Learning to FastLearning to Fast

August 4, 2013August 4, 2013ICF DakarICF DakarJan KievietJan Kieviet

OT Examples - Day of OT Examples - Day of AtonementAtonement

““The tenth day of this The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny your-assembly and deny your-selves, and present a food selves, and present a food offering to the Lord. Do not offering to the Lord. Do not do any work on that day, do any work on that day, because it is the Day of because it is the Day of Atonement, when Atonement, when atonement is made for you atonement is made for you before the Lord your God.”before the Lord your God.”

Leviticus 23:27Leviticus 23:27

Maurycy Gottlieb – Jews praying in the Synagogue on Yom Kippur

OT examples - JehoshaphatOT examples - JehoshaphatSome people came and told Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast Jehoshaphat, “A vast

army is army is coming against you from coming against you from Edom, [..] Alarmed, Edom, [..] Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in came from every town in Judah to seek him.Judah to seek him.

2 Chronicles 20:1-42 Chronicles 20:1-4Michelangelo - Jehoshaphat

OT examples - DanielOT examples - DanielSo I turned to the Lord God and So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. sackcloth and ashes. Daniel 9:3Daniel 9:3

At that time I, Daniel, mourned At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were all until the three weeks were over. over. Daniel 10:2Daniel 10:2

Briton Rivière - Daniel

OT Examples – Ezra & OT Examples – Ezra & NehemiaNehemia

There, by the Ahava Canal, I There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselvesmight humble ourselvesbefore our God and ask him before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our our children, with all our possessions. possessions. Ezra 8:21Ezra 8:21

When I heard these things, I When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of prayed before the God of heaven. heaven. Nehemiah 1:4Nehemiah 1:4

Gustave Doré – Ezra kneels in prayer

Jesus in the desertJesus in the desertJesus, full of the Holy Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate by the devil. He ate

nothing nothing during those days, and at during those days, and at the end of them he was the end of them he was hungry. hungry.

Luke 4:1Luke 4:1Moretto da Brescia - Christ in

the Wilderness

3 day full fast - Esther3 day full fast - Esther““Go, gather together all the Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”law. And if I perish, I perish.”

Esther 4:1Esther 4:1

Rembrandt van Rijn - Esther

3 day full fast - Paul3 day full fast - PaulThe men travelling with The men travelling with

Saul Saul stood there speechless; stood there speechless; they heard the sound but they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.not eat or drink anything.

Acts 9:7-9Acts 9:7-9Peter Paul Rubens - Paul

Biblical examples summaryBiblical examples summaryDifferent occasions, purposes and lengthDifferent occasions, purposes and lengthPartial or full fastPartial or full fast In groups or as individualIn groups or as individualPrescribed and voluntaryPrescribed and voluntary

So there are more than one practicesSo there are more than one practicesBut it are always honest people, seeking But it are always honest people, seeking

the Lords presencethe Lords presence

Matthew 6:16-18Matthew 6:16-18“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.

Matthew 6:16-18Matthew 6:16-18But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

‘‘When you fasted [..] When you fasted [..] was it really for me?was it really for me?

Zechariah 7:5 Zechariah 7:5

Michelangelo - Zechariah

SummarySummaryFasting is presupposed by JesusFasting is presupposed by JesusFasting is relational; focusing on GodFasting is relational; focusing on God

not on people not on people not on our ourselvesnot on our ourselves

Fasting is relational; coming as we areFasting is relational; coming as we areFasting is a spiritual exerciseFasting is a spiritual exerciseAs a Good Father, the Lord will As a Good Father, the Lord will

provide you with what you needprovide you with what you need

How to fast?How to fast?General ideasGeneral ideas- Fast one day a week Fast one day a week - Fast from food (+ …)Fast from food (+ …)- Drink only waterDrink only water- Break each fast with a Break each fast with a

light meallight meal- Try to focus on God not Try to focus on God not

on the physical on the physical experienceexperience

- Continue doing your Continue doing your daily work, but take daily work, but take extra time for prayerextra time for prayer

How to fast?How to fast?1. 24 hour fast from lunch to lunch1. 24 hour fast from lunch to lunch- Skip dinner and breakfast Skip dinner and breakfast - Drink juice and waterDrink juice and water2. 24 hour fast from dinner to dinner2. 24 hour fast from dinner to dinner- Skip breakfast and lunchSkip breakfast and lunch3. 36 hour fast from dinner to 3. 36 hour fast from dinner to

breakfastbreakfast- Skip breakfast, lunch and dinnerSkip breakfast, lunch and dinner4. Fasting for longer periods of time4. Fasting for longer periods of time

Learning to FastLearning to Fast