RCCG Sunday School Teacher’s Manual 29th January 2023 (Lesson 22)
TOPIC: Biblical Fast
OPENING PRAYER: Father, help me understand the biblical way of fasting.
PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: Teacher should allow students to review the previous week’s lesson.
MEMORY VERSE: “And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:” – Daniel 9:3 (KJV)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Daniel 10:2-3 (King James Version)
2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
3 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.
LESSON INTRODUCTION: Fasting, in the Bible, is total abstinence from pleasure-giving activities for a set time, to devote oneself to seeking God. While there are many ways believers could fast, too often, the focus is on abstinence from food. In this lesson, we shall examine different types of biblical fast, basic cautions and reasons for fasting.
TEXT REVIEW: Daniel 10:2-3.
Prophet Daniel was a man full of God’s spirit and wisdom. In many ways, he proved his unwavering devotion to God. One of such ways is through fasting. This passage records that:
i. He mourned for three weeks, v2.
ii. He ……………………………………V3a
ii…………………………………………..V3b.
iv. Neither did he ………………….V3c.
v. Till ……………………………………V3d.
LESSON OUTLINES:
- TYPES OF FAST IN THE BIBLE
- REASONS AND BASIC CAUTIONS
1. TYPES OF FAST IN THE BIBLE
The teacher should first ask students to mention the types of fast known to them and then highlight the types as follows:
(a) Food fast.
(b) Sex fast.
(c) Pleasure fast.
The teacher should explain each of the types highlighted above as follows
A. Food fast – This is abstinence from food/drinks. It may take the form of:
i. Regular fast: This is done by abstaining from all foods, both solid and liquid. (2Chron.20:3). The fast is usually broken daily or periodically (Jer.36:6).
iii. Absolute or full fast: Where no food or water is consumed (Est.4:16; Acts 27:33). For instance, Moses, Elijah and the Lord Jesus Christ did a forty-day absolute fast (Deut.9:9; 1 Kgs.19:7-8; Lk.4:2).
B. Sex fast – The Bible also refers to ‘sexual fast’ (Ex.19:15). A married couple can mutually agree to abstain from sex for a short period to devote themselves to prayers (1Cor.7:5).
C ‘Pleasure’ fast – Another way is to confine or isolate oneself from people and pleasurable things to a place as a means of worship, studying the Bible and praying to God for a purpose (Lk.2:36-37; 5:16). Time alone with God requires discipline.
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Scripturally speaking, is there a general rule to the time of breaking a fast?
2. REASONS AND BASIC CAUTIONS
A. Fasting is far more about focusing on God than abstinence from food or other things that give pleasure (Zech.7:5).
B. People fast for various reasons. Some for:
i. Spiritual strength (Isa.40:30-31),
ii. Supernatural revelation, wisdom and understanding (Ezr.8:21; Dan.9:22),
iii. Supernatural breakthrough (Zech. 8:19)
iv. Repentance from sinful ways (Joel 2:12-13; Dan.9:3-5),
v. Spiritual hunger and demonstration of love for God’s people and burden for souls (2 Cor.11:27-28; Matt.5:6).
vi. Sharing with the poor and destruction of wicked works, among others (Isa.58:6-7).
C. Believers should exercise some caution while fasting:
i. Fasting should be limited to a set time and for a clear purpose (1Cor.7:5; Est. 4:16).
ii. It is neither intended to punish the body nor a dieting method (Isa.58:5) but to redirect attention to God.
iii. It is a period to give up self-indulging activities for a deeper fellowship with God (Matt.4:1-2).
iv. Anyone can fast, but some may not be able to fast from food on ‘health grounds.’ However, everyone can temporarily give up something to draw closer to God (Ex.19:15).
v. Biblical fast is to be done in a spirit of humility and joyfulness (Matt.6:16-18).
vi. It should not be to manipulate or do evil (Isa.58:4a; Acts 23:21).
vii. In breaking ‘absolute and long fast,’ warm liquids, (not carbonated drinks) are advised and should be taken in bits.
Fasting is far more about focusing on God than abstinence from food or other things that give pleasure (Zech.7:5). Also, people fast for various reasons. Some for spiritual strength (Isa.40:30-31), supernatural revelation, wisdom and understanding (Ezr.8:21; Dan.9:22), supernatural breakthrough (Zech.8:19) repentance from sinful ways (Joel 2:12-13; Dan.9:3-5), spiritual hunger and demonstration of love for God’s people and burden for souls (2 Cor.11:27-28; Matt.5:6) and sharing with the poor and destruction of wicked works, among others (Isa.58:6-7).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Does the inability to spend quality time in prayer nullify fast?
SUMMARY: There are a number of ways and reasons believers can fast and there are cautions to exercise to do it biblically.
CONCLUSION: Ask God for wisdom (Jam.1:5) as regards how and for how long and what purpose He wants you to fast.
QUESTIONS:
Mention the types of fast in the Bible
Mention three (3) reasons believers fasted in the Bible.
EVALUATION: What caution must believers exercise while fasting?
CLOSING PRAYER: Father, as I fast correctly, let me achieve the desired result in Jesus’ name.
ASSIGNMENT: Mention five (5) benefits that can be derived from fasting (2×5=10 Marks).
⇒ Click Here to watch RCCG Sunday Service for today
RCCG Sunday School manual is used in Sunday School Classes in the RCCG.
The RCCG Sunday school manual is written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye and is available online for easy access. See the previous RCCG Sunday school Manual for 2023 here
