Abuja – Clerics have underscored the importance of fasting as a recipe for building closer relationship with God.
The clerics said this in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.
They further said that fasting required denial of certain pleasures in order for a Christian to build up his/her spirituality.
Pastor Samuel Ajetomobi of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, said: “it is important for Christians to fast in order to get closer to God.
“True fasting helps us get closer to the Holy Spirit and to get more empowered by Him.”
Quoting Matthew 17:21 which says “However this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting,’’ Ajetomobi said that fasting must go along with prayers for it to be truly effective.
“If you say you are fasting and you do not pray and study the Bible, you are just deceiving yourself. That is not fasting. Praying and studying the Bible will also empower you.’’
The Pastor identified different types of fast such as white fasting, mid-day fasting and dry fasting.
He explained that white fasting was done in different forms according to one’s ability.
“This type of fasting you can decide to break with just fruits; some people take only water, some eat what does not contain oil, salt or pepper.
“Sometimes this type of fast is done according to person.’’
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The pastor further said that the mid-day fasting allowed one person to eat from morning till noon, and then stop eating until noon of the next day.
He said that dry fasting, as the name implied, meant that the person would not take anything while fasting.
“For this type of fasting, we have people that do it for 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours or seven to 40 days.
“However, if the duration of the fast is more than three days, you are advised to drink warm water after the third day.’’
The pastor noted that the most common type of fast was from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., adding that one could break the fast with any type of food.
On fasting among married couples, he said that the husband and wife must agree before either of them could embark on a fast.
He quoted 1 Corinthians 7 which says “Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.’’
Ajetomobi, however, said that if one partner was unaware that the other was on a fast and wanted to have sexual relations, it was the duty of the one on a fast to oblige.
“ If you refuse to have sexual relations with your husband or wife while fasting, that fast would not be acceptable to God especially, if one partner was unaware.’’
In a separate interview, Rev. Canon Bola Ogunyannwo, a clergyman of the Anglican Communion, advised Christians to fast as way of gaining a deeper fellowship with God.
According to Ogunyannwo, fasting is a tool that a Christian should use to seek closer relationship with God and petition Him for help, guidance and a humble heart yielded to His will.
“Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life.”
He explained that fasting helps to transform a Christian’s prayer life into a richer and more personal experience and as such, must be accompanied by prayers.
Ogunyannwo further said that Christian fasting was a sacred time for abstinence from food, or other pleasures with a view to focusing on God.
“Biblically, fasting is abstaining from food, drink, sleep or sex to focus on a period of spiritual growth.
“Specifically, we humbly sacrifice something of the flesh to glorify God, enhance our spirit, and go deeper in our prayer life.’’
Ogunyannwo noted that anything a person could temporarily give up in order to focus on God could be considered a fast, adding that everyone is eligible to fast.
“Anyone can fast; some people, such as diabetics for example, may not be able to fast from food, but everyone can temporarily give up something in order to focus on God.
“Even unplugging the television for a period of time can be an effective fast.‘’
The reverend added that fasting should not be used as a tool for weight loss.
“We should not fast to lose weight, but rather to gain deeper fellowship with God.
“Fasting should be a sacrificial lifestyle of servant living and not just denying yourself of food or something else of the flesh.
“ In Isaiah 58, we learn what a “true fast” is; as Isaiah tells us, fasting encourages humility, loosens the chains of injustice, unties the chords of the yoke, frees the oppressed, feeds the hungry, provides for the poor, and clothes the naked.’’
According to him, before a person embarks on a fast, one must find out if the fast is led by God and what the motives and specific needs are.
“Also, you must ask what results you are looking for and if you are determined for God to minister to you while fasting.
“Fasting changes us, not God. Fasting is not a way to appear more spiritual than others. Fasting is to be done in a spirit of humility and a joyful attitude.’’
He, therefore, advised that people should adopt fasting methods that suit their lifestyle, health issues, goals, and body chemistry. (NAN)