Understanding the Power of Fasting

A message preached by Dr. Myles Munroe. It can be found on YouTube under the same title.

---

---

TEXTS:

Micah 4:1 | Exodus 25:40; 40:33, 34 | Matthew 13:11 | Esther 4:16 | Psalm 109:24 | Jeremiah 36:9 | Daniel 9:2, 3 | Joel 2:12 | Jeremiah 18:7, 8 | Isaiah 58:3, 4

Fasting is the kingdom key to power in prayer. You can pray and still not get results, but it is impossible to pray and fast and not get results.

Prayer is common – Prayer is not unique to the Christian. Other religions (Muslims, Buddhists, and Satanists etc.) pray. It is unfortunate that other religions pray even more than Christians.

Prayer is not an option for true believers – It is a necessity; we are commanded to pray

Prayer is the most common experience of the believer – It is the most common thing you are supposed to do. Every Christian and new believer is encouraged to pray.

It is the most talked about point but the least practiced. We’d rather do other things than pray.

People don’t pray because they don’t get results.

This is why the prayer meeting always has the smallest attendance.

---

The Prayer Principle

Without God man cannot do anything on earth and without man God will not do anything on earth.

Prayer is a partnership between the divine and mankind.

What happens on earth depends on you.

Matthew 18:19 – The profound implication of this verse is that the hosts of heaven are waiting for at least two humans to come together and agree in faith-filled prayer.

Earth depends on heaven to get things done, while heaven depends on earth for permission to do it.

Prayer is really earthly license for heavenly interference through man’s agency of faith. What happens here depends on what we believe God can do.

Prayer is not an option but a necessity.

From Christ’s teaching on prayer early in His ministry, we get the message that prayer is not an option. He says, “But when ye pray…” signifying that He takes it for granted that we will pray (Matthew 6:7).

There is no gift of prayer in the Bible because it is not a gift, everyone is supposed to do it.

It is not a ministry for the few, it is a necessity for all. No one praying for you can replace you praying for yourself.

Fasting can be described as a plunger that unclogs the pipe…

Dr. Myles Munroe

Having a recipe for baking and actually baking are two different things. So also, studying prayer and praying are different. Don’t just study, read, or listen to others talking about prayer, PRAY!

Prayer is petition (a legal appeal or demand placed on a government based on constitutional rights protected by lay).

Therefore, you cannot beg in prayer. It is business. God wants to do something on the earth so you enter into an agreement with Him in prayer consecrating yourself as a channel through which His purposes can be fulfilled.

Fasting can be described as a plunger that unclogs the pipe that allows God to flow through a man. Food clogs up your channel and fasting clears it up.

The flesh is the greatest blessing and it is also your greatest curse. It is a blessing because you need it to be on this earth and it can be a curse if it rules over you. Fasting is a tool that we use to bring the flesh to where it belong. Fasting puts your body where it belongs – under your spirit.

---

The Effects of Fasting

Fasting changes you

Fasting doesn’t change God

Fasting is the most important aspect of prayer.

Fasting increases our spiritual capacity – God is looking for people who have capacity to sustain what He wants to do.

Fleshly appetites have clogged up the pipes of people who claim to God’s people. They call on God to heal the land but they are a closed channel that God cannot work with.

There is no problem with the supply of God, the problem is with the channel – man that is a clogged pipe.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

II Chronicles 7:14 (kjv)

The humble in this verse actually means those who fast.

By fasting we humble ourselves before God. If you want God to heal a big problem you need a big pipe.

If there is something you have been struggling with that you know you’re supposed to have and that it is in God’s will for you to have it, it may be time for you to employ the power of fasting and prayer.

Fasting is the most powerful force is prayer, it takes away every hindrance. This is why the devil and the flesh keep struggling to prevent you from fasting.

More work is done by fasting and prayer than work itself.

Fasting breaks habits and spiritual bondage – It is not just habits like smoking, things like entertainment and movies too. If you keep praying for God to take some things away, fast.

Fasting quietens the heart to hear God’s voice – There is no distraction in the mind when the body is under control.

Fasting brings Godly intimacy – When you begin to give away control over your body, you attract God to your spirit. Prove that God is priority by putting away your own desires (Jeremiah 29:13).

When you know you have paid the highest price you can walk in and make spiritual demands, there are some things that you can’t do just by asking. There must be something behind you (a fast) pushing you.

David, though a king, also recognized the need to fast (Psalm 109:24). Daniel had power beyond prayer because he fasted (Daniel 9:3).

When you come back to God you must leave your flesh behind. How can you convince God that you are sincere seeker if you are not willing to deny your flesh (Joel 2:12)?

When you come before God, you can change the destiny of a country (Jeremiah 18:7, 8).

---

What is fasting?

Fasting is the willful (no one is forcing you) abstaining from natural pleasures (applies to any natural pleasure) for a spiritual purpose. Tearing away your pleasures from you. It is not just missing a meal, it is spiritual. You seek God.

Jesus went into the wilderness to fast.

Moses went up a mountain to fast.

On a fast you stay away from people who have no positive impact on your life.

You must protect your environment when you fast.

You do that because you are trying to clean up your spirit.

Fasting a personal commitment to renounce the natural to invoke the spiritual

Renounce the control of the flesh.

It is like consecration – you set yourself before God. I want God and nothing else.

Fasting is the dedication to a period of time to devote oneself to spiritual priority of prayer without food.

You can do a progressive fast if you have medical conditions that prevent you from a full fast.

Eventually you will increase your capacity.

Fasting brings healing speedily.

You’ll be amazed how well you’ll live on a fast.

Fasting is not dieting. It is replacing of the word of God and prayer with meals.

It means spending time with God any opportunity you have.

Man shall not live by bread alone (Matthew 4:4). The word of God is spiritual food.

You replace your normal activities with spiritual pursuits.

Fasting demands dedicating time for meditation.

God will deal with you if you deal with Him.

Meditation is important in fasting. It gives you time to hear from God.

Fasting requires spending much time in the word.

Read chunks of the word.

You become so disciplined with time when you fast. You don’t have the energy for anything but the necessary.

You don’t spend large time cooking.

You’ll find you can get more done when you fast.

Your mind is free to think without distractions.

God gives you answers to questions quickly because your spirit in tuned in to hear Him.

Fasting makes your brain sharp. Retention and memory.

Fasting cleans up your life. Gets rid of the people who you have no business dealing with.

Fasting is consecration before God (Isaiah 58:3, 4) – NIV version.

You must make sure you’re focused on God.

Keep your attitude right when you are on a fast.

It is possible to waste your time fasting if you don’t do it the right way.

---

Attitude in fasting

Matthew 4:2, 3; 6:18 | II Chronicles 20:3 | Acts 13:2; 14:2

You body is designed by God to last without food for 40 days. Starvation doesn’t set in till after 40 days of abstinence. The hunger you feel after a couple of hours of fasting is for the habit of eating and not as a result of starvation.

You’re not fasting to please men but to please God.

The results of your fast is what people should see not that you are fasting (Matthew 6:16-18).

The church that Paul attended didn’t just pray, they fasted.

Paul was chosen by his church during a fast (Acts 13:2).

It is then that you will be open to the spirit of discernment.

When you are making choices that will affect your life you need to enquire of the Lord. You need to fast.

Comment & Share

Feel free to drop a comment
if you have any and
please don’t forget to share
if this helped you.

Contact