Jejum e oração
Jejum e oração são disciplinas espirituais que andam juntas. Jesus jejuou, os apóstolos jejuaram, e a Bíblia ensina que o jejum fortalece a oração e nos aproxima do coração de Deus.
O exemplo de Jesus
Jesus jejuou quarenta dias no deserto antes de iniciar seu ministério. Ele ensinou que certas coisas só acontecem com oração e jejum.
1 Then Jesus was led up into the desert by the Spirit, to be tempted by the devil.2 And after he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he became hungry,
20 "Because of your little faith," he answered. "In solemn truth I tell you that if you have faith the size of a mustard-seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from this place to that! and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.21 "But this kind is driven out by prayer alone."
16 "When you fast, do not look downcast like the hypocrites; for they disfigure their faces so that it may be apparent to men that they are fasting. In solemn truth I tell you, they already have received their reward.17 "But when one of you fasts, let him anoint his head and wash his face,18 "so that he may not appear to men to be fasting, but to his Father who is in secret; and his Father who sees in secret will reward him.
16 "When you fast, do not look downcast like the hypocrites; for they disfigure their faces so that it may be apparent to men that they are fasting. In solemn truth I tell you, they already have received their reward.
17 "But when one of you fasts, let him anoint his head and wash his face,18 "so that he may not appear to men to be fasting, but to his Father who is in secret; and his Father who sees in secret will reward him.
2 He ate nothing during these days, and at the close of them he was hungry.
O jejum nas Escrituras
Ao longo da Bíblia, grandes homens e mulheres de fé jejuaram em momentos decisivos — buscando a Deus com urgência e devoção.
O jejum que Deus escolheu
Isaías revela o jejum que agrada a Deus: soltar as cadeias da injustiça, libertar os oprimidos e repartir o pão com o faminto.
A igreja primitiva
Os apóstolos jejuavam antes de decisões importantes. O jejum acompanhava a consagração de líderes e o envio de missionários.
2 And as they were worshiping the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
2 And as they were worshiping the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
2 And as they were worshiping the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."3 So after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them, and let them go.
3 So after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them, and let them go.
3 So after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them, and let them go.
23 They chose elders for them in every church, after prayer and fasting, and commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Praticando o jejum
Quando jejuares, unge a cabeça e lava o rosto. O jejum é entre você e Deus — não para impressionar os homens, mas para buscar ao Senhor.
37 and then being a widow even for fourscore and four years. She departed not from the temple, but worshiped with the fasting and prayer, night and day.
33 Again they said unto him. "Why do the disciples of Johnfast frequently, and make supplications, as also do the disciples of the Pharisees, but your disciples are eating and drinking?"34 "Can you make the bridal party fast," he asked, while the bridegroom is still with them?35 "But there is coming a day when the Bridegroom will have been taken away from them; then at that time they will fast."
28 When Jesus had gone into the house, his disciples asked him in private, "Why could not we cast it out?"29 "This kind can only be cast out by prayer," he replied.
29 "This kind can only be cast out by prayer," he replied.
27 in toil and weariness, often in sleepless watching, in hunger and thirst, often without anything to eat; in cold and in nakedness.