08/09/07

Fasting - Nailing, Building and Receiving

Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief .... Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. (Matthew 17:19-21 KJV)

Fasting and praying is like a blast of fuel to the fire (faith) that builds and strengthens it. Fasting and praying does not drive away evil spirits but drives away doubt. It loosens the hold of the flesh on your being, therefore loosens the hold of evil spirits on you.

Fasting does not mean going on hunger strikes. Just depriving your body of food is not called fasting. Fasting is more spiritual than physical. To learn the true way of fasting, learn to build tents.

"Enlarge the place of your tent,
stretch your tent curtains wide,
do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
strengthen your stakes." Isaiah 54:2 [NIV]

This scripture gives a perfect procedure of fasting.

To build a large tent the first thing you need to do is put strong poles (as many as possible) firmly into the ground. Strong poles are like pillars and these pillars are available in the Bible, they are the Promises of God. In Genesis chapter 28 when Jacob had a vision, connected with the Heavens, he made a pillar and anointed it. He was not worshiping any pillar but he had worshiping God for the promise that God gave him through his vision. The promise was that God was going to open the Heavens which were once shut for mankind, for him and his descendants.

Take two or more of these pillars / poles from the Bible to build your fast around. Taking them in different areas of your life will make your tent larger. After firmly placing these poles (believing from your heart) spread the tent curtains on it, which are your prayers, praise and thanksgiving through out the fast period. Prayer does not mean residing any text or scripture with your mouth, but saying it from your heart, your mouth can be just a confirmation of the words of your heart. But if your heart is not saying it, your mouth movements do not count. You do not need to lock yourself in a room. Do your routine work while doing all this in you heart (mind).

At the end of the tent curtains have long cords, the longer the better. The cords represent 'hope' or 'expectation'. Fasting without great expectation is no fast at all. Tie these cords to pegs which are nailed into the earth. A large tent does not stand firm by one or two pegs but requires many. Just sacrificing food (which is the quickest way of nailing your flesh) does not do the job, fasting requires sacrifice in other areas too, areas that can bring your flesh (carnal nature) into control. Like self sacrifice, service to others; like bringing them to God (sharing God’s Word, testimonies, praying for others etc… not just social service), setting yourself as a good example of a child of God, ministering the sick, helping the poor (not just by giving alms) etc ...

A peg can have many cords tied to it but it would be foolish to have many pegs tied by one cord. Make large tents that can hold more and more of spiritual receiving. Do this process regularly so as to keep bring your flesh (carnal nature) in control (for it has tendency of popping its head up often). Try it weekly then things would be better for you. Do not build tents by your own capacity; build large tents with the help of God's grace. Before you start your fast pray for God's grace.

If you keep fasting in a standard procedure (in the same areas of your life), you will get used to it and land up doing it by your own efforts. Such fasting should be stopped. Fast only with God's grace, in areas you are weak and without God's help you can not do it.

Doing a fast in secret, as much as possible is very important. So as to not receive only in the flesh (which is temporary) but in spirit (which is permanent). What you receive in spirit is not only for you, it even benefits your generations.

[ Reference Scriptures ]

Matthew 17:14-21 [KJV]
¹⁴ And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
¹⁵ Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
¹⁶ And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
¹⁷ Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
¹⁸ And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
¹⁹ 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.

Genesis 28:10-13,18 [KJV]
¹⁰ And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.
¹¹ And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.
¹² And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
¹³ And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
¹⁸ And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

Isaiah 54:2-3 [NIV]
² "Enlarge the place of your tent,
stretch your tent curtains wide,
do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
strengthen your stakes.

³ For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
your descendants will dispossess nations
and settle in their desolate cities.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)