Is Fasting Required?

Fasting is not glamorous or easy but for a Christian, it is necessary.

Jesus fasted:

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. Matthew 4:1-2

Jesus commanded fasting:

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 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. Matthew 6:16-18

Jesus also spoke of fasting as a thing that will happen when He is gone:

Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 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. Matthew 9:14-15 (Mark 2:17-20; Luke 5:31-35)

There is even special spiritual power connected to fasting:

Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. Matthew 17:19-21 (and in Mark 9:28-29)

Notice these other Scriptures on fasting:

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 13:2-3

And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. Acts 14:23

Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. 1Corinthians 7:5

Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2Corinthians 6:3-10

Is there any reason to believe that fasting is not a part of the normal Christian life?

What is fasting? Abstaining from all food except for water for a period of time.
See: http://www.askmoses.com/article.html?h=110&o=91786

When Jesus and the disciples fasted they did not stop watching TV (although that is not a bad idea) or refrain from eating chocolate. Fasting is limiting your intake to water only. The disciples ate nothing for the time they were fasting.

Fasting may be from Sunrise to Sunset (12 hours), Sunset to Sunset (24 hours), or for several days. You may want to talk to your doctor before embarking on an extended fast but the 12 hour fast is a good place to begin.

Remember, fasting is not only abstinence from food but it also involves prayer and quiet time to study God’s Word. It is for the purpose of drawing near to God for His special power to meet the challenges ahead of us.

Are you a fasting Christian or a Christian in need of fasting?