Worship: For Heaven’s Sake Like typical parents and friends, we sometimes try to prevent trials for our loved ones, when the trial may be exactly what needs to happen to mold and shape them for the better. (Read more below.)
Wellness: For Health’s Sake Some believe water fasting is dangerous. People who have no appetite, like some cancer patients, particularly those on chemo, are more at risk of starving than those who do a water fast, says Pastor Flemons, a doctor of biblical wellness and naturopathy. (Read more below.)
(NOTE: Before following any advice given here, please read our disclaimer on this page.)
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Words of Encouragement
Proverbs 21:21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
Isaiah 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
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For Heaven’s Sake…
Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes.
Perhaps Peter was unaware of or had forgotten this scriptural text when he took hold of Jesus in protest of His impending crucifixion in the passage that follows:
Matthew 16:21-23 From that time forth Jesus began to shew unto his disciples how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
“Peter loved his Lord; but Jesus did not commend him for thus manifesting the desire to shield Him from suffering. Peter’s words were not such as would be a help and solace to Jesus in the great trial before Him. They were not in harmony with God’s purpose of grace toward a lost world, nor with the lesson of self-sacrifice that Jesus had come to teach by His own example. Peter did not desire to see the cross in the work of Christ. The impression which his words would make was directly opposed to that which Christ desired to make on the minds of His followers, and the Saviour was moved to utter one of the sternest rebukes that ever fell from His lips: “Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offense unto Me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 415.4, accessible at http://www.whiteestate.org/books/da/da45.html.)
Peter, in his ignorance, was only trying to protect Jesus, the Savior of the world. In reality, Peter was being used by Satan to keep Jesus from securing the plan of redemption. But Peter learned the wonderful, powerful lesson of growth through trials, says Pastor Flemons. This Peter is the same one who tells us in 1 Peter 4:12-19 that fiery trials are common to Christians to purge us of selfishness so that we become holy like God himself. Peter warns us not to murmur or complain, but to rejoice that we are “partakers of Christ’s sufferings,” because in the end we will share in His glory. He warns us also to be careful that our suffering be not because of our sin, but because of obedience to God.
Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
“Those who love their Redeemer will rejoice at every opportunity to share with him in humiliation, shame, and reproach. The love they bear their Lord makes suffering, for his sake, sweet; and they know that if they suffer with him they shall also reign with him in his glory. This experience of suffering for Christ’s sake is absolutely essential to the spiritual life of the Christian. There can be no true, vital godliness without seasons of trial and grief. We are chosen in the furnace of affliction, and the trial of our faith is more precious than gold.” (Ellen G. White, “Signs of the TImes,” January 13, 1888, par. 4)
For Health’s Sake…
With supervision, you can survive a water fast for up to 40 days, says Pastor Flemons. You must know how to function on a water fast. For instance, movements must be slow, never sudden or erratic, says Pastor Flemons. You may even require bed rest to complete the fast.
Drawing from the benefits of water fasting listed on the website of the Foundation of Gaian Studies, Pastor Flemons mentioned and commented on each of them. Some are listed here:
“Fasting has been shown to be one of the most effective methods for lowering blood pressure and normalizing cardiovascular function. Blood pressure tends to remain low in all those using fasting for cardiovascular disease once fasting is completed.
“Fasting is exceptionally beneficial in chronic cardiovascular disease and congestive heart failure.
“Fasting has been found effective in the treatment of type II diabetes, often reversing the condition permanently.
“A number of studies have found that fasting is beneficial in epilepsy, reducing the length, number, and severity of seizures. Fasting is especially effective for helping alleviate or cure childhood epilepsy.
“In a 1988 trial of 88 people with acute pancreatitis, fasting was found better than any other medical intervention.
“A number of studies have found that fasting is effective for treating both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
“Autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rosacea, chronic urticaria, and acute glomerulonephritis have all responded well to fasting.
“Severe toxic contamination has been shown to be significantly helped with fasting. Clinical trials have found that people poisoned with PCB experienced “dramatic” relief after 7-10 day fasts.
“Other diseases that have responded to fasting are: psychosomatic disease, neurogenic bladder, psoriasis, eczema, thrombophlebitis, varicose ulcers, fibromyalgia, neurocirculatory disease, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, bronchial asthma, lumbago, depression, neurosis, schizophrenia, duodenal ulcers, uterine fibroids, intestinal parasites, gout, allergies, hay fever, hives, multiple sclerosis, and insomnia.
Here’s why: “During fasting the body moves into the same kind of detoxification cycle that it normally enters during sleep. It uses its energy during a fast, not for digesting food, but for cleansing the body of accumulated toxins and healing any parts of it that are ill. As a fast progresses the body consumes everything that it can that is not essential to bodily functioning. This includes bacteria, viruses, fibroid tumors, waste products in the blood, any build up around the joints, and stored fat.”
“People Who Should Not Fast
Although most people can fast, there are a few who, because of special
conditions, should not.
* People who are extremely emaciated or in a state of starvation
* Those who are anorexic or bulemic
* Pregnant, diabetic women
* Nursing mothers
* Those who have severe anemia
* Those with an extreme fear of fasting
* Those with porphyria.”
Full article details are accessible at this link: http://www.gaianstudies.org/articles4.htm.