Fasting for Breakthrough

17 January 10

 

  1. Introduction:

Mk 9:23

“If you believe, all things are possible to him who believes”

·      Christian life is a life of faith – believing God

·      Faith unlocks possibilities, opportunities, supernatural intervention

·      Faith must be active, assertive and not just a ‘mental asset’

·      Faith comes through hearing the Word of God – Word = Rhema – spoken

·      If you decide to break out you are declaring war, spiritual conflict

 

  1. The Reality of Spiritual Conflict:

a)  Spiritual Conflict

Eph 6:12

“We do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers …”

·      Spiritual powers and evil spirits work together to hinder Kingdom advance

·      They impact thoughts, emotions, actions, atmosphere of people and cities

·      They impact an manipulate relationships and destinies

 

b)  Satan – The Lord of Flies

Matt 12:24

“… this fellow doesn’t cast out demons but by Beelzebab the prince of demons”

·      Beelzebab = NT954 = Baal-Zebab = the Lord of Flies – root Lord of Dunghill

·      Evil spirits are like flies that gather around and infect

·      Flies:       = major pest, shuttle between dung and food

          = each fly can carry up to 6 million bacteria on their feet

          = if recently walked on excrement it can transmit hepatitis, parasites etc

          = Vomit on food before they eat it and pass on bacteria

= Lay several hundred eggs on food and rotting material

= One fly lives up to 21 day

·      Fasting for 21 days can break the cycle of demonic infestation or influence in life Jud 20:26

 

c)  Familiar Spirits:

·      Operate like house flies – buzz around and land on people

·      Familiar spirits associate with people – become familiar with their lifestyle

·      They have a voice that speaks constantly

·      They hold a soul in bandage to old pattern, beliefs, bondages, lifestyle

·      They seek to control your destiny – must resist!

 

3.      The Spirit of Unbelief:

a)       Matt 17:14-21  Boy with Deaf and Dumb spirit

b)       Deaf and Dumb spirit

·      The young child had a deaf and dumb spirit Mk 9:25

·      He was tormented from childhood (infancy) by this spirit

·      Deaf and Dumb = impacted and controlled his ability to hear understand and speak

·      Deaf   = Impacts learning abilities, dyslexia, memory, concentration

= Impacts physical hearing

= Impacts ability to hear and respond to the voice of God

·      Dumb = Impacts ability to comprehend, understand, speak, speech disability

= Impacts physical speech

= Impacts ability to speak the Word of God

·      Controlled his life and destiny – activated self destructive behaviour

·       A spirit of unbelief operates with a deaf and dumb spirit

 

c)       Spirit of Unbelief

·       Mt 17:19-20

“Could not cast it out? Because of your unbelief”

·       The reason there was no breakthrough was unbelief

·       v17 Faithless generation – problem of unbelief affected whole generation

·       Spirit of unbelief = power that influences people – operates with deaf and dumb

·       People cannot hear the voice of God and cannot receive revelation

·       Hear an anointed massage but don’t see that it applies to them

·       Spirit of unbelief shuts down the realm of the supernatural

Cast an atmosphere of doubt, skepticism over individual, city, church

e.g. Mark 6:5-6  Nazareth   Mark 8:22-23  Bethsenda

Result:

Negativity                              ‘Nothing change’                            ‘Giants’         

Pessimism                              Supernatural quenched                 ‘Grasshoppers’

Problem focused                 Reasoning  Mk8:17                          Despair – No hope

We are ‘not able’

·      A spirit of unbelief stopped a generation entering the promised land

·      Joshua and Caleb had another spirit = they wholly followed the Lord

 

d)       “Only by Prayer and Fasting” Jesus – no other way

Matt 17:21

“Not to go out” is to resist changing, resisting to spiritual pressure

·      ‘Except’ = there is a way to get victory, to break through unbelief

·      ‘Prayer and Fasting’            = divine way of overcoming spiritual unbelief

= divine way of breaking controlling influence

= divine way of changing impossible situation

 

4.      Setting up your Fast:         

i)        Identify the issue

      What is the area of resistance?

      Be specific

      Write down your goal for the fast

 

ii)       Identify what fast you will do

How long

What kind of fast

What extra time are you going to give to God?

 

iii)     Be proactive spiritually

      Repent of iniquity

      Break soul ties to ungodly things

      Vocally reject any spirit operation

      Reject lies you have accepted

      Embrace and declare the Word and promises of God

 

iv)    Reactions are normal

a)     Body: tired, headache, breath, tongue, sweat

b)     Soul: irritable, confusion, discouragement, increased spiritual activity

c)     Spirit: circumstances may deteriorate initially, may take perseverance for break through, increased awareness of spiritual realm/discernment