The Power of Prayer and Fasting

 

Text:  Matthew 6: 1-4

AS I preach about this subject today, I hope it makes you hungry to plan a time for fasting and prayer. It is not starving or a diet. It is to bring you into a deeper uncluttered intimacy with GOD.

            JESUS taught HIS followers about 3 disciplines for kingdom living in Mathew 6 which are giving, praying, and fasting. HE made it clear that it would be a normal part of following JESUS by saying,

“When you give”, “when you pray”, “when you fast”, not if. These 3 disciplines are like a 3-cord strand that is not easily broken.

“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12

            Could it be that we are missing our greatest breakthroughs because we fail to live like JESUS told us HE expected us to live?

After teaching about how to do these three things properly, HE added that.

            The prophet Daniel did a partial fast from certain foods and received an open reward from GOD. GOD blessed him with revelation and wisdom that promoted him in the government.

Fasting is saying no to self (the dictator within you) and saying yes to GOD. It is “dethroning king stomach”.

Ill. When speaking of the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah people focus on homosexuality. There was so much more to this. GOD said through Ezekiel,

“Look, this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food (gluttony), and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. They were haughty and committed abomination before ME; therefore, I took them away as I saw fit.” Ezekiel 16:49-50

There was no giving – “poor and needy”

There was no praying – “pride and idleness”

There was no fasting - “fullness of food”

Fasting is not just about not eating food.

Fasting is a way to worship GOD. Ill. Anna and Simeon served GOD with fasting and prayer and GOD rewarded them with discernment of JESUS.

Don’t look at Prayer and fasting as a way to move the hand of GOD. IT is not a work but a way of worship and surrender to HIM. It does not change GOD – it changes us – it sensitizes our heart to GOD.

Ill. Man brought son with a demon having seizures to JESUS’ disciples. They had cast out other demons but could not make this one leave! They brought the boy to JESUS. HE casts out the demon and then HIS first words to them are important to understand this text.

“O faithless (unbelief) and perverse (twisted thinking) generation. . .” Matthew 17:17

The disciples asked, “Why could we not cast the demon out?” JESUS said to them, “Because of your unbelief.” 

“. . . this kind (of unbelief) does not go out except by

 prayer and fasting.” Verse 20-21

“Unbelief”  – apistia = not fully persuaded, not confident in, not fully relying on. The first use of “unbelief” is Matthew 13:58. 

But the disciples cast demons out before! What was different about this time? JESUS was not saying - there are special demons that can only be cast out by prayer and fasting. HE just taught in verse 20 that you only need faith as a grain of mustard seed.

Unbelief is a force operating against faith (The Word and will of GOD).

PIC: pulling in opposite directions:

Ill. Israel was given the promise land by GOD. But what kept that one generation out?

“So, we see they were not able to enter into HIS rest (Promise land), because of unbelief.”  Heb. 3:19

They could not receive what GOD was giving them, what was rightfully theirs, because of unbelief.

 There are different kinds of unbelief:

1.      Ignorant unbelief  

2.       Willful unbelief (Psalm 14:1) 

3.      Natural unbelief (comes from the physical senses). Peter walked on the water but then began sinking!

This kind of unbelief can be removed by prayer/fasting!

You don’t need more faith. In this text JESUS said a mustard seed of faith was enough. But at the same time you need to cut off the sources of unbelief attacking your faith.  

JESUS said this kind of unbelief will leave you, by prayer and fasting.

“Prayer is the one hand we grasp the invisible and fasting is the other hand we let loose the visible.”   Andrew Murray        

American Christianity knows little about denying self. In no way am I suggesting we can earn GOD’S blessings. However we can’t get away from the fact that prayer and fasting are clearly taught to be a regular part of the lives of those who follow JESUS. It is expected.

Virtually every great awakening was connected to a call to prayer and fasting! Whenever you face a crisis or a major decision you should establish a time for prayer and fasting.

I believe prayer with fasting should be a regular part of our lives. I am declaring Wednesdays as a day for church wide prayer and fasting. Some may fast one meal and spend this time praying for your church and leaders for a great awakening. Others stronger may fast and pray all day on Wednesdays. IF you are new to this start slow and gradually move into it.

Resources to help you learn about fasting:

1.      “Fasting” - by Jentzen Franklin 

2.      “Fasting for spiritual breakthrough” – Elmer Towns

 Available on Amazon.com

You should discern if the SPIRIT is leading you to a time of fasting and prayer. Maybe me talking about this subject is stirring a desire in you.

“JESUS . . . was led by the SPIRIT into the wilderness

for forty days of fasting.” Luke 4:1

“JESUS returned in the power of the SPIRIT to Galilee.” Luke 4:14

What happened? JESUS fasted and prayed.

What is this power of the SPIRIT that fasting will manifest?

1.      Authority and power

Ill. It was after fasting that JESUS confronted Satan in the power of the SPIRIT. HE was confronted by a demon possessed man in the synagogue and cast the demon out. The people responded by saying, “For with authority and power HE commands the demon spirits and they come out.” Lk 4:36

2.      Discernment – Luke 2:36-38 – Anna discerned baby JESUS.

3.      Direction – Acts 13:2 – discerned direction from HOLY SPIRIT.

 Concl:  Some of you may run out and try fasting like a diet and fail. It is to be Spirit led and Spirit-fed. GOD provides grace when you do this HIS way. You should read Isaiah 58 for the kind of fast that GOD chooses.

A true fast is done unto the LORD as an act of worship.

How corporate fasting will affect the church:

1.      It humbles us and makes GOD’S WORD clearer.

“In the wilderness GOD humbled you, allowed you to hunger and fed you with manna, that HE might make you to know that man does not live by bread alone but by . . .”  Deut. 8:2-3

2.      It increases grace to overcome compromises of the flesh.

“Blow the shofar in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly.” Joel 2:15

Ill. In Joel 2 he declared twice “blow the trumpet in Zion”. The first time was to awaken the people of GOD as a warning if they continue to live in compromise in living to please their flesh.

The second blow of the trumpet was a call to corporately time of fasting and prayer. Fasting alone is powerful but together with others there is greater encouragement and grace.

3.      It is one way to prepare for JESUS’ coming.

“HIS bride has made herself ready.” Rev. 19:7