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 by the Spirit up into the wild country to be tempted by the Devil.2 After he had fasted forty days and forty nights he was hungry.
20 He said to them, "Because of your lack of faith. I tell you truly, if you have faith like a mustard seed you will say to this mountain, 'Remove from here to there,' and it will remove, and nothing will be impossible for you."21 TEXT OMITTED
16 "When you fast, do not wear gloomy faces as hypocrites do. For they disfigure their faces so as to be seen by men to be fasting. I assure you they get their payment in full.17 But you, when fasting, anoint your head and wash your face,18 so as not to appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
16 "When you fast, do not wear gloomy faces as hypocrites do. For they disfigure their faces so as to be seen by men to be fasting. I assure you they get their payment in full.
17 But you, when fasting, anoint your head and wash your face,18 so as not to appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
2 forty days while being tempted by the Devil. During those days he ate nothing, and when they were ended 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 As they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
2 As they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
2 As they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."3 Then, after fasting and praying and laying their hands upon them, they sent them off.
3 Then, after fasting and praying and laying their hands upon them, they sent them off.
3 Then, after fasting and praying and laying their hands upon them, they sent them off.
23 They appointed elders for them in every church, and after prayer and fasting committed 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 having been a widow for now eighty-four years. She never left the Temple courts, but worshiped by fastings and prayers, night and day.
33 They said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do those of the Pharisees, but your followers eat and drink."34 Jesus said to them, "Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?35 But days will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast \'97 in those days."
28 After he had gone into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why were we not able to cast it out?"29 He said, "This kind cannot come out by any means except by prayer."
29 He said, "This kind cannot come out by any means except by prayer."
27 in toil and labor, in many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.