Fasting...Prayer's Power Partner
 
Taken from Intercessors For America Newsletter
 

    What is fasting, and what is accomplished by this act of self-denial? In attempting to answer these questions, Intercessors For America has drawn from two excellent sources--GOD's Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis, and How To Fast Successfully by Derek Prince. Both books are highly recommended for further study.
 
    We strongly encourage the practice of fasting, for just as faith needs prayer for its full development and growth, prayer needs fasting for the same reason. Fasting is the act of abstaining from food. The Bible illustrates three types of fasts--the normal, absolute, and partial.
 
    The normal fast excludes food, solid or liquid, but not water. It may last as long as GOD directs. However, if you have never fasted before, it is best to start by omitting one meal a day and slowly working up to a more extended fast. The wilderness fast of Jesus is considered a normal fast. We read in Luke 4:2 that "He ate nothing during those days." Later it says "He became hungry" and the devil tempted Him to eat. Had Jesus fasted without water, the more intense desire at that point would have been to quench His thirst. All of this implies that He fasted without food, but not without water.
 
    In the absolute fast, one abstains from both eating and drinking. This type of fasting is not recommended for more than three days, unless supernaturally inspired by GOD. Adverse physical effects may occur if the body is without water for a longer period of time. Queen Esther directed Mordecai, "Fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens will fast in the same way" (Est. 4:16). The absolute fast is usually reserved for spiritual emergencies--after prayer and normal fasting have not secured the victory.
 
    The third type of fasting, the partial fast, emphasizes restriction of diet rather than total abstention. Only selected foods are omitted here. An example of this fast is found in Daniel 10:3. "I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth...until the entire three weeks were completed." A partial fast is convenient when circumstances or health do not permit the normal fast. Also, it can be used as a stepping stone to the normal fast by those who have never fasted before.
 
    Fasting is not harmful to the body if conducted properly. In fact, it is very good for the body. The stomach and digestive system are given an opportunity to rest. Blood which is usually involved in digestion is free to purify other areas of the body.
 
    Discomfort is not uncommon during a fast. GOD never intended for it to be pleasant. It is a time for denying ourselves the desires of the flesh to become more in tune with the Holy Spirit. We are showing our Heavenly Father that we are willing to sacrifice physically in order to communicate more clearly with Him, to attain all that He called us to receive (1Pet5:10), and for His kingdom work.
 
    GOD expects His people to fast. Jesus, instructing His disciples on fasting, said "...when you fast..."(Matt. 6:17). He did not say "if" you fast. Fasting is the rule in GOD's mind, not the exception.
 

    Fasting helps to rid our hearts of pride, and humble us before the LORD. The Psalmist said, "When I humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach" (Psalm 69:10). When we approach the LORD in prayer, we must do it with all humility and supplication. Fasting brings us to a state of humbleness that is acceptable to GOD.
 
    Our Father in Heaven listens more intently to our prayers when we fast. Ezra tell us, "So we fasted and sought our GOD concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty" (Ezra 8:23). If we truly want GOD to hear our prayers, we can demonstrate our sincerity by fasting.
 
    Fasting puts down our flesh, and increases our spiritual strength and awareness. This makes us more effective for spiritual warfare. "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12). Daniel knew that. He fasted, prayed, and sought the LORD for three weeks. During that same time span, a messenger of GOD enroute to Daniel was struggling against the spiritual forces of the kingdom of Persia. Finally, as a result of Daniel's persistent fasting and praying, the messenger was able to break through and reach Daniel. (Dan. 10:2-5, 11-13).
 
    As satan has strongholds today similar to those of the kingdom of Persia, we need to pray and fast as Daniel did to bring down these strongholds and reclaim that territory for GOD. Fasting enables us to be more sensitive to spiritual activity and to be a greater asset to GOD as He works His will through us.
 
 
 
 
 
GOD's work of baptism and circumcision Col2:11,12 for purging, refining,
sanctifying, washing away sin absolutely requires diligent fasting,
since soul salvation is thru or after full sanctification 2Thes2:13.
 
GOD in Job33 proves this:  
v20,21 fasting into higher grace v24 as in 1Pet2:3
and "access..into this grace" Rom5:2 or soul saving grace,
v26 sees His face, receives His righteousness,
v28 redeemed soul, eternal life and light,
v30 redeemed soul, enlightened to light of life.
 
GOD in flesh, Jesus, says "except by" and "nothing but" Mat17 and Mk9,
a clear demand for fasting "that He might deliver us" Gal1:4 into
true "partakers..having escaped" 2Pet1:4 which is His "true grace" 1Pet5:12.

 
 

Job33..24 Then He is gracious to him, and says, 'Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom';
26 He shall pray to GOD, and He will delight in him, he shall see His face with joy, for He restores to man His righteousness.
28 He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit, And his life shall see the light.
30 To bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

1Pet2..1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,
2 As newborn babes,
 
(babes in Christ 1Cor3:1 1Jn3:6)

3 if indeed you have tasted that the LORD is gracious.
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to GOD through Jesus Christ.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

 

Rom5..1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with GOD through our LORD Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of GOD.

 
Rom6..16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

 
 

23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 "And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of GOD."

Mat19 
 
 
Mat6:33:  seek the kingdom,   seek His righteousness,
both require a work of faith (belief) or "obedient faith."
 

 
GOD's kingdom:  thru...
 
Mat11:12  "violent take it"
 
Lk13:24  "strive to enter"
 
Jn10:9  "if enter...saved"
 
Jn3:5  must be born of GOD
 
Acts14:22  "thru tribulations"
 
2Pet1:10  "diligence" into 1:11,12
 
His kingdom is in Him  Rom14:17
 
very few in Him 1Jn2:6; 3:6
 
also born of GOD 1Jn3:9; 5
His righteousness:   thru obedient faith...
 
note: justify + set right is the same Greek
 
Rom2:13  doing the law justifies
 
Rom3; 4:12-16  Jam2  faith works
 
Gal2; 3 thru faith, copying Abraham
 
till
 
1Cor1:30  "in Christ" (of Him 1Jn3:9)
 
...again in Rom6
 
Rom6:16  "obedience to righteousness"
 
Rom6:18  "slaves of righteousness"
 
 
 
the true heavenly promises are "in Christ" 2Cor1:20-22, if we
continue to be sealed by the Spirit, our guarantee Eph1:13,14; 4:30,
as the Spirit is life Jn4:10-14; 6:63; 7:37-39  2Cor3:6; 5:5  1Jn3:24; 5.
 
GOD's original Greek proves justification
and righteousness are exactly the same