Sunday, October 12, 2008

This Kind


Mat 17:21
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.


You may recall the story in Matthew 17. Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John up to the mountain and there He was transfigured before them while talking with Moses and Elijah. They came down from that magnificent experience to find the other disciple struggling to no avail to cast a demon out of a demon-possessed boy, whose father had brought him to the disciples. Jesus immediately cast the demon out. The disciples asked why they couldn't do it, and Jesus said, because of your unbelief, Howbeit, this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.

Now, fasting primarily is doing without food and sometimes water for seeking God's will on a certain thing.
  • Esther called the Jews to fast (doing w/o both food and water) for 3 days, while she sought to uncover the wicked plot of Haman to destroy the Jewish people.
  • Moses fasted for 40 days going w/o food and drinking only water. He did this on 2 occasions while receiving the 10 commandments.
  • Elijah fasted 40 days after defeating the prophets of Baal.
  • Daniel fasted 21 days while seeking God on behalf of Israel and altered the course of nations.
  • David fasted.
  • The Children of Israel were often called upon to fast (usually either 24 hours or 7 days).
  • Jesus fasted 40 days, while being tempted in the wilderness.
  • The early church fasted.
  • We should fast as well for spiritual breakthrough!

Jesus said, "This kind." What did he mean by this? Well, you have to study Scripture in its context. The context is that of the demon-possessed boy. The kind of demon that possessed this child was so strong that only prayer and fasting could break its hold and see the child delivered. Our country has many strongholds that need pulling down, but it is going to take fasting and prayer to see them broken! Perhaps, your family has strongholds that need breaking that only fasting and prayer will see them broken. We wrestle against principalities and powers [that is literally a demonic heirarchy], according to Ephesians 6. If we want to gain victory and authority over them, we must fast and pray.

  • Fast and pray for revival to come.
  • Fast and pray for our leaders.
  • Fast and pray for our homes.
  • Fast and pray for a national revival and mass turning to God.

Notice, it says fast and pray, not "pray fast." We need to take time to fast and pray, if we will see God move in power. What are some strongholds you would like to see broken? Are you willing to fast and pray to see it happen?

You might be thinking, "I'd die; I would absolutely die, if I fasted." More than likely you won't. We could all stand to eat less and pray more. We won't die from fasting, and science has actually proven that certain periods of fasting can actually be healthy and invigorating, as it gives your body time to rest and detoxify. What fasting does do and say to God is this, "Lord, I can't live by bread alone. I don't want to live without you and your power in and on my life. I'd rather have you Jesus than anything." It's also is a great way to learn how to say no to our flesh and yes to Christ. Are you willing to lay it all on the line for God's Spirit to move in you, through you and around you? Do you want revival and spiritual breakthrough more than anything else? Remember, "This kind goes not out except by prayer and fasting!"

4 comments:

Troy said...

I have enjoyed reading this blog but not without conviction. I must say everytime I have heard you mention fasting something inside of me says you know you need to do that. I know there are many types of fasting and maybe that's one reason why many do not fast because they don't know which to pick. Maybe we don't understand the whole concept of fasting. I know myself you, Pastor are one of maybe two people that I know that has fasted. You are the only one that I have heard preach on it at all. Maybe you should preach on fasting again. The way the times are fasting and prayer is all we have. We should (and I am talking to myself)fast and pray with great humility begging the Lord to show HIS will to us during these times. Of course not only these times but all the time. You said we need to fast and pray not pray fast and I have been guilty of the praying fast. If we only knew the power of fasting we would do it more and more I am sure. Maybe we should challenge each other to fast and pray. It is my prayer to study more about fasting and prayer and be able to fast and pray with the knowledge and humility to know what power that it has.

Colvin5776 said...

I have been busy with gettting packed up but I took a few minites to sit down and read this. It has challanged me, and at the same time it is something I know the Lord wanting learn and experiance. I have fasted a few times, however not for more than a few days. However I think that in those times of fasting, I had alterer motives. I eather wanted to lose a bit of weight, and make it seem like I was more holy then what I was. Or I was fasting to get some sort of experiance out of it. However this time, I do not desire any of those things. I am burdened by the need for revival, for Gods people to come back to God and his word. Perhaps before one fasts, one should be burdened by some need. I am reminded as I write this about Neimiah. It says that he was burdened about the condition of the nation of Isreal, and then he fasted and prayed. The one question I wonder about is this...When we fast do we fast for one thing and one thing only or can we fast for various things?

Anonymous said...

This post is addressing a topic that most christians not only know little about,(myself included)but truth be told are a little scared to approach. At least I am. When I think about a fast I tend to make excuses, yet I know that I need to do it because God's word tells me to.
Questions like How do I find the time? or I have to work,you'll pass out!Yet I know that God will bless me if I'm obedient,just like I would bless my son or daughters if they were obedient.
I guess what I'm saying is I want to fast and pray at his direction,according to his guidance and not my own. So brothers, I'll pray for you and please pray for me,that we will put into practice ll Chronicles 7:14

Nathan Wilkerson said...

Whenever I fast, I normally begin it because I am being led by the Lord and troubled in my spirit about 1 thing in particular. However, after I begin the fast, the Lord always lays other things on my heart for which to pray and intercede. 4 years ago this January, I began to fast and pray about leaving the church I was at at the time. However, when I was fasting, I began having dreams about spiritual warfare and wrestling with demonic forces. God did show me his will concerning my original burden and desire to fast, but he also showed me something else that I still do not know what the fulfillment if any it will be. Just be open to the Lord and fast and pray as He leads. Even if it's just from 1 meal or for 1 day, it will be a blessing as you deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Him!