The Glorious Keys of Fasting

 

What is fasting?

Definition:

Fasting is voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes.

1. It is not forced by an external person but it is a choice.

2. One chooses to say no to physical food so that one can feed on spiritual food.

3. It is triggered by a desire for God which is beyond the natural desires.

 

Are there people who fasted?

Yes…great men and great nations have been known to fast.

• Example: Jesus, Moses, Daniel, Paul, Elijah, David etc were men who knew the power and benefits of fasting.

Some religions even require the followers to fast so as to strengthen beliefs.

• Example: Christianity, Buddhism, Islam etc

 Are there medical benefits for fasting?

Yes even doctors recommend that fasting is good for the body.

• Fasting makes the body to rest.
• Fasting helps the body to remove toxic substances.
• Fasting helps the body to burn excess fat.
• Fasting sharpens mental abilities

 Types of fasting

1. Partial fasting

• In partial fast one can abstain from particular types of foods for some time. It can take a long time. For example. Daniel 10:3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

2. Total fasting

• This means no water no food. It can only be to a maximum of three days. Or else you can damage brain cells due to much dehydration.

After all kinds of fasting one has to take small soft foods and liquids gradually so that the body can adjust again. TOO much instant solid in breaking the fast is dangerous for the body.

Kinds of fasting

1. Individual fasting:  one fasts alone for personal breakthroughs.

2. Church fasting: For the church to grow and be established

3. National fasting: For a whole country to return to God or seek an intervention.

4. Corporate fasting among several people like a family or factory.

 

The Length of fasting

Fasting can take duration between 1 day to 40 days. The main categories are;

1. 1 Day: Daniel 6:18 (It only enough for mostly individual spiritual survival only)

2. 3 days: Esther 4:16, Acts 9:9 (For those who seek deep understanding of the Word)

3. 7 days: I Samuel 31:13 (For those who want to know the depth of God’s Holiness)

4. 14 days: Acts 27:33-34 (For those who want the manifestation of spiritual gifts)

5. 21 days: Daniel 10:3-13 (For those who want more in deep visions)

6. 40 days: Exodus 24:18, I Kings 19:8, Matthew 4:2 (For established miracle power)

 

How did Jesus regard fasting?

• Jesus placed fasting at the same level with prayer and giving.
• Matthew 6 :2,6,16-18

2 Therefore when ( He did not say if ) thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

The benefits of fasting

1. Fasting enables one to Repent completely (Joel 2)…as in Jonah 3

• 12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
  13 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 repenteth him of the evil.
  14 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?

2. Fasting makes God to pity His people

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? 18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

3. Fasting brings prosperity

19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: 21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. 22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

4. Fasting brings restoration

25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

 

5. Fasting brings the out pouring of the Holy Spirit

28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

 

6. Fasting was done to help overcome bereavement

Samuel 1:12 

And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

 

7. Fasting brings Victory

Judges 20:26

Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first. 19 And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah. 20 And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah. 21 And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men. 22 And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day. 23 (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.) 24 And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day. 25 And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword. 26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 27 And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

8. Fasting enables one to humble himself

1        Kings 21:27

And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.

Psalms 35:13

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

   

9. Fasting makes our way safe

Ezra 8:21-23

Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. 22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. 23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.

 

10. Fasting causes the house of the LORD to be built

Nehemiah 1:3-4

And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. (hopelessness)

4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

 

11. Fasting prevents great calamities

Esther 4:16

Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

 

12. Fasting prepares one for the ministry

Matthew 4:1-2

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

You can fast before you start your career!

 

13. Fasting releases the power of God in a believer.

Luke 4:1

And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

Luke 4:14

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

 

14. Fasting channels the anointing to cast out all demons

Matthew 17:19-21

 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, 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. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

 

14. Fasting was used to commission called out believers

Acts 13:2-3

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

 

15. Fasting establishes the revelation of the Salvation of Christ.

Leviticus 16:29-31

And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: 30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. 31 It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever

 

16. Fasting can be a ministry

Luke 2:36-37

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about 84 years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

 

Where to start!

1. You eat 21 meals per week. Please tithe it!

2. Spiritual power is available for those who deny themselves.

3. There are many temptations to eat, but if you love the Lord and His work, you will have a desire for Him which is stronger than the sweetest and most delicious food.

 

Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness.

Ezekiel 16:49 

 

Definition: What is to seek?

It means to :

1.  To Find ………Something, somebody, some where…Here we are talking of Eternal life, God, Heaven

2. To strive for something ……….Fight against all enemies of seeking eg flesh, pleasure, world, sin

3. To ask …………….Those who know, those who have found.

3. To attempt. To follow, to read

Characteristics:

It’s hidden-, it can be found, -it has a value.- It is not where you are…it is in another place /realm.

 Topics

( a) . How to seek

Must seek diligently other wise there is no room for laziness. Heb 11:6 those who come to God must believe that He is and He is a rewarder to who diligently seek Him

 Luke 15:8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?   (KJV)

 Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.   (KJV)

 (Summary: seek diligently, with your whole heart)

( b) Which kind of people can seek God: The right people; humble people can seek and find

1. There should be no pride when we seek God.

Ps 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.   (KJV)

 

Prove 14: 6        A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.   (KJV)

 Ps 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.   (KJV)

 (Summary: How to seek? Be Humble, have respect, seek with your whole heart Jeremiah 29:11)

 

Who to seek?

Mark 1:37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.   (KJV)

 Matt 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.   (KJV)

 Amos 5:4 For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:   (KJV)

 Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.   (KJV)

 Ps 27:8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.   (KJV)

 Isa 8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?   (KJV)

 Ps 104:21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.   (KJV)

 Ps 14:2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.   (KJV)

 Ps 22:26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.   (KJV)

 John 1:38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?   (KJV)

 

(Summary: seek God, seek Jesus, seek The LORD)

 

What to seek

Jer 5:1 Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.   (KJV)

 Prov 15:14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.   (KJV)

 Prov 18:1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.   (KJV)

 Prov 18:15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.   (KJV)

 Prov 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.   (KJV)

 John 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?   (KJV)

 

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.   (KJV)

 Matt 6:33

33         But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.   (KJV)

 

(Summary: What to seek for, wisdom, truth, Love, Kingdom of God, God’s will, God’s Honour)

 

What not to seek?

 

Luke 17:33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.   (KJV)

 Matt 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.   (KJV)

 1 Sam 28:7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.   (KJV)

 Isa 40:20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.   (KJV)

 Prov 17:11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.   (KJV)

 John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.   (KJV)

 

Luke 12:29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.   (KJV)

 Luke 12:30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.   (KJV)

 Mark 8:12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.   (KJV)

 Matt 6:32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.   (KJV)

 

Summary: what not to seek for Idols, devils, food, water, cloth, rebellion, save your life but God to save it)

 

Benefits of seeking the Lord

Lam 3:25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.   (KJV)

 Ps 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.   (KJV)

 Ps 40:16            Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.   (KJV)

 Ps 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.   (KJV)

 

Summary: Benefits of seeking God, never lack, rejoicing, goodness, God’s presence)

 

Examples of seekers.

John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.   (KJV)

 Ezek 34:12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.   (KJV)

 Prov 31:13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.   (KJV)

 Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.   (KJV)

 Matt 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?   (KJV)

 

(Summary: example of seekers: God, shepherds, Jesus, noble woman)

 

Guarantee of finding what you seek.

 

Matt 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:   (KJV)

 Matt 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.   (KJV)

 Prov 11:27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.   (KJV)

 Isa 45:19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.   (KJV)

Summary: if you seek you shall find……..what ever you seek you shall get)

 

Priority for seekers

Ps 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.   (KJV)

 Matt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.   (KJV)

 

Summary: First seek His Kingdom and His righteousness, seek to dwell in His house)

God’s expectations

Ps 53:2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.   (KJV)

 (Summary God expects all men to seek Him, He is only found by those who seek Him!!)

When to seek the Lord

Ps 63:1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;   (KJV)

 Eccl 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;   (KJV). Prov 22:6

 (Summary: Every day very early, at early days of life so that our minds are saturated with Him)

 

How long shall we seek Him

Ps 105:4 Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.   (KJV)

 Ps 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.   (KJV)

 

(Summary: Seek the LORD forever, let it be your habit, your tradition)

 

Applications

Are you a seeker of God? What is your name?.....a joker? A eater? A seeker of pleasure? But ..I am a seeker of God,.. God seekers (GS)….God seekers club(GSC), Seeker of God(SOG).

 

Prayer and commitment

1. 1.         Make a decision to be a seeker of God all the days of your life.
2. 2.         Tell God to make you a seeker of His heart like David!! Example Psalms 132:4-5
3. 3.         Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled: Matt 5:6
4. 4.         Ask for a hunger and thirst after God (My soul follows hard after thee oh God) Psalms 63:8