What is fasting?

Monday, January 9th.
What is fasting?

“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

Fasting is from the word 'nesteuo' in the Greek. It means to fast. It also means to abstain from food and drink as a religious exercise.

Fasting is also derived from the word 'nestis'. It just means not haven't eaten. It is also from the word 'nesteia'. It is used eight times in the Bible. Seven times it is translated fasting, and once, it is translated feast. In other words, fasting is a spiritual feast.

The word nesteia means, fasting as a religious exercise or as a private practice, or the public fast. The public fast refers to the Jewish fast between September and October which marks the period of atonement.

From our opening text, we see that Jesus our ultimate example was led by the Holy Spirit to fast. Again, in Luke 1:1-2, the Bible says,  “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.”

The above scriptures show us that Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to fast. The Holy Spirit sent Him forth to go and fast. In other words, He fasted because the Holy Spirit told Him to fast. So, the Holy Spirit can also lead us to fast, just as He is leading us to go on a fast for 21 days beginning from today in this month. So, join in the fast and expect an unusual encounter with God's Spirit and the Word of God.

We would be using the next 21 days to pray fervently for our nation, our families, the spread of the gospel, etc. This fast is also a divine instruction by God's Spirit to prepare us for this year. Join us to take responsibility for the future of this nation and the year 2017.

Prayer.
Dear Father, as I begin today to fast and pray in obedience to your instruction to us, I thank you for a release of the Spirit of grace and supplication to me and every one that will be participating in this fast each day, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

For further study, read:
Exodus 34:28, Deuteronomy 9:18-19, Luke 5:33-35.

Doing the Word.
Read 1Timothy 2:1-4. Then pray for the Political leaders (The Presidents, Governor's and their Cabinet members, the Legislator's and members of the Judiciary) in this nation that the fear of God will be upon their heart. Also pray that they will come to know the Lord and be born again.