If Jesus used the aid of supernatural power to aid him in getting through the “fasting” of Matthew, four, verses one and two, which reads: “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 hungered?” This is a most interesting point to ponder!
If Jesus had supernatural power to aid him, in time of temptation, and we are to go through the same type of “temptation,” without the aid of “supernatural powers,” does this make us stronger than Jesus when facing temptation? Now, really give some thought to this question!
With the above thoughts in our mind, let us notice a second type of “fasting,” than was noted in the first article. There are at least three types of “fasting’ and they are: 1) The Absolute Fast, 2) The Partial Fast, and 3) The Normal Fast. In the first article we covered, maybe in an incomplete manner, but it was written with the hope the reader would come away with a better understanding the fasts in the Bible.
In looking at the “Partial Fast,” we will look at Daniel, chapter one, verse 8, which reads: “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore, he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” Now read with me verses 9 – 12: “Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.” Now, why would we call this “fast” a” Partial Fast?” It might be, in the simple answer, it fit the circumstances! It was not too much nor was it too little for the occasion!
Continuing with Daniel, attention is called to Chapter ten: “In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing and had understanding of the vision. In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled” (verses 1-3). The circumstances called for this type of “fast,” the “Partial Fast!” Here a longer time was called for. This also helps us understand that it was not the number of days and nights, but the circumstances which called for what we are calling “The Partial Fast.”
You may have heard of someone making a vow, to drink no coffee for a week. This would be a “partial fast.” A person may vow to give up chocolate for a whole month. At which time the person would eat enough chocolate, as though he would have eaten during the month, had they were not been in a “partial” fast. If this were done as a religious act, would we call it an honest “fast”? No!
Now, we are not writing on the subject of “fasting, just to fill space in our bulletin. No, as the subject of “fasting” comes up in the religious world in general but also at times within the Lord’s church but to have a better understanding of the subject. To this point, we have briefly covered the “Absolute Fast,” and now “the Partial fast.” This means that we have one to go, which here is being called “The Normal Fast.”
As we bring this article to a conclusion, the question often comes up among Christians who believe in “fasting” as a religious act, or should we say, non-religious act? We do know that the early church, the church revealed upon the pages of the New Testament. I have pointed out in the past, that the early church at times did fast, while we eat “pot-luck” meals together! Is the church today better off in this act of eating? While I do not know this about the church, but the waist line has gone to “pot,” as in “potbellied!”
Frank R. Williams