Faith-Filled Fasting: Feed the Spirit, Starve the Flesh
- Kevin Leon
- Dec 9, 2023
- 10 min read
How Can Fasting by Faith Ignite Spiritual Growth?
Fasting is an effective way of growing spiritually and getting closer to God. Many physical and health benefits come from it but more importantly, are the spiritual benefits that come from it. Starving your flesh (for a short time) and instead feeding your spirit with the Word of God leads to tremendous changes in your life.
Use wisdom & speak with your doctor first - especially if you have any pre-existing health conditions - and please don't take it to the extreme.
Personally, when I fast, I'll allow myself to drink plenty of water & my normal amount of coffee/espresso throughout the day. Remember, the point of fasting is not to make yourself suffer and be hungry for the sake of saying you completed a fast. Rather it's about spending that time that you would normally spend eating and replacing it with Jesus in prayer, worship, and His word. Galatians 5:16-25 ESV
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
The Spirit and the flesh are in constant conflict with each other. You cannot please the Spirit as you're pleasing the desires of the flesh. This post will go over examples of the faith involved in the fasts, the purposes of the fasts & different ways you can begin fasting in your own life.
Examples of Fasting for the Spirit
We can find several examples in the Bible of people who fasted. Different fasts served different purposes. As we fast, we weaken the flesh and its desires. Simultaneously, we also strengthen the Spirit (if we're feeding it via reading the Word, Worship, and Prayer) and we are drawing closer to God & becoming more in tune with His Spirit. Throughout the day as my stomach grumbles, it serves as a reminder to thank the Lord for all that I have & helps me be more grateful. Each involuntary groan that it lets out leads me into a little 10-20-second prayer. Fasting also doesn't just have to be about food, for example, you can "fast" from your social media usage and replace that time with God.
The Disciples' Fast
The Disciples' fast shows us that fasting can lead to deliverance from sin, addiction,
and bondage. If we fast, we can break the power of sins and addictions that limit our
freedom in Christ. Matthew 17:18-21 NKJV
18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
There are some demons and unclean spirits that cannot come out of a person by prayer alone. Certain kinds must come out both by prayer and fasting.
The Jesus Fast
Jesus fasted for forty days and nights in the desert before He began His ministry. The way He completed His fast shows us we can receive spiritual power and victory over
temptation, the flesh, and the devil.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Though we need food and water to sustain our physical bodies, they are not sufficient when it comes to the things of the Spirit. The only thing that will truly satisfy us is the Word of God.
The Esther Fast
Ester was a Queen to King Xerxes in the citadel of Susa during the reign of the Persian empire around 483 B.C. There was a decree made to kill all Jews in every province & Esther was preparing to speak with the King in order to ask him to overturn the decree & spare her people.
11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
Esther fasted with her community for protection from the evil one (satan & his forces). If we fast for protection, God will deliver us from evil. (Spoiler alert - King Xerxes overturned it)
The John the Baptist Fast
John the Baptist was Jesus' cousin and "among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater"(Matthew 11:11 NIV) than him. His fast is a little bit different in the sense that it is a lifetime/indefinite thing.
14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.
This is a fast that we can do to enhance our walk with God and witness. If we fast for the influence of our testimonies to reach others for Christ, God will use us. Many times we come across overseers who fast indefinitely from alcohol so that they may be distinctly set apart from the world and not fall into temptation while under the influence.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Use this fast to guard your testimony so that may not fall into hypocrisy or scandal. If you truly have the self-control to drink in moderation(many of us deceive ourselves and exceed our limits) then this may be something you do at certain times so as to not misrepresent Jesus to others.
The Daniel Fast
The Daniel fast is one that some use hand in hand for both physical and spiritual health. Daniel & his friends did not want to eat the food the King supplied because it had been sacrificed to idols so they asked the guard to test them.
12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
The first reason for Daniel's fast was out of obedience to God so as to not eat food sacrificed to idols. He was also fasting for health and to seek God’s favor, purpose, and vision for life. As a result of their fast & desire for God, they received knowledge and understanding of all kinds & Daniel was able to interpret dreams(this was a tremendous blessing that helped Daniel greatly).
Different Ways to Fast
Normal Fast – No food, water only. (amplifying the power of the Holy Spirit).
Absolute Fast – Absolutely no food or water.
(Caution: This should not be taken lightly. If you have a clear directive from the Lord, use wisdom & ensure you are in good physical health. Consult with a doctor if you will be doing this type of fast for a prolonged period of time.)
This is how Moses fasted when receiving the 10 commandments.
Partial Fast – This could mean fasting certain meals of the day or abstaining from
certain kinds of foods (Similar to but not exactly like the Catholic Lent - Ex: No red meat, only soup, fruit and vegetables, no desserts, etc).
This is similar to the way Daniel fasted in the above example.
Juice Fast – Fruit and vegetable juices only.
Some people already do this type of fast for only health reasons, not for Spiritual reasons. However, this is a useful fast for someone who may require more nutrients and may be unable to do a normal or absolute fast due to health.
Corporate Fast – A church or group of people who feel God has called them to
fast together for a certain period of time. I've done these types of fasts with my church & this is also the way Esther fasted in the above example.
Prayer AND Fasting – Remember, fasting is not just going hungry for the sake of completing a fast. It should be combined with prayer, worship and/or reading the Word of God. God called us to fast and pray. If you are fasting a certain meal of the day, use the time
you would normally be eating to pray. The combination of prayer and fasting is a
powerful way to focus on seeking God for breakthroughs and answers to prayer.
This is how Jesus told the Disciples to fast in the above example.
Fasting and Abstinence – Although the word “fast” is typically used to describe abstaining from food, it can apply to other things too. For example, you can "fast" from social media usage & replace that time with God. You can "fast" from your cell phone, TV, video games, reading a book, the gym, one of your hobbies, etc. The idea is to replace time on something that's part of your normal routine & dedicate it instead to God.
Time of Day and Length of Fasts
Jewish Fasting Period – The Jewish fast was usually a 24-hour fast. It began at 6:00 P.M. and ended the next day at 6:00 P.M. (Some people follow this time period to begin and
end fasts.) Sunrise to Sunset.
Intermittent Fasting – Often used for physical health & dietary reasons, this is typically when you fast for 16 hours and eat all your calories for the day within an 8-hour period. It can be used as a spiritual fast if you dedicate what would be meal time as God's time.
Sunrise to Sunset – Just as the name implies, this is when you're fasting between sunrise & sunset. This fast may be longer or shorter depending on where you live in the world & the time of year.
Meal Fast or Custom Fast – Life can be unpredictable. Ultimately what's important in a fast is that you are seeking after God and His Holy Spirit. Fasting is a personal and customizable thing. You can fast by simply skipping a meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) & spending that time with God. You can choose to do it for as little as 2-3 hours or for 24+ hours, it's between you and the Lord.
There are many reasons to deny the flesh and feed your spirit with faith-filled fasting. Whether you choose to do it to:
Grow in your faith
Amplify the power of the Holy Spirit & give it more control over your life
Get closer to God
Be healed
Cast out demons
Begin a ministry
Submit to the will of God
Resist temptation
Break addiction
Protect yourself from evil
Just to be obedient to God's word
Rest assured that you will not be the same person you were before the fast. Change will happen even if it's temporary. You will be several steps forward compared to when you started. It's up to you to carry that momentum and keep seeking God. I hope this post has blessed you and as always, what I have to say is nowhere near as important as what God has to say. So I'd like to leave you off with a word from Him.
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Take the time to incorporate fasting into your life, seek the Lord & stay holy!
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