There is something else the New Testament says: 1 CORINTHIANS 7:4,5 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to FASTING AND PRAYER;
4 Fasting and Self-Control
There is something else the New Testament says: 1 CORINTHIANS 7:4,5 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 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. Another translation says not to withhold sexual intercourse from one another, except it be with consent, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer. This is the only reference to fasting and prayer mentioned in the letters written to the Church; yet notice no particular fast is instituted here. We are only made aware that people did fast and pray. Paul said, "And come together again," talking about husband and wife coming together so Satan couldn't tempt them "for your incontinency." That's plain enough, isn't it? Here's something else about self-control and fasting. From 1949 through the late '50s, I'd stay in parsonages when I was traveling in the field ministry, and I noticed something: The pastors who shouted and hollered the most in the church lived the worst and fasted the least at home. In keeping a record for three or four years I never could find one of them who could control his emotions. One fellow I knew could holler the loudest, jump the highest, and make the most noise of anyone when he was in the pulpit. He actually said to me, "I can't miss a meal. I just can't do it." He would get upset when his wife didn't have dinner on the table on time. I couldn't enjoy his shouting to save my life. I don't know whether he just got worked up physically or what, but I doubt if the Spirit of God had very much to do with it. He was living in the flesh! (Now, there is a real move of the Spirit, but some have never learned the difference between working something up and that real move that's so sweet and beautiful.) I followed my procedure of fasting while I was with these folks. Naturally, they would invite me to come to the table to eat. I wouldn't say I was fasting, but I'd say, “I'm just not eating today. I want to spend a little time praying.”
and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. Another translation says not to withhold sexual intercourse from one another, except it be with consent, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer. This is the only reference to fasting and prayer mentioned in the letters written to the Church; yet notice no particular fast is instituted here. We are only made aware that people did fast and pray. Paul said, "And come together again," talking about husband and wife coming together so Satan couldn't tempt them "for your incontinency." That's plain enough, isn't it? Here's something else about self-control and fasting. From 1949 through the late '50s, I'd stay in parsonages when I was traveling in the field ministry, and I noticed something: The pastors who shouted and hollered the most in the church lived the worst and fasted the least at home. In keeping a record for three or four years I never could find one of them who could control his emotions. One fellow I knew could holler the loudest, jump the highest, and make the most noise of anyone when he was in the pulpit. He actually said to me, "I can't miss a meal. I just can't do it." He would get upset when his wife didn't have dinner on the table on time. I couldn't enjoy his shouting to save my life. I don't know whether he just got worked up physically or what, but I doubt if the Spirit of God had very much to do with it. He was living in the flesh! (Now, there is a real move of the Spirit, but some have never learned the difference between working something up and that real move that's so sweet and beautiful.) I followed my procedure of fasting while I was with these folks. Naturally, they would invite me to come to the table to eat. I wouldn't say I was fasting, but I'd say, “I'm just not eating today. I want to spend a little time praying.”
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