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[email protected] St. Ann's, Port of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies ![]() |
Joel 1:14; Matt. 6:16-18; Acts 13:1-5; 14:21-23
"Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD." Joel 1:14.
We are all familiar with the "Daniel fasts" that are called by pastors across different nations usually starting from January 1st to the 21st. In some congregations these fasts are usually considered or practiced as "dry fastings" where congregation members are called upon not to eat or drink anything for the period of these long fasts. Sadly, many people have lost their lives during this period because their bodies were not able to handle the effects of these prolonged fastings. Others have developed very bad medical emergencies as they ignorantly break these fasts with a normal diet, which invariably shocks their digestive system.
Brief Medical Advise On Fasting Before, I go on let me say that as a medical doctor I do not encourage people to fast for more than three (3) days if they decide not to eat or drink during the fast. I also do not encourage that the fast be no longer than seven (7) days if one is drinking but not eating. The bodies of many if not most people cannot manage anything beyond this. This is simply biology and has nothing to do with how spiritual or even how determined the individual is.
With respect to breaking one's fast, I encourage that you break a "dry fast" with a liquid diet and then later semi-solid diet, before you go onto a normal diet. For those of you who have had to fast prior to major surgery, you would note that after the surgery, the surgeons start you on liquids and then semi-solids before you get back to a normal diet after a couple days. This is to prevent your gut from going into paralysis. This is also why sometimes they wait until you pass gas before they even give you anything orally. The passing of gas is an indication that your gut is now functioning normally.
For, the purpose of maintaining healthy outcomes, I do encourage people with chronic illnesses like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, sickle-cell anaemia, and autoimmune disorders, to please get medical clearance before embarking on any fasting even when it is for a short period.
Prolonged Congressional Fasting Is Not A Scriptural Command Many are put on a serious guilt trip when they are unable to fast for long periods and many churches or ministries mandate these prolonged fasts as a way to hear God or get results or breakthroughs from Him.
While I do understand and appreciate the spiritual discipline that is associated with fasting, it is worth noting that it should be done following scriptural principles. It should not be based simply on individual experiences or religious traditions of men or organizations.
Do you know that there is really no scripture in the Old or New Testament books where God encouraged or ordered a congregational fast for more than One (1) day?
The fact is that most of the congregational fasts in the Bible were for ONE (1) day which was described as a solemn assembly.
Twice in the Bible congregational fasts were more than one (1) day. In both cases they were not ordered by God. Once was for three (3) days - requested by Esther (not God).
"Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him." Esther 4:15-17.
The other was also possibly a 3day fast by the people in the days of Ezra (Ezra 8:15, 21-35). This was not an instruction from God but rather from Ezra based on his personal fears.
""And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi... Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us." Ezra 8:15, 21-23.
The fasting by Paul and the folks he was sailing with for fourteen (14) days was more due to distress hence, no appetite and not because they were seeking God. Read Acts 27:33-36 for further details on this.
Even when Israel prepared to enter the promised land (Josh 3:5) and when they were to remove the accursed thing (Josh. 7:12-14) God only asked them to fast as a congregation for one (1) day.
"And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you." Joshua 3:5.
"Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned theirbacks before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you. In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man." Joshua 7:12-14.
When there was a great famine in the days of Joel (Joel 1:4, 12) God also only asked them to fast for one day - Joel 1:14.
"Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD." Joel 1:14.
It was this solemn assembly that culminated in the prophetic word that was manifested on the day of Pentecost. Please read Joel 2:25-32 for more information on this.
Though there is no law against long congregational fasting; I honestly believe that the scriptural pattern is not to encourage them.
Please note, that when Paul fasted for three (3) days following his conversion (he was then known as Saul of Tarsus), it was circumstantial and not necessarily ordered by God - Acts 9:9. We are also not told that his men fasted with him. Hence, this was an individual and not a congregational fast.
Apart from the fast ordered by Esther and Ezra (not God), which I referred to above, long fasts in the Bible were all individual fasts (David - 7days; Daniel - 21days; Moses and Jesus Christ - 40days) and they did not seem like they were planned.
Probably apart from David these people were all simply or seemingly caught up in the spirit as they fellowshipped with God.
No where in the Bible did God order or encourage long congregational fasting as a pattern to be followed by his people.
More Individual Than Congressional Fasts God's pattern especially in this New Testament age is for us to do more individual fasting than congregational fasting. These individual fastings are done primarily to depict our personal devotion and consecration to God.
"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. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 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." Matthew 6:16-18.
The above scripture shows that Jesus Christ pushed for a more private approach to fasting. This would certainly mean that He encouraged more individual than congregational fasting.
I am not against long fasts for individuals who can do so based on their personal relationship with God, however, I do not encourage long congregational fasts except where they are clearly stated as partial (not total) fasts and also as optional fasts, with no punishments or "spiritual intimidations" for those who are unable to do it.
Please also note that most recorded fastings in the New Testament were individual fasts apart from when leaders (ministers - prophets and teachers) fasted in Acts 13 to release Barnabas and Saul and possibly the ministers alone or probably the entire congregation fasted before elders were ordered in the churches (Acts 14:21-23).
It seems that New Testament congregational fasting is mainly to ordain or release leaders for the work of the ministry (Acts 13:1-3; 14:21-23).
"Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away" Acts 13:1-3
"And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed." Acts 14:21-23.
Following this pattern, it is important to note that most of our congregational fasting in the New Testament should be dedicated to advancing the work of the ministry. They should not be directed primarily to meet our physical needs. Neither do I believe that we should always start our year in January with long congregational fasts for the nation. This is because there is no explicit precedence for this anywhere in the Bible. Doing it is not a sin, but we must ensure that we do not make people who do not do it feel that they are unspiritual.
I believe that most of the fastings recorded in the books of the New Testament, were individual probably because the Holy Spirit indwells ALL believers, unlike in the Old Testament where the Holy Spirit did not in-dwell them. This therefore, necessitated a congregating at the temple for the anointing to fall on the designated leaders. These leaders would then communicate the Lord's words to the rest of the congregation as happened under Jehoshaphat.
"And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you." 2 Chronicles 20:13-17.
In this New Testament dispensation, all believers being in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit means we can indeed get personal direction consistently, from Him. Hence, the need for congregational direction is reduced, not eliminated but reduced.
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." 1 Corinthians 2:12
"But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things… But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." 1 John 2:20, 27
Even when the church came together in the midst of great persecution we are told about their congregational prayer but not about their congregational fasting. Read the following verses to see a couple recorded instances where the Church prayed as a congregation - Acts 4:23-31; 12:5; 21:11-14.
Balanced Approach To Fasting Once again, I am not saying that we cannot fast as a congregation, however, I want to reiterate that long congregational fasting should not be encouraged because there is generally no precedence for this as ordered by God in the entire Bible. This does not mean that God would not honour it when people go on this fasting, because He did honour both Esther and Ezra who as leaders led a congressional fast for more than one day.
"So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us." Ezra 8:21-23.
I personally believe that a congregation based on the instruction of their leadership can fast, but I also do believe that these fastings should be for short periods and not long. This is because long congregational fasting is not an essential doctrinal position for God's people either in the Old or New Testament.
I do however believe that ALL believers should set aside time to fast ever so often because of their personal relationship with God and their consecration to Him and His work (Matt. 6:18; Acts 10:30; 1 Cor. 7:5; 2 Cor. 6:5; 11:27).
I believe we can, ever so often, dedicate short (not long) periods of time where we encourage people to fast "congregationally" as much as they are able to but they must not be compelled or mandated to do long congregational fasts.
Disclaimer/ Summary This article is not against fasting be it congregational or individual. It is simply indicating that LONG congregational fasting is not a major feature of God's instructions to the church.
Note also that even though both Jesus and Moses fasted for 40 days at no time was this recommended to any other individual.
Like I stated, neither Moses nor Jesus set out to fast for 40days. Rather they were in fellowship with God and the glory of God overshadowed them.
The Bible said Jesus was hungry after the 40days fast, however, that is scientifically abnormal.
Hunger is noted primarily after 36-72 hours of a fast. Hence, He was so caught up in the glory that the 40days had an effect of less than 4days on his body.
Many people have died trying to fast for 40days because they were not connected to the glory. We must avoid presumption and stick with God's Word and there is absolutely no scripture where God encourages or commands LONG congregational fasting.
Even Daniel's 21day fast was not a total fast but a partial fast as he was actually eating but not pleasant bread - go and read Dan. 10 for clarification.
Behold, I come in peace and I remain committed to making every life better. Until next time, keep feeding your faith and starve your doubts to death. Stay strong.
Yours for Kingdom Advancement, ![]()
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