"Prayer intercession is empowered
not only by the Holy Spirit, but also by true
biblical fasting. With revival sweeping the
nations, we are hearing of more prayer with
fasting than prayer without fasting. We must
return to the early church discipline of fasting.
This discipline will be part of our training
for the Church, especially in the coming generations."
May
God give us a heart revelation of the power and
necessity of fasting combined with prayer.
As we enter into fasting - whether it is a meal,
a day or a season of fasting - let us make sure
that we are fasting the right way. Let us ask
God for the right heart motives and enter into
our fast with a humble and obedient heart. May
we be encouraged by the powerful life and testimony
of Charles Finney and the fact that he was a man
who fasted and prayed. He said the following:
"I used to spend a great deal of time
in prayer; sometimes, I thought, literally praying
'without ceasing'. I also found it very profitable,
and felt very much inclined to hold frequent days
of private fasting. On those days I would seek
to be entirely alone with God, and would generally
wander off into the woods, or get into the meeting
house, or somewhere away entirely by myself. But
whenever I fasted, and let the Spirit take his
own course with me, and gave myself up to let
him lead and instruct me, I universally found
it in the highest degree useful. I found I could
not live without enjoying the presence of God."
Emptiness
of Wrong Fasting: Isaiah 58:1-5
".
. . 'Why have we fasted', they say, 'and you
have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?' Yet on the day of
your fasting, you do as you please and exploit
all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling
and strife, and in striking each other with
wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high. Is
this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a
day for a man to humbled himself? Is it only
for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying
on sackcloth and ashes?"
This
fast was an outward act of religious obedience
but it had no heart. It was a ritualistic
act and religious duty that caused pride and self-importance.
The people continued to live disobedient and rebellious
lives against God's moral laws.
"God
desires that they would draw near with humility
of heart, honest prayer, and submission to His
ways. A formal, ritualistic fasting without
spiritual content cannot satisfy the heart of
God. It accomplishes nothing. It is injurious
to the one who fasts and to those around him.
It warps judgments, deadens conscience, hardens
the heart and awakens false hopes. Fasting must
be joined with intercessory prayer out of a
clean heart, an honest and humble heart, a heart
that is first loving and submissive to a sovereign
God."
Benefits
of Right Fasting: Isaiah 58:5-12
"Is
not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice and untie the
cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke? Is it not to share your
food with the hungry and to provide the poor
wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked,
to clothe him, and not to turn away from your
own flesh and blood…"
God
rewards fasting that is done the right way.
He looks at our hearts. He wants us to fast with
the right motive and the right heart attitude.
If we fast the way God desires and in an attitude
of humility, He will bring rich blessings from
these times. Isaiah 58 speaks at great length
about the numerous benefits of fasting with the
right heart. This chapter alone should motivate
us to seek God more diligently in prayer and fasting.
The benefits of right fasting found in Isaiah
58
- Your
light will break forth like the dawn.
- Your
healing will quickly appear.
- Your
righteousness will go before you.
- The
glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
- You
will call and the Lord will answer.
- You
will cry for help, and He will say, "Here
am I."
- Your
light will arise in the darkness.
- Your
night will become like the noonday.
- The
Lord will guide you always.
- He
will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land.
- The
Lord will strengthen your frame.
- You
will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring
whose waters never fail.
- Your
people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will
raise the age-old foundations.
- You
will be called repairer of broken walls.
- You
will be a restorer of streets with dwellings.
- You
will find your joy in the Lord.
- You
will rise on the heights of the land.
- You
will feast on the inheritance of your father
Jacob.
"Prayer
intercession moves into the breach, the spiritual
gap, and begins to pray repentance, restoration,
revival and redirection for people - saved
and unsaved. This should be the intercessor's
prayer while fasting. This is the prayer God
desires from fasting intercessors. 'Is this
not the fast that I have chosen?' Combine
this spirit of intercession with the fasting
of an honest heart, with Isaiah 58:6-12 to
guide us, and the result will be powerful
prayers with Kingdom results." Quotes
by Frank Damazio
Training
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