1. FASTING
(روزہ)

2. (1)What Is Fasting?
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word (tsom-צוֹם)means to cover the mouth.
In the New Testament, the Greek word (nésteia-νηστεία) simply means to abstain from food.
In Arabic, (الصيام) Alsayam means to abstain from eating and drinking (including water) during daylight hours. 
In Urdu, (روزہ) to abstain from food voluntarily for a time.
So the basic idea is that of going without food.

3. (2) Examples of Fasting in Old Testament
1. Moses fasted in Ex 34:28.
2. David fasted in 2 Sam 12:16, Ps 69:10.
3. Jehoshaphat fasted in 2 Chron 20:3.
4. Ezra fasted in Ez 8:23.
5. Esther & Mordecai fasted in Est 4:16.
6. Daniel fasted in Dan 9:3.
7. Nehemiah fasted in Neh 1:4.

4. (3) Examples of Fasting in New Testament
1. Jesus fasted during his forty day period of temptation in the wilderness - Lk 4:1-2
2. The brethren at Antioch - Ac 13:1-3
a. Fasting in their service to the Lord
b. Fasting and praying as they send out Paul and Barnabas
3. The churches in Galatia-Ac 14:21-23
a. Done in EVERY church
b. When appointing elders
4. Paul listed fasting among things which proved him as a minister of Christ (2-Co 11:23-28)

5. a. In times of war, or at the threat of it (Israel)
(4) Purposes of Fasting
In the Old Testament; fasting occurred...
a. In times of war, or at the threat of it (Israel)
b. When loved ones were sick (David)
c. When seeking God's forgiveness (Ahab, Daniel)
d. When seeking God's protection (Ezra)

6. (5) In the New Testament; fasting occurred...
a. When dealing with temptations (Jesus)
b. When serving the Lord (the church at Antioch)
c. When beginning a work for the Lord (again at Antioch)
d. When selecting and appointing elders (in Galatia)

7. (6) Teaching of Jesus Christ on the subject of fasting:
1) --When done properly, fasting would incur God's good pleasure - Mt 6:18b
2) --Fasting should be done only when appropriate
Mt 9:16-17
3) --There were occasions when prayer needed to be joined with fasting
Mt 17:20-21
4)--Our fasting is to be seen of God to be done without any outward appearance of fasting – Mt 6:17

8. (7)The length of a fast may vary.
a.   One night. Daniel 6:18
               
b.   One day.
      I Samuel 7:6       II Samuel 1:12; 3:35       Judges 20:26
c.   Three days and three nights.
      Esther 4:16        Acts 9:9, 17-19
 d.   Seven days.
      I Samuel 31:13        II Samuel 12:16-23
               

9. f. Twenty-one days. Daniel 10:3-13
e.   Fourteen days.   Acts 27:33-34
f.  Twenty-one days. Daniel 10:3-13
g.   Forty days.       a.   Moses (at two different times).            Exodus 24:18; 34:28       Deuteronomy 9:9, 18, 25-29; 10:10       b.   Elijah.            I Kings 19:8       c.   Jesus.            Matthew 4:2 (Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2)

10. (8) Purposes of Fasting a. Fasting humbles us.
Ps 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; and my prayer would return to my own heart.
So what happens when we humble ourselves through fasting?
Humbling ourselves leads to an outpouring of God's grace.

11. b. Fasting accompanies repentance
Joel 2:12 "Now, therefore," says the LORD, "Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning."
Jonah 3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.

12. C- Fasting is a source to get the power of Holy Spirit
When Jesus went into the wilderness He was already full of the Holy Spirit. But when He came out again after fasting, He returned in the power of the Spirit. (Luke 4:1-2)
D-We fast in obedience to Jesus’ teaching.
(Matt. 6:16-18)
E- We fast to demonstrate our dependence upon God.
(James 4:10, 1Cor 9:24-27)
F-We fast to demonstrate repentance from sin (and to intercede for others who need to repent).
(Daniel 9:3-5, Jonah 3:5-10)
G-We fast to receive God’s wisdom and direction.
(Acts 13:1-3, 14:21-23)

13. (9) Christian Disciples
Fasting disciplines the body
1 Cor 9:27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Now why would we need to discipline our bodies?
we are tripartite beings.
We are spirit, soul and body. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
To gain self-control

14. (10) What is Lent?
It is considered that the word Lent came from a German word LENZIN in 13th century which means springtime or lengthening (of daylight hours). It was a time for spring, cleaning lives, as well as homes.
But the word Lent is derived from Latin language which means "fortieth“, in reference to the fortieth day before Easter.

15. (11) When does Lent season start. Lent season starts before Easter
(11) When does Lent season start? Lent season starts before Easter. Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count).

16. Jesus used this time to prepare for His work by fasting and praying.
(12) Why does Lent last for 40 days? Lent is a time when Christians remember the 40 days and nights Jesus spent alone in the desert without food being tempted by the Devil. 
Jesus used this time to prepare for His work by fasting and praying.

17. St. Irenaeus of Lyons (130AD – 203AD)
We can trace Lent almost all the way back to the disciples. This is quite extraordinary. The heroic theologian Irenaeus was discipled by Polycarp who himself was believed to be discipled by the Apostle John, wrote a letter to a friend Victor I. In this letter he talked about their Easter celebrations.
St. Irenaeus of Lyons
(130AD – 203AD)
Later history tells us that the Council of Nicaea, in 325, accepted the 40 days lent. A period was defined a single day (24 hours).

18. (13) Why are Sundays not counted in the 40 days
(13) Why are Sundays not counted in the 40 days? Sundays are always a day of celebration in the Church and so they cannot be included in the 40 fast days of Lent. Sundays commemorate the Resurrection.   

19. Presented by:. The Rt. Rev. Irfan Jamil. 9th Bishop of Lahore
Presented by: The Rt. Rev. Irfan Jamil 9th Bishop of Lahore Church of Pakistan Diocese of Lahore