1. Disarming principalities & power.
- For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Eph 6:12. We are in battle with invisible forces.
- The enemy will always try to frustrate God’s plan and His work.
- The work of Christ, the purpose for which He came, was to “destroy the works of the devil” (1John 3:8b).
- Whenever we fast and pray – we engage in spiritual warfare.
- Fasting & prayer subdue the flesh to let the spirit man reign. Because the flesh always wants to be pampered.
- Learn to subdue your flesh. Don’t let it dictate you.
- Cast out the spirit of gluttony & allow your spirit man to rise up.
- Be led of the Spirit, not your flesh.
- The enemy will use all tactics and suggest all excuses to prevent you from fasting. It is not whether you can or cannot fast. It is whether you want to or not – a matter of choice.
- We can do without food but we cannot do without God.
2. Fasting sets us free from all our past bondage.
- It assists us to learn how to allow the spirit, not the flesh, take control again. Why? Because flesh & blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor 15:50).
- Why are we not experiencing miraculous power? The reason is UNBELIEF. Instead of turning to God of miracles, we turn to man. But once we turn back to God with fasting & prayer and seeking His face, we will walk in the realm of the miracles again.
- The early church was powerful in carrying out the perfect will of God because they were a praying church. Not only did they pray but they also fasted.
- The church today is running its own programme:
- Instead of fasting & praying, we are feasting & playing.
- Instead of agonizing for souls, we are busy organizing.
- Instead of travailing in prayer, we are hurrying in prayer.
- Instead of hearing the voice of God, we are now hearing the voice of man.
- Instead of looking up to God for help, strength, provision & direction, we are looking across to other men.
- Instead of being great givers, we become great beggars.
- Instead of humbling ourselves before God, we have become proud of our own achievements.
- Instead of being led by the Holy Spirit, we are being led by our flesh.
- Instead of leading God’s people to seek His face, we are keeping the people busy in programmes and activities, so much so that the people become tired and worn out and become a target and victim of the enemy.
- As we continue to turn to God and seek His face with fasting & praying, again we will see the outpouring of the early church and the latter rain. "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions . Joel 2:28.
- Fasting puts your enemy to shame and puts you in God’s favour. There is no trouble, sickness, disease or difficulty that we cannot overcome through fasting. “God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8) and He can do the same for us if we could fast and pray.
- Fasting & praying restores broken marriages. Get the whole family to fast & pray together as frequently as possible to raise up a standard for God.
4. Ultimate weapon against satan.
- It is a MUST if we want to see the power of God at work in seemingly impossible situations.
- Judgment will always come upon a nation that keeps on closing its door to God. He allowed it to happen to show us Christians that we had not been praying hard enough.
- Spiritual warfare is real. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places Ephesians 6:12.
- Through fasting & prayer, we can throw down any principality, any power. It is the quickest way to get God’s attention.
5. Benefits of fasting & prayer.
- Fasting is a weapon God has given to the church. When we His people fast & pray, God will
come down and take over so that we can truly say, “So he answered and said to me: "This is
the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the
LORD of hosts (Zechariah 4:6).
- Impossible cases are made possible through fasting. The enemy may attack and bring
discouragement but as you fast, God will surely reveal to you the enemy’s secret, just like He showed Elisha:
Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, "My camp will be in such and such a place." And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, "Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there." Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice. Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?" And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom." So he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him." And it was told him, saying, "Surely he is in Dothan." Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:8-17).
- When you fast, you become more sensitive to the things of God. Grow strong in the spirit and weaken the flesh life. The spirit should tell the flesh what to do & so the spirit will take control. It means being desperate for God, putting Him above all else, wanting to see a breakthrough, wanting a revival.
- God is a miracle-working God when you fast & pray. Because He is just waiting to manifest His power and glory. Vast resources in heaven are waiting for us to claim them.
6. Remarks
- People get discouraged, give up and never see breakthrough because they never set their face toward God when praying.
- They pray for help but keep looking at the negative situation. No wonder the situation does not change. Only God can change the situation.
- When you fast & pray, don’t look at the circumstances. That is the enemy wants you to do but don’t be deceived. “Lift up your eyes and turn to God, and you will see that deliverance will come from Him. “I will lift up my eyes to the hills-- From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth”. ( Psalm 121:1-2)
- Pray & fast with the right motive. God sees the heart.
- Through fasting, I want to be set free from all bondage and experience a personal breakthrough in my life.
On why U Mer Mer extract the above article? Well … only in the late night Su Mor Kong told U Mer Mer that today is her 1st day of fasting. She is trying to go for a 4 days fasting.
U Mer Mer did not know that, let her push the swing and some more … asking her to push it higher and higher !! Sorry yah … Su Mor Kong….
May the LORD bless you and give you the strength during this period of fasting & U Mer Mer will try his best to encourage and support you….
Both of us prayed that through our sharing, fasting & praying – it will encourage others to follow and leading a spiritual lives rather than fleshy lives. Experiencing breakthrough and touches the heart of God.
Love always …
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