Fasting
10 January 10
Jn 10:27
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow Me”
We are created to connect with God – personal relationship – to hear His voice
Hear = NT191 = to pay attention to, consider what Jesus is speaking and act upon it
Every believer needs to train self to hear and respond to Jesus Christ
Follow = NT190 = to accompany Jesus in the path He is walking and leading them
= to accompany Master as a disciple on His walk and journey
God has specific assignment for you as a disciple, as a King, and an Ambassador
How do you discover this? You listen to His voice
· Lk 10:39 Many also sat at Jesus feet and heard His Word
Mary was commended by Jesus for her choice, her priorities
Mary positioned herself to hear personally
Martha had a different focus – another voice
Mary set aside the need for food to attend to Jesus = Fast
· What voices are you listening to? Fear, offence, familiar spirits, ungodly
· The New Year has new challenges, new giants, new opportunities
· Fasting and prayer positions to be sensitive to the Holy Spirits direction
· Matt 6:33
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you”
Ø Fasting and Prayer places the King and His Kingdom first in your life
Ø Fasting and Prayer positions you for blessing and enlargement
Ø Fasting and Prayer sets the course for your year
Ø Fasting and Prayer breaks the apathy and dullness of too much eating
Church Fast: 17 Jan – 7 Feb = 21 days to draw near to God
3. Valuable Blessings of Fasting:
· Matt 6:16
“Your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly”
· Jesus declares plainly that fasting privately is rewarded tangibly and visibly
· When you fast not if you fast – fasting, praying, giving – unlocks heaven
· E.g. Centurion Cornelius – the first Gentile to experience the Holy Spirit = fast, pray, give
· Some valuable benefits of fasting and prayer:
a) Break Bondages the Hinder Life:
Matt 17:21 This kind comes out only by prayer and fasting
Some demonic bondages are only broken by prayer and fasting
Satan – called Beelzebub – Lord of flies Matt 12:24
Evil spirits are like flies that gather around and infect = major pest
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 live up to 21 day
Fasting for a season can uncover and break up demonic infestation of your life
Jud 20:26 Israel fasted to break the power of sexual perversion
b) Overcome Evil Assignments:
Esther 4:16, 5:2 Esther fasted for 3 days, full fast and broke the power of Haman’s assignment to destroy the Jews
· She found favor with the King v2
· 1 King 19:19-23 After a season of fasting Elijah broke through the demonic control of Jezebel and pronounced a prophetic decree and released an anointing that resulted in Jezebels death
· Fasting can break up strong spiritual resistance e.g Dan 10
c) Release of a fresh Prophetic Revelation:
Acts 10:9-16 Peter received prophetic revelation – trance
· After fasting he received prophetic vision – insight to Global Harvest
· The revelation challenged and shook his religious paradigm
· Fasting opens the way for revelation and change mindsets
d) Identify Personal Assignment from the Lord:
Acts 9:9-17 Paul fast for 3 days – full fast
· At the end of the fast he received prophetic direction of life assignment
· Fasting and prayer later activated the assignment Acts 13:2
· Fasting and prayer clarifies personal direction and guidance
e) Release of Fresh Anointing and Power:
Lk 4:14 Jesus returned in the Power of the Spirit
· Jesus engaged in a period of 40 days prayer and fasting alone
· He returned manifesting the fruit of His engagement with the realm of heaven
· The promise of Joel 2:28 follows the season of prayer and fasting
4. Practical Points:
i) Decide what fast you will do
What kind? Absolute, normal, partial e.g. Dan 10:2-3
How long? 3, 7, 21, 40 days
ii) What is the purpose of the Fast?
Identify what is the purpose for your fast – write it down
A clear purpose creates expectation
iii) Make additional time to Pray – engage God
iv) Spend time in the Word of God
v) Normal to feel uncomfortable initially, the senses sharpens
Tired Irritable Headache Tongue coating breath
vi) For a longer fast, come off gradually
vii) Drink lots of water