PRAYER & FASTING

Lengthy, but good information that will help in your life with Christ and give power over the enemy, the devil.
PRAYER AND FASTING
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. --- Matthew 6:17-18
What Is Fasting?
One of the most powerful weapons of spiritual warfare that God has given to His children is fasting -- a way of crucifying the flesh or denying your flesh the basic sustenance of food. Although fasting will weaken you physically, it will highly enlighten you spiritually. It is important to note that fasting should be combined with prayer for utmost effectiveness.
Fasting is a form of spiritual discipline that informs God that you are serious about repentance. Fasting is a significant part of your Christian walk just as praying and reading the Bible is significant. Fasting is for everyone who desires to draw closer to God.
When you fast, you do not have to give up just food; it can be anything of importance to you that is a sacrifice to give up. Whenever you fast, you need to pray and seek the Lord, otherwise you are just depriving your body of food and not getting in touch with what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell you.
Although fasting is not commanded in the Bible, it is expected of all believers in their Christian walk, for Matthew 6:17-18 says "when you fast." Jesus did not say, "if you fast" but rather "when you fast'; therefore Jesus reveals through scripture that fasting is expected of us; however, it is not commanded (for example, you are not committing sin by not fasting).
Types of Fasts
The Normal Fast involves abstaining from all solid and liquid food except for water.
The Absolute Fast involves abstaining from both food and drink. You should never stay on this fast more than three days unless under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
The Partial Fast involves abstaining from just certain foods. You can live on just certain foods during the duration of this fast such as bread and water, or you may choose to fast a certain meal each day.
The Daniel Fast consists of fruits, vegetables, and water.
The Juice Fast consists of fruit and vegetable juices only.
The Television and Entertainment Fast involves setting aside television, radio, newspapers, and other forms of entertainment to seek the Lord.
The Water, Honey, & Lemon Fast is considered a cleansing fast. Squeeze ½ lemon in a cup of hot water and add honey to add flavor. This recipe can be used for an extended fast.
Reasons for fasting
The prophet Isaiah writes: "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?"
Isaiah 58:6-7
Thus, there are 7 reasons for fasting according to Isaiah 58:6-7, and they are as follows:
1. To bring justice
2. To undo heavy burdens and break the yoke of bondage
3. To free the oppressed and loose the bands of wickedness
4. To share food
5. To provide shelter for the poor
6. To clothe the naked
7. To provide for one's family
However, there are several other reasons for fasting:
1. To mourn and repent
2. To receive God's instructions
3. To die to the flesh
4. For humility and deliverance from bondage
5. To resist the devil's temptations
6. Due to lack of food
7. For health and healing
8. For spiritual power to cast out demons
To Mourn and Repent
"In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled."
Daniel 10:2-3
(Also see Esther 4:3; Isaiah 58:5; Joel 2:12-13; Zechariah 7:5)
To Receive God's Instructions
"And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments."
Exodus 34:28
(Also see Acts 9:9-12; Acts 13:2)
To Die to the Flesh
"Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and taketh no knowledge?" Isaiah 58:3
For Humility and Deliverance from Bondage
"But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom."
Psalm 35:13
(Also see I Samuel 7:3-14; Ezra 8:21-23)
To Resist the Devil's Temptations
"Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency (lack of self resistance)."
I Corinthians 7:5
(Also see Luke 4:1-2)
Due to Lack of Food
"And he (Elijah) arose, and did eat and drink, and went in strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God."
I Kings 19:8
For Health and Healing
"Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, 'Here I am'."
Isaiah 58:8
(Also see Psalm 35:13)
For Spiritual Power to Cast Out Demons
"And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour."
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: 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.
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.'" Matthew 17:18-21
People in the Bible that fasted
Name Duration Scripture
Jesus 40 days Matthew 4:2
Moses 40 days Deuteronomy 9:9,18-19
Exodus 34:27-28
Elijah 40 days I Kings 19
Daniel 21 days Daniel 9
Paul, prisoners, and Roman troops 14 days Acts 27:33
David 7 days II Samuel 12:16-20
Esther 3 days Esther 4
Saul 3 days Acts 9:9-12
Nehemiah ------ Nehemiah 1:4
Exodus 34:27-28
Christians from Antioch ------ Acts 13:1-3
Acts 14:23
John the Baptist's Disciples ------ Mark 2:18
The people of Nineveh ------ Jonah 3:5-10
Apostles, elders, and church members ------ II Corinthians 6:4-5
Preparation
The first thing you need to do before you fast is set a definite time period for your fast. Will your fast be 1 meal, 3 days, 7 days, 21 days, 40 days?
The second thing you need to do is decide which type of fast you will undertake. Will it be a normal fast, a Daniel fast, or perhaps a television and entertainment fast?
If you are going on a prolonged fast, please don't begin your fast immediately but rather gradually cut your food intake back and then begin your fast. Also cease drinking caffeine products a few days before you start a prolonged fast so you can get over the withdrawl headaches before you start.
Precautions
Drink warm water instead of cold and do not drink too much water at one time. Do not drink milk, coffee, or other beverages during the fast for this will be considered dieting and not fasting. (Follow these procedures on all types of fasts except the absolute fast.)
Do not take excessively hot baths during a prolonged fast; for this may cause dizziness. However, take a bath regularly during your fast because fasting causes many impurities to be secreted through the pores of your skin thus causing an odor.
Do not engage in excessive work or exercise.
Walk, read, pray, and worship during mealtimes to overcome temptations.
Some Symptoms You May Experience
1. Headache
2. Nausea
3. Low fever
4. Sleeplessness
5. Stomach pains
If you have any of these symptoms do not take medication for them.
Three phases of a prolonged fast:
Phase 1 Craving food
Phase 2 Feeling weak and faint for 2-3 days or even longer.
Phase 3 Growing stronger and no longer having concern about food.
Breaking the fast
Breaking the fast is the most difficult period after the fast; it requires discipline and self-control. If you fast for 40 days, then you should allow your body an adequate period of time to recover so you will be able to resume your regular diet.
Start with some vegetable and fruit juices a little at a time and maybe a cup of watered-down soup. The following day, start to drink juices and increase the thickness of the soup. Continue to do this until you gradually begin to build yourself back up.
Final Thought
Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit can transform your life.

Secrets To Joy In The Midst Of Trials

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:6-9)

Peter says it is possible for these believers to have both great joy and grief in the midst of their trials. Paul said about his trials in 2 Corinthians 6:10: “Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything”

These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (emphasis mine).
1 Peter 1:7
No doubt there have been many miners who found something that looked like gold. It was beautiful, but when they put it into fire, they found out it wasn’t. It melted at a lower temperature. It was not as strong or valuable. Genuine gold will last at high temperatures.
That is similar to genuine faith. However, genuine faith lasts forever, and faith that ultimately falls away from God in the midst of trials is spurious. It is false faith. A lot of times we don’t talk about false faith in church, but it is a reality. In fact, James talks about a faith without works, as “demonic faith.” He says even the demons believe and shudder (James 2:19).
How can we have joy in the midst of trials?
Focus on the benefits of our great salvation—our new birth, our inheritance, and our security.
Focus on eternity; trials are brief in comparison to eternity.
Focus on God’s sovereignty and purpose in trials. The trial was not an accident it was necessary for your growth and maturation in Christ.
Focus on your faith; trials prove the genuineness of our faith.
Focus on the eternal glory; faithfulness in trials will be rewarded.
Focus on our relationship with Christ; trials can bring deep intimacy with Christ.

TRAVAIL AND APOSTOLIC ORDER

SCRIPTURES: Romans 1:1-18 and Titus 1:1-

Prayer and of course "Travail Prayer" is very "crucial" to fulfilling the purpose of the Church in the earth realm.

Ephesians 3:7-11 "Wherefore I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by effectual working of His power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul, the Apostle did travail on behalf of others in the Spirit until the Spirit of Christ was formed in those in whom God has placed on his heart. Travailing in the Spirit means to travail or labor as in giving birth just as a woman in the natural travails when she is about to deliver her child. Spiritual travail is a level of intensity marked by a Holy Spirit burden to actually bring to pass, through prayer, a given promise, a prophetic insight or a Holy Spirit illuminated need in a person, church, city or nation.

To be an Apostle means God Himself after assessing you, calls you and sends you out to serve His purposes at places He would appoint.
An Apostle is "one sent out", with an outward thrust and a pioneering or restoration cutting edge, the edge that causes revolutionary impact and can either be of a new movement or a work of extensive scale, or even both. The Apostle is a commander with a mandate and an extended vision which is usually cross-cultural or global, but not always. He is one, called, raised and equipped for the job and for the hour. The Apostle usually presides over a council of fellow ministers that has direct calling and anointing for the thrust, covering the 5-fold ministry in varying degrees.

PRAYER… An Apostle who will be able to fulfill his apostolic calling effectively and productively must wear a very powerful and anointed prayer mantle. Jesus, our chief Apostle maintained a consistent and diligent prayer life that constantly put Him in touch with the Council of heaven. PRAYER WARFARE IS the highest level of prevailing prayer. Prayer warfare is fought individually and collectively. It requires constant alertness and readiness and is coordinated by the Holy Spirit. There cannot be a true Apostle without a God-given grace and mantle of Prayer. In Prayer you communicate with God then you make proclamations, decrees, declarations, orders, instructions and directives by God's leading to entities, principalities and powers, forces, domains, governments, authorities above and below, people and objects to adjust, turn and respond to God's divine order and manifestation.

THE HOLY SPIRIT: WHO EMPOWERS US TO PRAY, GIVES US WHAT TO PRAY ABOUT/ FOR AND THEN THE RIGHT AND PRECISE PRAYER LANGUAGE.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE ONLY SPIRIT AND POWER THAT SATAN AND HIS COHORTS CANNOT RESIST.
THE WORD: BY WHICH ALL WAS CREATED. THRONES, DOMINIONS, PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS, KINGDOMS AND AUTHORITIES, VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE THINGS, THINGS ABOVE, THINGS IN THE EARTH REALM AND THE WORD BELOW US.
NO APOSTLE CAN ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD WITHOUT THE WORD. NO APOSTLE HAS ANY ORDER OR COMMAND TO ISSUE AGAINST SATAN AND ALL OF HIS HOSTS AND THEIR WORKS EXCEPT BY THE WORD.

The Apostle, teaches, trains, equips, instructs and orders changes at all levels in the spirit realm as well as the natural or physical realm by the Word, in collaboration with the Holy Spirit and Prayer. None of these three pillars can act or operate effectively independent of the other. The Word of God is the believer's primary contact with God. All that there's to know about God, Prayer, the Holy Spirit, Creation, Salvation, Life etc. is by the Word.

WE ARE GETTING NOWHERE UNTIL WE HUMBLE OUSELVES TO WHOLLY ACCEPT, OBEY AND LIVE THE WORD. THE CHURCH WILL DAILY TALK ABOUT POWER, AND AUTHORITY OVER SATAN, DELIVERANCE FROM DISEASE AND SICKNESS, POVERTY AND FAILURE, SALVATION OF THE WORLD AND INHERITING THE WEALTH OF THE WICKED, AND HOLD HIGH EXPECTATIONS, WITHOUT REAL MANIFESTATION, UNTIL OUR TALK, WALK AND LIFE LINE UP WITH THE WORD, WHICH FOUNDED THE CHURCH.

I BOLDLY ANNOUNCE TO YOU TODAY THAT SATAN'S WEAPONS ARE BLUNTED, VAPORIZED, AND EVAPORATED BY THE DIVINE LASER BEAMS OF PRAYER. DEMONIC SCHEMINGS OF PEOPLE AND SATAN ARE CONFRONTED AND FRUSTRATED AS GOD'S WARRIOR-SAINTS PREVAIL ON AND ON IN PRAYER. OUTER DEFENSES OF THE BASTIONS OF SATAN ARE BREACHED, FORTRESSES ARE PULVERIZED AND LEVELED, AND CAPTIVES OF SIN AND SATAN ARE SET FREE BY THE POWER OF JESUS AS THE WARRIOR-SAINTS PRAY. HATREDS ARE CALMED, ANGERS AND DETERMINED EVIL AND VIOLENCE ARE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL, AND THE CAPTIVES OF SATAN'S FORCES ARE FORCIBLY FREED BY INVINCIBLE POWER OF THE LOVE OF CALVARY. SATAN'S DEMONS ARE MADE EITHER TO SURRENDER TO THE LORD, AGAINST WHOM THEY HAVE FOUGHT SO LONG AND HARD, OR ELSE TO RETREAT.
Until you find something worth dying for, you are not really living. "DARE TO BE GREAT, DARE TO OVERCOME AND DARE TO BE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE TO YOUR NATIONS AND GENERATION"

TURN AWAY COMPLETELY FROM ANYTHING WHICH IS NOT OF GOD AND NOT IN LINE WITH HIS WORD; AND WHOLLY EMBRACE HIM AND HIS WAYS AND METHODS. THEN YOU WILL LIVE, AND HE WILL PROSPER YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN, AS YOUR GOD".

7 Good Reasons Christians Should Fast

Because Christ Expects it of Christians
Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:16-18 are not words of a command. He does not tell us that we have to fast. However, He expects that we will. He said, “when you fast…” He was making an assumption that a Christian would fast. Moreover, when He said these words He followed it with a bit of explanation that a fast should be personal and private. Your focus should be on your relationship with God and not on letting the world know you are fasting.
For Guidance
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. (Acts 14:23)
For Intensity in Prayer
David fasted and prayed for the child that he fathered with Bathsheba. David knew he had sinned, but his fast was not to restore fellowship with God. Apparently restoration was already taken care of. His prayer in 2 Samuel 12 was for the life of the child. Though God did not grant his request, David was satisfied and content after his season of prayer and fasting. He had moved past the point of blaming God to a place of trusting God for the outcome.
As a Sign of Mourning
Nehemiah heard about the destruction of Jerusalem and was moved to fast and weep for his beloved city. This fasting was because of grief over the sin of his people before the Lord. He knew that God was punishing Israel for their sins. Nehemiah mourned and confessed before the Lord. Sin had caused a pain that prayer alone could not express. Fasting was a natural result of his grief:

And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven)
To Show Humility in the Presence of God
The man after God’s own heart, King David, said that he fasted for the purpose of humbling himself before God (Psalm 35:13). He certainly seems to be the person who could have walked into the throne room of God and made his request boldly as we are invited to do in Hebrews 4:16. There is a difference between boldness and arrogance. David knew how to humble himself in prayer through fasting.
For Worship
Along with humility before God, fasting can be a way to worship God. David said in Psalm 51 that God is more interested in a humble and contrite heart than He is in fasting and sacrifices. This is not saying that we don’t need to fast; rather, it is saying that fasting without the right attitude does not touch the heart of God.
For Spiritual Strength
While Jesus faced the temptation of Satan, He fasted for 40 days. There is a principle of spiritual strength that is demonstrated in fasting in the life of Christ (Luke 4:1-11).
Why Do You Fast?
Fasting for biblical purposes should draw us closer to God. It should help us break away from the desire to satisfy our own lusts and materialism.

GRACE TO LIVE, NOT TO CONTINUE SINNING

Grace to live, not to continue sinning. Many a believer has a mushy and wishy washy grace theology. Yet, one who reads the word of Jesus in Matthew 5 can not ignore the fact that Jesus expects His children to live righteous lives.
v. 17 - Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law........
v. 19 - Who ever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of God.
v. 20 - Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of God. (Don't be a hypocrite)
v. 48 - Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Righteous living must come from our heart, if not it is hypocritical.
v. 8 - Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see the kingdom of God.
It is not sufficient to say and do all the right things. You must accept Christ salvation and have a pure heart and clean thoughts.

Open Up Those Gates

Psalms 24:7 - "Lift up your heads, you gates;

be lifted up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in."

City gates played an important role in the culture of that day. The cities were walled in for protection; therefore, they needed gates to close. Yet, it played a much greater role than this. It is at the gate the officials and men of importance would sit (Genesis 19:1-9; 1 Samuel 4:10-18). Legal matters were settled at the gate (Deuteronomy 21:18-21; Ruth 4:1-11). Kings and judges would sit at the gate to render decisions (I Samuel 18:1-5; 19:1-8; Esther 2:5-8).

In light of this, the Lord showed me that as leaders of the church, we are these gates. We are responsible for the gates. We are the ones who are to protect the church. At the same time, we are the ones responsible for letting the King (Jesus Christ) of glory come in. As leaders of the local church, we are the ones who set the tone of the church. We are the ones who determine the level of God's working in our church. We are the ones responsible of giving Christ access.

We can let Christ come in or we can hinder Him from coming in. Most of us do not intentionally hinder the working of the Holy Spirit. Yet, we are often unknowingly a hindrance to the move of God. We become a hindrance when we don't take care of ourselves spiritually or have not gone to greater heights in Christ. We become a hindrance when it is all about us and our agenda. We become a hindrance when we lose our sensitivity to the the voice of the Holy Spirit. We become a hindrance when we become so comfortable with the familiar that we are unwilling to step out into that which is uncomfortable or the unknown when prodded by the Holy Spirit. We become a hindrance when love, faith, and hope have been brought low in us.

We as church leaders must open up that gate wide that the King of glory may come in.

I thank the Lord that even despite our failings and short comings, sometimes God chooses to storm the gates of the church and come in anyway. Yet, he will come much sooner if we open those gates. It is much more pleasant when we open the gates instead of God crashing through gates.O

His Banner Over Me Is Love

Song of Solomon 2:4
He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.

The most common use of banners was for military campaigns. A large signal-flag usually was erected on a hill or other high place; it served as a signal for the war-trumpets to be blown (Is. 5:26; 18:3; Jer. 4:6). When the Israelites fought the Amalekites at Rephidim, Moses held up his hand, thus becoming a living banner symbolizing God's presence to help His people win the victory (Ex. 17:8-16). After the battle, Moses built an altar and called it "Jehovah-nissi" (Ex. 17:15), (KJV; The Lord Is My Banner). A living banner lifting up hands to declare God's presence and victory over the enemies of our soul. Jehovah-nissi - The Lord is my banner! Whom shall I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid?

A banner usually carries a message. His banner over me is love. God is loudly proclaiming and boldly declaring His love to me. "For God so loved the world....He gave..." He declared His love.
He is declaring His love to those who are poor, those who are broken-hearted, those who are captives, those who are blind and those who are bruised (Luke 4:18-19). His proclamation is loud and clear; it is also deep calling unto deep. Only the Spirit can overcome the layers of pains and hurts, and reach unto the hurting soul deep within. No friends, no relatives and no doctors can do a better job than Jesus, the Lover of our soul!

He is proudly demonstrating His love, and His message is in BOLD! The cross! The crown of thorns! The hammer! The whip! The bruises! The pain! The agony! The rejection! The scorn! The shame! The blood! The love! Jesus didn't come down from the cross! He never came down! He went all the way to prove His love to us! He never stopped loving us! He has never forsaken us! He guards us like a hen over her chicks; like a Watchman over Israel. "He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalm 121:3-4).

God loves you too. You are also His beloved! He is also yours! He is also wanting to sing over you in joy and in love. He is calling you to come deeper! When we live on the surface, we are only aware of external circumstances. We respond to them as though they are all of reality. But God is more real than us! Before us, He is! After we were gone, He is still around! When we respond to the reality of our external forces, we become torn apart. Our personality, our view of life and our spirit become bruised and out of focus! When we respond to the reality of God within us, be still and know that He is God, love, joy and peace will be restored! Because Jesus lives within us, we live!

I am enjoying Christ this very moment - everything at the externals have not changed - but everything in the internals have changed! I know that my Redeemer lives and He shall stand victoriously at the latter day upon the earth (Job 19:25). I have read the end of the Book - He wins!