Prayer & Fasting (Part 3)


Ascetics View of Fasting


But the ascetic tendency in the early Church led to reliance on fasting, etc., as not only helps to, but substitutes for, the inward and spiritual life. The theory which placed the origin and seat of sin in the body also tended to give value to the practice of fasting. It came at last to be considered as an effectual means grace or of securing forgiveness of sin.
(from McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Some of this is viewed in some early translations of the Bible such as the KJV and the Septuagint which added “and fasting” to verses were it was not present in the earlier documents. An example of this is:
Matt 17:21

However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."  (NKJV)
True Fasting

Isa 58:3-9
'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?' "Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. 4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?
6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

Spiritual warfare and fasting are effective when we do Kingdom work. When we love our neighbor as ourselves then we are engaging in spiritual warfare and our fasting will acceptable to the Lord.

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