Self-Denial

Self-Denial

Introduction

Self-denial is defined as the act of not having or doing the things you like, either because you do not have enough money or for moral or religious reasons. It is synonymous with abstinence.

Self Denial is one of the requirements for anyone who shall be great in life, it is essentially one of the Hall Marks of Christian Faith. This is because christian Faith requires a lot of discipline.

This act, the Lord ensures that it sinks into the cerebral cortex of the disciples and which expectedly they continue to pass on to all and sundry as they continue to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

One means of denying one self in the world is fasting. This could be classified among the spiritual exercises as stated by Apostle Paul in his epistle to Timothy.

“But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

“For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” (1 Tim 4:7-8)

To advance or grow in faith, spiritual exercise is required, and one of sure spiritual exercises is fasting.

I will want us to see some things about the word fasting in this article as related to Christian faith.

Fasting as Self-Denial

It is no gain saying that the word fasting is a common word all over the world, and it is common in virtually all religions of the world.

Definition of Fasting

In Hebrew word, fast is “צם צום”, when Romanized it becomes tsôm tsôm (pronounced as tsome, tsome) (2 Chr 20:3). This word derives its root meaning from another Hebrew word which is “צוּם”, Romanized form is tsûm (pronounced as tsoom) which means to cover over (especially the mouth), not allowing something to enter it momentarily.

While in Greek it is “νηστεύω” Romanized form is nēsteuō (phonetic spelling is nace-tyoo'-o) which means to abstain from food as a religiously. This word derives its meaning from this Greek word which is “νῆστις”, Romanized form is nēstis (phonetic spelling is nace'-tis) which means not eating, abstaining from food religiously. It is from the negative particle νη nē, used in the negative sense suggestive of the nature of man, that humans development and growth come through feeding, which the food we eat nourishes our body giving it nutrients, improving the immune systems and enabling the growth of the body as it fights diseases and infections. However, when this is not happening it means the immunity would be affected.

The fasting here in stated thence means abstaining from food and or covering one’s mouth to disallow something from entering which is willingly done as a form of religious rites.

Some other Christian authors have given the following meanings to fasting and it is said to mean abstaining from all or some kinds of foods or drinks religiously as the case of Daniel was in Babylon.

“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.” Dan 10:3)

It could also mean reduction from some or all food, drink or both for a period; giving up something in order to replace it with something else, especially replacing it with prayers; bringing flesh into submission to the Lord so that we can have mastery over ourselves through his strength; distancing oneself from sex, sleep to focus on spiritual growth.

When we deny ourselves from fleshly desires to glorify God, to focus on him the more abstinence from iniquity and illicit pleasures we are fasting. (1 Cor 7:5)

Having seen what fasting means, let us see some of what some people do today which are being associated with fasting, but which necessarily do not mean fasting.

When we deny ourselves from fleshly desires to glorify God, to focus on him the more abstinence from iniquity and illicit pleasures we are fasting. (1 Cor 7:5)

What Fasting is Not

1. It is Not Dieting: Sometimes we think fasting is dieting because we have reduced the food we are taking at a period, but it is not fasting because we are not doing that religiously. Consider the case of an Egyptian that the servants of David found when they were pursuing those who plundered their abode in first Samuel chapter thirty.

“And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water;

“And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.

“And David said unto him, to whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.” (1 Sa 30:11-13)

We shall see here that the man did not take food for three days, not because he was fasting but because he was sick and his people felt he would become a burden unto them thus they left him behind, left him for dead, but he recovered from the illness.

2. It’s Neither a Punishment nor Affiliction: Some view it as a means of punishing the flesh like what king Ahab commanded to be done for prophet Micaiah in the bible when he was going to war.

“And say, thus saith the king, put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.” (1 Ki 22:27)

Hebrew word for affliction is “לחץ”, Romanized form is lachats (pronounced as lakh'-ats) this word derives its meaning from another Hebrew word, lâchats which means force, distress, oppression, afflict.

3. It is Not Commanded: We need to know that it is not commanded by Jesus Christ, but it is strongly recommended in christian faith.

4. It is Not Avoiding Work: It is not a means designed to dodge work, absenting oneself from official duties.

Why Choose Abstaining from Food

I will want us to see some of the reasons why abstaining from food is the commonest type of fasting as compared to other types that have been mentioned.

1. To Have Control Over Flesh: We shall recall that our fore parents were lure away from the presence of God by food. To overcome the flesh, we shall need to deal with this fleshly desire.

2. To be Focused: So that our minds focus on what we are praying on. It will not be out of way to say that Eve lost focus because of food. Through this medium satan has been infiltrating humans hearts over the years.

M. Kuckey in his commentary says this of abstaining from food that when we are full, temptations toward false belief come­s.

Who can Fast? As far as the scripture is concerned, everyone can fast except those with one infirmity or another, the aged, pregnant women and some special conditions that the medial personnel advise otherwise.

On the other hand, everyone can give up something, we can all deny ourselves some physical pleasures to seek the face of the Lord. For those with medical conditions, they can decide to deny themselves watching television program for sometimes, they can deny themselves sex among other things to seek the face of the Lord. (Jonah 3:7ff; Est. 4:16)

Purpose of Fasting: It has been stated ahead that fasting is neither a commandment nor a compulsory thing to do as far as the bible injunctions are concerned, but it is highly recommended for believers all over the world to do. Some of the benefits of doing this are stated beneath.

1. Developing Closer Relationship with God: If we want to develop close relationship with God, we cannot but fast sometimes. Which ever one we choose because of our conditions, God would understand in as much as we do that to get closer knowledge of him. (Am. 3:3; Ps. 24)

2. Focus on God: If we would focus more on him, we need to embark on this abstinence. It would help our spiritual person to focus on him the more.

3. Shifts our View from Worldly Things: It helps in removing our focus from things of the world to things of heaven where God lives.

4. Shows Our Seriousness: It is a way to demonstrate to God and ourselves that we are serious about our relationships with Him,

Classification of Fasting

I will like to classify fasting into two categories which are believers in Christ’s type of fasting and those who do not believe in Jesus Christ’s type of fasting. However, I will like to focus this write up on believer’s type of fasting (self-denial)

Believers Fasting:

From the above definitions of fasting we see that fasting has to do with covering of the mouth, abstaining from food religiously for a period. In this we also see some other forms. I will want us to see some of it.

Types of Christian Fasting

1. Absolute or Dry Fast: In this kind of fasting the person would abstain from taken foods and water for more than 24 hours, and this could continue for days. Example of this is found in prophets Moses (Exo 34:28), Elijah (1Ki 19:8) and Jesus (Mat 4:2). King David may have done this too on the issue of his child that was sick as found in second Samuel 12.

“David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.” (2 Sa 12:16)

2. Water Fasting: In this kind of fasting drinking of water is allowed but nothing else. This also is commonly practiced by those who are on dry fasting after certain hours, depending on the strength of the person.

3. Partially Restrictive Fasting: This kind of fasting is limited to particular foods or substances. Take as instance, fruits may be taken during this period.

“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.

“Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.” (Dan 1: 8 & 12)

4. Intermittent Fasting: In this kind of fasting the person has break periods, he may fast for 2 days and break on the third day and picks it up again on the fourth day for another 2 days or for 72 hours and break and picks it up again after 24 hours.

5. Intercourse Fasting: The person who does this denies himself sex because of what he wants from God, obviously with agreement from his or her spouse.

“Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.” (1 Co 7:5)

6. Others: There are other forms of fasting too which include restricting Television watching, internet usage, listening to music, and indeed those things we love to do regularly we may distance ourselves from it (them) for a period to seek the face of the Lord the more.

“Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.” (Dan 6:18)

Take the case of king Darius for example, he likes listening to music before he goes to bed, perhaps listening to “blues” music, solemn music, but when Daniel was apprehended, he asks that the kind of music he likes to listen to before going to bed should not be played for him again, and it was said that he used the night to fast for him by not doing those regular things that he used to do at night before going to bed.

Commonest Type

However, having seen some of the types of fasting that believers could engage in it will interest you to know that the commonest type of fasting is that of abstinence from foods.

What Can Cause Fasting

1. Condition: This kind of fasting could happen when there is no food at home and one is forced to undergo fasting like the one that happened to man who was sick and was left for dead by his colleagues (1 Sam 30:11-12); or when one for fear of death embarks on fasting (I Kings 18:13; Acts27:33); people when they have bad dreams or dreams which they do not understand, they may lose appetite for that (Gen 40) and when one is at the war front. (I Sam. 14:27)

God does answer this kind of fasting because He said He is the one providing for ravens of the field the animals that do not work, as such He will provide for those whom conditions forced to embark on this kind of fasting by providing for them (Mt. 6:26-29; Ps. 147:9)

2. Authorized: Fasting could be authorized by those in authority. In the olden days it has been found to be authorized by Kings, priests and Queen. However, these days, it could be authorized by leaders of churches, homes, friends etc. to seek for the Lord’s face on some issues that joined them together. (2 Chro 20:3; Est. 4:16; Jon 3:7 ff)

3. Divinely Authorized: It could be directed by God. (Ezek 4:5-7)

4. Self-Will: It could be a self-willed type. This could occur when one is happy (Act 13:1-4); when one is sad (1 Sam 1:13ff), and when one is an apprentice (2 Ki 2:3; Lk 6:40)

When we Can Fast:

It would interest you to know the time when we can engage in this spiritual exercise.

1. Period of Calamity: When there is disaster in the land, we can fast to seek the face of the Lord.

“Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,” (Joe 1:14)

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

“Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.” (Joe 2:15-16)

2. Repentance Period: After prophet Jonah’s preaching to the people of Nineveh their hearts were pricked including the king in his palace and he ordered for a fasting throughout the land to seek the face of the Lord. They repented of their misdeeds and turned to the Lord.

“And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:” (Jon 3:7)

The children of Israel also did fast when they were rebuilding the gates during the days of Nehemiah and Ezra

“Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.” (Neh 9:1)

e-sword has this about this verse, “On the first of this month was the feast of trumpets; on the tenth, the day of atonement; on the fourteenth began the feast of tabernacles, which lasted seven days, ending on the twenty- second; on the twenty-third, they separated themselves from their illegitimate wives; and on the twenty-fourth, they held a solemn day of fasting and confession of sin, and reading the law; the whole of which they closed by renewing their covenants.”

3. When we Want to Humble Ourselves: King Ahab did humble himself, with fasting. (1 Ki 21:27)

“And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.” (1 Ki 21:27)

When he did this, the evil that the Lord promised would come to pass on him he averted, because of his humility.

4. During Sickness of Loved One: When a person we loved is sick we can embark on fasting to seek the face of the Lord, for peradventure God would bring healing to the person.

“And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?” (2 Sa 12:22)

5. Asking for Changes: when we want God to change the evil handwritten or plans for our lives we can fast. This was done by the people of Jews during the days of king Ahasuerus.

“And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.” (Est 4:3 (see Col. 2:14))

6. When Loved One is Suffering or Imprisoned: When Daniel was imprisoned, the king started to fast that his God show himself mighty one his behalf.

“Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.” (Dan 6:18)

7. When God’s Promises Tarry: When the fulfillment of the promises of God for our lives or country or those we know and loved are not coming to fulfilment as and when due, we may seek the face of the Lord to know more about it, to know what is causing the delay or may be before him it is not yet time for the fulfilment.

“And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:” (Dan 9:3)

8. When Remembering Sad Event(s): Life as we know is full of ups and downs, and there is a proverb in this part of the land to which this writer hails from that if you will live long in the world then you will witness many evils it is those who do not live long that do not witness different kinds of evils. When evil betides us or the nation, we can fast as a sign of remembrance for it and telling him that such never happen again, at least during our lifetime.

“For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.” (Zec 8:10)

This evil stated here happened because Jerusalem was besieged in the 10th month (II Kings 25:1), conquered in the 4th month (II Kings 25:3-4) with the temple destroyed in the 5th month (II Kings 25:8-9) and Gedaliah, who was the governor and Jews were killed in the 7th month (II Kin. 25:25). They remembered this and seek the Lord that such would not happen again.

9. During Worship: When we want to worship and consecrate our lives to God, we can also fast to bring our hearts close to him in humility.

“And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” (Luk 2:37)

10. When We are Bringing God to Remembrance: When we want God to bring to remembrance good records about us. Queen Esther and other Jews fasted for deliverance from the impending danger and God does double for them, bringing to remembrance the good deeds of Mordechai. (Est. 6:1; Mal. 3:16)

11. When We Want God to Cancel or Erase Curses: When we do not know why our lives remain stagnant and all indices is pointing to a similar negative effects that our parents experienced, we may wish to seek the face of the Lord to cancel such negative effects with fasting, because he has redeemed us from the curse of the law. (Gal. 3:13)

12. When we are Suffering for Parents or Siblings Sins: Sometimes because of blood relation we shall be suffering from the sins of others especially sins of those who are our relatives and would be partaking in their punishments. When we notice this, we can seek the Lord in prayers with fasting as he has said such would not happen again. (Ezek. 18:1-4)

Effects of Fasting on Body

I believe it is important that we know some of the effects of fasting on our body when we engage in such exercise this is because anyone who fasts especially the one that involves abstaining from food would notice some changes on his or her body, and while noticing such, the person should remember that he has fasted before and or still fasting and those effects are not associated with diseases, because some when noticing these changes could be overwhelmed by negative thoughts started thinking negatively.

(i) Feeble Body: Our bodies would become feeble because of the fasting that we have embarked upon, because of lack of nutrients.

(ii) Body Weakness: When we are fasting, our bodies would be weak, and we would not be able to do strenuous work as before.

“My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.” (Psa 109:24)

(iii) Bone Pains: We shall have body aches and bone pains because of the fasting especially the dry type of fasting.

“Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.” (Psa 6:2)

(iv) Vertigo: Vertigo is defined as the feeling of dizziness and fear, and of losing one’s balance. This happens because the blood getting to the brain has fewer glucose which is the form of energy supply to the brain, because of the depletion in energy, the body would desire to sit or rest on something than standing alone without supports. This type also occurs during protracted form of fasting.

(v) Restlessness: It makes us restless, because of the lack of nutrients in the body which would make the body to call on the storages of the body to release glycogen which shall be converted to glucose for the body use. (I Sam. 14:27-29)

Benefits of Fasting

Knowing the advantages that one can derive from fasting would assist some people in putting their hearts to this exercise. Today, because of people who through dubious means make it in life some people, believers, have belittled the aspect of fasting thinking it is not of any use at all. But this should not be our lot.

1. Helps in Gaining Deeper Knowledge of God: Embarking on this makes believers to have more knowledge about God who they serve. Every spouse will desire to know and understand his partner the more, thus they will draw nigh each other because being at a bay from each other would not allow them to know themselves deeply. Fasting also would take us close to God in our spirit by which we shall know God the more.

2. Helps in Putting Emphasis on Spiritual Things: Natural man cannot view things as God would view it, but with the aid of fasting one would be able to put emphasis on what the Lord wants us to put emphasis on.

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” (Rom 8:6-7)

3. Helps to Subdue the Flesh: Natural man cannot please the Lord, we at enmity with him as the bible says because what we desire are ephemeral things. But with the help of fasting we shall be able to subdue the flesh and keep our focus on God.

“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Rom 8:8)

4. Helps us Grow Spiritually: As physical foods help man to grow physically so does fast helps in our growth spiritually. It promotes spiritual humility which the Lord requires of man.

5. Assists in Destroying Strongholds of Devil: It is a spiritual atomic bomb that the Lord has given us to destroy the strongholds of the evil ones (II Cor. 10:4)

6. Helps in Revival: It helps in ushering in and in promoting revival, in our gathering and in the world at large. (Mt. 9:14-15),

7. Prepares us for Spiritual Harvest: When a farmer has worked on the farm, planted different seedlings, annual and perennial, he would be waiting for the time of harvest. The same applies to fasting, when we have fasted for something, we shall be on the look out for its fulfillment which is the harvest time. (Acts 13:1-4; 14:23),

8. Promotes Humility in our Hearts: Naturally speaking humans are proud, but God does not want this, thence, when we give our hearts to fasting, we tell him that we cannot do it by ourselves, that we are counting on him for all things.

9. Helps to Lose Chain of Injustice: The world is a perverse place, that is growing in injustices daily. This God does not like. When we give our hearts to seek the Lord in fasting, we shall not be afraid of people, but we shall focus on the Lord and would be able to execute justice for the motherless and widows, widowers and everyone. (Isa 56:1)

10. Assists in Untying Yokes: The devil has put yokes on all inhabitants of the world, for this reason Jesus is come to lighten our burdens, and if we shall partner with him, we need to do that in spirit and in truth. Fasting will assist us in doing this removing the yokes of the devil on those who are under devil’s yokes. (Isa 10:27)

11. Helps in Freeing the Oppressed: It helps us in partnering with the Lord to free those who are oppressed of the devil. (Mat 17:21)

12. In Providing for Those who are Hungry: It encourages us to provide for those who are hungry for we shall remember what we passed through during those times. In addition to opening our hearts to feel the need of others. (Mat. 25:34-46)

13. Gives us Ability to Withstand Temptations: Devil cannot but come to tempt us, especially with food as he did tempt Jesus, but with this we shall be able to withstand such temptations remembering that we do not live by bread alone.

14. Helps Alleviate Symptoms of Depression: When we are overwhelmed by world’s situation, fasting helps us to overcome some symptoms of depression that may want to weigh us down. With the aid of fasting and prayer, Prophet Elijah could withstand depression that crept into his life. (1 Ki 19)

15. Immune Booster: Medically, it helps our immune systems. This is because the white Blood cells breaks down quickly to produce new ones.

16. Detoxifying: Many of the infections that overwhelm our lives are said to be associated with some free “ions” roaming about humans blood systems, therefore, fruits and other things are encouraged for detoxification. Fasting also is said to be helpful in this wise.

17. Politically: It can be used for nonviolent protests during hunger strike by people.

18. Life Span Changes: It has been said to help in increasing the life span of people. This is done through the detoxification methods and the changes in the immune system that it aids.

19. Shows us What Should be done: When prophets and teachers were fasting and praying, they were instructed by the spirit on what to do, setting aside Paul and Barnaba. (Act 13:1-4)

20. Makes our Voices Heard in Heaven: It is not that our voices are not heard in heaven before, when we pray with holiness, but this helps us, boosting our prayers to be heard in heaven the more as it happened unto Daniel (Dan 10; see also Isa 58:4)

What to Note About Fasting

The followings should be noted when one wants to fast

1. Limitation: Fasting should have start and ending time, let it have a period. Do not just embark on the exercise without discretion.

2. Check Your Capability: It is good to know one’s capability when one is embarking on fasting. When you discover that your strength could not continue, you should pause the fasting, so that you would not injure yourself and heap the blame on the Lord. There are people in this part of the world who have by imitation get themselves killed because they wanted to be like an ancient prophet in the land, some through the means have become incapacitated such that they are not useful for themselves again.

3. Apply Wisdom and Discretion: If you are suffering some disease conditions like diabetes, ulcer, menorrhagia and other conditions like that, apply wisdom to it. For assuming the woman with the issue of blood continues to fast she may not be able to get to Jesus pushing through the crowds because she would likely faint even before walking to the gathering or may not be able to leave home at all that day. (Mark 5) In conditions like this, it is good that we apply wisdom to fasting.

4. Doing Hard Work: Those who are doing hard work, like those working in bakery in this part of the world, those standing on the road for 24 hours, those carrying heavy loads like bricklayers, carpenters, they may be taken lighter foods to give them energy for their works so that they won’t look to their employers as lazy people.

5. Carry Along Your Spouse: Some marriages have been negatively affected because of this. When a partner embarks on fasting without telling the other person. We should know that we are different from each other. Thus, as Apostle Paul counsels, carry your spouse along when you want to fast especially when the fast would be a protracted one, like dry fasting. (1 Cor 7:5)

There are numerous things to enjoy when we deny ourselves through fasting, if you have not been doing this, it is encouraged that you give it a trial today. Choose any type that suits you, the good thing is everyone could give up something to seek the face of the Lord the more, and when it is done, I know that God would answer you, and you will enjoy yourself in him.