What is fasting in the New Covenant?

What about fasting in Christianity? Fasting and prayer belongs in the lives of Christians. However, there are not many Christians, who fast on a regular basis, due to wrong doctrines about fasting. Because of these false doctrines, many Christians have a wrong perception about fasting, but what does the Bible say about fasting in the New Covenant? What is the Biblical meaning of fasting? What is the purpose of fasting in the lives of Christians? What did Jesus say about fasting? When do you fast and how do you fast according to the Bible? All these questions about fasting will be discussed in this article.

What did Jesus say about fasting?

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. No man puts a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved (Matthew 9:16-17)

The disciples of John asked Jesus, why they and the Pharisees had to fast but the disciples of Jesus didn’t have to fast. Jesus answered the disciples of John, that as long as He; the Bridegroom would be with them, His disciples wouldn’t have to fast. But when Jesus would depart from them, then His disciples would also have to fast.

Jesus said, that no man put a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for which is put in to fill it up takes from the garment and the rent is made worse. Jesus also said, that men don’t put new wine into old bottles, because else the bottles break and the wine runs out and the bottles perish, but they put new wine into new bottles and both are preserved.

Only when a person repents and dies to the flesh and becomes born again in the spirit in Christ and becomes a new creation, the Holy Spirit can come, dwell and work in a person.

The Holy Spirit can’t come into the lives of the old man (those, who belong to the generation of the old creation). Therefore a person must become born again in Christ, so that the person becomes a new creation in Him, who is born of water and Spirit. After a person becomes born again fasting and prayer play an important role in the life of a born-again believer.

“You don’t need to fast anymore,
because the Holy Spirit lives inside of you?”

Many times people say, and many preachers preach from the pulpit, that you don’t need to fast anymore, because the Holy Spirit lives inside of you. Therefore Jesus (the Bridegroom) is in you.

fasting, put new wine into new bottles and both are preserved

They say, that the disciples only needed to fast during the time that Jesus ascended to Heaven and the Holy Spirit descended. But is that true?

Because when Jesus was baptized with the Holy Spirit, Jesus was led to the wilderness and Jesus fasted for 40 days.

If the new creation; the new man, doesn’t need to fast, why did Jesus fast?

Why did Jesus’ disciples fast after they were baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 14:23)?

In 1 Corinthians 7:5, Paul wrote about fasting to the new creations; the saints in Jesus Christ. If fasting wasn’t part of the Christian life, then why did Paul write about fasting and why did the disciples fast?

What are the wrong reasons to fast?

What are the wrong reasons to fast? Well, you don’t need to fast to be blessed and get things from God or get things done by God, like power, healings, breakthroughs in certain situations, a partner, money, material things, destroying strongholds, etc. Because that means that you starve yourself and you blackmail God and force God in order to get your way and get something from God or to get things done.

But that is not what fasting is meant for. Fasting is not meant to get (material) things or to get something from God. Because you are seated in Christ and God has already blessed you with every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly Places. And you certainly don’t have to fast for material things.

Many people fast for material things and many times they receive the material things they fast for. But they forget that the devil can also do wonders (Read also: ‘I will give you the riches of the world‘).

If you fast for material things, then you don’t know the Kingdom of God and are more focused on the things on this earth than on the things of the Kingdom of God. It shows that you are still carnal and not spiritual.

Do you have to fast to cast out demons?

Do you have to fast to cast out demons? No, fasting is not meant to cast out demons or heal the sick. There are many people, who refer to Matthew 17:21, where the disciples were not able to cast out a demon and deliver the child. But if we look at Matthew 17:20 we read the real reason, why Jesus’ disciples were not able to cast out this demon: because of their unbelief. Because of their unbelief, the disciples couldn’t cast the demon out and not because of the fact that they didn’t pray and/or fast enough.

If Jesus really referred with ‘this kind’ to the demon, then Jesus would contradict His own words in Matthew 9:15, where Jesus said to the disciples of John that His disciples didn’t need to fast, because the Bridegroom was with them.

And then there is another thing, namely that demons are one kind; fallen angels. One demon can be more stubborn than the other demon, and they can have different appearances and/or manifestations, but demons are fallen angels and are of the same kind. Therefore with ‘this kind’, Jesus didn’t refer to the demon, who held the child in bondage. I will tell you in a minute, what Jesus really was referring to with ‘this kind’. But first, let’s have a look at what the word fasting means.

What does the word fasting mean?

Fasting means not eating. Sometimes people fast by skipping one meal, or treats, or people fast by not watching television, but that’s not what fasting is about. Skipping a meal, or a treat or not watching television etc. is not fasting. People can invent all kinds of fasting, but the truth is that fasting means not eating.

What is fasting according to the Bible?

“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6)

God spoke these words to His people, who were still the old creation; bound by their flesh.

fasting, fast, Isaiah 58:6

In the Old Testament, we read many times about people, who fasted, because of their deeds; sins, and iniquities. They repented of their actions and humbled their soul for the Lord.

Through the means of fasting, they ‘punished’ their flesh, for what they, and/or their ancestors, had done, they repented and asked, and sought forgiveness of the Lord.

By fasting, they mourned, humbled themselves, and repented, and turned back to God. By fasting, they loosed the bands of wickedness, in which they were taken captive, and undone the burdens. They were freed, because they broke every yoke that was upon them, because of their sin and iniquity.

Why did David fast?

David fasted after he committed adultery with Bathsheba and killed her husband Uriah. When Bathsheba was expecting his child, Nathan went to David and told Him that because of his actions, the Lord would take his son. David humbled his soul with fasting for the Lord and hoped that through the means of fasting, he had ‘punished’ his flesh sufficiently and that the Lord would spare his son and live. But David was punished for his adultery and murder. It cost his son (2 Samuel 12:1-23)

I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayers returned into mine own bosom (Psalm 35:13)

When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach (Ps 69:10)

My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness (Ps 109:24)

In the Book of Nehemiah (Neh 9:1) and Esther (Est 4:3), we also read about fasting.

Should a born-again Christian fast?

When you become born again; born of water and Spirit, you have become a new creation. The old you have passed away, the old you don’t exist anymore, a new life after the Spirit has come

In the spiritual realm, you have become a new creation in Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit and His fulness living inside of you. But in the natural realm, many times, the flesh still reigns as king in your life.

After regeneration, it’s time for the process of sanctification; the transformation in the flesh to become like Jesus and walk after the Spirit. The transformation means that your spirit will take over and shall reign in your life and over your flesh and you lay down the works of the flesh. So that, you will be continuously led by the Spirit and walk holy and righteous before the Lord.

It is, therefore, time to fast. Fasting means ‘killing’ your flesh. When you fast, you make your flesh subject to the spirit. Your spirit shall become strong and shall reign over your flesh.

Jesus fasted

Jesus is our example. Jesus is the Firstborn of the new creation; the new man. Therefore let’s look at Jesus and how Jesus made His flesh completely submissive to the Spirit.

When Jesus was baptized with the Holy Spirit, Jesus was led into the wilderness to make His flesh submissive to the Spirit. So that, during Jesus’ ministry, the flesh wouldn’t play any role anymore but would be submissive to the Spirit.

During those 40 days, Jesus was being prepared for the task that God had given Jesus to accomplish on this earth. By fasting and prayer, Jesus killed His flesh and His Spirit became strong and reigned over His flesh. Now Jesus could walk fully after the Spirit.

During those 40 days, Jesus was constantly tempted but Jesus didn’t give into the temptations of the devil.

When the 40 days came to an end, Jesus was almost ready to go to preach and bring the Kingdom of God to the people. The only thing Jesus had to do, was to pass the final test. God didn’t prevent this test from happening. God could have, but God allowed the devil to test Jesus

Jesus was tested

After 40 days, His flesh became hungry (just like any other human being), at that moment of weakness, His adversary; the devil came and tried to tempt Jesus to sin, by using the words of God and His position to still His carnal hunger.

The devil tried to tempt Jesus, by twisting the Word of God, so that Jesus would give in to the craving of His flesh, and obey His flesh. If Jesus had done what the devil suggested, then Jesus would have given into the flesh. The flesh, which is the territory, where the devil works, would have gotten the victory and would reign as king in His life and the Spirit would be subjected to the flesh and to the devil.

Bible is our compass, gain wisdom

But Jesus resisted the devil with the Word of God, which He used in the right context.

Then the devil tried to tempt Jesus again, by proving who Jesus was. But Jesus resisted the devil again with the Word.

Finally, the devil tried to tempt Jesus, by showing Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and offering the kingdoms to Him. The only thing Jesus had to do, was to bow down and worship the devil. But Jesus didn’t give into the lusts and desires of the flesh and resisted the devil with the Word. Jesus commanded the devil to go, and the devil left Jesus alone, for a while

Jesus had passed the test, and the Spirit had full reign in Jesus’ life. Then the angels came and ministered to Jesus.

Although Jesus was (and is) the Son of God, Jesus fasted regularly. Fasting was part of Jesus’ life.

What is the purpose of fasting in the New Covenant?

When you become born again, the flesh still plays a major role in your life. You are still carnally oriented and are led and ruled by your senses, emotions, feelings, thoughts, will, lust, desires, etc. instead of being spiritually oriented and led by the Word and the Spirit. You seek those things which are on the earth, instead of seeking those things, which are above

Colossians 2:11-12 In Whom you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands

If you want to grow up into the image of Jesus and start walking as a new creation; the new man, who walks after the Spirit, then you have to change your life.

If you don’t change your life, then you will always stay a baby, and baby’s can’t walk, but they only cry and scream if something bothers them or if they don’t get their way, etc. Babies only want to eat, drink, sleep and be pampered.

When you have received the Holy Spirit, through the baptism with the Holy Spirit, then you have received everything you need to walk as a son of God. The only thing that stands in your way is your flesh, your carnal mind and your unbelief (that is present in the flesh).

Jesus fasted before He began His ministry and walked after the Spirit. If you want to walk after the Spirit and do what Jesus did, then you also have to live like Jesus lived and do, what Jesus did.

Fasting means killing your flesh; the carnal man

When you fast, you make your flesh submissive and you ‘kill’ your flesh, by not eating. Fasting means ‘killing’ your flesh so that your flesh; body and soul, become submissive to the Spirit.

When you fast, you don’t feed your flesh anymore and because of that you silence your flesh. When you feed your spirit, with the Word of God, prayer, and speaking in tongues, your spirit will become strong. 

Old man is crucified in Christ

Therefore fasting definitely belongs in the life of a born again Christian.

If a born-again believer never fasts and lives like the world, but prophecies, and performs signs and wonders, etc. you should seriously ask yourself, if these works are done out of the Spirit or out of the flesh.

Fortune-tellers also prophec’ over people’s lives and a lot of those prophecies come to pass. And look at illusionists, magicians, medicine men, etc. they also do signs, miracles, wonders, and healings. But they do these signs and wonders out of the flesh and are empowered by the kingdom of darkness.

Jesus said, that in the last days, many false prophets and false Christs shall come, who will perform great, signs and wonders, and will deceive many. They shall do such great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they would deceive the very elect (Matthew 24, Mark 13)

Therefore it is important not to focus on signs and wonders, these are just side issues. But stay focused on Jesus Christ; the Word of God and keep His commandments and walk after the Spirit (Read also: ‘Following Jesus for the signs and wonders‘)

Only through the Word, you will be able to discern the truth from the lie and what is real (what is from God), and what is fake (what is from the devil), and stay faithful to God (Read also: ‘A counterfeit Jesus produces counterfeit christians‘).

The power of fasting and prayer

The adversary works through the flesh, that is his field. Therefore it is important to silence, and ‘kill’ the flesh and the only way to do that is through fasting and prayer.

Jesus told His disciples Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21, Mark 9:29)

When Jesus said, ‘this kind’, Jesus wasn’t referring to the demon, but Jesus was referring to the old man; the carnal man, who is trapped in his sinful nature, in his unbelief, and walks after the flesh, being sense ruled. The only way to kill this old carnal man is through prayer and fasting.

When you also renew your mind with the Word of God and become a doer of the Word, you shall put on the new man and grow up into a mature son of God. And you shall walk after the spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit.

You will represent, preach and bring the Kingdom of God to this earth; to the people, without the flesh interfering. You will be able to walk after the Spirit and fulfill the plan that God has for your life so that He will be exalted.

‘Be the salt of the earth’

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