FASTING

In Matthew 17:14-21 we read that the disciples encountered a demon in a young boy that they could not cast out because of a spirit of unbelief. Unbelief hinders a believer in dealing with strongholds and it takes faith to route the enemy. Stubborn spirits that refuse to leave need to be dealt with specifically. They are strong, proud, arrogant and defiant. It takes a greater anointing to dislodge them and get them to leave. You can obtain a certain amount of victory, but there are normally areas in every believer’s life that you just don’t seem to get the victory in and you are defeated in these areas on an ongoing basis. These are works of the flesh that are deep-rooted, stubborn and just won’t go away. You have thought to yourself, I wonder if I will ever get victory in this area of my life?

The solution, the key to gaining the victory in these areas is fasting and praying. This an area that is not too popular and it requires discipline and effort. But when it is applied, it is the key that will allow you to gain victory over the flesh by growing your spirit. Get this. If you overcome your flesh, you will overcome the enemy. The nature of your flesh includes the physical, emotional and mental realm.

Mathew 17:21 (NKJV) However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.

However, meaning, nevertheless or however the situation may be, even though you can move mountains with faith the size of a mustard seed, there will be some situations that will only be overcome by prayer and fasting. This is Jesus speaking.

Fasting does not move God, it moves you. The limitation to your breakthrough lies in your flesh. In order to get your breakthrough in the area that won’t move you need to build your spirit up into a position where it is more powerful than your flesh. You may have a stronghold in your flesh that causes you to be limited and the enemy uses that stronghold to control you. We all have or have had strongholds that control us. There is one area that we can’t get a breakthrough in. We pray and never seem to get the breakthrough and eventually we can feel defeated in this area as the enemy retains control. The more we pray, the more hopeless we feel. Did you ever feel like that?

When you add fasting to your prayer you begin to loosen the enemy’s grip and access to the control over your life. As you fast and pray the operation of our flesh begins to weaken and the operation of our Spirit begins to increase and get stronger. Eventually, they are both at the same level and as you push in the operation of the Spirit overtakes the operation of the flesh. The power of your flesh is broken! When this happens, prayers that you have prayed many times before are suddenly answered and things that you have been believing for come to pass. What has happened here is that you have broken the power of the limitation that operates in your flesh and you have released the operation of your spirit.

Our fasting does not move God; it moves us to a position where we can receive from God. Fasting destroys the hold that the flesh has on our lives to get us to the position where we operate out of a position of strength. The Spirit of God never withholds His power, we limit the power in our flesh. YOUR BODY – THE OLD WINESKIN The instant you were born again, your spirit was immediately seated in heavenly places with Jesus. But your body, the old man remained and you still have your old manner of thinking, your mind. That is why you need to put off the old man, your flesh daily. You have to renew your mind, your old way of thinking on a daily basis in order to walk in victory over them. Get it? Daily. One day, in the twinkling of an eye, that’s about a millisecond, your body will be transformed from corruption to incorruptible. You will become a son of God, comprised of your spirit, soul and a glorified body which is incorruptible.

1 Corinthians 15:52 (NKJV) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. So, we still live in a body, called the flesh that is perishing day by day, that causes us to sin. Your flesh or your old wineskin needs to be dealt with on an ongoing basis. How?

Galatians 5:16 (NKJV) I say then: walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Your spirit is sealed with Jesus, but your flesh and mind remain, that needs renewing and resisted, daily. Fasting, however, will preserve your old wineskin (body) so that the new wine (spiritual power) can be held in it until such time you get a new wineskin, your glorified body. Fasting helps you mortify the works of your flesh while the new wine is poured into your old wineskin. It helps mortify the works of the flesh whilst the new wine works within the old wineskin. Fasting shuts down the works of the flesh and strengthens you in your spirit against the works of the enemy.

TYPES OF FASTS NB. All fasts should be discussed with someone who is experienced at fasting before you decide to fast. And if you have any medical condition you must consult your doctor before embarking on any fast. • Water fasts – e.g. 3,7,21 and 40-day water fasts • Partial fast – e.g. 6 am - 6 pm • Dry fast – No food or water. One day only • Daniel fast – this is the most adaptable fast, especially if you are working and a complete water fast is not possible. Let’s focus on the 21-Day Daniel Fast

Daniel Fast Guideline (NB. If you suffer from any medical condition check with your doctor before you fast).

What is a Daniel Fast? The Daniel Fast is a biblically-based partial fast of 21-days. Not everyone who is working a full-time job is able to do a full water fast, so therefore a partial Daniel Fast is ideal. In the book of Daniel, we see that the prophet ate vegetables, fruit and drank water only. So the guideline from Daniel is that: • Only fruit and vegetables • Only water for drinking In Daniel 10 we see that the Prophet abstained from meat and wine and all fine food for 21-days. The guideline here is • No sweetener or sugar and no bread.

How to prepare for a Daniel fast • Decide to do the fast • Decide the dates of the fast (preferably a Monday morning after the weekend church services) • If you can cut down on the fancy foods and cut out coffee three days before the start, then do so. This will assist you in coping with the detox that will take approx. 3 days to work itself out of your system • Decide what you need to cut out for the 21-day period in order for the fast to be effective. E.g. TV which will free up a lot of time for you to press in. • Decide what amount of time you will spend in prayer and reading the Word daily. E.g. Wake up earlier than normal and pray and read the Word. In the evening determine to do the same How to begin spiritually • Decide what you need a breakthrough in before the fast • Record these areas e.g. Do you need direction/do you need a breakthrough with your children/ do you need a breakthrough in your marriage/ do you need a financial breakthrough? • Record the corporate areas that you will be praying through for your church e.g. Finances/the building project etc. • Attend every prayer meeting and service possible • What to expect during the fast • Your body will detox, causing some discomfort such as headaches, irritability and discomfort that will last about three days. You need to be determined to carry on during this time • Take time to rest in order to adjust • Expect to draw closer to God • Expect breakthrough for your goals • Expect yourself to be strengthened spiritually • It will be easier to overcome sinful habits • Your prayer will be more focused • Expect resistance from the enemy as he does not want you to go to a higher level and to obtain breakthrough How to succeed in your fast • Persevere. Be determined to finish the fast • Read the Word and pray every day. The more the better • It helps if you fast with others in order to encourage one another Some pointers • Avoid prepared foods • Stick to raw unsalted nuts • Protein is gained from: almonds, sunflower seeds, lentils, brown rice, split peas, whole grains and tofu • Olive oil and lemon juice is a good salad dressing • If you must eat bread it must be prepared without yeast • Eat until you are satisfied Foods that you can eat: All fruit e.g. apples, apricots, avocado, banana, berries, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, coconut, cranberries, dates, figs, grapefruit, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, guava, melons, kiwifruit, lemon, limes, mango, mulberry, nectarines, olives, oranges, papaya, peaches, pears, pineapple, plums, prunes, raisins, watermelon Vegetables: fresh, juiced, frozen, dried or canned (check salt content) Artichokes, asparagus, beetroot, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chilli, corn, cucumber, garlic, ginger, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, parsley, peppers, potatoes, radish, spinach, sprouts, squash, sweet potatoes, tomato, turnips, watercress, zucchini, mushroom. The Perfect Prayer 139 Legumes: Dried beans, black beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black-eyed peas, peas, kidney beans, peanuts. Seeds: All nuts, sprouts, ground flax, cashews, walnuts, sunflower, sesame, almonds. Whole grains: Whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, rolled oats, plain oatmeal, barley, whole-wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, plain rice cakes, popcorn (unsalted). Liquids: Water, unsweetened soy milk, herbal tea, 100% fruit/veg. juice (no sugar). Foods to avoid: All animal products incl. meat, poultry and fish, white rice, white flour, all deep-fried foods, caffeine, coffee, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, all preservatives, refined foods, processed food, food additives, raw sugar, syrup, molasses, cane juice, white bread, margarine, butter, shortening, all fat products, baked goods, all dairy, milk, cheese, yoghurt, cream, eggs, alcohol, mayonnaise and dressings.