WHY WE SHOULD FAST
FASTING IS MORE SPIRITUAL THAN NATURAL
Pastor Krish Chetty
FASTING IS MORE SPIRITUAL THAN NATURAL, WHAT YOU DO IN THE NATURAL IN OBEDIENCE WILL AFFECT THE SUPERNATURAL
2 Cor. 4:18 NIV “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
I love these times of fasting when the church comes together corporately, it is when everyone is in unity, one goal in mind, more of GOD in our lives. Fasting is not a religious , traditional or routine event that we do at the beginning of each year, its intentional and deliberate to refine our focus and fully understand what was purchased on the cross( DIVINE EXCHANGE).
It increases our capacity for a greater encounter with GOD. With everything we do, be it singing, hearing the word of GOD, playing music, preaching, it must lead you to an encounter with HIS POWER. If does not lead you to an encounter “having a form of godliness but denying its power … 2 Timothy 3:5 NIV”, and that’s religion, and JESUS came to destroy the “religious spirit” that has taken over most of our lives. Fasting is a SECRET weapon against the devil and is one of the areas in our lives that can help us break these natural limitations where you could see the SUPERNATURAL breakthroughs that we can enjoy because of what JESUS has done on the cross for mankind.
“FASTING BREAKS THE NATURAL LIMITATIONS AND UNLOCKS THE SUPERNATURAL”
When you start to see the SPIRITUAL BENEFITS of the fasting, there is NO WAY you would take it lightly. This is the time when we should give our best and place importance and value to this season of fasting.
Psalms 103:2 NKJV “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits”
There are many people in the bible we can look at, to see the breakthroughs they had when they fasted. KING JEHOSHAPHAT was one of them and how when he was faced with a challenge, he turned to GOD, FASTED, PRAYED and saw SUPERNATURAL BREAKTHROUGH.
“FASTING can have a direct EFFECT on your ANSWER to your PRAYER and bring SUPERNATURAL REWARDS for your GIVING”
2 Cor. 7:1 AMP “Therefore, since we have these [great and wonderful] promises beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, completing holiness [living a consecrated life–a life set apart for God’s purpose] in the fear of God”
Most of our understanding about fasting is focused on the BODY and we do not deal with our Soul and SPIRIT. The SOUL is made up of, mind, will and emotions. When we do not deal with our mind, wrong thinking can affect and infect our spirit. Paul reminds us that we should renew our minds so that the wrong thoughts do not contaminate our body and spirit.
Romans 12:2 NLT ‘‘do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
When our thoughts are aligned to the word of GOD, there is a clear frequency of the spirit. We need to protect our minds from everything that comes into conflict against the thoughts of GOD.
II Cor 10:5 NKJV “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”
Our minds can be an entry point for the devil and he will use this as a tool to contaminate our body and spirit. What we hear, see or even read has a direct result on our behavior and actions. During these times of fasting, we need to look at what is influencing our mind and thoughts.
If we spend too much of time on the things that are not building our spirit man, there is a great chance your spirit will start to get weak. If we are too exposed to the world’s systems, that can contaminate our view on the realities of the Cross. Therefore, we need to filter our thoughts, which comes into our mind. Keep reading the word; it will help build our faith.
“Whatever you are FOCUSED on, will become your REALITY”
When your minds are renewed, your will and your purpose becomes clearer. The area of the will of GOD becomes clearer when your mind is being renewed daily. We need to align ourselves to the will of GOD just like JESUS did. HE only could do the will of HIS FATHER because HIS SPIRIT was not contaminated with the things of this world.
John 14:30-31 NIV “I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “Come now; let us leave.”
When you are focused on the flesh, you will only desire the things of the flesh. That’s why during fasting our hearts are moved by giving and sowing first fruits because our spirits are more connected to the things of GOD and that’s what should be happening all the time . He is continuously inviting us to the supernatural realm .Another area we need look at is our feelings or emotions, how you feel has a direct effect on our behavior and actions. When we are feeling good, we respond in a positive way, compared to when we are depressed.
Nehemiah 8:10 NIV “Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
We need to feed our emotions with joy, because when we lose our joy, we lose our ability to fight. How we feel affects our spirit, when we are weak, we need to turn our focus on the HOLY SPIRIT. The most important area that we need to take great care off is our spirit, because it is our spirit that connects us to the HOLY SPIRIT. Our ULTIMATE GOAL is to touch another measure of GOD and that will require spending time with HIM. During these times of fasting, spend more time in his presence than we would normally spend.
Daniel 11:32 NKJV “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”
When we spend time with GOD, our spirit man becomes strong, and when our spirits are strong, we can do great exploits you the great exploits, are the supernatural ability to bring supernatural realities. So let’s learn from King Jehoshaphat and let GOD fight the battles for us.
“2 Chronicles 20:17 NIV “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.”
God Bless You
LINK:
http://shema.co.za/fasting-is-more-spiritual-than-natural/
3 Ways Fasting and Prayer Opens Doors
Every follower of Christ who seeks God with fasting and prayer can experience sudden and surprising open doors of spiritual opportunity, even if those open doors were never apparent before. It has happened in Scripture and it has happened to me. I am certain it will happen for many others as well.
A BIBLICAL PATTERN FOR FASTING AND PRAYER
A prayer summit, involving a handful of key leaders, opened unexpected doors as the leaders were worshipping, fasting and praying. Paul and Barnabas, and three other gifted and significant leaders, had been in the midst of a genuine city-wide spiritual awakening in Antioch for well over a year. Hungry to know the steps they were to take next, they pulled away from the day to day ministry to hear from God.
The Holy Spirit spoke to them clearly and gave them a vision and a direction they had apparently never considered before. At least 10-15 years had passed since the Resurrection had occurred, and since the Great Commission had been issued, but no one had made any substantial efforts to reach the Gentile world yet. While the devoted team fasted and prayed, however, a new door suddenly opened. The Spirit clearly directed them to spread the gospel to Gentiles
That unexpected open door led to what we commonly call Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 13:1-4). The world was permanently changed out of that prayer meeting when a new door opened as God’s people fasted.
MY OWN OPEN DOORS FROM FASTING AND PRAYER
Open doors always swing wide to reveal God’s continuing plan to save more people. It happens when we fast and pray. Recently it happened to me as I was participating in a city-wide call to 40 Days of fasting and prayer. While the open door I experienced obviously cannot compare to Paul’s call to world evangelism and missions, it was, nevertheless, an exhilarating and eye opening opportunity for ministry I never saw coming. The more I considered what God was doing in my life, the more my mind raced with faith, fresh ideas, and vision for our church and our city. There is no doubt in my mind this door burst open because several of us were fasting and praying. As this new door of ministry was unexpectedly opening before me I felt, and described it to others, as if I had stepped through a previously unnoticed door, into the blessing of God.
That’s the way God works. We fast and pray, committing our time and disciplining our bodies, and God blesses us with amazing opportunities for His work which we find to be richly and unpredictably satisfying. When you are in the center of His activity, it seems to be the nearest thing to heaven you ever find on earth.
HOW GOD WILL OPEN DOORS FOR YOU WITH FASTING AND PRAYER
How can you experience the blessing of open doors? God is sovereign and frequently resists our simple and sometimes self-serving formulas—especially if they are an attempt to manipulate how or when He will act. However, since His character never changes, it is possible to glean from Scripture what God expects of us when we desire to walk through open doors of unexpected blessing. Here are three principles to remember.
1) The Holy Spirit can speak to us individually—and He does—but in the New Testament it is far more common to witness a fresh burst of God’s unfolding plan when God’s people were fasting and praying together. So, as you fast and pray, join with other like minded and devoted believers and fast and pray as a group. It’s amazing what God does when we unite.
2) Rick Warren said it best—“it’s not about you!” The unexpected open doors that ultimately bring you the most satisfaction are those which bring the most glory to God. That’s what you want isn’t it? Aren’t you tired of the false promises of a “me centered” faith? Expect and “pray into” the open doors which further the gospel of Jesus and accelerate His mission through you. You will experience far more of God’s best when you focus on His agenda.
3) Always take action—no matter how small the step may be—in the direction God is leading. Paul’s first trip was not really that far from his ancestral home in Tarsus. But that first trip expanded his capacity for more. When the door opens—go through it. Leave the extent of the blessing to Jesus. Just be obedient in the small steps and He will likely broaden your path in the future.
When we fast and pray we put more spiritual “octane” on our service and ministry to the Lord. Fasting and prayer boosts the intensity of everything we do for Jesus. In addition, fasting and prayer helps us recognize the open doors God places before us. Why wouldn’t we want all of this?
If you have rarely or never fasted before, seek some practical guidance, start from where you are, then pray and believe. Ask God to use you as never before as the doors begin to open!
This article originally appeared here.
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