Fasting (Mk9: 29)

Heb. Tsoom: to cover over (mouth), i.e. to fast

Greek Nestis: ne-not, stis-eating; abstinence from food

Fasting is voluntarily abstaining from food for a period of time.

Satanist Church prays that Christian Church should neglect Fasting and Prayer

What is Christian fasting?

1. Fasting is concentration on the Lord, His holiness, His Kingdom and His will. Anna the prophetess fasted for almost 60years for the first coming of Jesus. Luke2: 36-38 (Ps90: 1; 84: 10; 27: 4).Materialistic world. We are self and sense conscious, but we must become God-conscious. 
2.  Fasting is hearts cry to God to act. He does act when people fast. Daniel and his friends had partial fasting for 10days that God would intervene Dan1:11-16
3. Fasting is a form of mourning or humbling: Joel1: 8, 9, 13; 2: 12; Ps35: 13; 69: 10; 2Chr7: 14; Ezra8: 21-23; Mt 9: 14, 15
   a)    Mourning because of our poor spiritual condition when God has given so much in Christ;
   b) Mourning because of the lovelessness (Rev2: 4) compromising doctrinally (Rev2: 14-15), compromising lifestyle(Rev2: 20), deadness(Rev3: 1)  and lukewarmness (Revx3: 15-16) of the church; 95% of the believers have never led anyone to Christ
   c)               Mourning over the multitudes that are passing into Christ less eternity Ps119: 136; Ro9: 1-3; 10: 1
4.    Fasting is spiritual power. Luke4: 1, 14
   When those who are unsaved fast, they release spiritual power that is of the enemys kingdom and that goes to strengthen it. Thats why it is impossible for believers who are given to food and pleasure to make any headway in the winning of Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. Because these people fast extensively and pray extensively, they release a lot of spiritual power that insulates their spirits from penetration by the Gospel. Penetration is only possible when ministry to them is carried out by people who also have spiritual power through fasting in the name of the Lord Jesus.
   
   
5.  Fasting is a weapon Mark9: 29
   

   Kinds of Fasting

• Normal Fast-not eating anything, but you are drinking water or juices Mt4: 2; Lk4: 2; 2Sam12: 17,22
• Absolute Fast-not eating or drinking anything Acts9: 9; Ezra 10: 6; Esther4: 16; Deut9: 9,18; Ex34: 28; 1Ki19: 8
• Partial Fast Dan1: 11-16; 10: 3; Ezek4: 9-12 (200grams of food and 200ml of water)

Purpose for Fasting

We will see 7 purposes of fasting acrostically from the word FASTING

F-Families (children) David 2Sam12: 16-23; Lam2: 19; Ezra8: 21

A-Alter the mind of God Jonah3: 1-10. Nineveh was a great city, but a wicked city1: 2. extensive3: 3; rich Nah2: 9; populous 4: 11; commercial Nah3: 16; witchcraft Nah3: 4; idolatrous Nah1: 14; Vile Nah1: 14; Lies and robberies Nah3: 1;

Nineveh spared. God has compassion on the cattle also. Jonah4: 11; Ps50: 10

1Kings21: 20-22, 23-26, 28-29 Ahab humbled himself before the Lord

Sodom and Gomorrah Ge18: 20-21.

We can change His declared intentions and not God�s character and principles.

S- Spiritual interference to be broken Dan10: 1-12

Daniel was a man who could move heaven and hell. The angel came and the enemy also came. God sent His angel and Satan also sent his angel. God sent spiritual reinforcements to the place of battle when Daniel continued his fasting.

Interfering spirits are still at work today. The satanic kingdom is well organized and the attacks are well planned 1Peter5: 8-9 

T-Triumph over adversaries 2Chr20: 1-24; Esther; Nehemiah

I-Intuition or revelation of the future Dan9: 2-27 (Jer29: 10-14). The angel describes Daniel as a man greatly beloved. Because he never complained, never compromised, never was afraid, but always prayed and fasted. God answers at a level greater than that asked Eph3: 20. Book of Revelation in Patmos

N-Nation 2Chr7: 14; Joel 

G-Growth in the ministries Mark9: 17-29; Is58: 6

• To lose the bonds of wickedness (sin) Is 58: 6; Jn8: 34, 36
• Heb: chartsubbah: a fetter; figuratively, a pain:--band. Zacchaeus, Samaritan woman
• To undo the heavy burdens Is58: 6 Heb: Aguddah: to bind (generational curses)
• To free the captives-oppressed Is 58: 6; Lk4: 18; Acts 10: 38; Mt10: 7,8 Heb: Ratsats: to crack in pieces-(witchcraft and sorcery)
• To break every yoke Is58: 6 Heb: mo-taw A pole; a yoke (either literal or figurative):--bands, heavy, staves, yoke. Social, racial and religious yokes; Mt23: 4-discrimination, exploitation

Blessings of Fasting

1.   Spiritual

• Thy righteousness shall go before thee v8 Joseph Ge39: 2, 21
• The glory of the LORD shall be thy reward v8
• Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer v9; Dan2: 17-19
• Thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am v9
  
  

2.      Physical

• Thine health shall spring forth speedily v8
•  Make fat thy bones v11

Moses De34: 7; Caleb Jos14: 10-11; Ps92: 14

3.  Financial

Personal and community needs

• Satisfy thy soul in drought v11 Elijah
• Thou shalt be like a watered garden v11
• A spring of water, whose waters fail not v11
• Thou shalt be called, the repairer of the breach v12
• Thou shalt be called, the restorer of paths to dwell in v12 David Livingstone

4.  Generational (Family)

They that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places v12

They and their families shall be public blessings. Esther could influence Artaxeres the king (her step-son), who gave permission to Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Moses� mother could influence Moses so that he could deliver the people of Israel from Pharaoh�s clutches.

Youth of today consider home as a filling station (eating) and changing station (clothes)-no communication-sometimes around the TV-tenderness, kindness, thoughtfulness-love, family altar, and discipline-help to meet them(their needs) but not to fix them

Dr John Scudder-8sons+2daughters-42members of 4generations invested 1100 years of missionary service in India.

5.Wisdom

The LORD shall guide thee continually v11; Dan2: 17-19; 4: 19-27; 5: 24-28.

Esther for delivering the Jews, Joseph for the famine, Daniel and his friends 1: 17-20

While we are here, in the wilderness of this world, we have need of continual direction from heaven; for, if at any time we be left to ourselves, we shall certainly miss our way; and therefore it is to those who are good in Gods sight that he gives the wisdom which in all cases is profitable to direct, and he will be to them instead of eyes, Ec 2:26. His providence will make their way plain to them, both what is their duty and what will be most for their comfort.

6.  Social

a)Your light will break forth like the dawn v8

b)Thy light rise in obscurity v10 Daniel

c)Thy darkness be as the noonday v10 Esther6: 1

d)  Thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations v12

e) Thou shalt be called, the repairer of the breach v12 Nehemiah

f)Thou shalt be called, the restorer of paths to dwell in v12

May the Lord strengthen us to fast and see the power of God released in our personal lives, in our families, in our churches and in our nations.