Recently our Pastor asked for those who are willing to join together with him for the breakthrough unto the next level we were all sensing, by fasting and praying. Not that fasting provokes God to do something, but the denial of the flesh positions us to hear from God His direction and helps us to align our lives with what He already wants to do (and is doing); just like turning a camera lens to bring into focus the image you’re wanting to take a picture of, or tuning in a radio station on an older-type radio.
I immediately began to ask the Lord to direct me what it was He wanted me to fast. Before I get into His response I’d like to clarify the true meaning of fasting. As I said earlier, fasting is denying your flesh of something. But it’s not just the denial (or stopping something) that fully defines fasting, it’s what you do in its place as well.
Let’s look at Isaiah 58: “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke…share your bread with the hungry…bring to your house the poor…cover the naked…THEN your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily…the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard…(when) you call, the Lord shall answer… ‘Here I am’ … IF you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness…your darkness (gloom) shall be as the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought…” (verses 6-11). The rest of that chapter is wonderful as well, but I think you get the picture.
If you really think about it, this sounds a lot like the ministry of Jesus (which we are in and a part of). So what did the Lord speak to me? This could be a personal word, but I believe the entire Body of Christ could stand to practice this as well: Live a fasted lifestyle! Yes, keep the dictates of the flesh under the control of the real you (the hidden man of the heart – the spirit man). Paul said: “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27). Actually, it would be good to read from verse 19 on to get the whole thought.
Are we in the last of the last days, or not? Do you think we can continue with the same old school of thought and activity? Is God doing any changing to conform to our lifestyles so His work can get done? In order to be a part of a drastic move of God, we must make some radical and drastic changes in our own lives.
So why is this teaching called “Fast Unbelief”? Because, that’s the most common thing we all need to ‘tighten-up’ on and get rid of in our lives: unbelief. To tap into the power of God it takes faith and the opposite of faith is unbelief. Let’s not make Jesus look very hard to find faith when He returns!
Wow. I really neeedd to read this today. We are at a place in our business where we are standing before the decision of going forward or calling it quits. Personal gain has definitely crept in for the reason of doing it, rather than for doing it to the glory of God.