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Word from Nairnshire
by Sandy Shaw
One topic we hear very little about today, even in Church circles, is the matter of fasting. This was part of the normal spiritual life of the early disciples.
Like the seasons, certain emphases tend to come and go.
A few years ago, we had significant teaching on fasting.
When Moses received the Ten Commandments, he fasted, and his face was radiant.
Jesus Christ fasted, after He was baptised in the Jordan River, and anointed with the Holy Spirit, and He was severely tempted, but was able to overcome victoriously.
The Roman Centurion, Cornelius, fasted and was led to send for Peter. The outcome was Cornelius was ‘born again’, fully.
When appointing elders and leaders in the churches Paul prayed and fasted.
Christian fasting is always for a spiritual purpose, and we are taking time to consider how we might become spiritually stronger and fitter. This could be one area of your Christian life which you have overlooked or omitted, or have never received proper teaching.
When Daniel was in Babylon, modern day Iraq, he fasted when seeking to know the will of God. Daniel decided that as a spiritual leader he would discipline his body and pray and fast.
With Daniel, and those three leaders around him, there was another period where they chose a partial fast. They restricted the type of food they would eat, not partaking of the rich royal food and wine which was on offer, but rather limiting themselves to vegetables and water.
After only ten days they looked healthier and better nourished.
To these four men, God gave knowledge and understanding, and Daniel had that supernatural ability to interpret visions and dreams.
Even a partial fast can have physical as well as spiritual benefits, although the main purpose is always spiritual.
Sandy Shaw
Nairn Christian Fellowship
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Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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