- [Narrator] Welcome to a Grace Digital presentation.
What is the purpose of fasting?
We must set our objectives clear before we take a fast.
If you do not have a goal,
anywhere you are is your destination.
There are biblical reasons for fasting.
Number one, humbling yourself.
David said, "I humbled my soul with fasting",
Psalm 35:13.
The kingdom of God is unlike the kingdom of the world.
The kingdom of God lifts you if you humble yourself.
That principle is seen throughout the Bible.
"Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased;
and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
Matthew 23:12.
We have to make the choice.
The most basic way you can humble yourself is by fasting.
Another motive for fasting is to come closer to God.
The scripture says that if you "draw near to God,
he will draw near to you."
James 4:8 NAS.
Number two.
Use the times of fasting to gain an understanding
of God's word.
Another reason for partaking in a fast
is to get an understanding of God's word.
Another reason for fasting is to find God's direction
for your life.
Ezra said, "I proclaimed a fast there,
at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves
before our God to seek the right way for us,
and for our little ones and for all our substance".
Ezra 8:21.
If you're in the midst of an important decision
such as traveling to a new country,
a business deal,
or taking on responsibility of a ministry,
you can take a fast and seek God.
Another prevalent reason for fasting
is deliverance and healing.
Matthew 17:21 says,
Jesus said in one place
about a certain type of evil spirit,
"This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting".
Before Jesus himself entered
into his ministry of healing and deliverance,
He spent 40 days fasting.
Number three.
We also fast in times we need God's intervention.
In some particular situation,
or when some tremendous problem has arisen
that we cannot handle by ourselves.
There are many examples of fasting in situations
like this in the Bible.
In 2 Chronicles, chapter 20,
Jehoshaphat and his people of Judah
found out they were facing an invading army
that they could not handle by themselves.
They humbled themselves as a group and went before God,
fasted and prayed.
And the war was handled by God,
without the use of a single action from them.
This is where the popular phrase, "Stand still",
takes it's root.
God is also willing to intervene on any
of his people's behalf when they seek him the same way.
Number four.
A final reason for fasting is to intercede
and pray on behalf of others.
If you have an unsaved son or daughter or parents,
we seek him in the same way, go on a fast.
There are many testimonies for believers of how God
has answered the prayer that is accomplished by fasting
on behalf of unsaved relatives.
If you're going to have particular period of fasting,
more than a day, or you have some particular purpose
for fasting, it is a good idea to have a written list
of what you're fasting about and then date it.
It would surprise you after some time when you go back
and look at it.
One day you'll praise God for all your answered prayers.
In our next videos, we will discuss the types of fast,
how often should you fast?
And other burning questions.
Here's a question for the day:
what worship song makes you feel closer to God?
Please put that in the comment section below.
This is a Grace Digital production.
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And to anyone still listening,
we pray you blessed,
we pray you remain fruitful,
remember to be strong and show love
out there in the world,
until next time, Shalom.