While You Fast
As we come to the close of the first phase of our prayer and fasting, it is important that we do not leave any stones unturned. In this issue, we will focus mainly on the works of the flesh and their relationship to spiritual warfare. As you read it, rely wholly on the Holy Spirit to help you maneuver areas in your life that may need to be dealt with in prayer.
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19 NKJV).
A story is told of one of the desert fathers called St Anthony of Egypt. He left an affluent background, gave all his inheritance to the poor, and moved to the desert to wait on God as a hermit. After a while, his name was in every household and many young men wished to follow his footsteps. One such young man gave all his wealth to the poor and kept a few to sustain him while he waited on God. When he came to St. Anthony, he was instructed to go to the village, buy meat and cover his naked body with it, and later return to him. The young man did as instructed, birds and dogs tore at his flesh. St. Anthony inquired if he had done as instructed, and he showed him his wounds, as evidence of his obedience.
St. Antony said to him, “Those who leave the world to follow Jesus and keep something for themselves are torn this way by demons who make war on them”
Before we move to the next phase of our prayer and fasting, take note of the last phrase in the Scripture mentioned above, “Those who practice these things will not inherit the Kingdom realm of God”. The kingdom is where your blessing and breakthroughs are. Ephesian 1:3, and 2Peter 1: 3-4 both tell us that God has blessed us with all spiritual blessing in the Heavenly realm. To inherit these things, we have to walkout our salvation and as mentioned in the previous article; put to death the works of the flesh. The presence of these things in our lives attracts demonic warfare and our Christian experience is reduced to putting out fires and attacks in our lives.
Why does the Lord insist on afflicting our soul/ flesh?
In Genesis 3, after the fall of man, two important things happened that determined the scope of Satan’s authority:
- In verse 14, Adonai Elohim said to the serpent, “Because you did this, cursed are you above all the livestock and above every animal of the field. On your belly will you go, and dust will you eat all the days of your life.
I will put animosity between you and the woman between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will crush his heel.” - In verse 17, “Of the man He said, cursed is the ground because of you. With pain will you eat of it all the days of your life. Thorns and thistles will sprout for you. You will eat the plants of the field, by the sweat of your brow will you eat food, until you return to the ground, since from it were you taken for you are dust, and to dust will you return.”
Here we see that the only connection that Satan has with the created man is the flesh (dust), hence the reason the Lord has ordained prayer as fasting a tool to overpower even the most resistant of demons. His authority is limited to the flesh realm and if we can crucify the flesh with its affections, then Satan will have nothing in common with us. Remember the words of Jesus before the crucifixion, “The prince of this world is coming, and he has nothing in common with me” (John 14:30). This is the place you want to be before you start operating in the next phase of your fast, where Satan has nothing in common with you.
No one is perfect!
This is a common phrase we use to dress our struggles, but what does the bible say?
- Genesis 17 :1 – And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between Me and thee and will multiply thee exceedingly.
- 1 Peter 1:13- 15 – Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 – Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
- Ephesians 5:25-27 – Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it. That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy.
- Matthew 5:20 – For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
We can go on and on about the High calling that Jesus has called us to and if we desire to enter the kingdom realm and bring other with us (revival). His grace is an empowerment to put to death the works of the flesh. No wonder Evan Roberts of the Welch revival prayed, “Break me oh Lord, bend me oh Lord.” After the church mourned and afflicted their souls, crying to God to remove their fleshly deeds, God added 100,000 souls to the kingdom through them.
This is not a fast like any other, you are desperate for God to move in certain areas of your life in this year ; pray the prayer of Evan Roberts if you would, examine your life where the deeds of the flesh are concerned and after you have overcome your flesh, your faith in Him will soar and nothing shall be impossible for you.
Return with all your heart
We are used to jumping right into prayer and listing our expectations before God, but now we know that it is not the multitude of words that move God but the condition of the heart. Borrow the words of Joel the Prophet in Joel 2:12-15, “Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. And rend your heart and not your garments and turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repented him of the evil. Who knoweth if He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly.”
What now?
In the next few days:
- Cry out to God for His mercy and loving kindness over your imperfections (Psalms 63:3)
- Ask Him for grace to empower you to crucify the flesh and its affections (Galatians 5:24)
- By His grace seek to be in the Spirit always (Galatians 5:25)
Meditative Psalm 42
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all day: “Where is your God? “These things I remember as I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go along with the throng, walking with them to the House of God, with a voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping a festival. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why are you murmuring within me? Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, for the salvation of His presence. My God, my soul is downcast within me! Therefore, I remember You from the land of Jordan and from the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mitzar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls.
All Your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day Adonai commands His love, and at night His song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life. I will say to God my Rock: “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go about mourning, under the oppression of the enemy?” As with a crushing in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, by saying to me all day, “Where is your God? “Why are you downcast, O my soul Why are you murmuring within me? Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, the salvation of my countenance and my God (Tree of life translation)
Shalom
