Speaker: Ps Sydney Igbokwe
Text: Mathew 17:19-21
Fasting is a crucial Spiritual tool for the believer. Fasting is not just a religious duty, as it seems but a necessary spiritual routine that every Christian must constantly engage regularly. The power of the early church can be traced to a church that saw Fasting as a means to seek God intentionally and through out scriptures we see God engage deeply with Men that took out time to seek him in Prayer and fasting. The Ministry of Jesus typifies a ministry laden with Fasting as its bedrock. From the moment Jesus was Baptized till his Ascension we could see the hallmarks of the effect of Fasting and Prayers in His ministry.
It is therefore very important for us believers to make a deep Commitment to seek God through the process of fasting and Prayer
The Apostles were faced with a perplexing situation of a child with Palsy and after praying and do all they could the Child was not healed.
Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. Mathew 17:19-21
Why we Fast?
- To Humble our Soul before God- Psalm 35:13, Psalm 69:10
- To Seek the Lord- Daniel 9:3, Joel 2:12, 2 Chronicles 20:3
- For Repentance- Joel 1:14, Joel 2:15, Jonah 3:5
- To generate Spiritual Power in our inner Man – Mark 9:29, Mathew 17:20
- To seek the Lord for intervention- 2 Sam 12:16-17
- To Seek God’s Direction, even for Your Family – Ezra 8:21; Acts 13:2-3
- To Seek God’s favor among Men- Esther 4:16
- To Loose the bands of Wickedness, Undo Heavy Burdens, Let the oppressed go free, break every Yoke – Isaiah 58:6-7
- Jesus our Example Fasted- Luke 4:1-2
- A call, a Command – Mathew 9:15, Mathew 6:16, Luke 5:33-35
How to Fast
- Be Specific
- Combine with Prayer and the Word
- Be time Specific
- Have and Expectation
- Exclude Food- Dan 10:2-3; Exo 34:28
- On a Long Fast drink fluids regularly to stay hydrated
When to Fast?
- When there is a Corporate Call
- When there is a Burden in your heart
- Regularly to go deeper with God as we seek to Know more of Jesus.
Prayers
- Lord release grace and capacity for Fasting and Prayer
- Open my eyes to see the Vision for my Life