ALIVE WORD: Join us today as we fast and pray for our land
Wilbert Richardson - Tuesday, November 20th, 2012 at 5:54 AM
Ministers Wilbert and Jacqueline Richardson
“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.”
–Ezra 8:21-23
The word fast comes from a Hebrew word tsoom: which means ‘to cover over (the mouth). However, fasting is much more than just not eating. Some people seem to think that if they decide not to eat that they are on a fast but this is not so and it could be very harmful to the body.
Fasting and praying go hand in hand. It makes no sense to fast if you are unable to pray (both talking to and listening to God). While fasting you may lose a pound or two but fasting should not be used as a weight loss method. An effective fast is one that is outlined in Isaiah 58:6-12. That is the fast that is pleasing to God.
Before you begin a fast be sure to ask God to search you and ask Him to remove from your life anything that is not of Him. Confess any sin that is in your life, so that you can go before the Lord with a clean heart.
When we fast, we empty our physical man and open our spiritual man to receive freely from the Holy Spirit. Not only that, but fasting helps our body to eliminate toxins. Fasting gives us the power that we need to go forward because we deny our flesh. Prayer is power, but prayer and fasting causes a spiritual explosion.
When we fast, we break down strongholds in the spirit that are preventing our prayers from being answered. We read an account in Matthew 17 where the disciples could not cast out a demon. Jesus told them in verse 21, “This kind doesn’t go out except by prayer and fasting.” There are things in your life and some situations around you that will not change unless you pray and fast.
Jesus is our perfect example. If He fasted and prayed, how much more should we? He commands us to fast. In Matthew 6:16 He says, “Moreover, when ye fast …” He didn’t say, if you fast or if you’re able to fast. He expects us as His children to fast. Fasting releases the hidden power of God into our lives and the circumstances around us. Fasting anoints us to do the work that God has called us to do.
Read Isaiah 58: 6-12; fasting brings revelation, healing and wholeness, righteousness, the presence of the glory of God, answered prayers, continual guidance, contentment, refreshing, strength, work that endures, raising up of future generations, and restoration. Are you in need of any of these blessings?
God is calling us today as in the book of Joel 2:12, “Now, therefore, says the Lord, turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” Fasting humbles us and helps to purify us from sin. Daniel fasted on behalf of the people in Daniel 9:3-5, and Ezra fasted on behalf of the people in Ezra 8: 21-22.
When we earnestly pray and fast, the breakthroughs will come and there will be a bursting forth on the left and on the right. We know that God is able because we have proven God in prayer and fasting.
This is the season of fasting and prayer. People are hurting all around you, in your homes, jobs, and churches. What we cause to happen for others is what will happen for us. You have a part to play in your victory. Victory is being able to defeat our enemies.
There are different types of fasts:
A complete fast is a total fast where you eat nothing and drink nothing. The maximum time for this fast is three days and nights (Ezra 8:21). You should not go on a complete fast beyond three days unless God directs you to do so.
A normal fast is abstinence from food but with regular intake of water and other liquids such as herbal tea or non-acidic juices.
The Daniel fast (or partial fast) is good for a person who’s fasting for the first time. On this fast you eat only vegetables and drink water.
The group fast (or corporate fast) is collective fasting. A corporate fast was what caused God to intervene concerning Nineveh (2 Chronicles 20 and Daniel 10:2-3)
Fasting brings many results as outlined in Isaiah 58:6-12
1. Divine Healing and wholeness
2. Righteousness
3. The glory of the Lord
4. Answered prayers
5. Divine guidance
6. Divine Contentment
7. Spiritual and physical Refreshing
8. Spiritual Strength
9. Work that endures
10. Raising up of future generations
11. Divine Restoration
12. Divine Revelation
We encourage you today to join us as we fast and pray for our land. We need to pray against the spirit that has come to kill, steal and destroy in our land. We need to pray for our government and those in authority. We need to pray for the Body of Christ and also for families. We need to bind the spirit of death, bind the marine spirit and the spirit of murder and accidents in our land. We need to pray against earthquakes and floods in our land.
Fast and pray as the Lord leads you. It can be for the day or just fast one meal. Let there be nothing in your life that’s hindering your prayers from being answered. If you’ve grown cold, repent and ask God to take you to the place He wants you to be. If there’s a situation where you need to ask someone’s forgiveness, do so. If you’ve been slack in your prayer life and the reading of the Word, repent today and move forward in the Lord.
Our land is in need of God’s mercy and God’s healing. May God have mercy on us and on our land this day as we humble ourselves and fast and pray.
This article was posted in its entirety as received by bvinews.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of bvinews.com, its sponsors or advertisers.
Post a Comment