GODLY PRAYER, WITH FASTING, RELEASES BREAKTHROUGH SPIRITUAL POWER.

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: GODLY PRAYER, WITH FASTING, RELEASES BREAKTHROUGH SPIRITUAL POWER.

When Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil, He entered into a prolonged season of prayer and FASTING - 40 days in all (without bread or water). And Luke records (4:14) that after that time He returned IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT.

Now Jesus was continually anointed of God (since His baptism) - but something was clearly released in a whole new dimension through that period of prayer and fasting. Otherwise Luke wouldn't have mentioned it the way that he does.

GODLY PRAYER, WITH FASTING, RELEASES BREAKTHROUGH SPIRITUAL POWER.

Now Jesus knew this great value of fasting, and it seems that He developed a lifestyle of prayer and fasting. It's clear He has been fasting prior to this incident with the demon-possessed boy (He cast it out and said the reason He is been able to was because this kind only come out by prayer and fasting. What's the implication? Jesus had been fasting.)

Jesus was ready for every occasion of life and ministry BECAUSE He developed a lifestyle of prayer with fasting. THERE IS GREAT POWER RELEASED THROUGH THESE PRINCIPLES.

Now you ask me WHY? Well, to be honest, I don't understand it all. But then there is a lot about prayer that is divine mystery. Why does God move in answer to prayer? Why does He require us to pray? I don't know! But I know the truth of it.

"PRAYER IS THE SIMPLEST FORM OF SPEECH THAT INFANT LIPS CAN TRY PRAYER THE SUBLIMEST STRAINS THAT REACH THE MAJESTY ON HIGH."

E.M. Bounds wrote: God cause is committed to men; God commits Himself to men.
PRAYING MEN are the vice regents of God; they do His work and carry out His plans.

I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER! I believe it is ordained of God! God does NOTHING except in answer to believing prayer.

And why is FASTING so productive in releasing spiritual power? I don't have the full answer to that, but the Word of God teaches it is so.

BUT if I could share some thoughts of what FASTING is all about, I see fasting as vital in prayer because of THREE things:

A.) FASTING REMINDS US OF OUR HUMANITY. It's always good to be reminded of our humanity when we come to God. To come to God feeling a sense of helplessness is NOT a handicap but a head start. It casts us upon God. It makes us dependent - and, oh, how most of us hate to feel dependant!

B.) FASTING HUMBLES US. Or it should do. There is a self-denial involved. We deny the physical appetites of our body for a time, to humble ourselves before God who has all the answers for our lives.

C.) FASTING IS A SIGN OF OUR DESIRE. We are saying, when we fast, that seeking God is more important to us than the daily routine of finding food for ourselves. We have a passion for God that supercedes everything else. (NOT trying to twist God’s arm, but a genuine display of the earnestness of our desire.)

So, fasting is VERY significant. But, sadly, it's overlooked by so many Christians today.

LET US PRAY
EVERY SPIRITUAL LOOKWARMNESS IN US DIE BY FIRE IN JESUS NAME.

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Good morning friends