S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Both Muslims and Christians fast, but their purposes for fasting differ. In order to keep one of the Five Pillars, a Muslim is obligated to fast during Ramadan. The Bible teaches that fasting merit...

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July 01 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Edwin Danny Reaid Supporter

Muslims continually work for their God's approval and acceptance with no hope even at death of an assurance - fasting being just another work of performance on their part. Christians are not "Commanded" to fast, but it is a spiritual form of devotion - between the Lord and you in times of mourning and sorrow.

April 09 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Rahul Shaw Supporter

Bible says something about "True Fasting" in Old Testament through Prophet Isaiah in Chapter 58. I have seen people who are fasting for the sake of pleasing God, but then my question to them will always be whether they are really pleasing God, or do they know how God is being pleased when you fast? 

The answer is very much clear like crystal water in Isaiah 58. It says:

Verse 3) Why have we fasted,’ they say,
‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?’
“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.

God is saying that you do as you please and you exploit all your workers. Should we not give rest to those who work under us? We tend to labor or fast for our own salvation, but then shall we also not ask our fellow maid, gardner, driver, peon to join us for this fasting and spiritual salvation. 

God has eyes and he sees everything, and that is what Isaiah says: 

4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the Lord?

God is asking a question to us when he says "Is It"? And then he lays the principles of the kind of a fast with which he is pleased. 

6) “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

So simply remaining hungry and thirsty and remembering God does not please God. What pleases him is that when we fast we should be able to help those who cannot help themselves, who are oppressed, who are chained to slavery, who are hungry, who are thirsty, who are naked, who are homeless. Doing for others will please God as those who are in pain are remembering God, and our act of faith will be the answers to their prayers and they will glorify God. 

Your reward for doing this kind of fasting is not small but heavenly. 

Verse 8-12

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[a] will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

I think I need not to tell much as the word of God is like a light which is visible from every direction. So this is the kind of fast with which he is pleased.

June 04 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report