The teaching and tradition of refraining from food and drink (FASTING) may sound bizarre to most men, but to God it is an acceptable means of reaching Him.

Although the biblical origins of fasting are obscure several theories claim that it originated as:

1. A spiritual preparation for partaking of a sacred meal “Lords Supper” (W. R. Smith).

2. A method for inducing a state of susceptibility to visions (E. B. Tylor).

3. A means of providing new vitality during periods of human or natural infertility (T. H. Gaster).

LEV 16:29 The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) commands, You shall afflict (fast) your souls (body) and refrain from work, if not be damned, this is the only fast ordained in the Pentateuch.

Hebrew history declares that the Day of Atonement consists not only of fasting but also of other forms of self-denial such as, abstaining from washing, anointing, wearing shoes and cohabitation.

ISA 58:4 The contrast is made below between a fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness, which is not accompanied by any real repentance and is therefore unacceptable to God.

ISA 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the fetters of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke and to let the oppressed go free...Is it not to deal your bread to the hungry and bring the poor that are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him...Then shall you call and the lord will answer.

I SAM 28:20 Fasting was practiced as a preparation to save your life from God’s judgment when sinning as, when Saul fasted.

II SAM 1:12 The death of a national leader (King Saul) would initiate a daylong fast or alternatively the fast might be observed for seven days.

II SAM 12:16 In addition to fasting food and drink King David slept on the ground did not change his clothes and refrained from anointing and washing.

II SAM 12:21 King David fasted seven days in the hope that the Lord would be gracious to him and save his bastard son. But when it died he said; now that he is dead why fast.

I KI 21:27-29 God mitigated evil Ahab's punishment because he fasted and humbled himself, but said He would bring evil on his sons instead.

Fasting is a means of winning divine forgiveness, compassion, penance and is an expression of remorse, submission, and supplication to God for sins.

DAN 9:3, 10:3, 12 When Daniel's prayers were answered he was fasting in sackcloth, and ashes, confessing his sins and the sins of his people and abstaining from choice food, meat, wine and from anointing himself for three whole weeks.

EZRA 10:1 The Hebrew fast was to be accompanied by prayer and confession of sins and weeping by all.

JOEL 2:15-17 During a general community fast one of the elders would rebuke the people of sin and the affairs of the community were investigated in order to determine who if any was the cause of any corporate evil.

JON 3:5 At times young children and animals were obliged to fast; this prevailed among pagan nations as well. All fasts may be broken if danger to health is involved.

Very young children and the sick were exempted from fasting to preserve their strength and in most cases so were pregnant and nursing women.

People also refrained from work on fast days, some considered work to be absolutely prohibited and shops were closed.

Ordinary fast days lasted for the duration of the daylight hours; important fasts were a full 24 hours, and a series of three or seven days and occasionally daily for a continued period.

On some occasions the fast was not a total one unless refraining from meat, wine, anointment with oil, and other pleasures.

JOEL 2:12-13 The Bible emphasizes that the fast is not an end in itself, but only a means through which man can humble his heart (mind) and repent of his sins that and manifest godly deeds.

ZECH 8:19 Zechariah prophesied that, fast days could be transformed into days of joy and gladness on the Day of Atonement and on the Ninth of Av (August).

Some fast days would last from before dawn until nightfall of the same day and from sunset until nightfall of the following day.

The fast was interpreted as atonement for possible sins committed while in a state of drunkenness and gluttony during the holidays.

Fasting was recommended for the anniversary of a parent's death, or that of a bible teacher.

The groom and the bride are to fast on their wedding day until the ceremony ends.

Also fasting is to avert the evil consequences of nightmares.

Shab. 11 a, In Talmudic times, it was believed that bad dreams could have a pernicious effect, (tending to cause death or serious injury).

This fast was regarded as of such urgency that the rabbis permitted it even on the Sabbath, but advocated another fast on a weekday as repentance for having dishonored the Sabbath joy through fasting.

If a bible is dropped it is customary for those present to fast a daylong.

MAT 6:16-18 When you fast be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces (with ash or paint), that they may appear unto men to fast. They have their reward.

Anoint your head and wash your face; that you appear not unto men to fast, but unto your Father which is in secret and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly.

A Gift Minister or Elder of the general congregation not a layman must initiate the reason for a common or personal fast.

SUMMERY FOR FASTING

1. Fast on the day when partaking of a sacred meal “Lords Supper”.

2. Fast to induce a state of susceptibility for visions.

3. Fast for vitality during a woman’s period of natural infertility.

4. Fast to afflict the body.

5. Fast and sleep on the ground, do not change clothes, do not anoint or wash yourself.

6. Fast during daylight hours, important fasts are a full twenty four hours.

7. Fast one, three, seven, forty, eighty days, and staggered days for a continued period.

8. Fast for a recent death and coming death.

9. Fast to torment self by abstaining from meat, wine, anointing and cohabitation.

10. Fast to humble self under God’s mighty hand.

11. Fast to win divine forgiveness.

12. Fast as an expression of remorse, submission and supplication to God for wrongs.

13. Fast as a preparation for communing with God to save a life before a (spiritual) battle of casting out devils and healing the sick. MAT 17:21, MK 9:29

14. Fast to be granted a theophany (divine manifestation).

15. Fast when tempted of the devil to sin.

16. Fast in sackcloth and ashes.

17. Fast for godly church elders to rebuke people and investigate any who may have caused corporate evil.

18. Fast prohibits work; Pentecostal’s must close their businesses.

19. Fast a daylong if a bible is dropped.

20. Fast on a weekday as repentance for dishonoring the Sabbath joy through fasting.

21. Fast as atonement for possible sins committed in drunkenness and gluttony during the holidays.

22. Fast for the anniversary of a parent's death, or that of a Pentecostal Bible Teachers death.

23. Fast on a wedding day until the ceremony ends.

24. Fast to avert the evil consequences of nightmares.

25. Fast to humble self.

    PSA 109:24 My knees are weak through fasting and my flesh fails of fatness. A fast of real repentance will weaken your body and rid it of fat.

    For centuries fasting has been practiced world wide by millions to heathen pagan gods that cannot answer.