Biblical Fasting and Prayer

Introduction

Every Christian has the great privilege of confessing the Word of God: “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lived in me…. (Gal 2:20). And with that, he can reckon himself to be truly dead to sin and alive to God through Jesus Christ and Saviour (Rom 6:11).

It may be that you have quoted these verse many times and still wondered why there is so little power in your life over sin, the world and the devil ! Do you long for life of Jesus to be more fully manifested in you, yet the flesh remains uncrucified in many areas of your life? Every Christian has three enemies:

a. The Flesh                         b. The World                     c. The Devil

All three of these enemies, the Lord Jesus Christ overcome for you on the cross. The degree to which you overcome these three, will be the degree to which Jesus can live His life through you. Since you must overcome by faith in the finished work of Jesus for you on the cross in which He gave you perfect Victory over the flesh, the world and the devil. It remains evident therefore that what needs to be strengthened and increased in your faith. God has not left on you without the means to strengthen your faith. Ha has commanded you to be strong in the Lord Jesus and in the power of His might. One of the strongest and most effective Biblical methods that God has given you to be used to increase your faith is the fasting prayer. If you do not want to enter into this battle against the flesh, the world and the devil do not read this book. If the purpose of your life is to use the Biblical means the God has given you to glorify Jesus Christ in your life for the salvation of souls, then read on.

These are areas of victory in your life which will never be realized except through fasting and prayer. (Matt 17: 21). In one of His sermons Jesus taught three spiritual exercises as necessary in the disciplined life of every Christian disciple. These three indispensable spiritual principals are:

a. Giving               b. Praying            c. Fasting

The purpose of these sermons is to show the importance of these three in your personal fellowship with and obedience to God. Jesus taught that these three can be done in the right way or they can be done wrong. Giving should never be directed by man nor to man, as taught in many fellowship today, but Biblical giving should be as unto the Lord and directed by the Lord Jesus alone. Praying should never be directed by man or to man but should be offered to God out of a heart filled with the Holy Spirit. Fasting should never be directed by man or to man but should be a ministry to God out of a heart full of love and thanksgiving for what He has done for you on the cross.

Of these three: Giving, Praying and Fasting

taught by Jesus in Matthew 6, most Christian know to some extent and have practiced even know the extreme importance of praying earnestly in the Holy Spirit for hours every day. It is because the third spiritual principal, “Fasting” has been almost totally neglected that this sermon has been written. By the including of Biblical fasting in your life, a spiritual balance of these 3 principles will be attained and your fellowship with Jesus will be deeply enriched and thereby unleashing His unlimited power in your life.

It should be noted that God does not need you giving. You are the one who needs o give that you may be transformed into the image of the great Giver who gave His only son to die in your place and save your soul from eternal hell so that you may live with Him forever in Heaven. If you do not know Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour, get on your knee right now and tell Him that you cannot save yourself. Ask Jesus to come into your heart. Now believe Him for always keeping His word. And thank Him for saving your soul. Also God does not need prayer. You are the one who needs prayer as a channel of fellowship with Him through your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Also God does need fasting. You are the one who needs fasting that your life may be so transformed that He can do through you what He could not do without fasting.

The Motive for fasting must be a heart full of love for the salvation of souls.

a. to lose the bands of wickedness

b. to undo the heavy burdens

c. to let the oppressed go free

d. and that you break every yoke

Who dare say that there is no need in the world today for victory in these four areas? Even in the Church! Instead of obedience of God’s word in prevailing fasting and prayer, most pastors and leaders today would rather leave their people bound, addicted and afflicted or else send them to worldly, godless doctors and psychologists who bleed the of their money that should have been given the gospel out.

Conclusion

The excuse people give today for not fasting remains excuses and God’s word still remains the same to them (Isaiah 58). When people say they do not have the gift fasting, I tell them that fasting is not in the list of God’s gifts. Fasting is a spiritual exercise (like prayer) to cleans the channel (you) so His gifts and life will flow.

When a truth is plainly taught in the word, it is wrong and dangerous to ask permission of God to break His word. It is a matter of love and obedience. The people who make up excuse for not fasting and praying are the ones who need it the most. Fasting is not a cure-all for anything; it is an act of obedience to God.