Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough: A Guide to Nine Biblical Fasts [Paperback]

Elmer L. Towns (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 16, 1996

Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough is a thought-provoking book on one of the least understood--but most powerful--disciplines of Christianity.  Most believers know about fasting, but few of us really understand the wonderful benefits that come when we fast with purpose and direction.  Written in Dr. Elmer Towns’ dynamic; descriptive style, this book gives the “why” of fasting, rather than just the “how.”  Towns avoids a glut of techniques and schedules, and instead provides a probing look at Isaiah 58, often called the fasting passage.  Learn how fasting can strengthen your faith and draw you closer to God, helping you to be a true overcomer in Christ.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

ELMER L. TOWNS is dean of the School of Religion at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he teaches the 2,000-member Pastor’s Sunday School class at Thomas Road Baptist Church. He is a Gold Medallion Award-winning author whose books include What Every Sunday School Teacher Should Know and Praying the 23rd Psalm. Elmer Towns and his wife, Ruth, have three grown children.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Regal (May 16, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830718397
• ISBN-13: 978-0830718399
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,512 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #95 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality > Prayer

More About the Author

ELMER L. TOWNS is Vice President of Liberty University, where he also serves as Dean of the School of Religion. He cofounded the university with Jerry Falwell in 1971. Elmer teaches the 2,000-member pastor's Sunday School class at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia. He is a Gold Medallion Award-winning author, and his books include Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough, How to Pray (When You Don't Know What to Say) and What Every Sunday School Teacher Should Know.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

81 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grow Closer to God Through Fasting, October 7, 2003

By 

Michael Taylor "Michael Taylor" (Indian Trail NC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough: A Guide to Nine Biblical Fasts (Paperback)

Although I do not have extensive experience in fasting, God has become more intimate to me during the times I have fasted.

An earlier reviewer mentioned that the book sounded more like a lecture and little like an experience. I can assure you that since I have personally taken a class under Dr. Towns, he is an extremely fascinating man to listen to! Also, I like the biblical examples he uses to illustrate the importance and results of fasting. While experience is important, being biblical is even more so!

Towns' book is an excellent read to encourage you to fast. He covers the following points:

1. Models and kinds of fasting.
2. Principles for fasting to break sin's bondage.
3. Fasting to solve a problem and break negative emotional habits.
4. Fasting to meet the need of others.
5. Fasting to make important decisions and physical healing.
6. Fasting for protection from demonic attacks.
7. Fasting to experience personal revival.
8. How fasting can benefit our bodies.

Read to be encouraged and challenged!

67 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great "must have" reference for the person who fasts, October 6, 1999

By 

Don Jonker ([e-mail]) (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough: A Guide to Nine Biblical Fasts (Paperback)

Fasting is more than an exercize in food deprivation. Towns gives you clear, practical FOCUS for your fast. Whether making critical decisions, breaking an addiction, or dealing with depression--Just look in the Table of Contents, and there is a chapter dealing with a fast that will help you to Breakthrough!

58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The more you read on this topic, the better!, September 3, 2003

By 

Dan Thomas (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough: A Guide to Nine Biblical Fasts (Paperback)

This is the third or forth book I've read on the subject of fasting. I'am far from an expert on the suject knowledge or practice of fasting. However, my recent experience of a 21 day fast has left me with a passion and hunger to pursue greater intimacy with God through fasting. Having said that, I would rate this book 3 stars.

Quote from the author in the acknowledgment:
"The material in this book was taught in the pastor's bible class at Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Virginia, during the summer of 1995. Thank you, class, for listening to my lessons and sharing with me the things you have learned about fasting. I wrote each chapter as I taught a lesson. For the most part, it was not the older Christians but the younger people who talked to me about this series and tried the things I taught. I have learned much about fasting by looking at it through the eyes of my students." End of quote.

Even though the book is full of detailed information about fasting, it reads like a classroom lecture. The author uses several examples of fasting experiences of other people to help illustrate his lessons, but I can recall only once during the whole book where the author used an example of his own personal fasting experience. Because of this I found the book to be informative, but very dry. Lacking in the expression of personal experience.

Fasting is (or should be) a time of deep personal intimacy with our Creator. A place where the closeness of his presence reveals our own heart's motive, allowing us to intercede for our own spiritual breakthrough, and as well, responding to Him as he leads us to intercede for a spiritual breakthrough in our home, family, friends, church, city, nation, etc. It is this aspect of relating "intimacy with God" that seems to be missing from this book.

But as the title says, "The more you read on this topic, the better".