Proclaim A Fast!

PROCLAIM A FAST!

I am calling believers worldwide to engage in regular fasting and prayer throughout the remaining period of Year 2017

I am beginning a series on The Weapon of Fasting and Praying.

Fasting is the abstinence of food for a spiritual purpose. it is one of the means to appropriate the supernatural power, blessing and the presence of God.

Matthew 6:16

¹⁶ Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Jesus said when you fast which means fasting is not an option but a demand. He didn’t say if we fast. But believers today do not regard fasting as they should, maybe because it is not preached much during services these days or maybe because of laziness. In any case please understand today that fasting is not an option. It is a demand from Jesus.

Mark 2:18-20

¹⁸ And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?

¹⁹ And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

²⁰ But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

From the scripture above, we understand that the bridegroom is Jesus while the bride is the church. Today is the day that Jesus said “in those days they shall fast”

So in summary

1. Fasting is not an option but a demand

2. Christ demanded His disciples to fast

3. Fasting must be a lifestyle of the Christian

4.  Fasting must be the mark of a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

5. Fasting is a means to appropriate power and presence: if you want to appropriate the presence of God through fasting, you will become sensitive to the presence of God.

FASTING IS OF TWO KINDS.

1. The fasting initiated by God.

2. The fast you pursue in your own faith.

1. The fasting initiated by God

This is the fast that God wants you to pursue. God initiates fasting to you for many reasons some of which is when he wants to impact a blessing to you, maybe he wants to take you to another level in ministry, in your family, job, spiritual gift etc. and wants to position you to be able to receive the blessing when it comes. The urge becomes so strong to engage in fasting and in most cases he removes the appetite.

You will often feel the urge within your heart to fast. You will suddenly feel that your appetite has disappeared. What a privilege!  Phil2:13

2. The Fast you pursue in your faith

The fast you pursue in your own faith is when you fast for a purpose. This could be a fast to seek the face of God in a situation or circumstance. It could also be a means to show your hunger to God.

Fasting is not a price you pay to receive a blessing. The price has already been paid by Jesus on the cross of Calvary, fasting is not also a means to make God answer our prayers faster.

Fasting helps your spirit to receive answers to your prayers that has already been answered. Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in a transformed life.

Joel 1:14

¹⁴ Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord,

Fasting is vital especially today, based on so many reasons:

Lots of Christians have lost their passion for the works of the ministry, there first love. And many are battling on how to get it back. If you truly want to catch the fire again just as the period you gave your life to Christ. FAST! It is the easiest means to resurrect the fire within.

Secondly, spiritual warfare is on the increase today, some things that wouldn’t require prayers before now requires prayer because Satan and his cohorts are working hard like never before to frustrate believer’s round the globe

Thirdly I recommend fasting for any one facing any form of crises. The need to fast should arise when you face a situation

In summary the four basic purpose of fast are to

(A) Humble ourselves before God

(B)  Seek Gods presence

(C) To Receive revelation

(D)To Seek guidance and leading of the spirit in a matter

Joel 2:12

¹² Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning