WHY WOULD JESUS' DISCIPLES NOT NEED TO FAST?

14 THEN the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “WHY DO WE AND THE PHARISEES FAST OFTEN, BUT YOUR DISCIPLES DO NOT FAST?”
15 And Jesus said to them, “CAN THE FRIENDS OF THE BRIDEGROOM MOURN AS LONG AS THE BRIDEGROOM IS WITH THEM? BUT THE DAYS WILL COME WHEN THE BRIDEGROOM WILL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM, AND THEN THEY WILL FAST.
16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse.
17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. BUT THEY PUT NEW WINE INTO NEW WINESKINS, AND BOTH ARE PRESERVED.”
Matthew 9:14-17 (NKJV)

A number of things could be learnt in the above Scriptural passage. Jesus as His usual way of answering a question answered the disciples of John the Baptist who came to Him, asking for the reason why His, Jesus', disciples did not usually fast (Matthew 9:14).

At the time of Jesus' earthly Ministry, the disciples who were with Him or following Him were yet to be born-again. Because, no one could be born-again without a sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. In other words, the sins of mankind had not been paid for, the reason for which Jesus came.

Someone could only be considered born-again after Jesus Christ had paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world (Isaiah 53:5,6; Romans 4:25; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
So the disciples with Jesus then were being cared for and protected or covered by the grace, power, or the anointing on Jesus—they were operating under Jesus' grace.
Even when they were sent out for the field work, they did not have their own anointing, they did all they did under His grace and anointing. The demons that bowed to them, the miracles they performed during their field work, were all done under the grace or the anointing of Christ Jesus that was extended to them (Luke 10:17-19).

The disciples were still considered as old garments or old wineskins which there would be no wisdom in patching them with unshrunk or new cloth, or putting a new wine in them as they are old wineskins (Matthew 9:16,17).

It means someone who is yet born-again could not be considered worthy to be filled with the Holy Spirit, the power of God (John 14:17). Because the new wine, the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit would tear apart such a person. Such a person does not have what It takes to receive the Holy Spirit and His power. In other words, the fasting of such a person would not be productive. It might not be considered by God, thus, there is no point for the disciples to be fasting when their fastings would not bring any change or result so to speak—because they were not reborn yet.

This could be seen in a situation where someone or a group of people who are with a minister of God or a mature believer, the person or people with the said minister might be exempted or spared from some spiritual disciplines or exercises because they are under his or her covering.
The prayer and fasting of the minister would be a kind of shield or protection for those who are identified with him or her. The followers or members of the congregation of the particular minister might not be all that engaging in fasting as he himself does.

This is one of the reasons why God appointed pastors or overseers to watch over the fold of His flock, the church. It is also an important reason why every believer should be under the covering of a pastor or a shepherd or an overseer:
28 THEREFORE TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES AND TO ALL THE FLOCK, AMONG WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS MADE YOU OVERSEERS, TO SHEPHERD THE CHURCH OF GOD WHICH HE PURCHASED WITH HIS OWN BLOOD. 29 FOR I KNOW THIS, THAT AFTER MY DEPARTURE SAVAGE WOLVES WILL COME IN AMONG YOU, NOT SPARING THE FLOCK" (Acts 20:28,29 NKJV).

God knew that the devil would want to send his human agents, as predators, to devour the sheep or His flock that are vulnerable. Thus, He appointed shepherds or overseers or pastors and equipped them to feed, care, and protect His fold.
Thus, a so-called believer who identified not with a fold, a gathering of the people of God, could easily be a target for the predators, the human agents of the devil.

Pastors or shepherds or overseers or bishops are appointed to watch over the people of God, the church of Christ (Acts 20:28,29; 1 Timothy 4:16; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:2,3). If you are found in a local church, abound and be steadfast there. Do not be a rolling stone Christian or believer. In such a place, you are under a covering.

This was what Jesus meant when He said His disciples might not necessarily need to fast as long as He was around on earth, but after His departure, they will need to fast (Matthew 9:15).
At Jesus' departure they would have been reborn or born-again, and had the Holy Spirit on the inside of them, then they would need to fast in order to get their assignments done. At that time they would have been made united with God the Father through their recreated human spirit (John 4:23,24; 17:20-23).

Thus, presently Jesus Christ is no longer here in human form, there is a need for His disciples to fast in order to get done whatever they are assigned to do.
To balance the message, the fact that you are under a pastor or minister who fast and pray consistently does not mean you should not engage in fasting and praying. Do not justify your inability to fast, If you trained your body to be adjusted to it, It would. Fasting does not kill, It is a means to gain ascendency in the spiritual realm. Start doing it now!
Peace.

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