As I’ve been seeking God in prayer he has been showing me more and more things that are need to “understand” in order to accomplish the things which burden his heart. For instance, how are we going to grow a youth ministry? How do we break through the spiritual walls of Gary? How do I break forth into a fruitful cell? How will I win souls at school? How do I walk in supernatural power and authority? What if I told you that God has given us the answer to those questions and many more?! HE HAS! Let’s look!
First off I’ll start by giving you the answer. The key to breaking yolks and walking in power and authority is by a 7 letter word that most of us have grown to hate – Fasting! God calls us to fast! As a matter of fact, for those who call themselves disciples God not only wants us to fast, but he EXPECTS us to! Lets take a look! (Get your bible ready!) Go to Matthew 6:16. I just want you to notice a few things! First off, in verse 16 he says “WHEN you fast…” then in verse 17 He again said, “WHEN you fast…” Jesus was teaching his disciples “WHEN you fast”, not “IF you fast”. What is significant about this though? Why would this affect us? He was speaking to his disciples wasn’t he? YES! He was! For those of us who love God, he not only calls us his disciples, but sons and daughters! I believe that there is an even greater level of consecration that come through being sons and daughters! We need to change our mindsets from “IF I fast”, to “WHEN I fast”. Take a closer look, he points even closer to this day and age in my opinion. In chapter 9 verse five, he said,"... the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then they will fast." He didn't say "then they might fast". We are now in this season that Jesus prophesied about! The need for fasting is greater than ever! Lets look closer to see what we get from this sacrifice!
We all know that fasting is not for God, but for us. This does not give God more supernatural power or ability. On the other hand, fasting gives us a supernatural power surge! It is a way for us to cleanse ourselves, push away the pleasures and let God shine forth. Less of us = More of God! Simple math. J
In Matthew Jesus gave his disciples authority over all kinds of sickness, all kinds of spirits, and to break every yolk, to cleanse the leaper, cast out demons, and raise the dead! But then they stumbled and failed when they came across a boy with some spirits!? Why? Shouldn’t they be able to with power over every spirit? Wouldn’t that boy be in this category? Later if we go on to read, God reveals and expresses the need for fasting again! (don’t worry it just gets more fun from here!)
After there encounter with the boy the disciples met with Jesus in private and asked him questions. They asked him “why could we not cast this demon out?” but notice Jesus’ answer is not pointed to Gods lack of power, because he already gave them ALL power; but to there unbelief! Then he went on to teach them about faith – not demons! Read the passage right now! The last thing He tells them in this passage is that "this kind only come out by prayer and FASTING". God placed these in this order for a reason though! First he starts by giving them all authority over evil spirits. Then the next minute they can’t cast out spirits!?he does this because there is an alignment that must take place but it can only take place through fasting, fasting is the key! Jesus goes on to say "This kind of doubt, this kind of unbelief...;ect."only come out by prayer and fasting! Fasting is crucial to spiritual authority!! they had power over all kinds, but they didn't have the faith to activate it!! They hadn't yet taken the time to seek God in prayer mixed with FASTING! Fasting brings a new kind of demon conquering faith! It brings council from heaven that releases MIGHT!! Let's look at this!
We all know the story of Jesus and his journey through the wilderness for 40 days. In Luke chapter 4 verse 1, Jesus was "filled" with the Holy Spirit. He is then led by the spirit into the wilderness, where He enters a 40 day fasting and prayer season. Now, look at verse 14 of chapter 4. It says "then Jesus returned (from the wilderness) in the POWER of the Holy Spirit"!! You see, you can be filled with the spirit, but after a fasting and prayer season, you will have the power of the spirit!! I tell you, that this world needs to experience the power of the spirit! And that’s exactly what separates us from Buddhists, from the Muslims, from the Mormons, and from the Hindus! The power of God!! We need it! We have to have it!! There is an anointing to match and overtake the extreme challenges of this time and day way live in!!
Fasting, when done the right way is called an "acceptable day" to the Lord! Isaiah 58 starting at verse 6 talks about "the kind" of fast the Lord has chosen for us, verse 6 lists what fasting does, it is to :"loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yolk!" Verse 7 goes on to list what you should do when fasting, "share your bread, give to the poor, cloth the naked, help other people" and then verse 8 starts listing what will happen if we do these things, ";your light shall break forth, your healing shall spring forth speedily, righteousness shall go before you, you shall be guarded by God's glory, and you shall call and the Lord will answer"! We see here that the list of blessing is bigger than the list of sacrifices. This passage is full of the richness of the Lord!!
All in all, if we can only get past the physical aspects of fasting, God catapults his people into power and authority through the passage way of fasting!
I hope this revelation changes you perception on fasting and launches you into the power and authority that God desires us to have as children and as sons and daughters!!!
Now is the Time
Written by Ronnie Johnson Tuesday, 11 September 2007 05:14
Lately I have been in deep hunger to understand. But as we all know that can be a tough thing sometimes, because God is a God of faith. For people like me who love to understand, this can be a tough thing! GIVE ME THE FACTS!As I’ve been seeking God in prayer he has been showing me more and more things that are need to “understand” in order to accomplish the things which burden his heart. For instance, how are we going to grow a youth ministry? How do we break through the spiritual walls of Gary? How do I break forth into a fruitful cell? How will I win souls at school? How do I walk in supernatural power and authority? What if I told you that God has given us the answer to those questions and many more?! HE HAS! Let’s look!
First off I’ll start by giving you the answer. The key to breaking yolks and walking in power and authority is by a 7 letter word that most of us have grown to hate – Fasting! God calls us to fast! As a matter of fact, for those who call themselves disciples God not only wants us to fast, but he EXPECTS us to! Lets take a look! (Get your bible ready!) Go to Matthew 6:16. I just want you to notice a few things! First off, in verse 16 he says “WHEN you fast…” then in verse 17 He again said, “WHEN you fast…” Jesus was teaching his disciples “WHEN you fast”, not “IF you fast”. What is significant about this though? Why would this affect us? He was speaking to his disciples wasn’t he? YES! He was! For those of us who love God, he not only calls us his disciples, but sons and daughters! I believe that there is an even greater level of consecration that come through being sons and daughters! We need to change our mindsets from “IF I fast”, to “WHEN I fast”. Take a closer look, he points even closer to this day and age in my opinion. In chapter 9 verse five, he said,"... the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then they will fast." He didn't say "then they might fast". We are now in this season that Jesus prophesied about! The need for fasting is greater than ever! Lets look closer to see what we get from this sacrifice!
We all know that fasting is not for God, but for us. This does not give God more supernatural power or ability. On the other hand, fasting gives us a supernatural power surge! It is a way for us to cleanse ourselves, push away the pleasures and let God shine forth. Less of us = More of God! Simple math. J
In Matthew Jesus gave his disciples authority over all kinds of sickness, all kinds of spirits, and to break every yolk, to cleanse the leaper, cast out demons, and raise the dead! But then they stumbled and failed when they came across a boy with some spirits!? Why? Shouldn’t they be able to with power over every spirit? Wouldn’t that boy be in this category? Later if we go on to read, God reveals and expresses the need for fasting again! (don’t worry it just gets more fun from here!)
After there encounter with the boy the disciples met with Jesus in private and asked him questions. They asked him “why could we not cast this demon out?” but notice Jesus’ answer is not pointed to Gods lack of power, because he already gave them ALL power; but to there unbelief! Then he went on to teach them about faith – not demons! Read the passage right now! The last thing He tells them in this passage is that "this kind only come out by prayer and FASTING". God placed these in this order for a reason though! First he starts by giving them all authority over evil spirits. Then the next minute they can’t cast out spirits!?he does this because there is an alignment that must take place but it can only take place through fasting, fasting is the key! Jesus goes on to say "This kind of doubt, this kind of unbelief...;ect."only come out by prayer and fasting! Fasting is crucial to spiritual authority!! they had power over all kinds, but they didn't have the faith to activate it!! They hadn't yet taken the time to seek God in prayer mixed with FASTING! Fasting brings a new kind of demon conquering faith! It brings council from heaven that releases MIGHT!! Let's look at this!
We all know the story of Jesus and his journey through the wilderness for 40 days. In Luke chapter 4 verse 1, Jesus was "filled" with the Holy Spirit. He is then led by the spirit into the wilderness, where He enters a 40 day fasting and prayer season. Now, look at verse 14 of chapter 4. It says "then Jesus returned (from the wilderness) in the POWER of the Holy Spirit"!! You see, you can be filled with the spirit, but after a fasting and prayer season, you will have the power of the spirit!! I tell you, that this world needs to experience the power of the spirit! And that’s exactly what separates us from Buddhists, from the Muslims, from the Mormons, and from the Hindus! The power of God!! We need it! We have to have it!! There is an anointing to match and overtake the extreme challenges of this time and day way live in!!
Fasting, when done the right way is called an "acceptable day" to the Lord! Isaiah 58 starting at verse 6 talks about "the kind" of fast the Lord has chosen for us, verse 6 lists what fasting does, it is to :"loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yolk!" Verse 7 goes on to list what you should do when fasting, "share your bread, give to the poor, cloth the naked, help other people" and then verse 8 starts listing what will happen if we do these things, ";your light shall break forth, your healing shall spring forth speedily, righteousness shall go before you, you shall be guarded by God's glory, and you shall call and the Lord will answer"! We see here that the list of blessing is bigger than the list of sacrifices. This passage is full of the richness of the Lord!!
All in all, if we can only get past the physical aspects of fasting, God catapults his people into power and authority through the passage way of fasting!
I hope this revelation changes you perception on fasting and launches you into the power and authority that God desires us to have as children and as sons and daughters!!!
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