Fast and Pray

DEVOTION

THE BOOK OF ACTS

FAST AND PRAY

Acts 13:1-3

13:1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

NIV

Remembering that Barnabas and Saul were in Antioch and had been sent to Jerusalem with the gifts collected for those who were suffering because of the Famine, and at the conclusion about the narrative regarding Herod arresting Peter and his miraculous rescue by the angel sent by God, we saw Barnabas and Saul finishing their mission and returning to Antioch. So now we are back in Antioch and see both of them are listed among the prophets and teachers. We see this group was worshiping and fasting. Before we deal with the working of the Holy Spirit and the setting apart of Saul and Barnabas, we should visit awhile with this worshiping and fasting. Does worshiping and fasting have anything in common? Why are they connected in this narrative? An examination of the Greek indicates that this worship was more likely a time set aside for prayer and fasting. This would make more sense that they had determined to fast for the purpose of a specific time of prayer, seeking God. This could be a life lesson here for us. When seeking the Lord and perhaps for specific direction, it might well be fitting to fast before our time of prayer. Now what exactly did their fasting consist of? Were they fasting for weeks, or days, or for a day, or did they forgo one meal before gathering for prayer? Or was their fasting simply not eating a certain food group? All we actually know is they abstained from food for religious reasons, which would have been to pray. So are prayers without fasting worth anything at all? We know from past experiences with the disciples they had prayed many times and no mention of fasting was recorded, so why this time was it mentioned? We simply do not know, but what we do know is that they had determined to fast this time in order to pray. We also do not know exactly what the purpose or subject of their prayer was. Were they specifically praying for direction from God? Were they just generally praying about their life as believers? Did they have any special needs, healings, emotional, physical or spiritual or perhaps financial needs they were seeking help from God for?  Or were they just concerned as to what God wanted them to do next for his kingdom? Perhaps their only concern was about serving him, and what should they do in order to increase and spread his word. From the answer the Holy Spirit gave, it would appear this is, in fact, the focus of their prayer. Set apart Barnabas and Saul for God, for the work I have called them to. There is no doubt God calls some specific people to be set apart from the rest for work he has called them specifically to do. So we could conclude this time of fasting for prayer was focused on asking God how they could further his kingdom. It was this group of prophets and teachers who were fasting and praying, leaders in the church at Antioch. It would make sense that was their focus in prayer as well as with the answer. Yet we still could learn that when we pray as to how we might further his kingdom it would be good for us to fast also. All prayer does not include fasting, although there is times throughout the whole bible that it is recorded certain people fasted and prayed. There are times to pray, and then there are times to fast and pray. Certainly the concluding prayer of a pastor was not with fasting. A moment of prayer with the pastor over a situation in life is not one preceded by fasting.  Nor is the prayer over our meals one which includes fasting. The prayer time for special needs in a service also has no fasting beforehand or afterwards for that matter. Clearly there are time when prayer is simply prayer, then there are times when fasting is a part of prayer. If we were fasting every time we prayed we might starve to death, maybe, but we certainly would never eat, as we should be praying at all times, being in communication with God, not just speaking our prayer requests but listening for his voice. Prayer is listening, as we see here, the Spirit spoke, as they were in prayer. This means they were silent, listening for an answer to their request. So again, there are times to pray and then there are times to fast and pray.