Cameron A.

Cooley

Biblical Fasting by Cameron A. Cooley

Isaiah 58 is a good basis for any true fasting program. This passage states all of
the meanings for and most of the strengths and rewards that are gained from desirable
fasting.
Isaiah 58
vv. 1-4 The chapter begins with a revelation of a changeable, undesirable condition:
This condition is not naturally undesirable but spiritually. God is speaking through the
prophet Isaiah, saying, “(v. 1).” God alerts his people by revelations of sin and
transgression (the breaking of God’s law) proclaimed (broadcast) to a body of people (see
also Jonah 3:1-10). An impure fast and sin were the reasons their fast was not effective.
In the day of their fasting, they found pleasure (undue entertainment) and “exacted
labours” (which means to drive hard or exploit employees) (v.3). The sin in this situation
was, while the Israelites were seemingly praying in sincerity, they were not observing the
fact that they needed repentance (a heart change, an attitude change, a mind change). In
the very day they were fasting, they fought each other, which could mean they either
fasted so they would be justified in their arguing or they just ended up fighting on the day
they were supposed to be in unified petition for answers from God. That is why it is so
vital that we pray while fasting. Depriving the body (the flesh) will arouse negativity
unless balanced by prayer.
vv. 5-7 A fast day is not for being depressed and sullen. True, the searching of one’s
heart (see Psalm 51 & Daniel 9) should bring initial heaviness, but it also motivates us to
do what is right! On a day of fasting, we should focus on fulfilling our commissions (vv.
6-7). This does not mean we have to do each of these listed deeds in every fast, but our
activity should fall in line with them all. During a fast not only do we deny ourselves but
we seek opportunities to be a blessing to others.
vv. 8-12. Then the light of God (his power and the glory that lets people know there is
something different about you) will come out. Your health will improve speedily, and the
joy of God’s anointing will well up in your soul with intensity!
Then the Lord himself, will reveal his realness, if you stop trying to control, find fault,
and say things that don’t have anything to do with God’s will. If you will love the poor
and help those in need of support, they will see the Light in the midst of their troubles. It
gets better! The Lord will guide you continually (that is on a regular basis in response to
fasting) and he will “satisfy thy soul”, when it seems you cannot be satiated (made full
when it seems there’s not enough even to tide you over). You’ll be fit to bear fruit
continually. The ones who you teach will build up the broken places, and you will be
instilling foundational truths on which future believers will build their lives and
ministries.
v. 13 If you will just choose not to do what satisfies the flesh on the Sabbath (whatever
day we esteem as dedicated to the Lord – Romans 14:6)and revere him, and if you will
speak his words and not yours:
v. 14 Then you will find your joy, and your desires, and your goals, full in the Lord, and
the promises of God will be your daily bread. This is all true, not because it’s good and
not just because you want it to be so, but because GOD SAID IT!
 Cameron A. Cooley

How do I fast?
The bible gives several examples of ways that people fast. The most serious, total
abstinence, is the one that Jesus used when he was lead by the Spirit into the wilderness
to be tempted (Matthew 4:1-11). This is dynamic! Jesus was worshiping and being fed
spiritually in the presence of the Father for forty days without food. Verse 4:2 says that
he got hungry after the fast (that’s not saying that you won’t get hungry during yours, you
just don’t have to). Two things are happening here. Jesus became hungry, and the devil
proceeded to tempt him. At Jesus’ weakest point, when he not only wanted food, but he
wanted it really bad, the devil tempted him. It was not wrong for Jesus to want food, and
it was not wrong for the devil to tempt him (the devil is already condemned and it is his
mission is to tempt God’s children). Before, it would not have done Satan any good to
try to tempt Jesus, because he was in the presence of the Father, continuously (and the
devil couldn’t get a word in edgewise). Because Jesus was in a body of flesh and he still
had the rest of his life to live (the main reason for which he was fasting), the fast had to
end, and Jesus had to continue in his mission. At the endpoint he hungered for food, and
Satan took the opportunity to tempt him. Jesus was immediately on the offensive,
because he was at his weakest point and would not allow anything less powerful to
protect him than the Word of God. With each temptation Jesus replied with the Sword of
the Spirit of the Word. After three continuous blows (repeated without diminishing in
accuracy or substitution), the devil had to stop tempting him. Satan cannot withstand too
many wounding blows; he has to retreat at some point. I do not recommend the total
abstinence fast for people with low body weight, who lose weight very easily, and if
so not for more than three days. If at anytime you experience dizziness or feel faint,
eat something, even if it’s a little something. The rigors of studying, going from place
to place, and fast pace lifestyle, are taxing on the body without food.
In some cases, a partial fast may be in order. Daniel is a good example of a
person who used partial fasts. In one (which was not for spiritual conditioning) is found
in Daniel 1:8, 11-15. Here Daniel and the “Three Hebrew Boys” (Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego [Not ‘a big Negro’]. Here Daniel suggested to that they eat
“pulse”(vegetables or plant food) and water instead of meat and wine. In another fast,
(Daniel 10:1-5), Daniel fasted for 21 days, abstaining from pleasant breads (pastry,
cookies, cakes, pies, etc.), meats, and wine. Depending on your body type and daily
activity, you may want to modify this to abstinence from pastries and red meat (chicken
or fish can be a good, light source of protein as well as nuts and beans). Other fasts
include the three day fast (which I presume alludes to the three days that Jesus was in the
grave (Mark 2:20, 8:31)) and the Tuesday & Friday fast. The Tuesday & Friday fast is a
universal Christian fast program (I don’t know why it’s Tuesday and Friday). Another is
what I call the continual fast. In the continual fast the person chooses the number of
successive days they are to fast and the amount of food (one meal, two meals, etc.) This
fast can be broken by eating at the end of the appointed time or by using one of Daniel’s
partial fasts until the end of the appointed time (Lent is an example of a continuous fast.
As in the tradition of Lent, often people will choose to fast from non-food pleasures and
pastimes in order to sanctify time and mental effort to seeking God).
Fasting is not a public event. Fasting should be private and between you and the
Lord. Generally, the only time one would discuss one’s own fasting is during a group
fast, with a partner in ministry, or in teaching others. Also, fasting should not be obvious
or oppressive to others who are around you (Mark 6:16-18 & Romans 8).