Fasting
feasting on the presence of God1. Love, joy, and peace are found in the presence of God. That's why fasting is so attractive to me. Just the thought of fasting makes my heart beat a little faster.
2. Now, this may sound a little strange but it's true: When I think of fasting, I get this mental picture of a skeleton rejoicing with great joy, and worshipping God with all his might - while he is being consumed in the furnace of God's love and holiness. This is a picture of a person in love with God. It is a picture of Philippians 3:3
For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:5
note: This is actually a picture of the Christian life, not just of fasting, but it describes the way God would like fasting to be done. For Jesus said...
Moreover, when you fast do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place: and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:16-18
3. Suppose you knew that all your prayers were being answered. How much would you rejoice? When I think of fasting, I think of a person with no flesh (a skeleton) standing in the presence of God, being consumed by His love and holiness. God's will is his only desire, and since it is, he knows that all his prayers have been answered, for he has prayed, "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
Now this is the confidence that we have towards Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us, And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. I John 5:14-15
4. Think of it this way: Fasting is for the purpose of getting rid of the flesh. It is much easier to pray according to the will of God in the absence of the flesh; for in the absence of the flesh, the Spirit of God can take over. Also, think of this... In the absence of the flesh, the Spirit can work!
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses, For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27
5. I have seen entire communities transformed by the power and love of God when people pray - and especially when they fast and pray. So I thought that fasting was really powerful, and it was something I should be doing. But I had to learn that fasting is not magic. It does not work apart from the death of the flesh. When I say "the death of the flesh" I am talking about being reduced to nothing but agape love. For fasting will not work apart from repentance, and getting into the presence of God, seeking His will, not my own. Fasting, in and of itself will accomplish nothing. Fasting is laying your life down. It is a complete surrender of all your attitudes. You want to see Jesus prevail.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. Galatians 5:6
Though I speak with tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, I am nothing. I Corinthians 13:1-3
6. The death of the flesh means that once you have found the will of God, you are willing to do it. Jesus often prayed all night before He made important decisions. For, He said, "I have not come to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent me." Watching through the night hours is another form of fasting. It is another way of denying the flesh. There are no distractions. One can focus upon communion with God.
7. The heart of a Christian who is in love with God, seeks the heart of God. And the heartbeat of God does not change. He ...is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to the repentance. (II Peter 3:9b) The keyword here is "all." This is the heart and will of God. This is the redemptive purpose for which Jesus came - and gave His life. Fasting is lined up with this purpose. Some may call it "having a burden for souls." But it is nothing more - or less - than being lined up with the Spirit of God. I am sure that God weeps, as Jesus wept over Jerusalem. When one sees the world as God sees it, he is gut wrenched - like Jesus was when He saw the people as sheep having no shepherd. One cannot help but go to prayer. And if the burden is so great that one forgets to eat, or cannot sleep - he enters into fasting. An intercessor must intercede for the souls of men. He feels their shame and their guilt as if it were his own. And he weeps for them. His prayer continues until he has the answer from the heart of God. Faith sees the results of the intercession, and there is a great rejoicing in the presence of God. In this way Jesus invites us to participate in His life.
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5
8. Fasting has to be led by the Spirit of God. Like everything else a Christian does, fasting must be part of "walking in the Spirit." It is not a selfish thing. Some people have fasted and tormented themselves, and wailed and screamed because they thought they could make God hear them, and do what they wanted Him to do. That is heathen fasting. It is not Christian at all. In fact, God forbids it.
You will not fast as you do this day, to make your voice heard on high. Isaiah 58:4b
9. But God has a fast that He has chosen.
Is not this the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Isaiah 58:6
10. Fasting is spiritual warfare, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers - and we win! The gates of hell cannot prevail against the onslaught of Jesus' Church. Spirit directed fasting (like Spirit led praise, worship, witnessing, or anything else) brings down the gates of hell, and sets the captives free. The yoke is broken. (Resistance is broken. Daniel fasted and prayed for 21 days until resistance was broken. See Daniel 10:13) Evangelism starts with intercession. The Church advances only on its knees.
note: Spirit led fasting is a labor of love. It is a laying down of your life for those who do not know God. If God calls you to do it, He will give you the strength to do it.
note: Let your prayers be Spirit directed. You don't know what people need, or what foes need to be defeated, but the Spirit does. So spend a lot of time worshipping, then pray as the Spirit directs.
note: It is sometimes helpful to have prayer partners in this work.
11. What great rejoicing there is when the results of our warfare start pouring in! That's why, whenever I think of fasting, I see a skeleton, being consumed in the furnace of God's love, worshipping God with all his might, and rejoicing in Christ with all his strength. Hallelujah! Amen!
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