Thoughts for Life: #39 You Can Deepen Your Prayer by Fasting

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel- Why has the mouth of the church so often been closed on the subject of fasting? How has Satan managed to silence so many Christian leaders today on this subject?

Though fasting is clearly taught and practiced in both the old and New Testaments, I do not recall having ever heard any other person give a full message on this subject. (Google image, Fasting, empty plate)

Moses twice fasted for forty days (Deut. 9:9, 18) till his face shone with the glory of God. Joshua fasted after the defeat at Ai (Josh. 7:6). In the time of the judges (Judges 20:26) and in the time of Samuel (1 Sam. 7:6, 12). All Israel fasted.

David fasted before he was crowned, when his child was ill, when his enemies were ill (Ps. 35:13), and because of the sins of his people (69:9-10). Jehoshaphat and his people fasted till God said, "You will not have to fight this battle" (2 Chron. 20:17).

They won by fasting and praise, without one hour of fighting or bloodshed. Elijah, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel—all were known for their fasting.

Fasting was a powerful God-blessed strategy of the early church, and in the lives of many of the leaders God raised up. Paul prayed with fasting in every church (Acts 14:23). One cannot found New Testament churches in any other way.

Epiphanius, Bishop of Salamis (born A.D. 315). wrote: "Who does not know that the fast of the fourth and sixth days of the week are observed by the Christians throughout the world?" In the thirteenth century, Francis of Assisi went through the streets of Italy singing, preaching, testifying, praying, and fasting until thousands of the youth were saved.

Martin Luther was criticized for too much fasting. John Calvin fasted and prayed till most all of Geneva was converted, and there was not a house without at least one praying person.

John Knox fasted and prayed until Queen Mary said she feared his prayers more than all the armies of Scotland. Latimer, Ridley,
Cranmer, in fact, most of the reformers, were known for their fasting added to their prayer.

John Wesley fasted twice weekly until tea time in the pattern of the early church. He urged all of his followers to do the same. He said he would as soon curse and swear as not fast. For "the man that never fasts is no more in the way to Heaven than the man who never prays."

Jonathan Edwards was mighty in fasting and prayer. Some say he fasted to the extreme until he was almost too weak to stand in the pulpit, but he moved New England for God.

Charles G. Finney, mightily used of God in revival in the 1800s, fasted regularly each week. Whenever he detected some diminution of the Spirit's presence in his meetings, he would spend three days and nights in prayer and fasting. He reported that, afterward, the Holy Spirit would again invariably move in power and the revival would proceed.

Dwight l. Moody, at times feeling a special need in his campaigns, would send word to Moody Bible Institute to call faculty and students to a day of fasting and prayer. Often they would pray until two three, four, or even five o'clock in the morning.

"If you say I will fast when God lays it on me, you never will," he said. "You are too cold and indifferent. Take the yoke upon you."

Fasting is rather widely practiced on our mission fields today. Like every other God-ordained religious practice, fasting can be misused or abused. This will be discussed in later paragraphs. But
fasting is still God's chosen way to deepen and strengthen prayer.

You will be the poorer spiritually and your prayer life will never be what God wants it to be until you practice the privilege of fasting.

This is a time of spiritual warfare for people and nations, but carnal Christians prefer a parade. It is a time for unity, but carnality pulls for self. We need Spirit-energized action, but the carnal self prefers speeches. It is a time of fasting, but our people prefer feasting (Is. 22:12-13).

The Christian age began with people counting nothing their own (Acts 4:32), but great power and great grace fell upon the church. Today we grasp for more and more for ourselves; we want to have the latest conveniences and material possessions.

We do not understand the spirit of fasting or the bearing of the cross of Christ. For the joy of harvest, Paul toiled, prayed, and fasted and shook the Roman empire for Christ. For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross (Heb. 12:2) and provided eternal salvation for all who would believe in His name.

(Chapter 13, pp. 94-96, italics added for emphasis)

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Let's pray-

"Father, I come today asking for Your forgiveness for the careless words I speak. Please teach me how to control my tongue. Create in me a clean heart. Give me a holy desire to encourage and build others up with my words.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Mary Southerland

Today's Bible verses-

1 John 1:9 (AMP) "If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]”
Philippians 4:6-7, (NCV) “Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Judges 6:16 (NKJV) “And the LORD said to him, 'Surely I will be with you, . . ' "

Today's quotes-

~ Oswald Chambers- "The Spirit of God witnesses to the redemption of our Lord, and to nothing else. He cannot witness to our reason. We are inclined to mistake the simplicity that comes from our natural commonsense decisions for the witness of the Spirit, but the Spirit witnesses only to His own nature, and to the work of redemption, never to our reason. If we are trying to make him witness to our reason, it is no wonder that were in darkness and uncertainty. Throw it all overboard, trust in Him, and he will give you the witness of the Spirit." [Oct.22, The Witness of the Spirit, found in MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST, updated edition]

~ Merlin Carothers- "God was willing to sacrifice His own Son so that you and I might be with Him for eternity. He asks us to invite his Holy Spirit to control our lives so that we want to lead others to Him, then we serve him because of our desire to do so. Pray for zeal to fulfill God's call on your life." [Praise News, Pray for Zeal news letter, June 2020]

Words of wisdom-

~ It's comforting to know that Jesus is in control. At times of turmoil, we tend to try to hold things together, but really, it's Jesus Who has things under control. He holds and sustains us and can give us His Peace. Let's keep our focus on Him. Our praises bless Him. Remember; He loves us, every one!

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#64 There are Mountains of Difficulty

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: There are mountains of difficulty for which much prayer has been made. It may be that a command of faith from the throne is what is needed.

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