Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough: A Guide to Nine Biblical Fasts (2 page)

9. T
HE
J
OHN THE
B
APTIST
F
AST

Fasting for an influential testimony (see Matt. 3:4; Luke 1:15). If we fast for the influence of our testimonies, God will use us
.

10. T
HE
E
STHER
F
AST

Fasting for protection from the evil one (see Esther 4:16). If we fast for protection and deliverance from Satan, God will deliver us from evil
.

A
PPENDICES

1. F
ASTING
: G
IVING
O
UR
B
ODIES A
B
REAK

2. F
ASTING
G
LOSSARY

3. C
OMMENTS
A
BOUT
F
ASTING BY
C
HRISTIAN
L
EADERS

4. H
OW TO
K
EEP A
F
ASTING
J
OURNAL

5. B
IBLICAL
R
EFERENCES TO
F
ASTING

6. A
NNOTATED
B
IBLIOGRAPHY

I
HAVE LONG BELIEVED IN THE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE OF FASTING
. During the past 50 years I have fasted on numerous occasions and for different purposes. However, it was in 1994 that the Lord really began to deal with me about fasting in a fresh and powerful way, and to give me new insights into the subject.

On July 5th of that year, God led me to begin a 40-day fast for a great spiritual awakening in America and for the fulfillment of the Great Commission throughout the world. Before and during the fast, the Lord strongly impressed upon my heart that fasting, though not specifically mentioned, is the best way to help meet the conditions of humility and seeking God’s face as set forth in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

If My people, who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Also, on the 29th day of my fast, as I was reading God’s Word, I was impressed to send letters to Christian leaders throughout America and to invite them to Orlando, Florida, to fast and pray together for revival and the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Invitations were soon in the
mail. I was praying and hoping for at least “Gideon’s 300” to respond positively and to join me at the planned December event.

More than 600 came! They represented a significant part of the Christian leadership of America from many different denominations, churches and ministries. It was three wonderful days of fasting, prayer, confession and unity. Many of the leaders gave testimony that it was one of the greatest spiritual experiences of their lives. I believe the incredible timing was no accident, because the very next month, January 1995, there were reports of major revival breaking out on campuses and in churches throughout the nation for which we had prayed. Of course, many others have prayed for revival for a long time, and our prayers only added to theirs; however, I am convinced that our December 1994 fasting and prayer event pleased God and helped move His hand to accomplish His purposes.

I strongly believe that America and much of the world will, before the end of the year
A.D
. 2000, experience a great spiritual awakening. This divine visit of the Holy Spirit of heaven will kindle the greatest spiritual harvest in the history of the Church. But before God comes in revival power, the Holy Spirit will call millions of Christians to repent, fast and pray in the spirit of 2 Chronicles 7:14. I have been impressed to pray that God will call at least 2 million Christians to fast and pray for 40 days for the coming great revival.

This timely, needed and excellent book,
Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough
, by my dear friend Dr. Elmer L. Towns, is no doubt inspired by the Holy Spirit to instruct the Body of Christ. His insights will give us greater understanding of the discipline of fasting, and inspire us to use this biblical principle to humble ourselves and to seek God’s face. I strongly commend Dr. Towns for being obedient to our Lord and for his labors in putting together this valuable biblical information on the absolute importance of fasting with prayer.

D
R
. W
ILLIAM
R. B
RIGHT
Founder and President
Campus Crusade for Christ International

T
HE MATERIAL IN THIS BOOK WAS TAUGHT IN THE
P
ASTOR’S
B
IBLE
C
LASS
at Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Virginia, during the summer of 1995. Thank you, class, for listening to my lessons and sharing with me the things you have learned about fasting. I wrote each chapter as I taught a lesson. For the most part, it was not the older Christians but the younger people who talked to me about this series and tried the things I taught. I have learned much about fasting by looking at it through the eyes of my students.

I am indebted to my pastor, Jerry Falwell, for the insights he has given me about fasting, especially from his book
Fasting: What the Bible Teaches
(Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1981); to Mrs. Shelly Seager, who typed the manuscript; and to Dr. Douglas Porter, who did the library research for the glossary and appendices.

Rex Russell, M.D., made a great medical contribution to this book.

Except for those who are physically unable, I require every student who takes my course “EVAN 610/910, Spiritual Factors of Church Growth” to fast. Students must discipline themselves to fast one day, keep a prayer list, attempt a faith-event and keep a spiritual journal. As I’ve read their papers, these students have taught me much about how to fast and what to avoid during a fast.

Every manuscript is the product of many experiences. I have listened
to sermons about fasting, read many books and talked to many who have fasted. All of these have influenced me, and I give credit to everyone; not the least, the Holy Spirit, who has guided me, and the Lord Jesus Christ who has been my example. Remember, He fasted 40 days before beginning His ministry. In the final analysis, for all of the omissions and mistakes in this text, I take final responsibility. May God use this book for His intended purpose.

E
LMER
L. T
OWNS
Summer 1995

I
F YOU SEEK A CLOSER WALK WITH
G
OD, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.
A
T FIRST
glance you may not think so, because the discipline of
fasting
has fallen into such widespread disuse that people do not know its power. But let me tell you about an experience that occurred to my secretary, Shelly Seager, and her husband, Dave, as Shelly was typing this manuscript.

Dave had been asked to interview for a job in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Shelly described this position as “an opportunity of a lifetime.” Dave really wanted the position. So they agreed to do something they had never tried. They fasted 24 hours and spent much time in prayer. (Biblically, prayer and fasting go together.)

The morning after Dave had spent extra time in prayer, the long-distance call came.

It was from Harrisburg. They offered him the position.

Of course, I am not going to guarantee that every circumstance in your life can be “fixed” by fasting. I do, however, insist that modern Christians need to take another look at why this classic spiritual discipline has been neglected in our day.

Richard Foster, the author who has awakened so many people to the spiritual disciplines, has said that there has not been a major book on fasting for a hundred years.

Why?

Perhaps we are currently so into “feel-good religion” that we don’t want to be bothered with any thought of hunger or self-denial. Perhaps our confidence in activism, such as splashy evangelistic programs, to virtually bring in the kingdom of God has made us forget the spiritual factors in church growth. Perhaps the widespread promise that “You can have it all” has blocked all thought of sacrifice from our minds.

As Foster also suggests, some Christians may have been turned off to fasting because of the way a few monks and ascetics in the past fasted. They fasted in ways that fell into the old gnostic trap of declaring that matter (such as food, and the body) is evil and only the spiritual is good. Thus we may think fasting is a part of the outlook that maintains any enjoyment of God’s good earthly gifts is tantamount to sin. This trap, of course, is not an argument against the actual practice of fasting, but against its abuse.

The disciples of John the Baptist (noted for their practice of fasting) once asked Jesus why His disciples did not fast. “Jesus answered them, ‘How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them?’” (Matt. 9:15,
NIV
). The answer was obvious. As long as Jesus was present with His disciples, they didn’t fast. Jesus then said, “The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast” (v. 15).

Obviously, the bridegroom is no longer present on earth in His physical body; He was taken up to heaven at the ascension (see Acts 1:9).
Jesus assumed that after He ascended into heaven, those who believed in Him would fast:
“Then shall they fast in those days” (Mark 2:20,
KJV
); “Moreover when ye fast” (Matt. 6:16,
KJV
). Now that the bridegroom has been taken from us, we should be engaged in disciplines of self-denial enabling us to enjoy something of the closeness to Him enjoyed by the original disciples when they walked and talked daily with their Lord.

I know fasting can not only draw us closer to the bridegroom, but it can also accomplish beneficial results in the lives of others who have deep needs. Fasting has transpersonal or social benefits.

My pastor fasts, and I have seen him raise enormous amounts of money through fasting. My church fasts, and I have seen God intervene in a time of a national crisis. The students fast at the university where I teach. In 1985 almost every one of the 5,000 students fasted for physical healing for Dean of Students Vernon Brewer from cancer, and 10 years later he remains alive and effectively ministering in foreign missions. I know God honors prayers and fasts.

Because so many people are unfamiliar with the variety of ways to fast, you will find suggestions at the end of each chapter about how to undertake each of the nine fasts suggested in this book. These sections should be considered as general guidelines only. Fasting is not a legalistic discipline, but should be adapted to each worshiper’s individual purpose. Ultimately, you yourself must determine the length of your fast, what if anything you should eat or drink and other aspects related to your particular fast. The bibliography at the end of this book has valuable resources that will help you in this area. Appendix 4, “How to Keep a Fasting Journal,” will help you keep track of what God does in your life through fasting.