CIC07: CELEBRITY IN CHRIST EPISODE 7.
TOPIC: *FASTING* | *3RD OF 3 Disciplines to Spark Spiritual Awakening*
Fasting is the discipline of abstaining from food or something desired for a given period of time in order to devote oneself more to prayer and the Word of God.
*WITHOUT PRAYER, IT'S JUST A DIET*
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WARNING: *The average person will survive about 3 days without water and 21 days without food, without being sustained SUPERNATURALLY. APPLY WISDOM IN FASTING.* Let the Holy Spirit lead YOU!
TYPES OF FASTING.
1. Food Fasting. Read Matthew 4:2.
Notice the devil didn't test Jesus with water. Hence it was probably a food fast, that is abstaining from food that Jesus did for the forty days.
Food Fasting is giving up that which sustains you or brings nourishment to your body, including juices, coffee, even the sugars in tea, etc.
2. Food and Water Fasting. Read Esther 4:16. NOTICE that food and water fasting are mostly not longer than 3 days. *THIS IS BECAUSE IF YOU GO WITHOUT WATER FOR 3 DAYS, YOU'RE PUTTING YOURSELF AT RISK OF MAJOR HEALTH COMPLICATIONS.*
3. Dietary Fasting. Read Daniel 10:3. People with certain health issues may fast certain foods for certain periods of time.
4. Abstaining Fasting. Read 1st Corinthians 7:5. Marriage couples may abstain from sexual intercourse for a period of time to focus on prayer, Fasting, and spending time with God in Bible study and worship.
Abstaining may be extended to anything we give up for a period of time, *including Hobbies* , anything that could be a distraction.
LENGTHS OF FASTING.
1. Partial Day Fast. Read Judges 20:26.
2. ONE Day Fast. Read 2 Samuel 1:12.
3. Three (3) Day Fast. Read Esther 4:16.
4. ONE WEEK Fast (7 DAYS). 1st Samuel 31:13.
5. THREE WEEK Fast (21 days ). Daniel 10:3.
6. 40 Day Fast. Matthew 4:2
7. A Supernaturally Sustained Fasting. Exodus 34:28. This is an exception as Moses Fasting food and water for 40 days while receiving the ten (10) commandments.
If you mistakenly take a bite or water and then remember you're supposed to be fasting, do not condemn yourself. ITS ABOUT PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION. So learn what you can about yourself and temptations and do better next time.
*WARNING: The average person will survive about 3 days without water and 21 days without food, without being sustained SUPERNATURALLY. APPLY WISDOM IN FASTING.*
For most believers, fasting is likely the most neglected of spiritual disciplines. But this powerful discipline has the capacity to increase the effectiveness of our prayer life.
“Of course God intends for us to be well fed and healthy,” we say to justify ourselves. While simultaneously turning our backs on a discipline regularly practiced by figures such as Moses, Paul, and Jesus himself.
Furthermore, we are deeply shaped by our culture. “The constant propaganda fed us today convinces us that if we do not have three large meals each day, with several snacks in between, we are on the verge of starvation.
This, coupled with the popular belief that it is a positive virtue to satisfy every human appetite, has made fasting seem obsolete.
In Matthew 17:14-21, the disciples encountered a demon they could expel from a boy, and jesus told them that certain demonic being could only be removed through a combination of fasting and prayer.
*FOR EVERY NATURAL ACT OF FAITH, THERE IS A DIVINE REACTION*
Whatever it is that occurs in the realm of the Spirit when we fast and pray, *it's safe to say that there is something to be said of acting in faith out of obedience to Gods word.*
Even if we don't understand how or why fasting intensifies the potency of our prayers, WE KNOW THAT IT DOES.
Fasting helps us to weaken our greatest enemy, THE FLESH. Galatians 5:17 makes us understand that the sinful nature wants to do evil, which is the opposite of what the spirit wants.
And the spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other so that you're not free to carry out your good intentions.
*WHATEVER STRENGTHENS MY SPIRIT WEAKENS MY FLESH*
So if my Spirit is strengthened through fasting and praying, then my Carnal nature is weakened by the same.
Therefore, every benefit that you can receive from a weakened flesh or from empowered prayer, you can receive from FASTING.
10 BENEFITS OF FASTING
1. Brings clarity to the voice of God. (Acts 13:2)
2. Helps to properly establish a new ministry. (Acts 14:23)
3. Fasting can bring FAVOR. (Esther 4:16)
4. Brings HEALING.(Psalm 35:13-14)
5. Prepares you for the CALL OF GOD. (Matthew 4:1-4).
6. Prepares you to stand against TEMPTATION.
7. Brings about FREEDOM. (Isaiah 58:6)
8. Brings PROTECTION. (Ezra 8:21)
9. Increases Spiritual Authority. (Matthew 17:19-21)
10. Teaches you DEPENDENCE ON GOD. (Matthew 4:3-4).
*TAKE GOD AT HIS WORD. WATCH WHAT BEGINS TO HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFE AS YOU FAST AND PRAY*
*_Tell a friend... to tell a friend... so they could Tell their friends* _
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