I am grateful that our decision to do a chain fasting starting on May
1 has started a lot of conversations in the community. So we have
accomplished one of our goals already. We wanted us to to become a
prayer
centered
community again- with less emphasis on politics, gossips,
misinformation campaigns etc. Let us talk more about things of God and
less about other things.
Let me dispel some of the
misconceptions initially. Doing a chain fasting is not wrong. It is not
artificially prolonging a fast. It is a practical way to get more people
involved in a fast. Usually what happens in a chain fast is this. A few
people will fast for the entire length of the declared duration and
others will join with them for a day or more. Some of the most
successful fasts in recent history has been done this way. When late Dr.
Bill Bright did a forty day fast in a stadium, it did not mean that
everyone in that stadium was fasting for forty days. Jensen Franklin has
been doing a 21 day fast for years now. That does not mean that
everyone who joined with him from his church or across the world fasted
for all 21 days. We have done chain fasting in our church multiple
times.
The same will happen in this fast also. Already
one of my Pastor friends in India has decided to join with me in this
fast for 40 days. Many others are doing this once day a week, as their
work schedule permit.
WHAT WE LEARN ABOUT FASTING FROM BIBLE:
Originally
the entire population was expected to fast on the Day of Atonement.
Later in their history, they increased it to 4 days (Zech. 7:5, 8:19).
This was always related to the destruction of their nation. There is an
extra fast in Esther, which she requested for a specific reason.
During
the time of Jesus, the Pharisees fasted every Monday and Thursday (Luke
18:12). They used to put ashes on their faces during these days. That
is why Jesus called them white washed sepulchres.
An
exception to the fasting requirement was granted to the newlyweds in Old
Testament (Deut. 24:5). Jesus used this clause to defend his disciples
(Mat. 9:15) when asked by Pharisees why they did not fast.
Jesus expected his disciples to fast though. In fact, he declared, "
this kind does not go away except by prayer and fasting.” (Mat. 17:21).
DIFFERENT TYPES OF FASTS.
There
is an erroneous concept in our communities that all fasts are the same.
It is not. Entering into a fast is a vow taken before God. What is
important is to keep your vow before God. "It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it." (Ecc. 5:5). How others look at your fast is immaterial.
1. Complete fast
is when you abstain from everything including drinking water. In the
Bible, the only time people did that was in the book of Ezra. (Ezra
8:21). It shows extreme sacrifice. We know the heat of the Middle East.
To give up water in that weather is difficult. But Ezra and friends did
that, knowing the severity of their challenges, and acknowledging that
they had no future except for the intervention of God. Today Muslims do
something like this during Ramadan. But we know that they have freedom to eat and drink as much as they want after sunset.
2. Full fast
is when people abstain from all food during the duration of the fast. Jesus
fasted this way for 40 days. Many of our people have done the same. An
older sister of my mother has done this multiple times. If your fast is
real full fast, you should drink only water and avoid coffee, tea or sodas.
3. Partial fast
is when people decided to fast from certain things during a fast. This
is many times looked down upon in Eastern cultures. But, again, what
really matters is keeping your vow. If you vow to eat just one meal a
day and fast for the rest of the day, it is between you and God. Do not
let people who never fast judge you and try to discourage you. YOUR VOW
IS YOUR VOW.
Sometimes
people are encouraged to fast in a different way to learn the value of a
vow and to introduce them to the concept of fast. Many western churches ask
children to do a 'tv fast' where they agree not to watch TV for a
certain time period. Again, what is important is to keep your vow.
4. Daniel fast
is a type of partial fast which has become very popular in the West.
Some people think there is no scriptural backing for it. That only shows
their ignorance of the scripture. It is based on two references in the
Bible, both in the book of Daniel. hence the name Daniel fast. In
Daniel, chapter 1, we see Daniel and his friends deciding on a diet that
included just vegetables and water. (Our modern equivalent will be a
vegetarian meal with water as the only liquid to drink). We do not know how long this lasted. Again in Daniel,
chapter 10, verse three, we read: " I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over." Again, Daniel is abstaining from meat and wine. Or, Daniel had vegetarian meals and water for drink.
Many
books on this topic are available in the West. I recommend the book
written by Jensen Franklin. Or, simply Google 'Daniel Fast' and read the
tons of material available online about this.
Our community is not used to Daniel fast. What we do is eat one time a day, if it is necessary. So we do practice partial fast. That is acceptable for us.
What I have decided to do
before the Lord during this season is to fast, eating only one time a day, which is a
common and accepted way of doing fast in our community.
At the same time if someone say he or she is doing a Daniel fast (another type of partial fast) we will skin them alive. What it shows is our closed mind set- not that one is more right than the other, as both are partial fasts.
Daniel fast allows people with medical conditions also to fast. In my own
case, I am a cardiac patient with three stems in my heart. It forces me
to take medication everyday, including aspirin. Today we know that we
cannot take many of these medications on an empty stomach. In that case
what do you do? Many people use it as an excuse and never fast again.
How much better it is to go on a Daniel fast and spend time in the
presence of God and seek answers from Him?
For years, I
used to go on a full fast one weekend a month. It was during that
season that my ministry flourished the most. Many of my friends remember
the tremendous revivals that happened in my meetings in Kumband, other
cities of Kerala, in Mumbai, Delhi, Hariyana, South Africa, Australia, Europe, Middle East
and elsewhere. The secret of those meetings were not my prowess, but the
presence of God since I was spending a lot of time in His presence.
We
just finished a 21 day fast in Gateway in March.The lingering presence of
God during those days has created a hunger and thirst in me to fast as
often as I can.The turn around it has caused in Gateway is amazing. If you need proof, you are invited to watch a video
that will be posted on Gateway's homepage.
(http:www.gatewaynyc.com).
I did not write these things
to promote me. Or because I need to justify me before anyone. Let that
be far from the truth. But to correct some of the comments I heard and
to encourage you to spend time in the presence of God in fasting and
prayer. Do it in a way your health and circumstances allow. You will be
amazed how it will revolutionize everything about you.
Join
us in this fast, as you can.
2. Go to the 'More' button on the bottom corner.
I know of hundreds of young and older believers who have done this and how God has honored them for it. Many students do this during preparation for final exams or entrance exams. It is a noble thing to do, since you are declaring that "God, I cannot do this without your help. I seek your face for guidance." God can help you in so many ways if you seek Him. Some others do this when preparing for job interviews. I was pleasantly surprised to hear from my daughter after her wedding that both she and her fiance had gone on a 21 day concurrent fast to seek God's blessings for their marriage. So you can go on a full or a partial fast seeking the will of God for any reasons God can honor. Result oriented fasting is scriptural and God will not put you to shame. (Again, my personal guideline in this matter is this: If it is a short fast, go for full fast. If it is a long fast, go for partial fast, if you have to go to work or school while you are fasting. If you are physically up to it, always do the full fast.)
