FASTING GUIDELINES
January 4, 2021

21-DAYS PRAYER AND FASTING GUIDLINES

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JAN 4 – JAN 24, 2021

FASTING TIMES: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
(See Question #3 for modified fasting times for medical reasons etc.)

SCHEDULE OF PRAYER TIMES:

• SUNDAYS 10:30 WORSHIP SERVICE

• MON, TUES, THURS, FRI, SAT – 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM on Prayer Line
RCC’s Prayer Line – (301) 298-1561 | Access Code 875430

Rev. Dr. ABK Appiah (Pastor)

PREPARING FOR THE 21 DAY FAST

JANUARY 4 – JANUARY 24, 2021

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT FASTING

QUESTION #1: WHAT IS FASTING?

Fasting is the voluntary and deliberate abstinence from food for the purpose of concentrated prayer. Fasting is always done for spiritual purposes – to seek God’s help and intervention. When we fast, we are abstaining from physical food but feasting on spiritual food.

Fasting helps to bring the human flesh under control and increase our spiritual strength.

TYPES OF FASTING

CLASSIC FASTS

There are different kinds of fasts but the classic form of fasting is a pure water fast. We abstain completely from food but drink water.

• Illustration: Luke 4:1-2 (Jesus abstained from food but not water).

ABSOLUTE FAST OR DRY FASTING

This involves abstaining both from food and water. They were usually undertaken in cases of spiritual emergencies.

• Illustrations: Esther 4:16; Acts 9:9; Deut. 9:9; 1 Kings 19:8

Absolute fasts should be treated as the exception rather than the rule because of the body’s vital need for water.

PARTIAL FAST

This involves restricting our diet rather than totally abstaining from food.

• Illustration: Daniel 10:3

INDIVIDUAL FASTS

• Anna – Luke 2:36, 37
• Cornelius – Acts 10:30, 31 (KJV)
• Daniel – Daniel 10:2, 3
• Jesus – Matthew 4:1-2; Luke 4:1-2

GROUP OR CORPORATE FASTS

• 2 Chronicles 20:1-5
• Joel 2:15-19

QUESTION #2: DOES THE BIBLE COMMAND US TO FAST?

ANSWER:  Yes

Scriptures:  Matthew 6:16-18 and Matthew 9:14-15

QUESTION #3: HOW LONG SHOULD MY FASTING LAST AND WHAT SHOULD I DO DURING THE FAST?

ANSWER: If you have never fasted, then learn to do so progressively. Get into it slowly. It is better to learn to walk before running. Ask the Lord to help you determine the length of the fast. 

PROGRESSIVE STEPS

• You can start by skipping breakfast
• You can do a 12-hour fast (6:00 am – 6:00 pm)
• You can do a 24-hour fast (6:00 am – 6:00 am)
• You can do a 36 hour fast
• You can do a 7-day fast
• Also a 21, 30 or 40 day fast

NOTE: It is advisable to drink a lot of warm water (not ice cold water) during the fast.

Some choose to drink distilled water

QUESTION #4: WHAT PHYSICAL CHANGES CAN I EXPECT IN MY BODY DURING THE FAST?

  1. You will be hungry.
  2. You may experience: headaches, dizziness, sharp pains, vomiting, fever, bad breath (use some mints or brush your teeth often) even your tongue may be discolored in long fasts.

Your body may also react from the cleansing of accumulated toxins in your system.

QUESTION #5: HOW SHOULD I SPEND MY TIME DURING THE FAST?

  1. Pray before going to work
  2. Use your lunch time for prayers
  3. Make time to read the Bible
  4. Make time to meditate on Scripture
  5. Ask God to cleanse you of any sins
  6. Sing songs of praise and worship in your heart
  7. Bring your specific needs before God
  8. Always pray before breaking the fast

QUESTION #6: HOW SHOULD I END THE FAST?

  1. Pray before ending the fast

  2. If you have engaged in a long fast (many days) then:
    • Break the fast slowly
    • Start with fruits and juices

  3. Don’t rush into eating everything.

  4. Remember your digestive system has been on vacation (hibernation) so start eating solid foods in small proportions.
  5. Eat slowly and chew carefully. This helps with proper digestion.

QUESTION #7: AS A MARRIED COUPLE, SHOULD WE ENGAGE IN PHYSICAL INTIMACY DURING A FAST?

ANSWER:  1 Corinthians 7:2-5 (NKJV) -- 5Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to

fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

PASSAGES ON FASTING AND PRAYER

• Exodus 34:28 – Moses

• 1 Samuel 1:7-8 – Hannah’s prayer

• 2 Samuel 12:16-23 – David for Bathsheba’s child

• 2 Chronicles 20:3 – Proclaimed by Jehoshaphat

• Ezra 8:21 – Proclaimed by Ezra

• Nehemiah 1:4 – Proclaimed by Nehemiah

• Esther 4:16 – Called by Esther

• Isaiah 58 – Fasting which pleases God

• Joel 2:12 – Returning to God

• Matthew 6:16-18 – Jesus explains fasting

• Matthew 17:21 (KJV) – The power of prayer & fasting (KJV)

• Luke 4:2 – Jesus’ 40-day fast

• Acts 9:9 – Saul’s fasting

• Acts 10:30 (KJV) – Cornelius

• Acts 13:2, 3 – The Church leaders of Antioch

• 1 Corinthians 7:5 (NKJV) – In marriage relationship

• 2 Corinthians 6:5 – Paul’s frequent fasts

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