BLESSING AND BREAKTHROUGH FROM GOD BY FASTING!

Objective: To encourage our people to fast and to see the power and deliverance of the Spirit of God working in our lives more and more as we fast and seek the Lord! God will do miracles in our lives as we pray and in particular as we fast, amen!

Isaiah 58: 6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?”

 a) What do we desire to see the Lord do in our lives?

New Job?, marriage partner?, character issues?, friendship problems?, study difficulties? Need a new house?

1 John 3: 21, 22 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. One of those “commandments” is to fast! Another is to desire His will (1 John 5: 14) Jesus says “when we fast” not if: Matt 6: 17, 18 But you, WHEN you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 

 b) What do we need from God today? 

Isaiah 55: 6, 7 Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. 

1. FAST WHEN FACING PERSONAL CHALLENGES: 

Mark 9: 23, 24 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Mark 9: 28, 29 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” 

Matt 17: 19 – 21 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief (or “little faith”); for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Fasting and prayer can get us to the place of faith, from which we can receive the miracle from the Lord! 

c) NOTE: when should we NOT fast? 

Isaiah 58: 3  ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ “In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your laborers. When we want God to do what we want! To indulge myself! When God has already told you what to do! When we are striving and trying to impress God with our ability to fast! When you want to tell other people about your fasting. 

 2. FAST WHEN FACED WITH OVERWHELMING ODDS: 

2 Chron 20: 1 – 4 It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. 2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. 

The Lord sent a prophetic word and gave King Jehoshaphat specific instructions, which he obeyed. The Lord then brought confusion into the enemy ranks which resulted in a great miraculous deliverance for God’s people!

3. FAST WHEN SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND: 

The prophet Daniel saw many visions and dreams regarding the future and he wanted to know and understand more about what the Lord was showing him:

Daniel 10: 2, 3 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. 

Daniel 10: 12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.” 

Note that fasting is a good way to humble ourselves before the Lord! Psalm 35: 13 “But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; and my prayer would return to my own heart.”

4. FAST WHEN NEEDING DIRECTION: 

Saul of Tarsus was shocked after Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus and then fasted and prayed in order to know what God wanted him to do:

Acts 9: 3 – 9 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 

Ezra sought the Lord for protection and for direction in the way to travel:

Ezra 8: 21 – 23 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” 23 So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer. 

CONCLUSION: Praying and seeking the Lord is essential to all of our lives. But sometimes we encounter situations in our lives that are not normal. We need extra advice, understanding, power, breakthrough, protection, direction, or deliverance that we do not normally require. Fasting is then the tool and strategy that the Lord provides in order for us to receive the blessing and the breakthrough, amen!  

Written by Ps Brendan Kirby, Hope Adelaide