FASTING, THE SECRET POWER TO GOD

THE SECRET POWER OF A FAST
There are a number of questions people ask when thinking about fasting. We will ask and answer many of them. What is fasting? Fasting is when a person denies his self of a variety of things including food, sleep and pleasure.
Why do people fast? The reason people go on a fast will vary from person to person and from situation to situation.
Is fasting a Biblical teaching, and if so, why should a person fast?

I - THE PRINCIPLE OF FASTING
As we first look at the principle of fasting, Jesus gave these words in Matthew 6.
16 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.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 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.

1 – Fasting was a regular practice in New Testament days:
Notice that the Lord said, “Moreover when ye fast.” (16) The principle of pasting was practiced throughout the Scriptures. The Greek words of Christ here, when you fast, implies the idea that fasting was a common practice. He did not say, “if you decided to fast.” Jesus speaks of fasting as if it should practiced often, or weekly or yearly.
Look at an example relating to the Church. Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
Fasting is mentioned again in II Corinthians 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
In Matthew 17 the disciples could not cast out a demon out of a child. They brought the child to Jesus. After Jesus casted the demon out He said, 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Some folks are so oppressed by demons, that prayer and scriptures along won’t deliver them. Those concerned must give themselves to fasting.
Fasting is never a command from God, but it is a sign of great power. It is like the adrenaline gland releasing power in your body whereby you are able to show super human strength, but it is spiritual.
Developing and disciplining the body to fast often, is like being part of the “Special Forces.” In the Army, that special force is referred to as being “a Green Beret.” One Soldier in the Army “Special Forces said, "A Green Beret is a hat. I'm not a hat. I'm a highly trained, professional Army Special Forces Soldier."
In the church, there are saved people and there are highly trained, professional Special Forces soldiers for Christ.
A person is not a special soldier for Christ, because of his clothing, or because he is part of the church, but because of his mental and spiritual discipline and knowledge for God.
A Special Force soldier uses reconnaissance, unconventional warfare and counter terrorism to win victories.
Reconnaissance is when one gains knowledge to determine a foe's intentions, by collecting and gathering information. Do you know Satan’s intention is to use any method possible to take a soul to hell? Do you know to do that, he uses any method possible to keep you from praying and living holy and seeking God. Less than 1% of Christians fast today. Satan has stolen that weapon.
Unconventional warfare is using methods that causes the enemy to submit or surrender without warfare. In Christendom, that would involve people who die to self and are filled with God’s Spirit. Walking in the Fruit of the Spirit is a must if we are to win the spiritual war today. The reason the Church is losing the moral battle in America is we have lost our own righteousness.
Counter-terrorism refers to the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies adopted in response to the attacks of the enemy. In the spiritual realm that would involve prayer and fasting.

2 – Those who “Fast” must have the right motive.
Notice that in this Scripture the Lord gives direction to have the right motive when you fast. Jesus says, “Be not as the hypocrites.”
The Pharisees and hypocrites would fast, but walk around with a sad face because they wanted people to notice them and admire them for their, so called, spirituality. Jesus said, “There reward will be the admiration of men and not the recognition of God.”

Mohandas Gandhi was the founder of Satyagraha. Satyagraha was to be a non-violent means of protesting the government. He learned from the humanist Henry David Thoreau how to have a public fast to gain political influence.
Gandhi would fast, publically for days, so his followers would demonstrate against the governments of South Africa and India.
Though it was said to be a non-violent protest, there would often be rioting and bloodshed. Even though Gandhi claimed it to be for peace, his methods brought rebellion and war in people’s heart.
Was his fast proper? The answer is, “no.” It was not proper because Gandhi’s motive was impure. In 1948 a Hindu fanatic assassinated Gandhi because of his political views. Gandhi’s reason for fasting was political and self gratifying.

In eighteen century England there was a man by the name of George Whitfield who’s fasting brought about the light of God and salvation to many, including himself.
The testimony of Whitfield is like many I have heard today. He grew up in church. He would go to church three and four times a week. As a youth he learned the Scriptures. He developed a hunger to know God. He went to a Christian college where he met John and Charles Wesley. They fellowshipped together. All were religious and all were unsaved.
George would sometimes go to church and pray three times a day. He came to the place where he would kneel in the rain and pray for hours. He would fast twice every week as he studied the scriptures.
Then one day the light of God shown through and George Whitfield, at the age of 21, under the conviction of God’s Spirit surrendered his life to Jesus Christ.
George Whitfield saw his need of salvation while fasting. After his conversion, he preached to crowds of more than twenty thousand people. His motive for fasting was to get to know God and God, he got to know.

3 – Fasting should be done secretly.
If you will study the text, you will discover that God never says, go alone on some mountain, or lock yourself away in some room and don’t come out for three days. No! When fasting, you may go about your day, but God sees into your heart that your motive for fasting is pure. You are fasting because you realize only God can lift your burden or do a miracle in your life.

II_- THE PRACTICE OF FASTING
When should a person or people fast? What are the examples in the Bible? Why is it that very few people fast today?
1 – We should fast when preparing for the ministry.
In my younger years, I fasted often, three days, five days, one day at a time, seeking to draw nearer to the Lord.
Moses fasted for forty days on two separate occasions (Exodus 24:18). He got alone with God to receive spiritual character, godly attributes and divine power to lead Israel for forty years through the wilderness.
When he fasted, he was alone with God on a mountain. Periods of a person getting alone with God to fast may be very important at times. If you decided to do so, and you are married, be wise to let your mate know where you are.
When Nehemiah learned about the tragic conditions in Jerusalem, he fasted before the Lord (Nehemiah 1:4). God gave Nehemiah direction and the king (Nehemiah’s earthly authority) gave Nehemiah approval.
If you are concerned about the immorality in America, or the condition of your family, or the spiritual apathy in your church, a fast is needed.
When Barnabus and Saul went to the mission field, it was the act of the church fasting and praying. Read Acts 13:2-3. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
2 – We should fast when we sense destruction is near.
The prophet Nathan informed David that he would have to pay for the sins he committed and covered up. This story is found in II Samuel 12:12-23. David’s newborn son took sick and David fasted, lying prostrate on the ground for seven days. David was fasting and praying for his sick baby. The baby died. David then arose and said, God could have chosen to save my baby for He is gracious. Then David ate and went and comforted his wife.
In the Assyrian Empire many years ago, the second most powerful man in the kingdom, Haman, had forced the hand of the king to sentences the Jewish people to death. When Queen Esther, who was Jewish, learned of the destruction that she and her people faced, she fasted and asked that her people fast for three days before she went before the king and ask for help.
Esther 4: 16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
To go before the king without being summons could cost Esther her life. Through fasting, God intervened in a miraculous way and the lives of her people were spared and her enemy was deposed of.
If the life of Daniel; his colleagues turned against him and concocted a plan to kill Daniel. The scheme was planned in such a way that it would make them look innocent.
They deceived the king into passing a law against Daniel for praying to his God. When Daniel was arrested for praying, and cast into the Den of lions, King Darius, who loved Daniel, stayed up all night fasting for Daniel’s life. (Daniel 6:18-27).
The next morning King Darius came to the den of loins, weeping and spoke, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?”
He listened for a response from the mouth of the den of lions, “O king, live for ever,” said Daniel. God did a miracle and deliver Daniel from the mouths of the lions.
King Darius, who was the greatest king of the world at this time, sent a decree throughout his kingdom and it eventually went to the ends of the earth that men should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.
People would ask, “Who is Daniel’s God?” And the answer would come, “It is Jehovah God, the creator of the world.” “He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” Those same miracles could happen today, if God’s people would practice fasting and prayer.
The prophet, Joel, saw into the future 2700 years ago. He saw the final judgment, the tribulation, God would send on this world. Listen to what he told the people of his day in Joel 1:13-15.
13 Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.
14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD.
15 Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
Joel told Israel’s priest and ministers to lie all night in sackcloth. He said don’t eat a thing. Don’t drink a thing. Fast, pray and cry out to God. Weep before the Lord because Judgment is coming.
Do you think America is near judgment? Do you think that God will soon judge your child for his or her rebellion? Do you think God will soon judge your mate because he or she is wayward? Then it is time for a fast!

3 – We should fast when we purpose to honor God’s principle of rest.
It was a common activity for many in Israel to fast on the Sabbath. It was also a common activity for the early church to fast on the first day of the week.
However, Israel came to the place where they fasted for the wrong reason. Their motive was impure and for this the prophets rebuked them.
Zechariah rebukes them in Zechariah 7:4-14. Israel fasted, but not for God. It was for their own benefit.
Jeremiah rebukes them in Jeremiah 14:10-12. Again, Israel fasted, but they did not turn from their sins.
And Isaiah rebukes them in Isaiah 58 and tells them to have a right motive in fasting. Look at Isaiah 58:5.
5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
The day of rest for Israel was once a day dedicated to God. The day of worship and rest to the church was once a day dedicated to God.
Israel slowly compromised their Sabbath and over the years the Church has turned Sunday into fun-day. Notice what Isaiah says about the day of rest:
Isaiah 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Isaiah simply says, if we would make the day of rest a day to seek the Lord and to honor God, not doing our thing, or finding our pleasure, but if we gave ourselves to the Lord, God would give to us the honor of controlling the highest places of the earth.
If we fast for God’s glory to draw near to Him and honor Him, if we take the day of rest God has given us and use that liberty to honor God and not for an occasion for the flesh, then God would do great things. What would God do? Look at Isaiah 58:
1 – He will set you free of from your sins and habits. v 6
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
2 – You will discover wisdom and direction for your life. v 8a
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning…
3 – Your health will be renews quickly. v 8b
…and thine health shall spring forth speedily…
4 – Your life will be a testimony for God. v 8c
…and thy righteousness shall go before thee;
5 – The Lord will protect you. v 8d
…the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
6 – The Lord will answer your prayers. 9a
Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer…
7 – The Lord will come to your side. 9b
thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.
8 – The Lord will give you a good name again. 9c
…If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
9 – The Lord will give you insights to truth, which will bring great joy 10. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:
10 – The Lord will be your personal guide in life 11a.
And the LORD shall guide thee continually…
11 – The Lord will feed you and refresh you 11b.
…and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
12 – The Lord will rebuild your home, your church, your community, your life. You will the rock for your children to stand upon v 12. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
III – THE POWER OF FASTING
Fasting brings spiritual insights. It brings physical health. It brings power from heaven. Fasting and prayer with the motive of seeking God and pleasing God is the greatest power on earth, but few people practice fasting.
Some don’t practice it because of ignorance, but many don’t practice it because it takes discipline. It truly takes a highly disciplined and dedicated Christian to be part of God’s Special Forces.
If you desire to see God do something amazing and miraculous in your life time, learn to fast.
Ill. When Jehoshaphat saw a number of nations had allied to fight against and destroy Judah he declared a fast.
Second Chronicles 20:3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. God intervened and delivered Judah from the hand of their enemies.
Ill. When Jonah preached to Nineveh and declared the judgment of God, the people of Nineveh declared a fast in Jonah 3:5-10.
5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:
8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
If God would take heed to the repentance and fasting and prayers of this people which for centuries, worshipped idols and hated God’s people with a passion, would He not do the same and more for His own people, which would fast and repent and pray and cry out to Him? The answer is, “Yes!”
THE PLAN OF FASTING
1st – Chose a one day, or one meal fast, at first. During that time, drink sixteen ounces of water and give yourself to Bible reading and prayer.
2nd – After getting use to a one-day fast over a few months, God may direct you to give yourself to a three, five or seven day fast.
Before you fast, there are a number of things you need to consider:
a. Eat healthy a few weeks before your fast.
b. Break away from coffee and sugars. Normally your body is addicted to both of these.
To go cold turkey in a fast cold bring sever headaches, so you must slowly wing yourself.
c. If you are a diabetic or on medication or have health issues, you would need to check with your doctor before going on a fast.
3rd – If you go on a three, five or seven day fast or even longer, do so only once or at the most twice a year. To fast too often on long fast could harm the body.
However, a once a week, daily fast, is very healthy for the body. Never do a two-day fast. After one day, the poisons in your body begin to break down. The second day they begin to flow from your body tissues. You need go for three days for it to benefit you from a physical standpoint.
4th – Be sure that your fast is motivated by God’s word. Be sure you are fasting for God’s glory, for spiritual insight, for souls to be saved, for your church or nation. Be sure your motive is pure.

Remember that prayer and consistent prayer is a great power with God but fasting and prayer is even greater!