On FASTING

John Keating ~ Ministry Team Member Sunday, January 14, 2024

“On Fasting” (from the Book of Nehemiah)

 Nehemiah was living in the palace of the king since he was the king’s cupbearer. You could say that he had a life of luxury, however there where rules he had to follow. One of them was that he had to maintain a cheery persona, or he could be removed from his position.

Nehemiah. 1:4-11

1. He fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

2. Fasting and praying go together. In order to be effective at all, fasting needs prayer. There is a fast that is acceptable to God. Read Isaiah 58:6-14.

3. Fasting has been used many times in the Bible as a way of repenting and returning to God --  walking is a close relationship to Him.

a.      Some say that Moses fasted while he was on the mountain for 40 days. He received the 10 commandments, received the plan for the tabernacle and it’s furniture.

b.     Jesus fasted 40 days just before starting His ministry. A 40 day fast is a miracle if you have no food or water. The body has limits it can withstand in this area. Jesus received what he needed to withstand satan’s attack.

c.      King Jehoshaphat fasted before fighting the battle that without God’s help would have eradicated Judah’s future.

d.     Esther  called all of the Jews to fast for 3 days when she was asked to take her life in her own hands; to break the law and go in to see the king uninvited. She said, “If I perish I perish”.

e.      Cornelius was fasting when the angel appeared to him telling him to send for Peter.

f.        Paul fasted often.

4. Kingdom Dynamic of Isaiah 58: Jesus taught that some things are only resolved through prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29). However, fasting is acceptable to God only when we have our priorities straight. Sharing with the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked and caring for our own families are the perquisite of godliness.

5. Nehemiah then goes on to tell us his prayer

a.      Notice Nehemiah started off his prayer praising God for his character and covenant mercy and love and he submits his will to Him. He is also persistent in his prayer request.

b.     He deeply repents for his sins, the sins of the people and also the sins of his ancestors. This is genuine repentance as is the case in many of the other examples in the Bible.

c.      God gives him the wisdom to know exactly what he must do in his anointed calling.

6. Nehemiah continues for 4 months in prayer and fasting without any sign of an answer. Then suddenly the king notices his sad countenance. We have to imagine after this going on for 4 months, who caused the king to notice. Was it God restraining him from noticing until he changed the hearts of men?  When he did notice, Nehemiah heart was prepared to know what to ask for; the king was prepared to allow the project to proceed. 

I believe all of this has great application for us today. Fasting and prayer together can change our perspective on situations in our lives too. It can bring break through in our spiritual battles.  Fasting does not have to be a total abstinence from all food but can be similar to Daniel when he asked to only eat vegetables and water. It can be shorter but the main reason is to develop a closer relationship to our God and break through. Each person should research what a biblical fast is suitable for him/her to do.