fasting and spiritual warfare

I would certainly classify a 40-day fast and 40 days of being tempted as a time of suffering, wouldnt you? One of the Spanish instructors on the bridge when the teenager plunged 40 meters to her death told the police that the girl jumped before her harness was clipped on to the bungee cord. Ironically (again! His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. An instructor told Spanish television channel RTVE that she had said, No jump. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. We all fall short. We forget that God uses those unpleasant things to grow us. Because he had been with Jesus before he fell, Satan would have known exactly who Jesus was. Christians are called to be lean, fighting machines. Watch the Fasting Forum here. In history Martin Luther and John Calvin, John Knox and John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finney , Billy Graham. He spoke in these terms: ". When you are watered with God's grace you do not merely become a wet, moist, living garden; you also become a spring. We give control to either the flesh or the Spirit. Is all hell breaking loose in your life? Paul and others fasted when they appointed all of the elders. It is so much more than a weight-loss diet. If we follow this fasting there will be physical strengthening. Let me repeat thatJesus was tempted!

We must resist the devil and he will eventually flee (James 4:7). In Esther 4:15-16 we read: Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. Remove the hindrances within your home such as junk food and junk mediaout of sight, out of mind. Move towards other people (no "cocooning" allowed), Get rid of the pointy finger and trash-talk (, God says this is what I mean by fasting. Satan attempted to make Satan doubt God. Notice Jesus didnt pray, Father, make this stop! But Jesus held firm to his purpose. Notice that Satan took Jesus to the top of the Jerusalem temple. He would have seen first-hand Jesus power and authority. (It can be viewed here: WCFAV.org.) If we follow this fasting, He will satisfy your soul. Deeply embedded addictions can be reversed by starving the flesh.

Jesus could have feasted on physical food that would have satisfied temporarily. Even though he would have viewed it with contempt and rebellion, Satan probably even knew Jesus purpose on earth. When we hear Jesus words we see that Gods heart has never changed about these things. 10 Things You Should Never Say to Your Pastor. In Joel 1 the prophet Joel declares a holy fast for corporate repentance. For those who truly fast, theres a reward. We tend to think that unpleasant things are always of the enemy. When I first read what Satan was promising, I didnt think much of it because Satan is the god of this world. While there, my wife and I also met two strong Christian men who I look up to, Jim Cymbala at the Brooklyn Tabernacle and Kirk Cameron at the Fox Studio, all in two days. Normal activity for Jesus would not have been to go off by himself into the desert for 40 days (this is actually the only time we are told of Jesus fasting like this). Open the Word, pray, meditate, and worship for the fatal blow: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts (Zech. Verse 11: "He will strength your frame lit., your bones. Im not talking about body weight, but spiritual weightweight to pull down strongholds. Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD ? The Senate has shown bipartisanship is possible. We dont want to go when God says, No!, Shane Idlemanis the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship, just North of Los Angeles. Either our self-will or Gods will is in charge. In Jonah 3:5-9 the people of Nineveh, after hearing what Jonah had to say, believed God. Then , They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth., John the Baptist and his disciples fasted often. In Connectedness with God We Feel His Burdens. Remove the hindrances within your home such as junk food and junk mediaout of sight, out of mind. But Jesus was known around town. vaccines responsibilities risks rights dvd signs explore Here fasting was Gods chosen spiritual weapon. James 4:5 reminds us that our spirit has envious yearnings. Do we yield to these yearnings, or do we give in to the pull of the flesh? In this passage, we see that fasting prepared Jesus to begin his public ministry (Matthew 17) and, eventually, the cross. Still trying to manipulate and trick Jesus, Satan took him even higher, up on a mountain where Jesus could see all the kingdoms down below. The devil left Jesus for a season so this wasnt the only time the enemy targeted Jesus. Fasting disciplines the body, prayer and worship bind the enemy, and the Word provides wisdom. How does fasting, prayer work in spiritual warfare? The only difference between those who succeed and those who fail is that those who succeed get back up again. He will always encourage us to use our gifts for our purposes instead of how they are intended to be used (1 Peter 4:10). Acting on the temptation is. If we follow this fasting God will be in front of us and behind us and in the midst of us with righteousness and glory. ", : From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.". In Daniel 1 he fasts from the kings food and drink. Here is part three in a series.

When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. (Psalm 91:15-15). He is relentless and will come at us again and again. 9:9, 18-19). The only difference between those who succeed and those who fail is that those who succeed get back up again. Dont misconstrue what I'm saying. God often uses suffering to test us and our commitment to Him. It struck me as I read this passage that Jesus not only fasted food, he fasted time with others. The verses Satan quoted weren't wrongly quoted. The weapons should match the warfare! BLOG ABOUT CONTACT PRIVACY POLICY TERMS OF USE POLICY, James, Philippians, Fruit of the Spirit, Character & Fruit, Hope, Obedience, Discipleship, Mentoring, Obedience, Godly Living, Growth, Kingdom Work, Church, Purpose & Calling, Relationships, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Discipline, Stewardship, Titus 2, Women's Ministry. No jump, but that the girl may have misheard and thought she said, Now jump., So tragic. The wilderness was a badlands area inhabited by thieves who attacked caravans of people. A perfect fast didnt do this, but God, through His mercy, honored my feeble attempt, and He will do the same for you. It is a paradoxical spiritual principle in Scripture: as you pour yourself out you become full. Think about it. According to Leviticus, fasting was mandatory for Jewish people once a year, on the Day of Atonement. will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. For three years now, my most popular posts on the blog have been about biblical fasting. When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. We will crave more of what we feed. My paraphrase of Jesus 40-day fast is from Matthew 4:2-11 and Luke 4:1-13. Is there a stronghold that has been gripping your life? Since the Bible doesnt contradict itself, we know this point is significant. Fasting, accompanying prayer, is a biblical, intense God-seeking. He even uses Scripture to do this. When Satan tries to snare us with temptation, its not a one-and-done event. In fact, Moses did two 40-day fasts. al. tamer elsharouni This is my chosen fast.. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lords favor. Later in the book of Matthew (6:17), Jesus tells us to go about our normal daily activities as we fast. And proclaim the Good News about what God has done in Jesus the Christ. 34). It is advanced through giving to the poor and needy, prayer, and fasting, with all three as a way of living. In Neh. His time of fasting gave him the strength to not lose sight of the truth. For the hypocrites the reward is the applause of other people (woo-hoo!). Partner with Me at Holy Spirit Renewal Ministries! When you see what it is for, and why Jesus expects it, you view fasting as a powerful spiritual weapon to advance the Kingdom of God and push back the powers of darkness. Are there great obstacles ahead? Embrace your longings! The three specific temptations we are told about involve Satan encouraging Jesus to do things Father God had not told Jesus to do (Jesus says in John 5:18-20 and John 12:49 that he can only do and say what the Father has commanded). Nehemiah fasted and prayed when he was preparing for the trip back to Israel. Discernment is one of our greatest challenges today. It builds us up emotionally and spiritually to stand strong against the enemy. (2 Samuel 12.). 9 Deceptions Jesus Warned Us about and How to Guard Against Them, Encouragement for the Special Needs Mom Struggling with Worry, 6 Ways to Break Free from People-Pleasing, What You Need to Know about the Dangers of Success, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2022, Crosswalk.com. Over the next few months, I will share what the Holy Spirit shares with me as I work my way through the Gospels. Knowing you had the betrayal and torture of the cross to face, wouldnt you have wanted to shortcut it and declare your Lordship right then and there? Fuel the completion of your fast by praying, reading, worshiping, and listening to sermons on fasting. Elijah fasted after his victory over Jezebel. Im not teaching perfectionism, no one has complete mastery over the flesh, but our goal should be victory rather than constant defeat. All this will really mess up your personal kingdom-building. If we follow this fasting, God will make you a watered garden with springs that do not fail. Embrace your longings! For Jesus it was a matter of, they would do it. Allowing the Holy Spirit to move us into a position where He can use us is only the first step because there is always more. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s). "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Obviously, we are to spend time in Gods Word seeking wisdom and discernment, but fasting aids the process. By separating himself from others for a while, it would have quieted the noise and voices speaking into his life (everyone always has an opinion they are eager to share, dont they?). He makes it clear that he expected his disciples to fast after he was gone. How awesome is it to know that God has put into place a spiritual discipline simply because He wants us to spend time with him! This is because the only Kingdom Jesus wants to build is the Kingdom of God. Theres much about Gods chosen fast in Isaiah 58 that is close to the heart of Jesus the Son.

Spending your life on others is deep; building your own little earthly kingdom is superficial.

Fasting is not a horrible thing to do, something to be dreaded. I believe that we have. If we fast like this the darkness in our life will become light. God's Kingdom Replaces Honor/Shame Hierarchies. At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. Society says, Be yourself! Have we forgotten the hidden secret of fasting? We must resist the devil and he will eventually flee (cf. We have changed following Christ into an easy path rather than a narrow road. First John 2:16 (NIV) states, For everything in the worldthe lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of lifecomes not from the Father but from the world. Society says, Be yourself! He is the author of Feasting & Fasting, If My People, Desperate for More of God, and Help! Biblical fasting is nothing new. The Holy Spirit has a purpose and we have to be willing to take the next step in faith. Im not teaching perfectionism. To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Is there a stronghold that has been gripping your life? So He was there when Satan fell and had seen Satan in action as the tempter and destroyer for thousands of years. I would love to hear from you! If we do not know the Word, we might not see the irony here and fall for Satans lies. That doesnt mean we should fear Satan or feel hopeless; not once does the Bible indicate we should. Then comes the testing of Satan in the desert. We will crave more of what we feed. We should pray for, enjoy, and encourage His blessings. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? ", You can hear it in Matthew 25:35-36 - when Jesus says, "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited me in; I needed clothes and you clothed me; I was sick and you looked after me; I was in prison and you came to visit me. Join over 250,000 others to get the top stories curated daily, plus special offers! All rights reserved. Discernment is one of our greatest challenges today. However, Satan chose to cherry-pick the verses he wanted in an attempt to get Jesus' mind in the direction he wanted him to go. The vast majority of the heroes of the faith fasted, and its still very common in many places. Your skeletal structure. Do you need help in the area of self-discipline and temperance? How has it prepared you? The Holy Spirit never moves us without a plan and a purpose. We've made Jesus a butler rather than a King. So again; If you had fasted for 40 days, wouldnt the thought of immediate food be appealing? This strengthens us to gird up our loins on His words, wrap his belt of truth around us for support, and face the enemy to declare, "I will worship the Lord my God and serve Him only!". I and my maids will fast as you do. Feed your desires! However, we know that gluttony and indulging the flesh never lead to spiritual victory, or any victory for that matter. Do you want award-winning journalism with a Christian worldview, delivered to your inbox? No jump, but that the girl may have misheard and thought she said, Now jump., So tragic. It wasnt until I dug deeper that Holy Spirit reminded me that Satan is the god of the earth but he is not the Lord of all. 4:6). When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. Yeah, me too. For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'". Jesus had to make a decision when he was tempted; did he want to satisfy his desires or be delivered for our sins and raised for our justification (Romans 4:25)? Then its time to prepare for battle through prayer and fasting. The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.. Is it Okay for Christians to Get Tattoos? You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Do you desire a deeper walk with God and increased spiritual hunger? 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. Instead, He chose to feast on the Word of God, trusting that his Father would provide. Y. our people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. You can hear the beating heart of God in Luke 4:18. Ezra faced a problem. The lust of the eyes and false promises were next in Satan's bag of unholy tricks. 1: 3-4 we read: They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. Instead, he quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.". The Holy Spirit led Jesus off by himself into the wilderness where no one was around except wild animals. Are you? A perfect fast didnt do this, but God, through His mercy, honored my feeble attempt, and He will do the same for you. There is no need for us to force something when God provides for us. With one final verse from Deuteronomy (10:20), Jesus said, "Away with you, Satan! Have a prayer list available. In case you are not familiar, biblical fasting is abstaining from something that we crave and enjoy (usually food but not always) for a period of time.

Besides, you have to realize that to be tempted, something has to appeal to you. There is no way to escape the force of Jesus words here. Because Satan and his demons must obey God, Satan had no choice but to immediately do as Jesus said and leave him alone. Deeply embedded addictions can be reversed by starving the flesh. 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God. Lauren Daigle - Freedom from Texting and Distraction. The weapons should match the warfare! He has never been without power and glory and authority. July 25-29 - Faith Bible Seminary - New York City - Encounters with the Holy Spirit. Jesus has always been and will always be. Those two high caliber spiritual bullets do substantial damage. How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The vast majority of the heroes of the faith fasted, and its still very common in many places. We cant defeat what we feed. (Here are some thoughts on fasting as a spiritual discipline that brings clarity and discernment.). Do you desire a deeper walk with God and increased spiritual hunger? June 26-30 - Green Lake, WI - Holy Spirit Renewal Ministries Conference - with Elijah Stephens, Bruce Van Natta, Clay Ford, et. When it happens to us, we might mistake it for loneliness and rejection.

Richard Foster defines fasting as the voluntary denial of an otherwise normal function for the sake of intense spiritual activity. Satan did his best to trick Jesus just as he had tricked the first Adam. Thoughts about God, culture, and the Real Jesus. Satan will always tempt us to satisfy the flesh over the spirit. Our way out of temptation is to turn to Jesus and Scripture. The weight to pull down strongholds. Leonard Ravenhill said, How can you pull down strongholds of Satan if you dont even have the strength to turn off your TV?We could add, How can we pull down strongholds of Satan if we dont even have the strength to say no to food?. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. When he began his public ministry, After Jesus is baptized he fasts for forty days. Then God gave her a baby boy, Samuel, who grew into a mighty man of God. As we spend focused time with God in fasting and prayer, we get to know Him and more fully recognize our Shepards sweet voice. If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to share it on your favorite social media sites. The first temptation we are told of is Satan trying to convince Jesus to satisfy his hunger by turning stones into loaves of bread. We give control to either the flesh or the Spirit. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. Satan cannot be eliminated with an AR-15, but we can fast and pray. The goal of sin is to destroy our testimony and our lives by following the wrong voice. You can also follow Pastor Shane on the new free speech platformParlerhttps://parler.com/profile/ShaneIdleman/posts. Fasting silences the voice of the flesh. How often the Tempter does this to us! In Matthew 17:21, Jesus said that a certain evil spirit does not go out of a person except by prayer and fasting. One of the Spanish instructors on the bridge when the teenager plunged 40 meters to her death has told police the girl jumped before her harness was clipped on to the bungee cord. After my first seven-day water fast that I stumbled through, Fox News contacted me to fly to New York to debate a pastor with opposing views on morality. Shane's sermons, articles, books, and radio program can all be found atwww.WCFAV.org, Follow him on Facebook at:https://www.facebook.com/confusedchurch., The Truth about Why Men Hate Going to Church, Pentatonix Sings 'Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)' A Cappella, 5 Ways Selfishness Shows Up in Society Today, 10 Things Everyone Should Know about the Methodist Church. We cant defeat what we feed. Im not promoting a works-based religion. Fuel the completion of your fast by praying, reading, worshiping, and listening to sermons on fasting. Fasting ignites a hunger for God as well as direction. Our best defense is to abide as Psalms 91:1-2 says; You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.. Richard Foster writes, in his excellent, revolutionary book. Fasting silences the voice of the flesh. Fasting is: going without food for spiritual purposes. Isnt it ironic that Jesus IS the top, the head of the church? We read that the purpose for Jesus going to the desert was so that he could be tempted by the devil. In exchange, Satan wanted Jesus to acknowledge that he (Satan) was superior and had authority over Jesus. ", And you can hear it in John 7:38 - "He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'streams of living water shall flow from within him. In other words, align your heart with Jesus heart and you become a well-watered garden, a spring whose waters never fail.. So yes, I would definitely encourage you to fast during this difficult season in our history. After I stumbled through my first seven-day water fast a few years ago, Fox News contacted me to fly to New York to debate a pastor with opposing views on morality. Jesus said to Satan, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'" What dream, goal, or godly ambition is waiting to be realized? He was leading a large group of defenseless people across the wilderness to return to the Promised Land. And yet, he did his best to tempt Jesus and manipulate the situation. - Live to free people, not to burden them. Do you need a breakthrough, direction, or peace? I came across this news clip some time ago that illustrates my point: A 17-year old Dutch girl who died on Monday during a bungee jump misheard instructions and jumped on the no jump instruction. However, this 40-day fast of Jesus shows us how to handle temptations, what we can expect, and when to draw the line. "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Real Followers of Jesus, listen! We are not powerless. From the time he was 12 he was a regular at the temple. Jesus was ministered to by the angels (Mark 1:12-13) as He fasted food in favor of spiritual nourishment. Self-denial is cool; self-indulgence is trite and boring. I came across this news clip some time ago that illustrates my point: A 17-year old Dutch girl who died on Monday during a bungee jump misheard instructions and jumped on the no jump instruction. However, it was not the place or time for Jesus to declare his Lordship and perform miracles. James 4:5reminds us that our spirit has envious yearnings. Do we yield to these yearnings, or do we give in to the pull of the flesh? What Does the Bible Say about Women Pastors?

Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Then we see another strategy of Satan. A Christian is called to be a lean, fighting machine. As the Bible teaches, the presence and the power of God in our lives is always a blessing: The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace (Ps. Jesus was tempted but did not sin so being tempted is NOT a sin. He has no real power unless it is given to him. Satan will always attempt to lure us away from our purpose. It gives us wisdom and discernment for crucial issues. We know from Luke 4:2 that Jesus was famished (extremely hungry). You know what, friend? Isaiah 58:3-12 is an especially relevant text on biblical fasting, since in it God tells us the elements of his chosen fast. The context was that the people of Israel had been fasting, but no spiritual transformation (changed lives) was happening. According to Matthew, the point that Satan tried to get Jesus to worship him is when Jesus had enough.

It is at that point that Jesus, showing his power and authority, commanded Satan to get away from him. Hannah fasted when she was praying for a child. Two wills cannot successfully live in the same bodyour self-will and Gods will. Fasting ignites a hunger for God and provides direction. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. n Matthew 6:16-18 Jesus says these words: "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. During the time that we abstain, we feed our spirit by intentionally focusing on God and the Bible instead of satisfying our flesh. Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. (Deut. Are there great obstacles ahead? The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire." Fasting clarifies things so we can better see the Kingdom of God squaring off against the Kingdom of Darkness. He sure likes to play with our heads, doesnt he? We dont want to go when God says, No!. Angels of the Lord ministered to Jesus. Advancing Gods Kingdom is as meaningful as this life gets; living out of the kingdom of darkness is absurdity. When we take Scripture out of context, we do just what Satan did, which is to attempt to manipulate for our selfish desires. If Jesus had given in to the temptation, his purpose on earth would have been lost. J. L. Mackie's Logical Argument from Evil Against Do Not Be Shaped Into This World's Social Imaginary, Parents: Your Goal Is Not to Make Your Kids Happy. His preferred method appears to be when we are weak, tired, and in physical need. When satisfying his hunger wasnt enough of a temptation to sway Jesus, the devil took him into the holy city (Jerusalem) and set him on top of the temple. In Matthew 17:21, Jesus said that a certain evil spirit does not go out of a person except by prayer and fasting. CP VOICES do not necessarily reflect the views of The Christian Post. We all fall short. Too many today are listening to the wrong voice. who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. But a wonderful, comfortable life is not always a blessing. One moment you can be riding on a wave of contentment and peace as you spend time with God. Dont misunderstand, God blesses His people. (Deuteronomy 6:16).

Satan promises Jesus things that were not his to give. Even though he was tempted, Jesus was obedient to the Father and didnt fall for the temptation.

Some strongholds hang on piece by piece. James 4:7). Fasting can enter us into deep spiritual warfare. As we intentionally spend time with him, He will let us know what is upcoming and what we need to do to prepare.

Its no wonder Satan chose not to quote the entire passage! God created Satan as one of His angels. Whether its on the radio, television, the internet, or at church, we often hear that God has a wonderful plan for our life and that Christianity is easy and carefree. Do you do that too? When we are tempted we need to do as Jesus did and go immediately to Scripture, we dont need to declare who we are in Christ or hide in fear. Some manuscripts disagree on whether this verse should be there or not, but the principle is found throughout scripture: Fasting applies pressure to the spiritual realm. I wanted you to hear that again because I believe this temptation of Jesus is something we tend to gloss over without fully thinking about it. Things you thought you had dealt with come rushing back. Feel free to comment below. Daniel fasted many times. Spiritual disciplines are intended to not only break down strongholds but also to build us up. Four truths Jesus wants us to know about the relationship between fasting and spiritual warfare: Satan wont hesitate to play with our minds by making us question who we are. Just that quick the devil left Jesus for a season. Yet, Satan came after Jesus just as he would come after usand Jesus was tempted! In Daniel 9 he fasts. Leonard Ravenhill has said, How can you pull down strongholds of Satan if you dont even have the strength to turn off your TV? We could add How can we pull down strongholds of Satan if we dont even have the strength to say no to food?. Im not talking about body weight, but spiritual weight. Please click here to learn how.