ARTICLES
Raquel Soto © January 15th, 2005
The
Secret Power of Fasting
Last week we learned about one of the weapons
of our warfare: the Holy Spirit. The power of the
Holy Spirit working upon us is one of the ways
that God manifests His glory. This week, we are
examining another weapon of our warfare: fasting.
Fasting is a tangible way of laying down your
life for someone. Who is in bondage around you?
Pay the price to set them free! Lay down what you
want today and trust God for them. Go into the
battle already won and enforce the law. As God
prepares you for war, there are a few things to
keep in mind:
Jesus expects you to fast (Matthew
6:16-17; Joel 2v12; II Corinthians 6:4-6)
Jesus said when you fast, not if. Fasting,
like praying, needs to part of the Christian
life. HE fasted and prayed to receive power and
anointing for His ministry. That means you
are as well.
When you fast, you will encounter
three great temptations (Luke 4)
The enemy will question the Lord's identity.
The enemy will tempt you to take a
shortcut and do things his way instead of God's.
The enemy will take Scripture out of
context.
Fasting helps dissolve and remove
those things in you that don't belong
Have you ever noticed that when you fast, you
might get a little bit touchy? Fretful?
Worrisome? That's because those things that are
in you start to bubble out. It's like putting
yourself in a pressure cooker. If you want to
know how you are really doing, go into a fast!
You'd be surprise what's in there that God wants
to purge out!
There are twelve benefits to fasting
(Isaiah 58:6-12)
Revelation
Healing and wholeness
Righteousness
The presence of the Shakinah Glory of God
Answered prayer
Continual guidance
Contentment
Refreshing
Strength
Work that endures
Raising up future generations
Restoration
What is God telling you to commit to? HE will
give you the grace you need in order to fast. Is
He calling you to do it once a month? Once every
two or three months? Be obedient. Your obedience
to fasting is one of the most feared weapons that
befalls the kingdom of darkness. Demons are
uncomfortable when we fast. They cannot stay
around too long when a person is fasting unto God
because it changes the atmosphere and repels the
unholy. As you fast and seek God's face He will
begin to plant an authority in you that will
effect how you pray. I remember when I was
fasting recently for the upcoming Woman's
Conference. I prayed with such authority that I
looked around to see who was speaking. It was me!
When I was done I just praised the Lord knowing
that women from all around are being prepared to
receive what God has for them on the 16th! Glory
to God!
There are many more things I can say about
fasting, but time doesn't permit it. Now that
we've taken the mystery out of fasting, ask the
Lord what you should commit to. Where has
God placed you? In what area do you need the
power of God to move in? What are the things in
you that are entangling you from moving forward
into your calling? Commit to a lifestyle of
praying and fasting and you will receive the turn
around you've been waiting for.
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