer to God. James 4:8 says:- "Come near to God and He will
come near to you."
Third:- To understand God's word. When you fast God will give you greater and deeper
understanding of His word.
Fourth:- To find God's will and to receive direction in your life.
Fifth:- To seek healing or deliverance from evil spirits. Jesus said about one kind of evil spirit:- "This
kind can come out only come out by prayer and fasting." (Mk 9:29 - see footnote.) Before Jesus
Himself entered on His ministry of healing and deliverance, He fasted and prayed for forty days.
Sixth:- When we need God's intervention in some particular crisis, or when some tremendous
problem has arisen, which we can't handle by ordinary means.
Seventh:- To intercede and pray on behalf of others. e.g. An unsaved relative. Are you willing to do
something that will cost you on behalf of your loved one?

gentlegenius:

Why don't you back this up with the scriptures?
Moses received so many instructions from God at so many instances. He didn't have to fast at any instance before hearing from God. If you think he did, give me the Bible portion.
The problem I have here is that Many people came here to argue based on what they think and based on what they see as the general norm in our society but not based on the word of God.

sugarwiz:

And Jesus himself who is the greatest did fast

gentlegenius:

Is this the only scripture you can quote? Why not tell where and how those men you mentioned above fasted before God answers their prayers.
David only fasted when he prayed God to keep his son alive. The son still died anyways. But there were times David received favours from God without fasting. Though I'm not condemning fasting, but based on the way it is done this days, should we follow suit? Based on how God wanted us to fast as stated in Isaiah 58 (pls take time to read), should we continue the practice of staying hungry in the name of fasting?

comrChris:
you are rather the one being ignorant of the scripture n putting up basaless points. Why will you say Moses never fasted, what was he doing in the burning bush and what was he doing in the mountain for 40 days n night..

Jesus told his disciples that some things could not be done except by fasting n prayer. Who told you the apostles never fasted? Study your bible well, the apostles after Jesus left them gave themselves continually to prayer, believe you me many of those days they prayed were without food

gentlegenius:

Must we do everything Jesus did? If we must, then are todays Christians observing fasting the way Jesus taught us?

gentlegenius:

I have never said that people didn't fast in the Bible. They fasted for different reasons. But there are others who just prayed without fasting yet still achieve great results. Faith is what makes things work not just prayers and fasting.
Fasting doesn't bring wisdom as you said above. Solomon didn't fast to receive wisdom. He only prayed and God gave him options to choose, he chose wisdom.
Now what human beings viewed as fasting is completely different from the True fasting in God's perspective. Todays Christians believe wrongly that when you fast, God will hear you prayers because you stayed hungry. But Isaiah 58: 3-10 says "‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.
4
Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.
5
Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?
6
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
7
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
9
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10
and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday".

hakinz87:


Your reply has even say more about you. If you don't practice all what Jesus thought, practise all what Satan teaches you.

hakinz87:

I don't even think this lazy self acclaimed Christian can even pray for hours, he would tell you to show where such is written in the Bible.

gentlegenius:

OK... Since it is you that said it, I'll believe you that the apostles were prayimg without Food.

chuks013:
To gain God's favour



FTC AGAIN...NOW OFFICIALLY I'M TIRED OF DZ FTC...4TH 1 IN JUST THESE WEEK AND LIKE FIFTY SUMTYN OVERALL......FOR THOSE AIMING FOR FTC....TRY HARDER..

gentlegenius:

Don't quote me wrong. I said must we do everything Jesus did?

comrChris:
your response clearly says the kinda believer you are. Of all l wrote you chose just this part to see, maybe you were expecting me to qoute those scriptures where the apostles gave themselves continually to prayer with fasting boldly written some where in it.. My dear stop being a baby christian and grow up if at all you are a christian..the word of God is a progressive revelation, if you want to know more about any passage in the bible you put it up to prayer.

gentlegenius:

Even though you are deviating from the topic, but I'll like to ask you a question: When you pray for hours, what will you be telling God? Is it different things? Is it not the same thing that you'll keep repeating over and over just to prolong the prayer? Is your God so deaf that you need to repeat things over and over before he hears you? Is your God so ignorant that you need to explain all your problems in details before he understand?
For the sake of not derailing this thread, I'll spare you all I had to say about this. But bring this up again another day or in another thread and mention me, then I'll give Bible passages about prayers and proof to you that people like you who 'prays for hours' are actually the lazy Christians.

comrChris:
your response clearly says the kinda believer you are. Of all l wrote you chose just this part to see, maybe you were expecting me to qoute those scriptures where the apostles gave themselves continually to prayer with fasting boldly written some where in it.. My dear stop being a baby christian and grow up if at all you are a christian..the word of God is a progressive revelation, if you want to know more about any passage in the bible you put it up to prayer.

gentlegenius:

Why don't you back this up with the scriptures?
Moses received so many instructions from God at so many instances. He didn't have to fast at any instance before hearing from God. If you think he did, give me the Bible portion.
The problem I have here is that Many people came here to argue based on what they think and based on what they see as the general norm in our society but not based on the word of God.

Olabenjamen22:

are you even a Christian?

gentlegenius:

Even though you are deviating from the topic, but I'll like to ask you a question: When you pray for hours, what will you be telling God? Is it different things? Is it not the same thing that you'll keep repeating over and over just to prolong the prayer? Is your God so deaf that you need to repeat things over and over before he hears you? Is your God so ignorant that you need to explain all your problems in details before he understand?
For the sake of not derailing this thread, I'll spare you all I had to say about this. But bring this up again another day or in another thread and mention me, then I'll give Bible passages about prayers and proof to you that people like you who 'prays for hours' are actually the lazy Christians.

gentlegenius:

It depends on how you define Christian.
Jesus was a God while we are mere mortals. So what is wrong in asking if we must do all what Jesus did? If you fast because he also fast, then what about the other things he did like transfiguration? Why don't you transfigure yourself because Jesus also did?

gentlegenius:

Even though you are deviating from the topic, but I'll like to ask you a question: When you pray for hours, what will you be telling God? Is it different things? Is it not the same thing that you'll keep repeating over and over just to prolong the prayer? Is your God so deaf that you need to repeat things over and over before he hears you? Is your God so ignorant that you need to explain all your problems in details before he understand?
For the sake of not derailing this thread, I'll spare you all I had to say about this. But bring this up again another day or in another thread and mention me, then I'll give Bible passages about prayers and proof to you that people like you who 'prays for hours' are actually the lazy Christians.