Certain things require 100% effort including fasting
After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.”
Mark 9:28-29
To the disciples question why, Jesus told them this kind (apparently a very resistant and powerful evil being) required spiritual preparation on the part of the one to cast it out, specifically prayer and fasting.
What can we learn from this? There are certain things, that require our full attention and full effort to destroy them, cause change, healing and breakthrough. If something is important enough to us we must go all in to break that stronghold!
2. We are expected to fast
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting.” Matthew 6:16
Jesus is saying in this passage NOT IF you fast but WHEN you fast. He expects us to fast, he says this because he knows that power is in fasting. All throughout scripture people fasted for breakthroughs, Moses, Esther, David, Daniel, Jesus. We should follow the example of the wise and do what they did, and they DID receive blessing and breakthrough!
3. Understanding what a fast is (Read Isaiah 58)
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and you healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
Isaiah 58:6-9
In this passage of scripture the Lord is telling us about the kind of fasting that he accepts, not just not eating. A fast is meant for breakthrough. You are making a commitment and decision to give up the time you would spend eating, and socializing with others that usually has to do with eating and drinking and instead use that time to spend with Him. Fasting is an expression of your commitment to God. It’s an expression that says, Father I trust you, I know that you can help me in this area, I know that you are capable of all things and I am willing to sacrifice one of my greatest desires (food) to breakthrough in this area.
4. The power of prayer
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:13-16
Prayer is powerful! What is the point of reading the Bible, of going to church, of memorizing scripture if we are just going to read it and not do anything with it!? The whole point of scripture is to realize this is God talking to us. This is our Father telling us what to do, how to be, and how to live this life! We need to grow in faith, we need to practice what scripture is telling us to do. All the reading, and praying is a waste of time if you don’t really believe anything can happen. It’s all just empty words and pretend if you don’t actually start utilizing the power that is in the word of God. We are the righteous people that the Lord is talking about in the above passage. Righteous does not mean perfect. God our Father, our Daddy, our Abba he knows we are sinners, he knows we will continue to mess up and sin, and he has already made the decision to forgive us! That is the whole reason why he sent Jesus. To be a sacrifice for our past sins and sins to come. We’ve not believed in the power that he has given us for so long, and how has that worked out? Why not give believing a shot? Prayer is powerful, praying is the conversation between you and God. You speak, his word (scripture) speaks back, you speak, your conscience speaks back (God), you speak, your peace (God) speaks back. Believe in the power of prayer.
5. There is purpose in this pain
And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. Genesis 45:5
So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. Genesis 45:8
Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. Genesis 50:19-21
I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Romans 9:17
God’s plan always prevails. He has a purpose in everything. Even if something doesn’t make sense to your human mind, it does make sense in God’s grand plan. We need to remember that he sees everything already, he sees the beginning the middle and the end. He is the author of life! He already wrote the end of the story and we are the ones living it! And he promises a great ending! Those who trust and believe in the Lord have victory! When we are going through something painful, or an illness it may be our testimony, this may be the part that God gets to show his glory, where you get to say to that person that never knew the Lord, “I trusted him through this and he brought me through, he healed me, he is so amazing!” and guess what? Then YOU get to save a life for eternity. Your story becomes their encouragement. We need to remember that it is not all about us. God’s master plan, his great and awesome and good good plan is about the well being of all of his children. The prayer that you may of had for God to use you may be this exact moment!
6. Worship
(Read 1 Samuel 1 )
Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head." 1 Samuel 1:11
May your servant find favor in your eyes. Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, Because I asked the Lord for him.
In this passage of scripture Hannah is sad because she has been unable to get pregnant and her greatest desire was to have a son. She cries out to the Lord asking him for a son, and promises that if he would give her a son she would dedicate him to the Lord. After she says her prayer she, goes to eat, and the next morning begins to worship the Lord. She puts herself in the posture of receiving her blessing already. She begins to act as if the Lord has already given her what she has asked for. She thanks the Lord in advance for answering her prayer in her favor. She prepares her mind for her baby to come. We need to do the same! Worship in advance! Praise the Lord in advance! Put ourselves in the posture and preparation to receive what we are asking for. Act as if we already have received it. The Lord can and will deliver. It is on his timeline. If we continue to mourn we are showing no faith at all. Hannah knew to trust the Lord, she had confidence in the Lord. She believed he heard her and he did. Praise in Advance!
7. Focus during fasting
Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Joel 2:12
But there’s also this, it’s not too late- God’s personal message! Come back to me and really mean it! Come fasting and weeping, and sorry for your sins!(Message version Joel 2:12)
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
During your time of fasting, this is a time to get alone with God. It is for a specific purpose, whether that is healing, wisdom, revelation, breakthrough, its a focused time. You may need to eliminate activities and distractions. The time you would be eating is for prayer and reading (hearing) God’s word. You want what you are asking for so badly that you are willing to give up your desires. Make time for the Lord your Father during your fast, give it your all and be ready to receive!
