The Correlation Between Fasting and New Works of God

Fasting is an extremely powerful spiritual practice for followers of Jesus. Fasting opens the door for new works of God that could only be accomplished through fasting, and by no other way. Fasting can sometimes be a difficult process - physically, emotionally and spiritually - but the works that God establishes are far worth the strenuous effort fasting entails. Scripture reveals an interesting correlation between fasting and new works of God. Let us explore some of these correlations and how some new works of God in our own lives can only be birthed through fasting.

Matthew 9:14-17 provides some insight. "At that time John's disciples came and asked Jesus, 'Why do we and the Pharisees frequently fast, but your disciples never fast?' Jesus responded, 'The wedding guests can't mourn while the groom is still with them, can they? But the day will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they'll fast. No one sews a piece of new, unshrunk cloth on old clothes because the patch tears away the cloth and makes a worse tear. No one pours new wine into old wineskins. If they did, the wineskins would burst, the wine would spill, and the wineskins would be ruined. Instead, people pour new wine into new wineskins so that both are kept safe.'"

Examining this text reveals an interesting correlation between fasting and new works of God, i.e. new clothes and new wineskins. When God does a new work, God often needs a new vessel to be the vehicle. For example, God often prepares Kingdom leaders over a period of time before they are entrusted with a public ministry. Jesus himself did not begin his public ministry until he was about 30 years old (Luke 3:23). Before 30, God must have been preparing Jesus for this ministry. And even before Jesus entered his public ministry, he fasted 40 days to be a vessel ready for what God wanted to do in and through his life (Matthew 3:13-4:2a). So when Scripture speaks of new clothes, and new wineskins for new wine, it is saying that new works of God need new vessels to be birthed and sustained.

Investigating the book of Esther shows how fasting correlated with a new work of God. Esther and God's people were in a bad spot. An edict has been deviously written to exterminate all the Jewish people. When Esther found out, she took drastic measures. Esther told the Jewish people to join her in fasting for three days without food or water before she made any moves (Esther 4:15-17). So everyone fasted. After the fast, Esther strategically began an intervention with the king. There were several coincidental interventions that took place that only could have been God working behind the scenes. And what initiated the new works of God? It was Esther's call to fast. If Esther and the Jewish people would not have fasted and appealed to God, would they have avoided annihilation? I think not.

Similarly, a new work of God happened through fasting in Acts 13:1-3. Several of God's people were worshiping and fasting when God spoke saying, "Appoint Barnabas and Saul to the work I have called them to undertake." Before Barnabas and Saul were sent off, the fasting continued (probably for a period of time) with prayer and then they were commissioned for God's call on their lives. In this instance, there is a direct correlation between fasting and a new work of God. The people were fasting when God spoke, telling them to set aside Barnabas and Saul. And again, they fasted and prayed before sending them off for ministry. The fasting sewed together the new wineskin, thus preparing the vessels of Barnabas and Saul for the new work of God just ahead.

In my own life, I have personally experienced the correlation between fasting and new works of God. This year, the Lord called me to a ten day fast to grow in the knowledge of Scripture. So I embarked on a journey which can be read in full, Reflections on a 10-day Fast. At the end of the fast, God had sewn together a new wineskin that is now being filled with new wine as I continue to read Scripture. It is amazing how this fast produced an inner transformation that has enabled me to read Scripture in a new way. I enjoy reading Scripture more than ever. It is transforming my inner life and really sticking in my mind. The picture I get is that as I read Scripture in the coming years, the new wineskin that was sewn together through the 10-day fast will slowly be filled with new wine.

So what does this mean for those who follow Jesus today? It means that there is a correlation between our fasting and the new works of God to be birthed in and through the Church, and our in our own lives. We can participate in biblical fasts that are directed by Scripture. These can be read about in the Biblical Basis for Fasting. Even more, we can fast as God calls us to partner for the new works to be birthed in the kingdom. Our fasting has a direct correlation with new works of God happening in and through our lives. Now we do not need to fast for ever single work of God to take place. Nor does fasting guarantee God will doing something when we fast - remember, its all about a relationship and partnering with what God wants to do. But there are certain works of God that can only and must be birthed through fasting. Otherwise, these certain works will never be brought to earth unless God's people fast and pray.

And if you are curious about how to practically fast, check out How to Practically Fast. This will be a helpful and practical guide for how to practice fasting.


Jesus, would you reveal to us deeper insight through your Word between the correlation of fasting and new works of God. May we participate with what you desire to do by joining you in the practice of fasting to birth new works of God here on earth. Amen.



Further Fasting Resources:
Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough, Elmer Towns.
Knowing God through Fasting, Elmer Towns.
God's Chosen Fast, Arthur Wallis.
Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster.