Matthew 6:16-18

Fasting is scriptural. Many scriptures challenge us and God Himself instructs us to fast. There are multiple types of fast and fasting has a lot of rewards.

Fasting is a much separating yourself unto something and separating yourself from something. When we fast, we separate ourselves to the Lord, spend time with the Lord, take spiritual food by listening to or reading the Word of God, pray and talk to God.

Fasting is not starvation. It is not a diet. A Biblical fast is when we separate ourselves unto God and separate ourselves away from distractions. We separate ourselves from sin and commit ourselves to devotion to God for the spiritual purposes of seeking the Lord and humility (Psalm 35:13).

Especially in the Old Testament, when the Lord instructed people to humble themselves, it was always in the context of fasting. Humility in the Old Testament meant a time of fasting, ‘to afflict the soul’ and trim our desires, (Leviticus 16:29-31).

We often see the people of God and even Jesus Christ would seclude themselves, go to a mountain or a wilderness so that they will not be distracted and committed themselves to seeking God, seeking His guidance and face.

I want to look at seven different rewards that fasting gives us in our physical and spiritual life:

1. Fasting brings physical health naturally and supernaturally (Isaiah 58:8).
2. Fasting prepares us for temptation (Matthew 4:1-11). I believe that when we fast, we prepare ourselves, strengthen our spirits and train our body how to say no to things. We train our appetites. We train our spirits to take dominance over our flesh.
3. Fasting unlocks our calling, (Acts 13:2). If you’re in a place where you are confused, lost your purpose and don’t know what God has called you to do, fasting can help clarify, unlock and reveal your purpose and calling.
4. Fasting releases divine power into your life (Luke 4:14, Deuteronomy 8:18). It is not that God gives you more grace or loves you more but in fasting, you tune or align yourself with God’s promises.
5. Answered prayer, (Ezra 8:23, Daniel 9:3). God’s ear is not heavy to hear us. He truly hears us the moment we pray. Fasting creates spiritual warfare to clear the heavenly realms for answers to our prayer to come through. If you have experienced disappointment or delay in answers, maybe you need to supercharge your prayer with fasting.
6. Fasting positions us for deliverance. Fasting can bring desperation in your spirit. (Esther 4:16, Mark 9:23).
7. Perhaps the biggest reward of fasting is the revelation of God’s Word, (Psalm 119:105, 130). Scripture will come alive to you.

If you find God or the Bible boring, it’s not the Bible – you just have interference in your connection. Nothing will clear that up better than getting into the Word in a time of fasting. You will have understanding, you will find application for the Word of God, it will speak to you and be like water that strengthens your soul. Fasting will give you hunger for the Word of God.

I want to challenge and encourage you to join us, if your health permits, as we go into a time of prayer and fasting from Monday 10^th to the 31^st of January. Let’s seek the Lord together. Let’s humble ourselves as a church. Let’s ask for God’s power to be released over our personal lives and church because God has so much in store for us. We are to be Jesus to this world.

I want us to be the church that lives in the power of the Holy Ghost, in the light of God’s Word and sees prayers answered; a church where people discover their callings and live out the purposes of God for their lives; a church that is strong and doesn’t get swayed by temptations and persecutions. We know who our God is and who we are in Him.

Prayer

May the Lord’s face shine upon us with His favor during this season of fasting and prayer.

Lord Jesus, I choose to humble myself during this time of prayer and fasting. Give me Your strength to persevere, give me Your strength to seek Your face and Your determination to go to the end. Give me the strength to be in Your Word in Jesus’ name!

Sermon by Ilya Parkhotyuk; Blog by Edward Gardiner