Business Profile

First Fruits Fast

01/01/2026


Pre-read

  1. What is first fruits?
  2. What is fasting and Why do we fast?
  3. Who fasted in the bible?
  4. Different type of fasts
  5. Practical tips ahead of fasting
  1. What is first fruits?

"If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches." —Romans 11:16

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops." —Proverbs 3:9

"When you come into the land which I give you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest." —Leviticus 23:10

The concept of first fruits is rooted in biblical times when people lived in an agrarian society. Harvest time was significant because that was when the hard work the farmers had poured into their crops all year began to pay off. They were literally reaping what they sowed.

God called his people to bring the first yield—the first fruits—from their harvest to him as an offering. This was to demonstrate the Israelites' obedience and reverence for God. It also showed that they trusted God to provide enough crops to feed their family.

Back then, there were plenty of rules associated with making first fruit sacrifices. They had to be brought to the temple priests. No other crops could be harvested until after the first fruits were presented. It was a complex process.

The Hebrew word for first fruit is bikkurim—literally translated to "promise to come." The Israelites saw these first fruits as an investment into their future. God told them that if they brought their first fruits to him, he would bless all that came afterward.

We no longer live in an agrarian-based society. Most people reading this are probably not farmers. You likely don't worry about harvest time or giving away the first yield of your crops. But the idea of first fruits is still relevant—it just takes on a new meaning for us.

  1. What is fasting and why do we fast?

BIBLICAL FASTING IS REFRAINING FROM FOOD FOR A SPIRITUAL PURPOSE.

FASTING DOES NOT MOVE GOD, IT MOVES YOU.

  1. It is part of the expected lifestyle of the believer, Mathew 6, Acts 13vs2. According to the Bible, there are three duties of every Christian: give, pray and fast. Isaiah 58vs6, Romans 12vs1.
  2. It is a spiritual act that yields spiritual and physical results. Joel 2:12
  1. Who fasted in the bible?
  1. Jesus: Fasted 40 days in the wilderness before His public ministry.
  2. Moses: Fasted 40 days and nights receiving the Law.
  3. Elijah: Fasted 40 days and nights in the wilderness fleeing Jezebel.
  4. David: Fasted for his sick child, in grief, and to seek God's intervention.
  5. Daniel: Daniel 1 Daniel 10 Fasted for wisdom, guidance, and to mourn for his people.
  6. Esther: Called for a three-day fast for all Jews before approaching the King.
  7. Nehemiah: Nehemiah 1vs 4 Fasted and mourned over Jerusalem's broken walls.
  8. Hannah: 1 Samuel 1vs 6-8 & vs 17-18 In deep distress over her inability to have children, engaged in intense prayer and fasting at the temple, making a vow to dedicate any son to God in exchange for a child.
  9. Paul (Apostle): Fasted frequently and encouraged it for spiritual focus.
  10. Anna (Prophetess): Served God with fastings and prayers awaiting the Messiah.
  11. Early Church: Fasted for guidance and leadership appointments (Acts 13:2).
  12. Nineveh: The entire city fasted and repented after Jonah's warning
  13. Ezra called on the nation to fast before returning to the land. "Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions" (Ezra 8:21 NKJV).
  14. Joel called a national fast regarding a plague of locusts. "Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord" (Joel 1:14 NIV).
  15. Jehosophat called a national fast when threatened by Edom. "And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord" (2 Chronicles 20:3-4 NKJV).
  1. Different forms and type of fasts
  • Forms
  • Partial fast: From sunrise to Sunset/midday/afternoon
  • Full fast: No breaks at sunset/afternoon/midday
  • 3 day fast
  • 7 day fast
  • 10 day fast
  • 21 day fast
  • 40 day fast
  • Spousal fasting
  • Family fasting
  • Corporate fasting [places of worship/leaders in the church according to the different roles]
  • [The above are based on recorded periods in the bible when people fasted, so there is no mention of a 5 day fast or a 2 day fast, however that does not mean one can't fast 2/5/50 days.]

V. Practical tips ahead of fasting

  • Mathew 6
  • Isaiah 58
  • Anticipate immediate fight back. Fasting is Gods will and spiritual warfare. The devil does not like this and will fight it. Daniel 10 vs 12-14
  • Anticipate immediate answers. Daniel 10 vs 12.
  • Equip yourself with knowledge on what is fasting, why do we fast and how to fast.
  • Prepare for fasting through reading, praying, and bodily preparation.
  • Be specific about what and why YOU are fasting.
  • Decide what type and form of fasting YOU will do and for how long.
  • Expect bodily withdraws as your body detoxes, headaches, discomfort, irritability,
  • Refrain from excessive works, your energy should focused on the fast, limit exercise and divided time and distractions. Seek the kingdom 1st.
  • Maintain order in your lifestyle, bath, show up at work, at home etc.
  • Gradually adjust your lifestyle and diet. Before and After. Don't over load your system :)
  • Do not impose YOUR decision to fast on others in judgement or self righteousness Luke 18 vs 9 - 14 1 Corinthians 7 vs 5.



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