Untitled Sermon (8)

Fasting 1

What is Fasting ?

Fasting is voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purpose. Anything that we pray about we can fast about. What the fasting does is add force, urgency and intensity to our prayers. Fasting will not change God, God is the same before during and after the fast. Fasting will change us and change circumstances. Fasting can fast us forward by causing us to make great strides spiritually

If prayer alone is not getting the job done, it may be time to add fasting to our prayers []. There is grace for everything. Before you enter into a fast ask God for grace to do it [; ]. God expects us to fast [; ]

Fasting to draw attention to ourselves or fasting with the wrong motive is a dead work []

Purpose of Fasting

Whenever we fast, we should have a purpose for the fast;

To remove burdens and destroy yokes [].

You can fast and pray for health reasons [, , ].

You can fast and pray for revelation.

You can fast and pray for guidance.

Hannah fasted and prayed for a son.

It takes fasting and prayer to drive out certain demons, especially when ministering to the sick [; ; ].

Fasting puts us in the right posture to hear from God, to get direction or guidance [, Daniel].

Fast and pray when you are at a cross road in your life or when you are about to make a major life-changing decision. To ordain elders []. Ezra fasted and prayed to have a safe journey []. Fasting is a means to overcome temptation. It helps us to exercise self-control by keeping our bodies under subjection to our spirits [; , , ] . If we can exercise self-control in the area of our appetite we can exercise self-control in other areas aswell. The fall of man came about because somebody could not say no to a forbidden fruit. The first temptation that Jesus experienced in the wilderness was with food. Esau lost his birthright over food. You can fast and pray to experience breakthrough during times of crisis [ ; Esther]. You can fast and pray for guidance when you are about to embark on a major project [Nehemiah]. Fasting can delay the judgement of God [, ]

There are different types of fasts

There are absolute fasts as well as partial fasts. There are individual fasts as well as corporate fasts. There is a 1 day fast for revelation. There is a 3 day fast for crisis. There is a 21 day partial fast. There is a 40 day fast for dominion.

The Rewards of fasting?

Revelation []

Health []

Guidance []

In , we see that there are several blessings that come to those who fast and pray with the right motive

Before you enter into a fast ask God for grace to do it

References

, , , , , , , , ,

Biblical Fasting. http://www.getgreaterlife.org/userFiles/751/the_purpose_principles_and_promise_of_biblical_fasting.pdf

Bill Bright. http://www.ccci.org/training-and-growth/devotional-life/personal-guide-to-fasting/04-how-long-and-what-type.htm

http://www.falconblanco.com/health/fasting.htm

Fasting 2

Why Fasting?

Certain kinds of demons and evil spirits will not leave a person except through prayer and fasting. (Mk 17:14-21)