Bible Study Authorities Don't Want You To Know About The Power of Fasting

[Christ_empowered]

i don't know that I completely agree with Edward , but I've read similar "takes" on the passage.

 

[humble soul]

Pencil this into your diaries:
Wednesday 26th February
start of Lent 2020.
Why not add a 24 hour fast to your Lentan Preparation for Easter. Remind you of the poor and hungry. Those less fortunate.

 

[DreyDay]

Oh man, what have I started?!

 

[DreyDay]

This is 100% false doctrine.

Rev. 12

“11 And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb (the power to overcome and overwhelm the Kingdom of Satan is found exclusively in the Blood of the Sacrifice of the Son of God, and our Faith in that Finished Work [Rom. 6:3-5, 11, 14]), and by the word of their testimony (the “testimony” must pertain to the fact that the Object of our Faith is the Cross, and exclusively the Cross, which then gives the Holy Spirit latitude to work within our lives); and they loved not their lives unto the death. (This refers to the fact that the Believer must not change his testimony regarding the Cross to something else, even if it means death.)”

As I have stated before, many are proclaiming Christ with zeal but not with the knowledge, while forsaking or adding (being ignorant to Gods Righteousness) to the Cross, i.e., "The Blood of Jesus." (Rom. 10:1-3)

How is this false doctrine? God honors those who diligently seek him, and fasting combined with praying is the ultimate way to do so. I've heard countless testimonies about how people experienced breakthroughs in their life only after praying AND fasting.

 

[iLOVE]

How is this false doctrine? God honors those who diligently seek him, and fasting combined with praying is the ultimate way to do so. I've heard countless testimonies about how people experienced breakthroughs in their life only after praying AND fasting.

“6 But without Faith (in Christ and the Cross; anytime Faith is mentioned, always and without exception, its root meaning is that its Object is Christ and the Cross; otherwise, it is faith God will not accept) it is impossible to please Him (faith in anything other than Christ and the Cross greatly displeases the Lord): for he who comes to God must believe that He is (places Faith as the foundation and principle of the manner in which God deals with the human race), and that He (God) is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him (seek Him on the premise of Christ and Him Crucified).”

JSM

Notice, it does not say without fasting it is impossible to please God. As I stated before, fasting is scriptural, however the Believer must be led by the Holy Spirit to do this work as Jesus was led to fast 40 days or it is judged as iniquity. Matthew 4:1-2, 1 Cor. 7:5-7

We diligently seek Christ through His Atoning Work at Calvary only.

To profess faith in the Person and Atonement of Christ, and to claim fellowship with Him, but to be secretly unclean, insures the Wrath of God.

The Sacrifice of Christ and Faith in that Sacrifice purge sin from the Believer. To claim to believe such and then fail to exercise faith in what Christ has done for us at the Cross proclaim hypocrisy or unbelief, or both. Ultimately, judgment is inevitable.”

 

[for_his_glory]

There is no difference from me saying the Cross, the Finished Work at Calvary, the Blood of Jesus; it all means the same thing.

Question for you? What happened to the Priest who did not take the coals of fire from Brazen Altar, which typified Calvary, which sat in front of the Tabernacle and used coals of fire that had failed on the ground and placed them on the Golden Altar in the Tabernacle?

If you are talking about Leviticus 10:1-3 there was no sanctification in what Nabad and Abihu did with the censers as they offered strange fire before God. They added to their worship of God something that was not commanded to do. The wrath of God is upon all who presume to worship Him in a manner He has not commanded. It's like Matthew 15:7-9 their worship was in vain as their heart was far from God and for this God destroyed them by fire.

To compare this to the cross is that many worship God/Jesus in vain as they are not sanctified by the blood of Jesus as they try to climb up to God some other way being the same as a thief and a robber and not part of the sheepfold denying the the redemption of Christ through His finished works on the cross. We come to the cross with a humbled heart of repentance as at that time we received God's plan of salvation through Christ Jesus who is God's free gift of grace to all who will come unto Christ and are made His own as we are redeemed by the blood of Christ and made righteous before the Father.

 

[iLOVE]

If you are talking about Leviticus 10:1-3 there was no sanctification in what Nabad and Abihu did with the censers as they offered strange fire before God. They added to their worship of God something that was not commanded to do. The wrath of God is upon all who presume to worship Him in a manner He has not commanded. It's like Matthew 15:7-9 their worship was in vain as their heart was far from God and for this God destroyed them by fire.

To compare this to the cross is that many worship God/Jesus in vain as they are not sanctified by the blood of Jesus as they try to climb up to God some other way being the same as a thief and a robber and not part of the sheepfold denying the the redemption of Christ through His finished works on the cross. We come to the cross with a humbled heart of repentance as at that time we received God's plan of salvation through Christ Jesus who is God's free gift of grace to all who will come unto Christ and are made His own as we are redeemed by the blood of Christ and made righteous before the Father.

You said in post #10 that their will be no Spiritual growth and the Atonement (the Cross) becomes an idol if the Believer makes Cross (the Atoning Work of Christ) the object of our Faith. Please remember this, all things that are needed is in the Atonement! If you bypass this you enter death (the law of sin and death)!

 

[for_his_glory]

All works that is not produced and birth by the Holy Spirit in the life of a Believer is iniquity. That includes religious activity and scriptural Christian disciplines such as fasting.

The scripture teaches us that many who used the word Lord and even say that they Love the Lord will be surprised to be at the Great White Throne Judgement who are doing works in the name of the Lord, but it ain't the Lord doing it. (Matthew 7:21-23)

Iniquity (sin abounding in Christians as their love is waxing cold) is those who are doing works in the name of the Lord but it ain’t the Lord doing it. Love only abounds in knowledge (in the knowledge of the Cross) and in all judgement (discernment, which is a spiritual and moral sense or feeling). Philippians 1:9

The Believer must keep their Faith in the Sacrificial Work of Christ or iniquity will abound.

I don't see fasting as a work towards anything other than coming before the Lord in prayer without any distractions of the world. It puts us in a Spiritual alignment with God's will when we come before Him in prayer as we fellowship with Him and hear Him speak to us

Many do give lip service to the Lord as only God knows who are His own. We can not judge anyone other than the fruits they display, Matthew 7:15-20. The knowledge of the cross is what brings us to faith that is Christ Jesus as it is not our faith, but our belief in Him and what He has and continues to do in us and through us.

If we only focus on the sacrifice of Christ then we will never be risen with Him as we need to seek those things from above where Christ now sits on the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1-4. This is our fast to know the mind of Christ and God's will for our life. If we die at the foot of the cross and stay there how will we ever be led by the Holy Spirit who brings new life in us.

 

[for_his_glory]

Fasting includes not only, doing without food, but as well, denying one's own strength and ability, and looking exclusively to the Cross (1 Cor. 1:17-18).

JSM

The cross is the power of God that has redeemed us by the blood of Christ as we are made righteous by His righteousness that we have now died to self and live for Him as we carry the Gospel of His grace out into the world through the Holy Spirit who works in us and through us giving the words we need to preach to others.

 

[for_his_glory]

sorry but scripture doesnt have the answer for everything.

I believe scripture holds all the answers, but many are not willing to search them out or listen to God as they are not the answers they want to hear.

 

[for_his_glory]

It kind of sort've surely does in Matthew 6:16-18

16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.../

When I read this passage, I notice that it does not say if you fast...it says, when you fast, like it is a given that we will. To me, that's about as close as you can get to being a commandment without being chiseled in stone, lol. The grammar is clear. When you fast...

Many teach that it is commanded by God to fast, but yet give no proof that it is. Just like you did here with the scriptures you gave it only shows how to fast. I find it more a tradition than a requirement. I'm not against fasting by any means, but see it as only voluntary.

 

[for_his_glory]

Oh man, what have I started?!

You didn't start anything my brother as this is a good topic, but not everyone will agree

 

[for_his_glory]

“6 But without Faith (in Christ and the Cross; anytime Faith is mentioned, always and without exception, its root meaning is that its Object is Christ and the Cross; otherwise, it is faith God will not accept) it is impossible to please Him (faith in anything other than Christ and the Cross greatly displeases the Lord): for he who comes to God must believe that He is (places Faith as the foundation and principle of the manner in which God deals with the human race), and that He (God) is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him (seek Him on the premise of Christ and Him Crucified).”

JSM

Notice, it does not say without fasting it is impossible to please God. As I stated before, fasting is scriptural, however the Believer must be led by the Holy Spirit to do this work as Jesus was led to fast 40 days or it is judged as iniquity. Matthew 4:1-2, 1 Cor. 7:5-7

We diligently seek Christ through His Atoning Work at Calvary only.

To profess faith in the Person and Atonement of Christ, and to claim fellowship with Him, but to be secretly unclean, insures the Wrath of God.

The Sacrifice of Christ and Faith in that Sacrifice purge sin from the Believer. To claim to believe such and then fail to exercise faith in what Christ has done for us at the Cross proclaim hypocrisy or unbelief, or both. Ultimately, judgment is inevitable.”

With all due respect to you teaching about the cross, other than you, who else is discussing having faith in anything other than Christ and His finished works while he hung on the cross. The OP is about the power their is in fasting as we come before the Lord in prayer and how we trust Him in all things. All the scriptures found in the Bible about fasting teaches us the traditions of fasting and how to properly fast before the Lord.

Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where He was tempted by Satan as He fasted for forty days. Being He was fully God and fully man here on earth it was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect like us as we are always being tempted by Satan, but in the case of Jesus he was tempted so He could be our merciful and peaceful high priest before God. Jesus had to experience the temptations and sufferings in order to be able to understand and help us when we are tempted by Satan and suffer from the things of this world. Hebrews 2:17, 18

 

[for_his_glory]

You said in post #10 that their will be no Spiritual growth and the Atonement (the Cross) becomes an idol if the Believer makes Cross (the Atoning Work of Christ) the object of our Faith. Please remember this, all things that are needed is in the Atonement! If you bypass this you enter death (the law of sin and death)!

You are misunderstanding what I said. Some people worship the cross more than the one who died on it. Atonement for our sins by the blood sacrifice Christ made for all who will believe in Him has redeemed us from our sin. This was the promise of a better covenant through God's gift of grace that by faith, which is Christ Jesus being that gift all can be made new again if they would humble themselves before Him with a heart of repentance.

Those by having faith in Christ have been redeemed and now start their Spiritual growth in Him as we are indwelled with the Holy Spirit that leads us into all Spiritual things from above where Christ sits on the right hand of God, Colossians 3:1-4. We don't stay at His cross as we pick up our own cross to follow after Christ. If we just keep sitting at the foot of the cross then we do not move forward in God's will for us as we take the Gospel message of God's grace out into the world being led by the Holy Spirit.

 

[Edward]

Many teach that it is commanded by God to fast, but yet give no proof that it is. Just like you did here with the scriptures you gave it only shows how to fast. I find it more a tradition than a requirement. I'm not against fasting by any means, but see it as only voluntary.

There's hints throughout the bible that says we should fast. Here's a New Testament passage about it, and Jesus seems to come closer to the point in the way that He says it...

Matthew 9:14-16
14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.../

How's that Sister? ...then, shall they fast.

 

[iLOVE]

If we only focus on the sacrifice of Christ then we will never be risen with Him as we need to seek those things from above where Christ now sits on the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1-4. This is our fast to know the mind of Christ and God's will for our life. If we die at the foot of the cross and stay there how will we ever be led by the Holy Spirit who brings new life in us.

What Jesus accomplished on the Cross has given the Holy Spirit the legal right to live in us, to help us. The Cross has given us access into the Most Holy Place by the Blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19 NIV). Every single blessing received by the Child of God comes through Calvary.

If the Cross of Christ is not strictly the Object of our Faith, God looks at everything else as "worldliness." No matter how religious our efforts may be otherwise, it is still looked at by the Lord as "friendship with the world." This means the Believer in essence becomes an "enemy of God."

Christians must start thinking Spiritually, which refers to the fact that everything is furnished to us through the Cross, and is obtained by Faith and not works. Many Christians say you put too much emphasis on the Cross. I remind you that the Apostle Paul said, "We preach Christ Crucified (1 Cor. 1:23). He also said, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). Notice two subjects: Christ and the Cross. Why would the Apostle Paul say such a thing? Because that is the only way we receive victory over sin, the world, the flesh, and the Devil!

And he said to them all, If any man will come after Me (the criteria for Discipleship), let him deny himself (not asceticism as many think, but rather that one denies one's own willpower, self-will, strength, and ability, depending totally on Christ), and take up his cross (the benefits of the Cross, looking exclusively to what Jesus did there to meet our every need) daily (this is so important, our looking to the Cross; that we must renew our Faith in what Christ has done for us, even on a daily basis, for Satan will ever try to move us away from the Cross as the Object of our Faith, which always spells disaster), and follow Me (Christ can be followed only by the Believer looking to the Cross, understanding what it accomplished, and by that means alone [Rom. 6:3-5, 11, 14; 8:1-2, 11; 1 Cor. 1:17-18, 21, 23; 2:2; Gal. 6:14; Eph. 2:13-18; Col. 3:14-15]). Luke 9:23

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it (try to live one's life outside of Christ and the Cross): but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it (when we place our Faith entirely in Christ and the Cross, looking exclusively to Him, we have just found "more Abundant Life" [John 10:10]) Luke 9:24

As far as trying to do something as it concerns taking up the Cross daily, we are to do nothing. In fact, it was already done at Calvary some two thousand years ago. On a daily basis, we should reinforce our Faith in Christ and what He has done for us at the Cross (Rom. 6:3-5; 8:2, Gal. 2:20-21, Col. 2:10-15). This is the "Truth" which we must learn, act upon, and continue to act upon, which guarantees the help of the Holy Spirit.

We are not wrestling against flesh and blood. Satan has been defeated through the Cross. Principalities and powers have been spoiled (Col. 2:15). We are enforcing this victory through applying the Cross of Calvary to the pulling down strongholds by placing and maintain our Faith exclusively in Christ and the Finished Work at Calvary Cross where the victory was won, i.e., "The Blood of Jesus." Our source of Power is the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace (Exodus 14:14). "In Justification, the Lord fights 'for' us, and in Sanctification, He fights 'in' us."

Two kinds of peace

1. Justifying Peace - This is Peace with God, a legal standing. Rom. 8:7; Eph. 2:14-15
2. Sanctifying Peace - This is the Peace of God in the heart. Rom. 8:6; 14:19; 15:13; Gal. 1:3

The first is the result of a legal standing. The second is the result of the Work of the Holy Spirit. The first is static, never fluctuates, the second changes almost from hour to hour. The first, every Christian has, the second, every Christian may have.

Sanctifying peace allows the Holy Spirit to deliver the Believer into the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ so that the Life of Christ is manifested through the Believer by the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 4:11, Gal. 2:20-21, Romans 8:2; 13, John 14:21). We must remember, it is His Life (Christ) that brings the victory, and not ours.

JSM

 

[iLOVE]

To be in Christ means that the Believer has been crucified with Christ (the new covenant). Therefore, sin can no longer attach itself to the Believer.

To Believe you must go beyond the Cross means you are not crucified with Christ. There remains no other sacrifice for this Believer. Therefore, this Believer enters into "THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH." Sin will have dominion over you just like Cain.

Galatians 2:20 King James Version (KJV)

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

If you go beyond the Cross you walk away from God and enter death! In other words, you are no longer crucified with Christ.

 

[iLOVE]

When the Apostle Paul said we preach Christ Crucified, he was talking about who Christ is and what Christ accomplished on the Cross; we are not speaking about the wooden beam. By placing your Faith and maintaining it in Christ and the Finished Work at Calvary Cross, the Believer receives all the benefits of the resurrection life (life more abundantly - the help of the Holy Spirit - Rom. 8:2). That is why Psalm 103:2 says, "DON'T FOGET ABOUT ALL HIS BENEFITS."

Ninety percent of Christians are proclaiming Christ but have forsaking the Cross; this is called spiritual adultery also lukewarm. They have change Gods prescribed order of victory for their lives, over sin, the world, the flesh, and the Devil. They have come up with a new way of victory which is called LAW. They are no longer abiding in Christ; the fruit becomes rotten! They are then removed from the body of Christ.

Notice, Jesus is talking about Christians:

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned (John 15:6). Jesus also said most people are going to hell (Matthew 7:14)

This is why your Faith must be exclusively in Christ and the Cross. This is why Paul says we preach Christ and Him Crucified. Paul also said I am determine to know nothing among you, save Christ and Him Crucified. He also said, “the message of the Cross is foolish to them whom are perishing, but to us being saved, it is the power of God.” Two subjects - Christ and the Cross, i.e., The Finished Work, i.e., The Blood of Jesus. Why would the Apostle Paul say this? Because this is the ONLY WAY!!!!!!!

 

[for_his_glory]

There's hints throughout the bible that says we should fast. Here's a New Testament passage about it, and Jesus seems to come closer to the point in the way that He says it...

Matthew 9:14-16
14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.../

How's that Sister? ...then, shall they fast.

I understand all these scriptures about fasting, but Jesus never gave a command or a particular time, place or method as while Jesus was with the disciples there was no need to fast. Fasting is associated primarily with mourning or for spiritual need or anxiety. We mourn because Jesus is no longer with us like He was with His disciples while he was on earth, Matthew 9:14-17.

Fasting is appropriate in this day and age, because Christ is physically absent from the earth. But it is appropriate only as a response to special times of testing, trial and struggles like in the OT. Jesus taught us how to fast in Matthew 6:16-18

 

[for_his_glory]

What Jesus accomplished on the Cross has given the Holy Spirit the legal right to live in us, to help us. The Cross has given us access into the Most Holy Place by the Blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19 NIV). Every single blessing received by the Child of God comes through Calvary.

If the Cross of Christ is not strictly the Object of our Faith, God looks at everything else as "worldliness." No matter how religious our efforts may be otherwise, it is still looked at by the Lord as "friendship with the world." This means the Believer in essence becomes an "enemy of God."

Christians must start thinking Spiritually, which refers to the fact that everything is furnished to us through the Cross, and is obtained by Faith and not works. Many Christians say you put too much emphasis on the Cross. I remind you that the Apostle Paul said, "We preach Christ Crucified (1 Cor. 1:23). He also said, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). Notice two subjects: Christ and the Cross. Why would the Apostle Paul say such a thing? Because that is the only way we receive victory over sin, the world, the flesh, and the Devil!

And he said to them all, If any man will come after Me (the criteria for Discipleship), let him deny himself (not asceticism as many think, but rather that one denies one's own willpower, self-will, strength, and ability, depending totally on Christ), and take up his cross (the benefits of the Cross, looking exclusively to what Jesus did there to meet our every need) daily (this is so important, our looking to the Cross; that we must renew our Faith in what Christ has done for us, even on a daily basis, for Satan will ever try to move us away from the Cross as the Object of our Faith, which always spells disaster), and follow Me (Christ can be followed only by the Believer looking to the Cross, understanding what it accomplished, and by that means alone [Rom. 6:3-5, 11, 14; 8:1-2, 11; 1 Cor. 1:17-18, 21, 23; 2:2; Gal. 6:14; Eph. 2:13-18; Col. 3:14-15]). Luke 9:23

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it (try to live one's life outside of Christ and the Cross): but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it (when we place our Faith entirely in Christ and the Cross, looking exclusively to Him, we have just found "more Abundant Life" [John 10:10]) Luke 9:24

As far as trying to do something as it concerns taking up the Cross daily, we are to do nothing. In fact, it was already done at Calvary some two thousand years ago. On a daily basis, we should reinforce our Faith in Christ and what He has done for us at the Cross (Rom. 6:3-5; 8:2, Gal. 2:20-21, Col. 2:10-15). This is the "Truth" which we must learn, act upon, and continue to act upon, which guarantees the help of the Holy Spirit.

We are not wrestling against flesh and blood. Satan has been defeated through the Cross. Principalities and powers have been spoiled (Col. 2:15). We are enforcing this victory through applying the Cross of Calvary to the pulling down strongholds by placing and maintain our Faith exclusively in Christ and the Finished Work at Calvary Cross where the victory was won, i.e., "The Blood of Jesus." Our source of Power is the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace (Exodus 14:14). "In Justification, the Lord fights 'for' us, and in Sanctification, He fights 'in' us."

Two kinds of peace

1. Justifying Peace - This is Peace with God, a legal standing. Rom. 8:7; Eph. 2:14-15
2. Sanctifying Peace - This is the Peace of God in the heart. Rom. 8:6; 14:19; 15:13; Gal. 1:3

The first is the result of a legal standing. The second is the result of the Work of the Holy Spirit. The first is static, never fluctuates, the second changes almost from hour to hour. The first, every Christian has, the second, every Christian may have.

Sanctifying peace allows the Holy Spirit to deliver the Believer into the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ so that the Life of Christ is manifested through the Believer by the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 4:11, Gal. 2:20-21, Romans 8:2; 13, John 14:21). We must remember, it is His Life (Christ) that brings the victory, and not ours.

JSM

I agree with all of this, but what I have been trying to point out is that some people worship the cross more than they worship the one who hung on it.

Do we fast and pray before a cross, or do we fast and pray before Christ.

Fasting prepares our mind, body and soul as we present our self before the Lord in prayer.