J: Biblical outcomes of fasting:

J: Biblical outcomes of fasting:

This section is not the Biblical purpose of fasting, because that is to devote yourself to God, by removing distractions.

This is best defined in one sentence in Zechariah 7:5, when God questions and reveals the people's misuse of fasting:

“Say to all the people of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me (unto me) that you fasted?'”


The true direction of fasting is towards God, not secondary (even good) goals.

But there are related secondary purposes or outcomes, and it's a fine line, you can fast 'for' some of these, but enhanced undistracted relationship to God is still the main goal, or you can end up trying to force your agenda on God, rather than drawing close to Him to hear His agenda.


So, here are some pointers to the Biblical contexts that you could use, or WE could use at Blaze, or in any other Church context:


To develop our closeness to God/sense of His presence:
2 Chronicles 20


To hear God:
Judges 20 – the first Biblical example, when they wanted God's instructions in a battle. Are we in a battle? Do we need God's instructions?
Acts 13:2 – 'set apart Barnabas & Paul'

To make prayer more effective because we hear God with more certainty, which develops faith:
See Ezra 8

Mourning, to understand and humbly submit to God's will in the confusion of disaster or bereavement:
2 Samuel 1:12
“And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.”

Trying to understand difficult circumstances, even with a sense of complaint – God can handle this, as long as you are genuinely humbly listening for His word or comfort
Esther 4 – during a time of national oppression.

Worship
Luke 2 – Anna
Acts 13:2

Commissioning people in a God ordained role
Acts 13 & 14.

Confession, or to identify sin, even as a group/Church when not everyone is involved:
1 Samuel 7:6; Nehemiah 9; Joel 2
If we see trends or sin issues, or repeated problems in a Church in one area or around one issue or sin, and if we want to identify the background to this type of issue, perhaps we should consider a fast, to see whether God will reveal a 'key' to us???