Page 254 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

FALSE WITNESS - FASTING

FALSE WITNESS. The law of Moses condemned and temperance of the godly, and a watching and
bearing false witness (Ex. 20:16; 23:1; Le. 6:3; 19:11, chastising of our flesh, taken up for present necessity,
12, 16; De. 5:20). If a man brought false witness against whereby we are humbled before God, and withdraw
another in an attempt to wrongly convict him of a from the flesh those things with which it is cherished, to
crime, the false witness was to be punished with the the end that it may the more willingly and easily obey
same punishment which he tried to bring upon his the Spirit. The fasts wherein the Jews fasted from meat,
neighbor (De. 19:16-20). God hates false witnesses (Pr. and not from wickedness, pleased God nothing at all, as
6:16-19). The false witness will not escape punishment we may see in the books of the Prophets. ... All fasts
(Pr. 19:9). A false witness is a great destroyer and a ought to proceed from a free and willing spirit” (The
great evil to society (Pr. 25:18). False witness is a Second Helvetic Confession, 1566, XXII).
product of the wicked, fallen heart (Mt. 15:19). Warnings about Fasting. (1) Fasting is not for
Examples of false witness: Against David (Ps. 27:12); salvation (Lk. 18:9-14). (2) Fasting must not be for
Naboth (1 Ki. 21:13); Jesus Christ (Mt. 26:59-61; Mk. show (Mt. 6:16-18). (3) Fasting is not to be a religious
14:54-59); Stephen (Ac. 6:11-13); Paul (Ac. 16:20-21; ritual (Lk. 18:12). (4) Fasting is unacceptable and
17:5-7; 24:5; 25:7-8). [See Deceit.] ineffectual without a right relationship with God (Is.
FAME. Public report; tidings; renown (Ge. 45:16; 1 58:3-9; Ze. 7:5-6). (5) Biblical fasting is not for physical
Ki. 10:1; Mt. 4:24). health. We cannot say whether or not fasting is good for
FAMILIAR. Close; well-acquainted; intimate (Job the health, but we do know that the Bible never speaks
19:14; Ps. 41:9). of fasting in this context. (6) Fasting is not to be an
FAMILIAR SPIRIT. A person controlled by an evil ascetic practice (Col. 2:20-23). The ascetic punishes
spirit which professes to be a medium with the dead. himself in a vain attempt to know God, to find favor
God condemns those who deal with familiar spirits (Le. with God, or to attain spiritual power. The Christian has
19:31; 20:6; De. 18:11; 1 Sa. 28:7; Is. 8:19). [See all of this freely in Jesus Christ (Col. 2:1-23). (7) Fasting
Devils, Satan, Witchcraft.] does not necessarily guarantee that one’s prayers will be
FAMILIARS. Associates; friends (Je. 20:10). answered (2 Sa. 12). (8) Fasting is a personal matter.
Fasting is important and useful in Christian life and
FAMILY. [See Child Training, Divorce, Home.] service, but it is not something by which we are to judge
FAMISH. Starve; be hungry (Pr. 10:3). the spiritual condition of others. God does not
FAN. An instrument for winnowing grain, by moving COMMAND fasting; He COMMENDS it.
which the grain is thrown up and agitated, and the chaff The Importance of Fasting. (1) The importance of
is separated and blown away (Is. 30:24; Mt. 3:12). fasting is seen in the number of positive references in
FANNERS. Winnowers (Je. 51:2). [See Fan.] the Old and New Testaments (Ju. 20:26; 1 Sa. 1:6-7;
FAR SPENT. In great part; almost passed away; 7:6; 31:13; 2 Sa. 1:12; 1 Ki. 21:27; 2 Ch. 20:3; Ezr.
almost finished (Ju. 19:11; Ro. 13:12). 8:21-23; Ne. 1:4; 9:1-2; Es. 4:16; 9:3; Ps. 35:13-14;
FARE. (1) Welfare; prosper (1 Sa. 17:18). (2) Price 69:10-11; Is. 58:6-8; Je. 36:9; Joel 1:14; 2:12, 15; Jn.
(Jon. 1:3). (3) Farewell; goodbye (Ac. 15:29). 3:5; Da. 9:3; Mt. 4:2; 6:17-18; 9:14-15; 17:21; Mk.
9:29; Lk. 2:37; Ac. 13:2; 14:23; 1 Co. 7:5; 2 Co. 6:5;
FARED SUMPTUOUSLY. Lived in luxury and 11:27). (2) Fasting is one of the ways whereby a
pleasure (Lk. 16:20). minister of Christ approves himself (2 Co. 6:4-10). (3)
FARTHING. [See Money.] The Lord Jesus Christ made a definite promise about
FASHION. (1) Shape; form; pattern (Ge. 6:15; Ph. fasting (Mt. 6:17-18). (4) The Lord Jesus said very
2:8). (2) Manner (Mk. 2:12). plainly that His disciples would fast after His departure
FAST. (1) Completely (Ge. 20:18; Ju. 4:21; 15:13). (Mt. 9:14-15). (5) God’s choicest servants have
(2) Close; near (Ru. 2:8, 21). (3) Abstinence (2 Sa. practiced fasting throughout the centuries. (6) Prayer
12:21; Mt. 6:16). [See Fasting.] (4) Closed; tight; firmly with fasting is the only spiritual practice which is to
fixed; retain (2 Ki. 6:32; Job 2:3; 38:38; Pr. 4:13; Ac. interfere with the physical aspect of the marital
27:41; 1 Co. 16:13; Ph. 4:1). (5) Quickly; speedily (Je. relationship (1 Co. 7:1-5). (7) Fasting is necessary for
48:16). [See Fasting.] breaking down certain demonic strongholds (Mt.
FASTING. Biblical fasting is the freewill practice of 17:18-21).
abstaining from food and/or the pleasantries of life for When Should We Fast? (1) Fast when sorely tempted
the purpose of devoting oneself to God and (Mt. 4:2). (2) Fast when wisdom is earnestly desired
concentrating on spiritual goals, particularly the goal of (Da. 9:3). (3) Fast when help and protection are needed
defeating spiritual enemies and overcoming the lusts of (Ezr. 8:21-23; 2 Ch. 20:3; Je. 36:9). (4) Fast when
the flesh. “Fasting is nothing else than the abstinence victory is desired in seemingly impossible situations (Es.

254 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity