Fasting Pleasure
1. Fasting anything that you find pleasure in other than God Himself
2. Scriptures on Pleasure:
a. In the last days men will be lovers of pleasure--2 Timothy 3:4
b. Seeking your own pleasure opposes the purposes of and possibly negates the fruitfulness of the fast-Isaiah 58:3; 13
c. Daniel fasted "pleasant bread"--Daniel 10:2 (pleasant: to delight in)
i. Isaiah 58:13 making the Sabbath a delight (luxury)
ii. Isaiah 58:14 delight yourself in the Lord
d. James 5:5 you have lived in pleasure and been wanton (sensual gratification). This is a person living for enjoyment.
e. 1 Corinthians 7:5 (husbands and wives) don't defraud one another except by consent for a time so that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer.
Daniel Fast
Daniel 10:3 says, "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."
What was the Daniel Fast or what exactly did Daniel fast?
1. Pleasant Bread: "bread to delight in"
a. This speaks again to pleasure
b. Some say sweets / desserts
2. No Flesh: no meat
a. Some say no red meat
b. Nothing that weighs you down!
3. Nor Wine: what is your drug of choice?
a. Matthew 27:34 when Jesus, on the cross, was offered vinegar mingled with gall He refused it. This substance was given as a pain reliever, so Jesus refused it in lieu of drinking THE CUP (Mat 26:39; 42 let this cup pass--if not I will drink it)
b. This also speaks to the issue of mourning. It was not a time to celebrate.
4. Did Not Anoint Himself: he abstained from ordinary observances which promoted personal comfort. Note vs. 2, "In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks."
a. James 4:9 "let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into heaviness" (also note the context--James 4:8-10)
b. 2 Corinthians 7:9-11 Godly sorrow leads to repentance. Here Paul says that he is aware that he made the Corinthians sorry but that he was glad they were sorry because the sorrow pressed them into true repentance.
c. Note also Matthew 6:16-18 not as the hypocrites; anoint your head / wash your face; don't appear sad / change your countenance into a sad one; don't wear a religious badge / make sure people know what you are doing; don't make a big deal about it; this is to be done (as much as possible) in secret.
