Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough: A Guide to Nine Biblical Fasts (33 page)

Every time I fasted I established a new spiritual dimension in my life and had new spiritual authority with people.—
George Pitt

As a Boomer, I have been conditioned to enjoy the best the world has to offer. Fasting speaks boldly to consumerism, one of my generational core values. To set aside what I want to encourage personal spiritual growth is what it means to deny myself and take up my cross daily in the nineties. I suspect it would be difficult for me to rise to the challenge of discipleship and live a consistently Christian lifestyle without practicing the discipline of fasting.—
Douglas Porter

Every Christian, I think, should occasionally fast and pray, waiting before God until he gets the victory that he needs....Many an experience could I tell of victories and blessings following prayer and fasting. But the one dearest to my heart occurred in 1921....I have seen more people saved in one service than that, but, oh, what a blessing that was to me as a young preacher just starting out! I know that real fasting and prayer and humiliation of mind as we wait on God will get the blessing God wants to give us!—
John R. Rice

I would suggest that you fast one day a week. However, this would be altered by the burdens that come, the leadership of the Spirit, and the spiritual needs you may face. Many times one needs to go on a semi-fast or maybe a fruit fast or natural food fast for a week just to tone up his physical system and give his body a chance to clean house. If I were to feel a sore throat coming on, I may fast three or four days. If I have an affliction of some sort that comes unannounced, I will fast and pray and read my Bible until it’s gone and have God’s people, of course, to pray for me and pray with me.—
Lester Roloff

One obvious value of fasting lies in the fact that its discipline helps us keep the body in its place. It is a practical acknowledgment of the supremacy of the spiritual. But in addition to this reflex value, fasting has direct benefits in relation to prayer as well. Many who practice it from right motives and in order to give themselves more unreservedly to prayer testify that the mind becomes unusually clear and vigorous. There are a noticeable spiritual quickening and increased power of concentration on the things of the spirit.—
J. Oswald Sanders

After fasting for a number of years, God began to speak to my heart in regard to the power of soul winning. It seemed that the Lord was impressing me that I would never have the God-given anointing to reach the worst of sinners until I could fast for 40 days and read the Bible through at least once. This I did and since that day my life has never been the same. God helped us to win people to Christ that we had on our prayer list for 20 years or more.

I never enter a fast that is an extended fast of 14, 21, or 28 days without first knowing it is the will of God. The greatest Bible Conferences and revivals that I experience today occur when I do not eat one bite of food but just drink water from the time I get on the plane until I get back on the plane to return home.

Fasting will make a difference in winning souls to Christ.—
J. Harold Smith

Properly speaking, fasting is not so much a duty enjoined by revelation as it is the natural expression of certain religious feelings and desires. There is but one special fast ordained in the Old Testament, and there is none at all ordained in the New. Yet one cannot fail to see that
the exercise is, nevertheless, quite in accordance with the whole tenor of a true religious life in all ages; and that, if it is not expressly commanded, it is only because nature itself teaches us in certain circumstances thus to afflict the soul.—
W. C. Smith

We should fast when we are concerned for God’s work. I believe the greatest thing a church could have is a staff, deacons, and leaders who fast and pray—not when the church burns down, but in order to get the church on fire. A lot of dead churches would catch fire if the people in places of leadership would set aside a period of time for fasting and prayer....Fasting brings about a supernatural work in our lives. God will not entrust supernatural power to those whose lives are not under total control....The Christian who would have the supernatural power of God must be under the total control of the Holy Spirit.—
Charles Stanley

On the morning of our fast day, the Holy Spirit seemed so to fill several of us, that each felt (as we found in private conversation afterwards) that we could not bear any more and live.—
Mrs. Howard Taylor

There are those who think that fasting belongs to the old dispensation; but when we look at Acts 14:23 and Acts 13:2-3, we find that it was practiced by the earnest men of the apostolic day. If we would pray with power, we should pray with fasting. This, of course, does not mean that we should fast every time we pray; but there are times of emergency or special crisis in work or in our individual lives, when men of downright earnestness will withdraw themselves even from the gratification of natural appetites that would be perfectly proper under other circumstances, that they may give themselves wholly to prayer. There is a peculiar power in such prayer. Every great crisis in life and work should be met that way. There is nothing pleasing to God in our giving up in a purely Pharisaic and legal way things which are pleasant, but there is power in that downright earnestness and determination to obtain in prayer the things of which we sorely feel our need, that leads us to put away everything, even things in themselves most right and necessary, that we may set our faces to find God, and obtain blessings from Him.—
R. A. Torrey

Although there are many different kinds of fasts, the most common,
and the one I recommend for starting, is to abstain from food, but not drink, for a given period of time. So far as drink is concerned, all agree that water is basic. Some add coffee or tea, some add fruit juices. All also agree that something like a milk shake goes too far, and is not in the spirit of fasting. Whatever, the fast involves an intentional practice of self-denial, and this spiritual discipline has been known through the centuries as a means for opening ourselves to God and drawing closer to Him....To the degree that fasting becomes more of a norm in our day-to-day Christian life as individuals and congregations, we will become more effective in spiritual warfare.—
C. Peter Wagner

Fasting is important—more important, perhaps, than many of us have supposed, as I trust this book will reveal. For all that, it is not a major biblical doctrine, a foundation stone of the faith, or a panacea for every spiritual ill. Nevertheless, when exercised with a pure heart and a right motive, fasting may provide us with a key to unlock doors where other keys have failed; a window opening up new horizons in the unseen world; a spiritual weapon of God’s providing, “mighty, to the pulling down of strongholds.” May God use this book to awaken many of His people to all the spiritual possibilities latent in the fast that God has chosen.—
Arthur Wallis

Fasting today is neither commanded nor forbidden, and is beneficial only if practiced under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.—
John F. Walvoord

A pastor can call for a day of prayer and fasting in his church. Every time I have done this as a pastor we saw unusual results. We usually had it on a Wednesday and closed out with midweek prayer meeting. I would ask the people not to tell me whether or not they were fasting. We would have a special prayer meeting at the church around ten in the morning for those who could come. Some would stay through lunchtime. Sometimes we would break up at noon for the wives who had lunches to prepare or children coming home. An afternoon prayer meeting might be called to be closed out with the evening prayer meeting. Usually a fast would begin in the morning and go to the next morning. That’s where the word “breakfast” comes from—it means to “break a fast.” There have been times when I fasted only one or two meals in a day because of circumstances.—
C. Sumner Wemp

First, let it be done unto the Lord, with our eye singly fixed on Him. Let our intention herein be this, and this alone, to glorify our Father which is in heaven; to express our sorrow and shame for our manifold transgressions of His holy law; to wait for an increase of purifying grace, drawing our affections to things above; to add seriousness and earnestness to our prayers; to avert the wrath of God; and to obtain all the great and precious promises which He hath made to us in Jesus Christ....Let us beware of fancying we
merit
anything of God by our fasting. We cannot be too often warned of this; inasmuch as a desire to “establish our own righteousness”, to procure salvation of debt and not of grace, is so deeply rooted in all our hearts. Fasting is only a way which God hath ordained, wherein we wait for His unmerited mercy; and wherein, without any deserve of ourselves, He hath promised freely to give us His blessing.—
John Wesley

It is not wrong to fast, if we do it in the right way and with the right motive. Jesus fasted (Matt. 4:3); so did the members of the early church (Acts 13:2). Fasting helps to discipline the appetites of the body (Luke 21:34) and keep our spiritual priorities straight. But fasting must never become an opportunity for temptation (1 Cor. 7:7). Simply to deprive ourselves of a natural benefit (such as food or sleep) is not
of itself
fasting. We must devote ourselves to God and worship Him. Unless there is the devotion of heart (see Zech. 7) there is no lasting benefit.—
Warren W. Wiersbe

T
HROUGHOUT HISTORY, GREAT CHRISTIAN LEADERS HAVE KEPT PERSONAL
journals to record observations about their Christian lives and ministries. These leaders used their journals to record God-given insights and expressions of their personal struggles. Their journals were rarely meant to be published; however, they have helped many Christians today work through similar struggles. The journals of David Brainerd, John Wesley and others are inspiring records of personal experiences with God that help people today in their own unique experiences with Him.

Recently, many Christians have begun the discipline of journaling as a tool for personal growth. At the beginning or conclusion of each day, they take time to record the events and lessons learned during the previous 24 hours. Over a period of several weeks or months, their daily entries provide a means of reviewing God’s work in their lives. Often a spiritual journal records the progress of a particular goal or the application and benefit of a new discipline or biblical truth.

Some Christians are reluctant to keep journals because they do not perceive themselves as writers. They feel threatened by their poor spelling and grammar or undeveloped writing styles. Spiritual journals are personal; therefore, a great deal of liberty can be exercised in writing them.

Journals can serve as personal history books, recording even telephone calls and meetings. They can also serve as recorded expressions of daily prayer and personal feelings. Journals can become personal friends—enabling people to write as they would talk to good friends sharing today’s events and tomorrow’s anticipations.

The benefits of journaling are numerous. First, journaling helps to slow down and refocus fast-paced people. Second, it gives people opportunities to get in touch with and record their feelings. Third, it provides a means of recording important lessons God is daily teaching. Over time, journals may record the significant growth in people’s lives that might otherwise go unnoticed and/or unmeasured. Also, journals provide records of God’s answers to prayers and other good gifts received from the Father.

The most difficult step in any new discipline is often the first step. For many people, taking time to write a journal entry the first day is a hurdle that keeps them from using this tool in their Christian lives. If you do not presently keep a spiritual journal, decide to keep one during your fast. You may find that journaling is a beneficial discipline you want to maintain throughout the rest of your life. Also, by keeping a journal of your fast days as you work through
Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough
, you will have an accurate record of your feelings as you develop the discipline of fasting, and a reference for the special insights you received from God during your fast.

As you begin journaling on your fast days, remember that you are writing for yourself. This gives you some liberty. You may wish to purchase a special notebook or diary to use as your journal. Or you may choose to write on separate sheets of paper and bind them together later. Your home computer can become your journal. Some people have used a cassette tape recorder as a personal journal, usually to be transcribed to paper later.

Begin by recording the date you start your fast. Then write about the lessons you have recently learned, the circumstances you have encountered, the feelings you have experienced and any other special concerns you may have. Some people find it easier to name their journals, and
write to their journals as they might intimately converse with their closest friends.