Fasting & Shaping History

Praying at the Western Wall

History is in the hands of the intercessors.  Throughout the ages fasting has been a powerful tool to intensify prayer.  Prayer and fasting empowers a person to change their personal history and a people to change their national history.  For example:

• Personal fasting
• Moses & Jesus both fasted for 40 days and their ministry unto the Lord changed their personal history and impacted the nations. (Ex. 24, 32-34, Matt.4).  Moses fasted food and water (complete fast) while Jesus did a normal fast.  He abstained from food and drank water.
• Daniel determined by the book of Jeremiah that it was time for a prophecy to be fulfilled and initiated a 21 day partial fast (abstaining from certain foods) until he saw breakthrough.  (Dan. 9 - 10:4)


• Corporate fasting 
• Jehoshaphat proclaims a fast throughout all Judah because of the threat of war.  (2 Chron. 20:3)
• Esther called the Jewish people to a complete fast (no food or water) for three days to seek God's intervention from a law that would kill her people. (Esth. 4:15-16) 

Jesus taught us to fast and pray too.  He just admonished us not to do it as the hypocrites did.  (Matt. 6:16-18).

The early Church also practiced regular fasting and prayer.  The Apostle Paul when describing his ministry in 1 Corinthians 6:3-10 said in verse that he was involved in "watchings" and "fastings."  Watching refers to abstaining from sleep and fasting refers to abstaining from food.

On January 2-8 our Church is entering into a 7 day fast to kick off the new year.  We expect to change history by being one of those lights that shines in darkness in 2014. Click here for God's word about a light shined in darkness in 2014. Here are some practical guidelines and lessons learned about how to fast.

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Much of what I learned about fasting initially came through two books.  God's Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis and Shaping History through Prayer and Fasting by Derek Prince.  Here are some guidelines.

1. Enter into your fast with faith (Heb. 11:6) and remember that faith comes by hearing (Rom 10:17).  
2. When you begin to fast start slow and build up.  Don't start with a 40 day fast but rather start by fasting a meal or two and build up gradually to longer periods.
3. During your fast give plenty of time to Bible reading and prayer.
4. It is wise to set a specific, purpose, focus or objective for your fast.  Make a list of your major or corporate objectives.  Church leaders do the same in a corporate fast.  For KLI"s focus during the fast starting 2014 click here for the short term objective and click here for our long term objectives.
5. Watch your motive and keep your pride in check.

Physical Aspects of Fasting

1. Fasting has health benefits (Isa. 58:8) in addition to powerful spiritual benefits (Isa 58:6-12). 
2. If you are on medication or have a chronic health condition then check with your doctor before starting a fast of more than one or two meals.  (ie. when I went on a 40 day fast I met with a doctor four times to monitor how my body was responding.  The goal is not to physically hurt yourself)
3. In the early period you could experience headaches, nausea, dizziness, shakes, your skin might breakout etc.  As your body transitions to burning fat impurities in our body are released.  As time goes on you'll sometimes experience fatigue and at other times amazing energy and mental clarity.
4. Drink lots of water.  One more thing!  Drink lots of water.  Oh, and  before I forget, drink lots of water.
5. Guard against constipation and gradually ease into a fast by cutting down the amount of protein you eat and adding fruits, vegetables and grains such as oatmeal.  Reverse the order when coming out and break your fast gradually.  The longer you fast the more important this becomes.
6. If you fast for more than a couple of days your stomach will shrink.  Take advantage of this and plan on eating less in the future.

As we enter into this fast kicking off 2014 I want to challenge you to draw closer to our Lord this year and craft your personal history through prayer and fasting.  Second, I want to challenge you to join us in changing the history of this city and every other city where one of our leaders is using ORT to mobilize the Church to pray in their city. 


For Part 2 of this teaching click here for  The Fast That God Chooses is Loaded with Benefits.