God's Strategy - Part 4: Fasting

As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  (Romans 8:36-37)

Thus far we have looked at the following tools in our arsenal against the enemy of God: 

  Ø       The Word of God

  Ø       Power and Authority through the Holy Spirit

  Ø       Prayer

Today’s tools are fasting’, the keys to the kingdom and the name of Jesus.  They are the final aspects to our battle plan.

Fasting

Fasting is combined with prayer to wage effective warfare in the spirit world.

People fast for different lengths of time and go on many different types of fasts.  The one thing that is basic about fasting and the importance of it is that if we can discipline our self to fast; regardless to rather it is food or an activity, we are a step closer in the battle against Satan.   

Fasting, in its most simple definition, is going without food. (I've included abstaining from other activities for a particular period of time also as I've found that there are some areas that, at times, also need to be brought under subjection)

According to the Bible there are two types of fasts. The total fast involves in not eating or drinking at all for a particular period of time.   

And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.  Acts 9:9 

The partial fast is when the diet is restricted.  

I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.  Daniel 10:3

 One of the most important things that we should walk away knowing is:

            We do not fast to change God, because God does not change.

Fasting is a personal matter between an individual and God. It is to be done in private and not boasted about:

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.   (Matthew 6:16-18)

Leaders may call a corporate fast and request the whole church fellowship to fast:

Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly.     (Joel 2:15)

There are definite spiritual purposes for fasting. It is important that we understand these, for if we fast for the wrong reasons it will be ineffective.

Look at each of the following references regarding the purposes of fasting. They reveal the great power of fasting in spiritual warfare. We fast:

            -To humble yourself:                   Psalms 35:13; 69:10

            -To repent of sin:                         Joel 2:12

            -For revelation:                            Daniel 9:2; 3:21-22

            -To loose bands of wickedness, lift heavy burdens, set the oppressed free, and break every bondage:                                              Isaiah 58:6

            -To feed the poor, both physically and spiritually:       Isaiah 58:7

            -To be heard of God:                   II Samuel 12:16,22; Jonah 3:5,10

Fasting does not change God. It changes us. God relates to us on the basis of our relationship with Him. When we change, then the way God deals with us is affected. But fasting does change how He deals with us. The book of Jonah is an example of how this happened in the city of Ninevah.

How long you fast depends upon what God speaks into your spirit. He may lead you to fast a short or lengthy time.   Despite the length, discipline is the key; denying yourself; becoming weak in the flesh in order to grow stronger in the kingdom.  Fasting and meditation go hand in hand.  While fasting, think on God, study his word, pray to Him and don’t be distracted by what is going on around you.  If possible, don’t be involved with television, social media, unnecessary conversations person to person or via phone or any other extracurricular activity as this is a time that should be dedicated, consecrated and shared with God.

(Biblical Studies)

04/27/16

Communing With God

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; 

and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33

There is just so much to be said on the importance of and benefits of prayer; our communication with God.  Not only is it our direct line of communication with God, but it is a powerful weapon in God’s strategic battle plan for us against the Kingdom of Satan.  The most powerful tool is the word of God followed by the power and authority that comes with the Holy Spirit.  Following those two powerful tools is prayer!

During the earthly ministry of Jesus, His disciples once came to Him with an interesting request:

. . . one of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, teach us to pray. . .  Luke 11:1

The disciples did not ask how to preach or perform miracles. They did not seek lessons on how to build lasting relationships. They did not inquire regarding the wonders of physical healing. They asked to be taught how to pray.

What created this desire? It was the visible effects of prayer in the life and ministry of Jesus. The disciples had witnessed the powerful results of this spiritual strategy in action.

Jesus gives us the parameters in which we should communicate our prayers.  Observe the various types of  prayer we communicate with God:

Praise and worship                     Our Father, which art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Commitment                                   Thy kingdom come.

                                                                 Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven.                     

Petition                                             Give us this day our daily bread.                                      

Confession and Intercession    And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.         

Petition                                             And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;

Praise and worship                      For thine is the Kingdom, and the power  and the glory,                                                                                                forever. Amen.    Matthew 6:9-13

God gives us so much in His word on How to pray:

- Prayer is to be made to God:                                                                Psalms 5:2

- Empty repetition is forbidden, but earnest repetition is not:    Matthew 6:7; Daniel 6:10; 

                                                                                                                       Luke 11:5-13; 18:1-8

- You sin by neglecting to pray for others:                                        1 Samuel 12:23

- Pray with understanding (in a known tongue):                            Ephesians 6:18

- Pray in the Spirit:                                                                                Romans 8:26; Jude 20

- Pray according to the will of God:                                                    I John 5:14-15

- Pray in secret:                                                                                       Matthew 6:6

- Quality rather than quantity is stressed.

   Prayer is not successful because of "much speaking":                 Matthew 6:7

- Pray always:                                                                                          Luke 21:36; Ephesians 6:18

- Pray continually:                                                                                  Romans 12:12

- Pray without ceasing:                                                                          1 Thessalonians 5:17

- Pray to the Father in the name of Jesus:                                        John 15:16

- With a watchful attitude:                                                                   1 Peter 4:7

- According to the example of the model prayer:                            Matthew 6:9-13

- Pray with a forgiving spirit:                                                               Mark 11:25

- Pray with humility:                                                                              Matthew 6:7

- Sometimes accompany prayer with fasting:                                  Matthew 17:21

- Pray fervently:                                                                                      James 5:16; Colossians 4:12

- Pray with submission to God:                                                           Luke 22:42

- Use the strategies of binding and loosing in prayer:                    Matthew 16:19

God also lets us know in His word What you should pray for:

- The peace of Jerusalem:                                              Psalms 122:6

- Laborers in the harvest:                                              Matthew 9:38

- That you enter not into temptation:                         Luke 22:40-46

- Them that despitefully use you (your enemies):    Luke 6:28

- All the saints:                                                                 Ephesians 6:18

- The sick:                                                                         James 5:14

- One for another (bearing each others burdens):   James 5:16

- For all men, kings, and those in authority:             1 Timothy 2:1-4

- For daily needs:                                                            Matthew 6:11

- For wisdom:                                                                  James 1:5

- For healing:                                                                   James 5:14-15

- For forgiveness:                                                            Matthew 6:12

- For God's will and Kingdom to be established:     Matthew 6:10

- For relief from affliction:                                            James 5:13

There are promises of God revealed in His word.  We are to Pray the promises:

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.  James 4:3

God answers prayers according to His promises. When we do not ask on the basis of these promises, our prayer is not answered. It is similar to how a father relates to his children. No parent commits to give his children anything they want or ask for. He makes it clear that he will do certain things and not do other things. Within these limits the father answers his child's requests.

It is the same way with God. He has given promises and they form the proper basis for prayer. Learn what God has promised and pray according to the promises of God. One way to do this is to go through the Bible and mark all the promises God has made. Use your Bible as you pray and base your prayers upon these promises.

Just as there are ways to pray, there are also Hindrances to prayer:

- Sin of any kind:                                                  Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalm 66:18; Isaiah 1:15; Proverbs 28:9

- Idols in the heart:                                              Ezekiel 14:1-3:

- An unforgiving spirit:                                       Mark 11:25; Matthew 5:23

- Selfishness, wrong motives:                            Proverbs 21:13; James 4:3

- Power hungry, manipulative prayers:           James 4:2-3

- Wrong treatment of marriage partner:         1 Peter 3:7

- Self-righteousness:                                            Luke 18:10-14

- Unbelief:                                                              James 1:6-7:

- Not abiding in Christ and His Word:            John 15:7:

- Lack of compassion:                                         Proverbs 21:13

- Hypocrisy, pride, meaningless repetition:   Matthew 6:5; Job 35:12-13

- Not asking according to the will of God:      James 4:2-3

- Not asking in Jesus' name:                              John 16:24

- Satanic demonic hindrances:                         Daniel 10:10-13; Ephesians 6:12

- Not seeking first the Kingdom - It is only when you seek first the Kingdom of God that you 

   are promised the "other things":                                                                       Matthew 6:33

- God has a higher purpose in denying your request:                                  2 Corinthians 12:8-9

- When you do not know how to pray as you should, prayer is hindered. 

  This is why it is important to let the Holy Spirit pray through you:           Romans 8:26

God lets us know through His word When not to pray:

It is important to learn how to wait before the Lord in prayer for His guidance and direction before acting. But it is equally important to know when not to pray. When God calls us to action, we must act, not continue to pray.

For example, at the bitter waters of Marah when Moses cried unto the Lord, God showed him exactly what to do to sweeten the waters. There was no need to wait further on the Lord in prayer. Moses was to act upon what God had revealed. The same was true of Joshua when he prayed about the terrible defeat of Israel at Ai. God revealed there was sin among the people of Israel. He actually told Joshua...

Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?Israel hath sinned...Up, sanctify the people...     (Joshua 7: portions of 10, 12, and 13)

It was not the time to pray. It was the time to act upon the direction given in prayer. Some people use prayer as an excuse to avoid involvement and acting upon what God has told them to do.

Others continue to pray when God has already answered but they did not like the answer. Review the account of Balaam in Numbers 

 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.  Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more.  Numbers 22:18-19 

Balaam had no right to go to God with the same matter for God had clearly forbidden him to have anything to do with what was being requested of him. 

And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.    Numbers 22:12

Our communication with God is a conversation; a two way exchange.  Be sure to take the time to listen as God in return speaks to you.

(Biblical Studies)

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