Monday 1 March 2021
PRAYER AND FASTING
Opening Verse: And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by
prayer and fasting. Mark 9:29
Bible Text: Mark 9:23-29
More Texts: 1King 17:20-22; 2King 4:33-34; Esther 4:16; Ezra 8:21-23; Dan 9:3;
Matt 17:21; Act 9:40-41; 13:3; 14:23; 1Cor 9:27; 2Cor 6:5; 11:27; Eph 6:18;
James 5:15
Message of the Day: Prayer and fasting are
spiritual exercises that have record of results throughout the bible. The
combination raises level of consecration, repentance, deepness, faith,
solemnity and upward relationship. It touches man and attracts heaven. Prayer
and fasting where hypocrisy is ruled out, where showmanship is not the goal and
where it is made God centred will produce result of God. Men and women of God
fasted. Fasting and praying in the faith of Christ turn out to be time of Holy
Ghost interactions for spiritual break through.
Dedication
to eating is eroding interest in praying and fasting. There is need today for
call for a return to the Bible on prayer and fasting.
When Esther and her people
faced tough situation she called for fasting and praying. Daniel sought God by
fasting and praying. Then in the book of Joel we see call for prayers and fasting
to bring revival and God’s mercy. Elijah forty days praying and fasting cannot
be wiped out of our biblical heritage. Our Lord commenced His public ministry
with forty days and nights of prayers and fasting. In a private chat with His
disciples on why they failed to cast out a stubborn demon, the Lord said this
kind goeth not out except by prayer and fasting. Men like Paul fasted often.
The disciples of John fasted often. Anna the daughter of Phanuel departed not
from the Temple but there served God with fastings and prayers. Thank God some
churches have institutionalized fasting and prayers. Fasting must however not
be over stretched to the breaking down of the health of the body. Long fasting
must not be undertaken without its knowledge and rules. Fasting also must go
with prayers not in isolation.
Fasting and
prayers play major roles in revivals. Fasting and prayers have great impact in
spiritual fortification to do exploits for God. The body must be made subject
to the spirit, fasting and prayers help in this order. Pray and fast. Fast and
pray. You are not veering from what is biblical rather you are promoting same.
Fasting is
absence of food or delicacies for a defined time frame spelt by hours or in
some cases days. It is advisable to use water when it is going beyond forty
eight hours. And fasting should not be broken with heavy food. And when it goes
beyond forty hours, learn the rules of breaking which include soft or largely
watery food for fifty percent of the days of fasting.
The word of our Lord is
leading us to higher spirituality of more effectiveness in doing exploits for
God either individually or corporately. And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but
by prayer and fasting. Mark 9:29.
From You to God: My God, grow me in the
spiritual life of doing exploits for thee in Jesus name.
Application: Build yourself in this our most
holy faith.
Foot Note: Prayer and fasting is powerful
backup to fruitful spiritual life.
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