I Hate Fasting But I Do it Anyway, Here's Why...

I hate fasting but, I do it anyway. For as long as I remember I have started my year with a week of prayer, fasting and consecration. Here's a blog I wrote a few years ago that explains why I fast...

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When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Jesus said that our heavenly Father rewards fasting. Following are seven rewards of fasting:

1. Fasting turns back God’s wrath and judgment.
Moses recorded that God was angry enough to destroy Aaron and the children of Israel because of their gold cow idol (Dt 9:18-20). But, as we know, God’s wrath was turned back after Moses fasted and prayed. There has been much said and written the past few years about God’s wrath and judgment on different nations. I’m convinced that Christians can turn back God’s judgment through fasting and prayer. Of course that will never happen unless God’s people get more concerned about the next generation than their next meal

2. Fasting releases prophetic strategies for victory.
The Moabites, Amonites, and several other hostile nations were arrayed against Israel. (See 2 Chr 20:1-30.) King Jehoshaphat called for a fast. You know you are in a desperate situation when a guy nicknamed J-PHAT calls for a fast. During the fast, a prophetic word was given that laid out God’s strategy for their battle. “No swords. No shields. No spears. Get your tambourines ready, we’re going to war!” I’m sure there were some battle-hardened warriors who thought that word was way off. After all, “We’ve never fought a battle like that before.” As always, God knew best. If we are willing to skip a few meals, we may receive prophetic strategies to influence our cities for God’s glory. They may be new and untried strategies, but if they are from God, we can be confident they will work.

3. Fasting activates people and provision for God’s work.
Nehemiah’s building project was preceded by corporate fasting. Would it have been as successful without the fasting? I don’t think so. In 1984, God opened the door for our fledgling Manila church to have its own (rented) building in Manila’s crowded University-Belt as we fasted and prayed.  Each time our church has expanded to a new building to own or rent, a vital part of our fund-raising strategy has been prayer and fasting.

4. Fasting releases wisdom and favor.
Daniel and his friends went on a partial fast (vegetables and water only). At the end of the fast, they were compared with the rest of the young men of Babylon. The results are recorded in Daniel 1:20. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. Would you like to be ten times better than your competitors? Just lay off the pizza for a few days and seek God wholeheartedly.

5. Fasting clarifies and redirects callings and ministries.
Paul, Barnabas, and a few other Antioch church leaders were me eting together, and while they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said: set apart for me Barnabas . . . (Acts 13:1-3). While they were fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke. Would He have spoken this new direction even if they had not fasted? Probably. The real question is: Would they have been sensitive enough to hear the Holy Spirit speak if they had not fasted? Maybe. Maybe not. Are you seeking God for a new direction in your life or ministry? Good time to fast.

6. Fasting breaks demonic strongholds.
On one occasion, the disciples unsuccessfully attempted to cast out a demon. When they asked Jesus why they had failed, He responded:  this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting (Matt 17:21). This seems to indicate that there are certain demonic situations that, for one reason or another, can only be defeated through fasting. Isaiah said that true fasting will loose chains . . . untie the cords of yoke . . . set the oppressed free and break every yoke (Is 58:6). Have you ever encountered a stubborn demonic situation? Maybe it’s the kind that only goes out by prayer and fasting.

7. Fasting increases spiritual power.
Luke records that Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit and that He was led by the Spirit.  After His forty day fast, He returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit (Lk 4:1,14). How many Christians do you know who are full of the Spirit and led by the Spirit, but do not walk in the power of the Spirit? Need more power? Spiritual power is one of the rewards of fasting.

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This blog was originally an article called "Freedom From the Stomach God" written for Evangelicals Today magazine. I edited it, made it much shorter and posted it here. Hope it helps those who are starting 2008 with a season of fasting and prayer.

Also, I recently wrote several fasting blogs on my "accidental missionary" site. The first was called "I Hate Fasting."

(Note: We encourage only healthy adults to fast. If you are pregnant or nursing, you should not fast. If you have any medical condition, you should check with your doctor before fasting.)

Comments

[Emu]

Amen Dante!

[Marnie Gaite]

Dear Pastor Steve:
I read your blog of January 9, 2012 “I Hate Fasting But I Do It Anyway, Here’s Why…” While I read through each reward of Prayer and Fasting, I also read the biblical references in the blog.
When I got to #6 Fasting Breaks Demonic Possession and looked up Matthew 17, I noticed that verse 21 is omitted in NIV online version. I thought it was merely a typographical error. So, I got my NIV bible and I was surprised to find out that my hard copy does not have Matthew 17:21 either. I pulled my other English Standard Version too and I was surprised that it too did not have Matthew 17:21 including the online version. I pulled the King James Version (both old and new) online, and both versions have Matthew 17:21 that said, “21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”
I was wondering if the error was intentional or it happened inadvertently. When I read the whole passages of Matthew 17:14-21, it would make imperfect sense that Jesus was emphasizing about faith in Matthew 17:20 “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,” and went on to say in verse 21 that removing demonic possession can only be done through prayer and fasting. One would assume that there must be an error in translation from the original language, and Jesus cannot be contradicting Himself from one point to the next.
But, when I reached point #7 Prayer Increases Spiritual Power, and I read through chapter 4 of the book of Luke, it confirmed in my heart that Jesus meant to emphasize prayer and fasting in Matthew 17:21. Luke chapter 4 narrated how Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where He fasted and prayed for 40 days, and afterwards became hungry. At that point, the devil tempted Him to no avail as Jesus came out of it in full power of the Spirit. So, it is just saying that fights with the devil himself would require stronger Spirit in us which can only be acquired through prayer and fasting.
Actually, I checked other bible versions too (I just can’t remember their exact names) that have omitted this verse. BTW, I saw the online versions in biblegateway.com.
I think I make sense, but I still don’t understand why two bible versions: NIV and ESV would omit Matthew 17:21. I would hate for this error to remain unrectified. Is this something that had come to your attention?
Thanks again for writing this blog on Prayer and Fasting. I always love reading your articles or blogs. God bless…