{"product_id":"key-principles-of-biblical-fasting-isbn-9780307457653","title":"Key Principles of Biblical Fasting","description":"\u003cb\u003eDiscover the Purpose and Power of Fasting\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eDo you desire to feel His presence, hear His voice, sense His pleasure?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSince ancient times, fasting has been considered an essential means of drawing near to God. But this spiritual discipline involves much more than abstaining from food; it goes right to the heart of genuine faith. Through this invigorating study, you’ll gain a clear understanding of the principles behind this practice and be equipped to make fasting a key part of your relationship with God.\u003cb\u003eKay Arthur,\u003c\/b\u003e executive vice president and cofounder of Precept Ministries International has worked with her teaching staff to create the powerful 40-Minute Bible Studies series. Kay is known around the world as a Bible teacher, author, conference speaker, and host of national radio and television programs.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePete De Lacy\u003c\/b\u003e is the chief operating officer for Precept Ministries International, the author of several studies in the New Inductive Study Series, and a contributor to \u003ci\u003eThe New Inductive Study Bible.\u003c\/i\u003eDo you long for intimacy with God? Do you desire to feel His presence, to hear His voice, to sense His pleasure? If drawing near to God is the desire of your heart, then we invite you to join us in an invigorating study of the discipline of fasting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSince ancient times, fasting has been considered an essential means of deepening one’s faith and connection with God. But in recent years it has become an increasingly rare—and often misunderstood— practice. Many wonder if fasting is an outmoded form of spiritual discipline, something modern-day Christians needn’t bother with. Others are convinced this discipline is only for the super-spiritual. And some see it only as a bizarre ritual connected to other faiths.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Bible refers to fasting more than fifty times, and in this six-week study we’ll examine many of those passages to learn what the Word of God teaches about the topic. We’ll consider what fasting involves and what it means to the average Christian. As you discover for yourself the biblical principles behind this practice and observe its impact on the lives of the faithful throughout history, you’ll discover the unique role fasting plays in the life of the church. And by the end of our time together, you’ll be equipped to decide how you will enter into the discipline of fasting as a means of deepening your walk with God.\u003cbr\u003eWEEK ONE\u003cbr\u003eLet’s start our study of fasting by examining what Jesus said on the subject in His Sermon on the Mount. Then we’ll look at some Old Testament references to this practice to see what we can learn about its nature and purpose.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOBSERVE\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eThe Sermon on the Mount records Jesus’ teaching about the basics of righteous living. Let’s look specifically at what He said about fasting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLeader: \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eRead Matthew 6:1, 16\u003c\/i\u003e–\u003ci\u003e18 aloud. As you read, have the group say aloud and…\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e• \u003ci\u003eunderline every occurrence of \u003cb\u003ewhenever \u003c\/b\u003eor \u003cb\u003ewhen you.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e• \u003ci\u003ecircle every reference to \u003cb\u003efasting. \u003c\/b\u003eAs you read the text, it’s helpful to have the group say the key words aloud as they mark them. This way everyone will be sure to mark every occurrence of the word, including any synonymous words or phrases. Do this throughout the study.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eThe word fast in this passage is translated from the Greek word nesteuo, which means “to abstain from food or drink.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDISCUSS\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e• What did you learn from marking \u003ci\u003ewhenever \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003ewhen you\u003c\/i\u003e? What did you learn from marking the references to fasting?\u003cbr\u003e• From what you read in this passage, did Jesus seem to expect His listeners to fast? Explain your answer.If you’ve ever fasted, describe your experience. What prompted you to fast and what was the outcome?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eOBSERVE\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eWe’ve seen what Jesus expected of His followers when it came to fasting, but did He ever observe this practice Himself?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLeader: \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eRead aloud Matthew 4:1\u003c\/i\u003e–\u003ci\u003e4 and have the group….\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e• \u003ci\u003emark each reference to \u003cb\u003eJesus, \u003c\/b\u003eincluding pronouns, with a cross:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e• \u003ci\u003ecircle the word \u003cb\u003efasted.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eDISCUSS\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e• What did you learn from marking the references to Jesus?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• What does this passage reveal about His perspective on fasting?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNow let’s go to Isaiah 58, the most comprehensive passage about fasting in the Bible. This message originally was given to God’s people, the Jews, yet we know from Romans 15:4 that “whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction.” The context for this passage is that God’s people had been fasting in the wrong spirit. Though they outwardly seemed sincere, God knew their hearts and saw through their attempts to manipulate Him. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLeader: \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eRead Isaiah 58:1–3a aloud. As you read, have the group…\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e• \u003ci\u003eunderline all references to \u003cb\u003eMy people, \u003c\/b\u003eincluding pronouns and synonyms such as \u003cb\u003ethe house of Jacob.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e• \u003ci\u003ecircle the word \u003cb\u003efasted.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDISCUSS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e• What did God tell Isaiah to do in verse 1?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• What did you learn from marking the references to God’s people? What was happening with them?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• In verse 3, what action is described as a parallel to fasting?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• God’s people look sincere and eager; however, would He call what they were doing sin if they were truly sincere? Explain your answer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• The people went to the temple, obeyed God’s laws, fasted, and appeared eager to seek the Lord; but their worship was only an outward show. What does that tell us about the condition of their hearts?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• From what you have seen, is God more concerned about our outward appearance or the condition of our heart?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eOBSERVE\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eLet’s continue observing Isaiah 58.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLeader: \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eRead Isaiah 58:3b–5 aloud and have the group…\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e• \u003ci\u003eunderline the words \u003cb\u003eyou \u003c\/b\u003eand \u003cb\u003eyour.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e• \u003ci\u003ecircle each occurrence of the word \u003cb\u003efast.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eDISCUSS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e• How did God describe the way in which Israel was fasting?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• What kind of practices did Israel engage in when fasting, according to verse 3?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• What did God admonish the people about in verse 4? Were they truly humble as they claimed earlier? Explain your answer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• Did God find Israel’s \u003ci\u003eoutward \u003c\/i\u003epractices acceptable? Why or why not?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• According to what you’ve read, is the external ritual of fasting enough to be heard by God Explain your answer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLet’s listen as the Lord continues speaking in Isaiah 58.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLeader: \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eRead aloud Isaiah 58:6–12 and have the group do the following:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e• \u003ci\u003ecircle every reference to \u003cb\u003efasting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e• \u003ci\u003emark every reference to \u003cb\u003ethe Lord, \u003c\/b\u003eincluding pronouns, with a triangle:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e• \u003ci\u003eunderline every reference to \u003cb\u003eIsrael, i\u003c\/b\u003encluding pronouns such as \u003cb\u003eyou, your, \u003c\/b\u003eand \u003cb\u003eyourself.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eDISCUSS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e• What did God tell Israel was the right kind of fast? What would be the result of such a fast?• Contrast this with Isaiah 58:3b–5. Which kind of fasting reveals a heart truly concerned\u003cbr\u003ewith spiritual matters? Explain your answer.What did God promise to do if Israel would fast according to His desires?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eOBSERVE\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eThe keeping of the Sabbath was a barometer of one’s faithfulness to the Mosaic covenant. A person who observed the Sabbath according to the Law was acknowledging his dependence on God by seeking Him above his own desires.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLeader: \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eRead Isaiah 58:13–14 aloud and have the group do the following:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e• \u003ci\u003edouble underline every reference to \u003cb\u003ethe Sabbath, \u003c\/b\u003eincluding any pronouns and the synonym \u003cb\u003eholy day.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e• \u003ci\u003eunderline every reference to \u003cb\u003eIsrael, \u003c\/b\u003eincluding the pronouns \u003cb\u003eyou \u003c\/b\u003eand \u003cb\u003eyour \u003c\/b\u003eas before.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e• \u003ci\u003emark with a triangle each reference to\u003cb\u003e the Lord, \u003c\/b\u003eincluding pronouns.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eDISCUSS\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e• What did the people of Israel need to do in order to please God in the way they kept the Sabbath?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• What would God do for Israel if the people observed the Sabbath with a right attitude?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• In these verses about keeping the Sabbath, what similarities do you find related to the previous passages about Israel’s behavior and attitude toward fasting?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• Discuss what principles, if any, you can discern from these passages regarding God’s response to a person’s attitude or heart.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eOBSERVE\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eBecause of the depraved state of the nation, God would have to initiate salvation. Again God spoke of the people’s sin and how it was preventing Him from saving them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLeader: \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eRead Isaiah 59:1–2 aloud and have the group…\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e• \u003ci\u003emark every reference to \u003cb\u003ethe Lord, \u003c\/b\u003eincluding synonyms and pronouns, with a triangle.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e• \u003ci\u003eunderline each occurrence of the words \u003cb\u003eyou \u003c\/b\u003eand \u003cb\u003eyour.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eDISCUSS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e• What did you learn from marking \u003ci\u003eyou \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eyour\u003c\/i\u003e?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• What did you learn from marking the references to the Lord?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• What point was the Lord making? Is it that He \u003ci\u003ecannot \u003c\/i\u003ehear or save?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• From all we have seen in this lesson, what have you learned about fasting?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat does it take to be close to God and hear from Him? We saw that Jesus expected fasting to be a regular part of His followers’ lives, something that would be rewarded by God. In addition He Himself fasted in the wilderness.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe people of Israel thought they could be right with God simply by performing the ritual of fasting. But they didn’t hear from God, and they didn’t understand why.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe answer was sin! Sin had separated them from God so that He \u003ci\u003ewould \u003c\/i\u003enot listen to their cry. God was concerned with their motives as well as their behavior. Fasting would have no effect until they dealt with their sin.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe perspective of eternal God has not changed since the days of Isaiah. He wants us to obey from our hearts, not merely follow a ritual. If we are living in disobedience, then fasting won’t draw us close to God. He won’t listen. It’s not that God \u003ci\u003ecan’t \u003c\/i\u003ehear, but that He \u003ci\u003echooses\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003enot to listen to the cry of the unrepentant sinner.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat is your response to this warning from God? Will you respond by, saying, “I’m okay. The Lord knows my heart.” Or will you fast, examining your heart and your ways to see if there be any way in\u003cbr\u003eyou that is displeasing to the Lord (Psalm 139:23-24)?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIf you truly want to draw closer to God, you’ll find you can only connect with Him according to His Word.A Six-Week, No-Homework Bible Study--- More Than 700,000 Sold in the Series","brand":"WaterBrook","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46299743355109,"sku":"NP9780307457653","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780307457653.jpg?v=1767730692","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/key-principles-of-biblical-fasting-isbn-9780307457653","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}