PRAYER WITH FASTING Pastor Paul Russell Christ Family Church

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1 PRAYER WITH FASTING Pastor Paul Russell Christ Family Church The Goal of Prayer and Fasting Our goal is to pray and fast together as a church and to position ourselves before God for maximum effectiveness this coming year. There are many exciting opportunities we face as we grow and touch our community and our world. We want to prepare our hearts and minds for God s best! Together we will focus our prayer in these areas: Declaring our dependence on God in every area of our lives. Asking God for wisdom and resources in order to do His will. Praying for people to come to Jesus. Believing for breakthroughs in areas of challenge we may face. Inviting the Presence of God into our church and our lives. Crying out to God for revival in our generation. God s presence will be with you as you commit to this oft forgotten spiritual exercise. Remember that the key purpose is to seek God, no matter the number of days or meals you choose to sacrifice. He has given to us an incredible avenue for releasing His power prayer with fasting. Let s do it. Let s do it together. Let s expect mighty things from the hand of God. What is Fasting? Fasting is simply refraining from food for a spiritual purpose. It is not just for those who are super-spiritual. It is not starving or dieting or going on a hunger strike. It is a normal part of the believer s life. There are other things we can fast, like watching TV, entertainment, certain activities, etc, as a matter of sacrifice, but when we speak of Biblical fasting, we are talking about abstinence from food or certain foods. 1

2 Is Fasting for Today? Since so many references about fasting appear in the Old Testament, some may think that it is an Old Testament practice and not something we should do, now that Christ has come. However, in His teachings Jesus gave attention to fasting, letting us know that He expected His disciples to fast and included the practice as one of the believers disciplines. When not if! When you give alms when you pray when you fast Matthew 6:2,5,16 The time is now! When the bridegroom is taken away from them then they will fast. Matthew 9:15. Prayer and fasting were practiced by almost all the significant Biblical figures, not the least of which is Christ Himself. Jesus fasted 40 days. So did Moses, Elijah, and Joshua. Daniel did a partial fast for 21 days, Paul fasted at least 14 days and spoke of being in fastings often. Peter fasted 3 days. Fasting has been a regular practice of Christian discipline throughout history. Three Kinds of Fasting: 1. The normal fast. Matthew 4:2 (water only) 2. The absolute fast. Acts 9:9 No water or food. This is not recommended for long times of fasting, because the lack of water can damage the body. 3. The partial fast, otherwise known as the Daniel fast. Fasting certain foods. This is recommended for extended fasts. Daniel 10:3 (E.g., juices, broth, etc) The unique and certain power of fasting is seen in scripture and has been witnessed in history. Seasons of fasting assist the believer in spiritual warfare and personal holiness. that you may give yourself to prayer and fasting. I Corinthians 7:5 Regular fasts are devoting a specific day of the week or month to seek God as an act of Christian discipline. On a fast day you shall read the words of the Lord. Jeremiah 36:6 Public fasts are called in times of special need or emergency by the church corporately or even by a nation. Sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly. Joel 2:15 God s word gives specific reasons for fasting: 1. For personal sanctity. I humbled my soul with fasting. Psalms 69:10 Blessed are those who mourn. Matthew 5:4 Perhaps you have wrestled with a personal habit or a battle in your thought life. You need 2

3 victory over temptation. Use this time of prayer with fasting to bring these matters to God and allow the power of the Holy Spirit to deal with them. We cannot truly change our hearts. Only God can. When open our souls to Him and ask for inner revival, God hears and answers. He has promised deliverance from every debilitating struggle we may have. 2. To be heard on high. So we besought our God for this, and He listened to our entreaty. Ezra 8:23. God s children always have His attention. So fasting does not increase His love toward you. Fasting does not put you in a special class of His people where you are favored more than others. However, the scriptures do bear out the fact that God hears those who diligently call upon His name. Fasting will bring you to a place where your prayers will move beyond the exercise of rote duty into a dimension of expectant petition. You will get serious about prayer. Your cries to God will show Him that you are absolutely dependent upon Him and that you cannot do His will in your own strength. 3. For divine intervention. The people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast God repented of the evil He said He would do to them. Jonah 3:5, 10 In this situation, an entire city fasted with heart felt repentance, asking God to avert the impending judgment. Fasting brings the heart to repentance and alignment with the will of God and positions us to see the perfect purpose of God fulfilled. 4. To free those in spiritual captivity. Is not this the fast that I choose; to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free and that you break every yoke. Isaiah 58:6 In Isaiah 58, God deals with the motives for fasting. The fast He chooses is not one that is just for personal gratification or one that makes us look spiritual, but rather something that accomplishes the purposes of the kingdom setting the captive free, breaking bondages and undoing heavy burdens in those for whom we are praying. 5. To receive divine revelation. I Daniel turned my face to the Lord God, seeking Him by prayer and supplications with fasting said to me, O Daniel, I have now come to give you wisdom and understanding. Daniel 9:2,3,21,22 3

4 Are you seeking answers for a specific need in your life? Expect God to speak to you during your time of fasting. Keep a notepad available to jot down your thoughts, your prayer aims and those things you hear from God. 6. To discipline oneself. I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. I Corinthians 9:27 The most natural craving of the body is for food, not just for the physical sustenance it brings, but also because it is delightful to our taste buds. The act of depriving our bodies of one of the most fundamental necessities of life is a way setting discipline in our lives. Unfortunately for many of us, food rules our lives. Everything we do revolves around food. And of course, three square meals a day is a good habit. Food is required for existence. Yet it can become an obsession that leads to bingeing and abuse. Through fasting, we put our desire for food in the right perspective. We show the body that obedience to God trumps our fixation on food. God rules, not food. 7. For health and healing. Is not this the fast that I have chosen Your healing shall spring forth speedily Isaiah 58:6,8 The medical and health profession informs us that there are natural advantages to fasting. The body has a chance to rid itself of toxins. Fasting gives the body a chance to rest and refresh. Suggestions for Fasting Absolute fasts are for only short periods of time in that abstaining from water for a long time can cause harm to the body. A normal fast (water only) is recommended if you are fasting only a few days. For an extended season of fasting, perhaps the partial fast is preferable. Use wisdom. If you are under a doctor s care, and you have questions regarding medications, etc, make sure you consult your physician for guidance before embarking upon an extended fast. You should not drastically change your diet in a way that would damage the body. Maintain exercise (not strenuous) during time of fasting. Walking and lightly lifting are recommended to keep your metabolism rate up. Resist accusations from the enemy. If you are new to fasting or if you find it difficult to maintain your fast, you may feel that you are not measuring up to God s expectations. Don t let the devil condemn about how much or little you do. The purpose in fasting is to grow in our faith, not prove our spirituality. If you have never fasted, you might want to start with a short fast. 4

5 Suggested intakes for an extended partial fast. Fruit juices, preferably freshly squeezed or blended with water. Orange, apple, pear, grapefruit, papaya or other fruits are good. Abstain from milk, as it is a pure food. Vegetable juice made from lettuce, kale, celery or carrots. Herb tea with a drop of honey. Not black tea or a tea with a stimulant. It is recommended that you avoid caffeine beverages. Broth made from boiling potatoes, celery, carrots, onions, etc. Drink plenty of water. Note: You may experience some side effects such as nausea, headaches, foul tastes in the mouth and so on. Doctors tell us this is natural, that basically the body is taking the advantage of the fast to cleanse and heal itself. A Final Note from Pastor Paul Much of the information in this writing comes from the book, God s Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis and Seven Steps to Successful Fasting by Bil Bright. I would recommend Campus Crusade s site for more information from Dr. Bright. Delia and I have become firm believers in the power and purpose of fasting and have seen the results in our lives and in the lives of others. Our prayer is that this 21 day adventure will be a milestone in your Christian experience and that you will regularly incorporate the practice of fasting in your life. Blessings, Paul Russell, pastor Christ Family Church 5