What Does Fasting Do?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

VineyardsOfEngedi

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2019
872
292
63
#21
Lol no we don't meet. There are millions of Orthodox Christians, that would be hard to do! The idea is that everyone is doing the same fast with the same intentions. The communion takes place through SPIRIT.
lol Well when I read communal and fellow-shipping thats what I imagined people fasting together, but yes I can see how that can be encouraging to each other.
 

VineyardsOfEngedi

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2019
872
292
63
#23
Yes. For whatever reason, I have experienced the most spiritual strengthening from water fasts. This may not be true of everyone, which is why I would say commune with God about the fast ahead of time and of course all throughout the fast. I have a book that details all of the different OT and NT fasts in the Bible and the purposes of each. Really inspiring read.
What is the name of the book, if I may?
 
Nov 25, 2019
337
157
43
#25
start with heartfelt and mindful prayer, there are lots of resources online to help you pray if you need it
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,229
6,526
113
#29
Oh I like that .... matter of need and frankness in the sight of our Maker... and I can't relate to your experiences but it all sounds lovely hope to be there spiritually :(
May you know the same experience in the Holy Spirit…...…...it is not an everytday occurance but it does occur. kAll love in Jesus, Yeshua...….j
 
Nov 25, 2019
337
157
43
#32
No I do not drink or do drugs but I have in the past, not proud of that time.
That's good. The past is the past leave it there. I only asked because it's very difficult to access God or have any sort of abundant spiritual life when using drugs or alcohol. I speak to this from personal experience.
 

VineyardsOfEngedi

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2019
872
292
63
#33
That's good. The past is the past leave it there. I only asked because it's very difficult to access God or have any sort of abundant spiritual life when using drugs or alcohol. I speak to this from personal experience.
Yea I am. And I'm not sure why it seems God is silent but at the same time I don't feel its hard to access him. I've just never had like this supernatural spiritual experience that a lot of people seem to have. Who knows.
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
981
113
33
#34
That the Lord would guide people to fast is enough reason to suggest its significance. Why fast on a particular day? What does it do? What does it accomplish? Does it make you sensitive to the Spirit of God, and His leading? Maybe it makes it easier to commune with God, not entertaining the things of the flesh?

There seems to be something about fasting that cries out to God and He inclines His ear to your prayers and petitions, much like laying oneself prostrate before God in surrender saying “You are my source.”
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
#35
I understand fasting is to exercise discipline but is there more to it?
Biblical fasting has to do with the discipline of sharing the gospel on a day set aside from normal work( 6 days) as that needed to maintain these bodies of death.

It has nothing to do with the work depriving oneself but everything to do with sharing our bread, both the literal bread and the hidden Manna, the word of God, the gospel .

Starving oneself does not bring us closer to be heard on high .It is not the kind of fast that can drive out lying spirits called demons . It is not that which comes out of a man that defiles them or gives them the spiritual unseen strength .

Defining the bread as to its kind is needed .

One bread as manna which literal is a question. What is it? , The bread of unfamiliarity leads to eternal life. No lukewarm familiarity with God not seen. We walk by faith the unseen eternal

God is not a man a us. Familiarity breeds hatred and contempt it was cause to be misunderstood byjesus's own family. Men looking to the flesh of familiarity .

It leads to the grave and returning to the lifeless spiritless dust it was formed of.

It would seem men have turned it (not eating) into a sign gift as a way of confirming something outwardly .
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
#36
I like following the Orthodox fasting calendar because it gives me structure, purpose, communion with God, and fellowship with other Christians because you are all (mostly) fasting from the same things, at the same time, for the same reasons 🙂
I would think we would look to the spiritual understanding hid from the lost revealed in parables. .

How would that apply when fasting for blood work .Can it be offered as a fast to be heard on high?

Why did the man in Luke 18:12 boast he fasted twice on the sabbath and on the same sabbath day gave 10 % ?

How many meals fits the Orthodox understanding at that time? Three? Unlimited ?
 

1ofthem

Senior Member
Mar 30, 2016
3,729
1,912
113
#37
Most acceptable fast to the Lord is to help others....Isaiah 58.

But we do know that fasting is also still applicable by reading the scriptures. Jesus said that after he departed then they would fast.
Matthew 9:15

“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.”

You are not supposed to tell others when you are fasting this is between you and God not to get praise of men.

Matthew 6:17-19 King James Version (KJV)
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.

In Matthew 17. Jesus also instructs the disciple on how to have more strength with God. He rebuked them for their faithlessness and said...
21. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
 

VineyardsOfEngedi

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2019
872
292
63
#38
That the Lord would guide people to fast is enough reason to suggest its significance. Why fast on a particular day? What does it do? What does it accomplish? Does it make you sensitive to the Spirit of God, and His leading? Maybe it makes it easier to commune with God, not entertaining the things of the flesh?

There seems to be something about fasting that cries out to God and He inclines His ear to your prayers and petitions, much like laying oneself prostrate before God in surrender saying “You are my source.”
You're right, only because he wants us to, I should. And I guess how it turns out will be until then.
 

VineyardsOfEngedi

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2019
872
292
63
#39
Most acceptable fast to the Lord is to help others....Isaiah 58.

But we do know that fasting is also still applicable by reading the scriptures. Jesus said that after he departed then they would fast.
Matthew 9:15

“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.”

You are not supposed to tell others when you are fasting this is between you and God not to get praise of men.

Matthew 6:17-19 King James Version (KJV)
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.

In Matthew 17. Jesus also instructs the disciple on how to have more strength with God. He rebuked them for their faithlessness and said...
21. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Yes, I've read that about it being in secret. I just want the spiritual aspect to happen.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,229
6,526
113
#40
Viñedos, ten cuidado, estoy seguiendote….bendiciones en Jesuscristo, j