Underlining mine for discussing why fasting became associated with water baptism when there was no reference to this occuring in the NT.The Didache, or Teaching of the Twelve Apostles (an early Christian text not part of the New Testament) says of baptism (chapter 7):
On the subject of baptism, baptise thus: after having taught all that precedes, baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. If for some reason you do not have living water, baptize in other water; and if you are not able to in cold water, in warm water. If you do not have enough of one or the other, pour out water three times on the head, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Before the baptism, let the baptizer, the baptized and others who can, observe first a fast; as for the baptized, you must enforce a fast beforehand for one or two days.
Valerie gave this reply -
I found this interesting about emptying oneself physically to receive more of the Holy Spirit's power. And there certainly is a physical inside cleansing that goes on through fasting also.Sudsy, I believe if I am not mistaken the reason for fasting is for the grace of the Holy Spirit, because it is at one's baptism that they are prayed over/anointed to receive the Holy Spirit and fasting has something to do with receiving more grace of the Holy Spirit- that would be the purpose from what I understand, your 'emptying yourself' so that you can be filled.
Remember the reason the disciples were unable to cast out some demons one time- and Jesus said "this kind cannot come out except by prayer & fasting" so the fasting is purposeful to empty & receive power from on High.
However I wonder why when we are told in Eph. 5:8 to 'Stop getting drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled with the Spirit.' (ISV) it did not say anything about fasting to make room for more 'grace of the Holy Spirit'. And the other references in Acts to water baptism did not refer to this need to fast prior to water baptism.
Are there any other references in the NT to fasting to 'empty oneself' to obtain exceptional power from on high ? And does the prayer & fasting text mentioned apply to us today to give us that same power of the apostles to work miracles ? It would seem this fasting practise is no longer followed in Chrisianity prior to being baptised, is this correct ? Any thoughts on this ?