Why Prayer with fasting- Part 2

Why Prayer with fasting- Part  2

This is the conclusion of a 2 part series on prayer and fasting. The reader is advised to review the first series for full benefit. In this part we will complete the list of circumstances that bring us to the point of fasting. We conclude with the spiritual benefits of fasting that result in obtaining God’s “open reward” for doing so. 

4. When Making decisions of choice especially appointments for ministry

God’s guidance is crucial when making choices and picking people in leadership position of any type especially ministry appointments. Untold pain can be avoided if we sought God’s guidance in such decisions as choosing a spouse. God makes no errors and knows our rightful spouses and leaders even in political office.

In the Book of Acts in the Bible the disciples were aware of this and fasted before picking leaders in the drive to evangelize the world. They picked Paul and Bernabas as the first evangelists of the new church of Jesus Christ after prayer and fasting.

Acts 13: 1-3

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

5. In very urgent life and death situations  

In situations such as political and/or life and death situations, wisdom, strength and change may come through fasting especially group fasting. When the Jews faced the possibility of total annihilations the Book of Esther, Queen Esther called on the Jewish community to fast with her in order to have a suspension of some laws and erasure of the edict passed to kill them.

Esth. 4:16  “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. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” 

6. When we are in need of repentance 

Repentance that turns God’s wrath into God’s mercy is not only when we have been justly judged and found guilty as individuals but also as  group, city or nation for collective sin against God. The city of Nineva was in such a situation and in his great mercy God sent an albeit reluctant emissary, Jonah.  The king seeing no way out called for a total fast that included their animals. The disaster was averted.

Jonah 3:4-7

And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:

7. The principle of obtaining the “Open Rewards” from God.

The psalmist talks about the safety and provision for those who dwell in God’s secret place. How do we get to enter into this secret place of The Most High? Jesus provides us with three keys of entry. Notice that in the Christian walk, these keys are a great source of conflict in the flesh, confusion and attack from Satan as well as religion.  These keys lead us to God’s “open reward”. One of the keys of entry into this Secret Place is fasting as we will show in the scriptures.

The secret place of God

Psalms 91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

         Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty

Psalms 84:4, 11-12 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; They will still be praising you. Selah. What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises. Selah…For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory.The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
  O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.

Fasting is one of three areas where the Lord promises an “open reward”. These are intimate areas that originate deep in the heart of the believer and are a big indicator of the believer’s stand with the Lord. 

A. Principle of Giving, Open Reward Key #1

The Bible tells us that God GAVE us His only Son, as a sacrifice for our salvation. In the same way He encourages us to be givers. Giving of ourselves based on God’s word has a promise of open rewards. This is one 

Matthew 6: 3-4 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

As we all know, giving and the giver is an area of great attack in our lives. The enemy will squeeze our finances, time and property to reduce or eliminate our giving.

B. Prayer is Open Reward Key #2

We are all called to pray and inevitably prayer involves spiritual encounter with the forces of darkness whose aim is to reduce, adulterate or stop prayer completely in our lives, homes and churches.

Matthew 6:5-6 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

C. Fasting is Open Reward Key #3

All through the Bible, we see fasting being used in times of hardship or when there has been a separation between the people and God. Fasting took the people to the place of power, anointing. That secret place of the Most High.

The study book Praying With Impact Interactive  workbook (pp: 112-115),  seven instances where  fasting was used are explained. These are not the only instances or reasons for fasting but help us glean into this powerful tool of prayer. 

Matthew 6: 16-18 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly

Impact Prayer

Father we come to you in thanksgiving for the provision of everything that we need to be effective in life. We thank you for the for keys of prayer and fasting . Lord teach us to pray and fast so we may get closer to you, in Jesus’ Name, AMEN!