The Power of Bible Fasting

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting, Matthew 17:21. There are many who feel Biblical fasting is unnecessary because Jesus paid for all at Calvary. This, however, is not according to the Word of the Lord. The Bible teaches fasting for all God's people; never will you have real power with God unless you fast.

In Matthew, the ninth chapter, we read that John's disciples came to Jesus asking why they fasted while Jesus' disciples did not. Jesus answered, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. After Jesus was taken from them, His disciples did fast.

It is recorded in Mark 9 that a father brought his son, who was possessed by a devil, to the disciples. They were not able to deliver the boy, but Jesus was. Later, the disciples wanted to know why they could not cast out the devil. They were told by Jesus that this kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting, Mark 9:29. In my services the sick are healed by the numbers, devils are cast out. How is it done? Through fasting, prayer and living in the Word.

THEY FASTED IN OLD TESTAMENT DAYS

In Exodus, the thirty-fourth chapter, it is recorded that Moses did not eat for forty days and nights. He was on the mount with God and lived right in His mighty presence. Verse 30: When Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone . . . Fasting truly brings one into the glory of the Lord!

Elijah, in I Kings 19:1-8, ran from the enemy and went a day's journey into the wilderness. Twice an angel served him food, and then he ate nothing for forty days and nights. In the power and strength of the Lord he traveled 150 miles to the mount of God. If you want to reach the mount of God, fasting will help you do it.

We read of Daniel's fast of twenty-one days in Daniel 10:2,3: I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth . . . Then in the twelfth verse we read of an angel saying this about Daniel: . . . from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. Daniel's prayer, backed up by the power of fasting, was answered.

In Esther 4:16, Esther sent word to Mordecai, asking him and all the Jews to fast three days and nights while she and her maidens did likewise. She then went in before the king and won deliverance for her people.

The people of Ninevah fasted and God spared the entire city, saving over 120,000 souls (Jonah 3:5-10).

CHRIST, OUR EXAMPLE

Luke 4:1,2, And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. True Biblical fasting brings the anointing of God. In verse 18 Jesus cries, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me . . . After fasting forty days, Jesus began to heal the sick, cast out devils and perform many mighty miracles. As the Son of God He did not need to fast, but as the Son of man He fasted to show us how we can have power with God over all devils.

THE EARLY CHURCH FASTED

Acts 13:2: . . . they ministered to the Lord, and fasted . . . Men of God fasted and then carried out the command of the Lord. In Acts 9:9-17, Paul fasted for three days after his conversion; then he not only received his sight but also was filled with the Holy Ghost. Paul, in II Corinthians 11:27, was . . . in fastings often . . . Paul recommended periods of . . . fasting and prayer . . . I Corinthians 7:5.

WHEN TO FAST

God honors any sacrifice we make for Him and He does not set down rigid rules of contacting Him. Fast with a definite purpose. Don't fast just for the sake of fasting, but fast for the purpose of contacting God about a definite concern. The fast may be short or long: there are things we receive from God on a short fast while other prayers are answered only by a long fast. Your fast should always edify you and glorify God, for when it fails to do so it is not the kind of fast God wants. Use the wisdom God has given you.

HOW TO FAST

Matthew 6:16-18: Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Don't appear downcast when you fast or boast about how long the fast has been. Fasting is not for show but to afflict your soul so that your Father in heaven will answer your prayer.

There are many ways to fast. You can fast by drinking only water or you can fast by drinking water and just enough juice to keep up your strength so that you can do your work. You can fast one meal, two meals, a day, a week or as many days as you want, but never fast over forty days at a time. Jesus fasted forty days, the maximum amount of time you should fast. I have fasted many forty day fasts, but I have never felt I should fast over forty days.

Always drink plenty of water when you are fasting. God never asks us to do anything that will harm our bodies and people have hurt their bodies by not drinking enough water on a fast. Water flushes the poison from your system; many doctors feel that fasting is beneficial so long as you drink plenty of water.

God is concerned about the good health of your body. Spend as much time in prayer, reading the Word and meditation as possible. It is important to draw greatly on the strength of the Lord during your fast.

HOW TO BREAK A FAST

There are some who can drink juices when breaking a fast. If you cannot take juices on a weak stomach, however, then corn flakes or a cooked cereal with milk and NO sugar will be fine. Gradually you may take a little broth at short intervals with a little cooked rice added. The length of the fast determines how slowly you should get back to solid foods. After a long fast, for a number of days treat yourself as you would a baby because your stomach will have become tender and delicate. NEVER overeat when coming off even a short fast. Do not give vent to your appetite.

RESULTS FROM YOUR FAST

Fasting will put self more under subjection to God. Doubts will be dispelled and faith will take their place. Jesus, speaking of faith to remove mountains, said to the disciples, … nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting, Matthew 17:20,21. Come to Grace Cathedral and see God's miracle power in operation through fasting and prayer.

The Master Is In Full Control

 Mt.28:19; Is.43:8-13; 45:5-23; lSam.2:1-10; Dan.2:19-22; Rev.1:17-18.

From time immemorial, the Master knows and declares that He is in perfect/absolute control of all situations and circumstances in the spirit and physical worlds. No matter how out of hand a situation may be, He knows and declares that there is no cause for alarm. There is nothing like this matter has gone beyond what God can reverse or change. Consider Him that will bring all that are dead for ages back to life and judge everyone according to his works (Jn.5:28-29), get the devil and all evil spirits bound and confined in the bottomless pit for one thousand years (Rev. 20:1-4), eradicate death, sicknesses, sorrow, etc. for His victorious saints after their several years of mesmerizing the human race (Rev.21:4). The question is, can He not give us a foretaste of what is to come? Is He unprepared now to demonstrate it? His action on your case today will not only convince you but others that learn of it that He is in full control all the times in Jesus’ name. He is set to use you as a point of contact to draw all men unto Himself. Be ready to publish your testimonies until men will be asking you to take them to the Master that is in full control of all their needs (Mt.4:24; Mk.7:31-37; Lk.8:38-40; Jn.4:7-30, 39; Acts 8:5-9, 13; etc.).

This message is treated under two sub-sections to achieve what God has appointed it for: (1) The Master’s Profile. (2)He Is In Control Of All Your Needs.

The Master’s Profile (Mt.28:19; Is.43:8-13; 45:5-23; l Sam.2:1-10; Dan.2:19-22; Rev.1:5-8,17-18; 2:1,7,8,17,18,26-29; 3:1,5,7,12,14,21; etc.):

The Master’s profile is such that no being or thing can say no when He says yes or vice versa. Once one has gotten Him on his side, the matter is settled. After He has ruled on a matter, the case is closed. You don’t refer to whatever any other being or thing is saying or doing no matter the signs following the sayings or deeds.

He Is In Control Of All Your Needs (Jn.16:33; Is. 45:22; l Pet.5:7; Mt.11:28-29; Jn.8:36; l Sam.2:1-10; Dan. 2:19-22):

Bring all your needs to Him in full assurance that there is no alternative to Him. Look away from all that are drawing your attention from focussing on Him alone because He cannot share His glory with another (Is. 48: 11; 42:8). Go to Him for all your needs.

          Now Is The Hour

Jn.5:2-9, 25-29

God’s ways are past finding out. He chooses some times to involve man in what He is doing. At other times, He does things just for the sake of exhibiting to men some of His attributes. Else, how can one explain His making whole the impotent man by the pool of Bethesda, a demonstration of His bowels of compassion and mercy. The man who had become hopeless, who never knew the LORD of all, nor expected anything from the Master’s interaction with him was surprisingly made whole without asking for it. That, which was all he desired and made futile spirited efforts to get was granted him at a platter of gold because then was the impotent man’s hour. For you, Now Is The Hour of getting your long awaited desire granted you unexpectedly by the compassionate Master in Jesus’ name. You will enjoy the LORD’s mercy today in Jesus’ name. You will go away today with miracles you never asked for in Jesus’ name. All your long standing desires will be granted you and you will be made whole in Jesus’ name. Say, Now Is The Hour for the LORD’s visitation of all my matters.

The Matters For The Hour (Jn.5:2-7, 25, 28-29).

The matters for the hour include all matters of those who have been looking for divine intervention (Jn.5:3-4), all long standing matters (John 5:5-6), all matters of those who have no man to help, the abandoned, the hopeless (Jn.5:7), all matters that can be described as the dead (Jn.5:25), all that can be described as being in the graves. Buried matters (Jn.5:28-29).

Why Now Is The Hour (John 5:6, 8, 25-29).

Now is the hour for your visitation because the Lord Jesus has seen you lie in that undesirable condition more than He can allow it. His bowels of compassion and mercy are already stirred up. He has elected to speak for you because none can resist His voice. Of course, there is none that can give deaf ears to His voice, for every knee must bow unto Him and every tongue must confess that He is the LORD. So, all your needs must bow to Him and confess that He is their LORD in Jesus’ name. Moreover, He has come down to execute judgment because He is the one the Father has appointed to execute judgment. He will bring all that are responsible for your cases to book today without fail in Jesus’ name. He will quicken you because He is able and willing. It is your time to rise up and take your bed and go home for good. You have been made whole in Jesus’ name. Tell yourself, “Now Is My Hour. I have been made whole”, Check for the problems. They are no more there. Praise the LORD.

Now, rise up with thanksgivings and claim all your miracles for the hour.

AGAINST THE SIEGE

Psalms 91:1-5; Isaiah 54:15-17; 59:19; 2Corinthians10:4-6

Very many people are being destroyed today as a result of ignorance, a terrible and horrible weapon Satan and his cohorts are using against humanity in general. He cashed on it to undo Adam and Eve, the first man and the first woman on earth and succeeded in overturning their blessings and those of their generations (Hosea 4:6; Genesis 3:1-7). Today, he is effectively using it against both believers and sinners. He lays a siege against them, a spiritual military blockade, an action whereby his unseen armed forces surrounds men and isolates them from God while continuing to attack them. The message the LORD is projecting is that He has effectual and effective weapons against them that we must employ today to counter the siege and forge ahead, for Satan is not able to stop the promises of God from being realized. Let him that has ears hear what the Spirit is saying.

Satan cages men with the followings while he furiously attacks them. Among the cages are unconfessed, unrepented and un-restituted sins (Isaiah 59:1-2; Proverbs 28:13), unbelief and doubt (James 1:6-8). Some others are caged by casual and unserious attitude in approaching God for their needs (                        ). Others are frustrated from receiving because they are not persistent (Lk.18:1). Some cancel their miracles with impatience (I Sam.13:5-14). So many ask outside God’s will to consume them in their lust and so receive nothing (James4:1-3). Some, especially old timers, hardly hold on when they are being tried. Satan makes them believe that without them the church will not move, thereby giving reasons or having ministrations that pitch them against constituted authority and delay or bar their promotion(                                  ).

Neglecting special instructions by the LORD is another deadly weapon of blockade (                                ). The enemy equally blocks people, even when they are faultless if they fail to recognize their period of trial and act appropriately (                          ). Familiarity with or disregard of the preacher/God’s Word, and failing to allow the foolish or the ass to be used by the LORD to minister to them cages them (                                  ). The list can continue.

As soon as one is snared with any of these, Satan with his cohorts will bombard him from all angles; push him away from the secret place of the most High. Such with the these snares of the fowler will experience the noisome pestilence, or fear from the terrors by night, or the arrows that fly by the day, or the pestilence that walks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday, or falling, or inability to have victory over their adversaries, or evils befalling them, or plagues coming in their dwellings, or no protection/no guidance, or bruises, or no deliverance, or bringing down, or no answer to prayers, or dishonour, or shortened life. The reverse will be the lots of anyone who discovers himself under these sieges of the unseen spiritual armed forces and draws away from those things that the devil has used to ensnare him while attacking him. That is to say that he will from now experience all the promises of Psalm 91. We should all take advantage of this revelation and enjoy the unsearchable blessings of Psalm 91 by turning a new leaf.