HOW FASTING MOVED MOUNTAINS.

SERIES: THE POWER OF PRAYER AND FASTING.

TEXT: JOEL 2:12.

 

Prayer and fasting has done wonders in history. To pray with fasting is to humble oneself before God. A broken and contrite spirit, God will not despise- Psalm 51:17. When God’s people who are called by His name will humble themselves and pray and seek the face of God and turn from their wicked ways, God will hear from heaven- 2 Chron. 7:14.

• Fasting quenches the fire of lust.
• Fasting subjects the flesh to the spirit.
• Fasting builds the appetite for heaven, the ordinary flesh has little appetite for God.
• Fasting enables one to prefer the presence of God more than the presence of food.
• By Fasting, the body learns to obey the spirit.

Some famous quotes about prayer and fasting:-

• Bill Bright: “fasting reduces the power of self so that the Holy Spirit can do a more ‘intense work’ within us.”
• John Wesley: “fasting is chiefly an aid of prayer.”
• Martin Luther: “of fasting, say this; it is right to fast frequently in order to subdue and control the body.”
• Elisabeth Elliot: “one way to begin to see how vastly indulgent we usually are is to fast.”
• L Moody: “if you say you will fast when God lays it on my heart, you never will.”
• John Piper: “Christian fasting is a test to see what desires controls us.”
• Charles Spurgeon: “I will fast from anything so that I may bring him to the feet of Jesus, that he may be saved.”

Prayer and fasting has stopped calamities of nations, has turned away the sword of God to destroy.

Examples:-

THREE DAYS FAST OF ALL JEWS- ESTHER’S REQUEST- Esther 4:16.

• A plan had been organised secretly by Harman to execute genocide on all Jews- a great crisis.
• Queen Esther recommended a way out for all Jews to pray with fasting for 3 days.
• Results of their fasting:-

1. Esther got favour to be allowed into the king’s presence without appointment.
2. Harman was hanged.
3. The genocide on all Jews was stopped.
4. Mordecai was promoted.

THE WHOLE CITY OF NINEVEH FASTS- Jonah 3:4-10.

• The city of Nineveh was built by Nimrod, a man who led the world into worship of idols- Gen. 10:11.
• Idolatry birthed sin to the extent that it ascended to God.
• God gave the whole city of about 120,000 people, 40 days to repent or be burned down by God.
• The king of Nineveh decreed a fast on everyone in Nineveh including animals, herds and flocks. It was a TOTAL FAST, without food or even drink.
• When God saw what they did, He relented His judgment and spared them- Jonah 3:10.

THE FASTING OF ALL JUDAH AND JEHOSHAPHAT- 2^nd 20.

• Abruptly without warning, the kingdom of Judah was attacked by armies of three different nations- 2^nd 20:1.
• King Jehoshaphat declared a fast for everyone in the entire kingdom- 2^nd Chronicles 20:3.
• After fasting, God heard their prayers and took over the battle to fight for them- 2^nd 20:15.

KING DAVID, MAN AFTER GOD’S HEART FASTED- Psalm 109:24.

• King David was a man acquainted with brokenness before God. He sought the Lord with prayer and fasting frequently.
• God said of David, “a man after my own heart”- 1^st 13:14.

 

CONCLUSION

Of prayer and fasting, the Bible says, “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise”- Psalm 51:17.