Should I Be Fasting?

Mark 9 contains a story I’ve read a zillion times before. Jesus and His inner circle were coming down from the mountain where they had experienced the transfiguration, and they were making their way toward joining the other disciples.

While Jesus, Peter, James, and John were up on the mountain, the remaining disciples had an encounter with a heartsick daddy and his demon-possessed boy.

“Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” (Mark 9:17–18)

It was during this encounter that the dad prayed one of my favorite prayers in all of Scripture, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” (v. 24). Jesus cast the demon out of the boy, and he stood up cleansed and healed in front of his dad.

After the dust cleared the disciples asked an important question: “Why could we not cast it out? (v. 28).

Jesus replied, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer [and fasting]” (v. 29).

For me, the two words found inside the brackets of the text are like a gold nugget of truth I’d never noticed before.

“This one can only be driven out by prayer and fasting?”

If that was true for a child afflicted by demons and his desperate daddy, is it true for something in my life? What about the things that seem to throw me to the ground or toss me up against the ropes? Can they only be dealt with through prayer and fasting? What about when I’m in the fire like this boy was? Is prayer and fasting the only way out? What about those things that I’ve tried and tried to fix and cannot? Is fasting the key that unlocks the remedy? Start of a complete life transformation, click here.

Those questions nudged me to run to God’s Word looking for answers to this big question, “Should I be fasting?” Here’s what I found.

Reasons for Fasting

Fasting is a theme throughout all of Scripture. Fasting is never commanded for all believers, but the Bible does give us lots of good reasons to fast including:

Fasting before making an important decision (Acts 13:2, 14:23).

Fasting to overcome addiction (Isa. 58:3–7).

Fasting for God’s intervention (2 Sam. 12:15–17).

Fasting to show humility (Ps. 35:13).

Fasting in response to grief or mourning (Ps. 35:14, Est. 4:3).

Fasting to request God’s protection (Est. 4:15–16, Ezra 8:21–23).

Fasting to set apart leaders for Christian service (Acts 13:2–3).

Fasting with repentance (Joel 2:12–15).

Fasting as a leader who desires God to work amongst your people (Jonah 3:6–10).

Fasting in Good Company

I can find plenty of good reasons to fast from that list. Scripture also shows us that many of the superheroes of our faith, including Jesus, fasted.

Moses fasted before receiving the Ten Commandments (Deut. 9:9–18).

David fasted to mourn his child’s illness and ask God to intervene (2 Sam. 12:1–23).

Ezra fasted to mourn the sins of his people (Ezra 10:6–17).

Esther fasted for the safety of the Jews (Est. 4:15–17).

Daniel fasted for an answer to prayer (Dan. 10:1–3).

The elders of the church in Antioch fasted before sending out missionaries (Acts 13:1–3).

Jesus Himself fasted before starting His ministry (Matt. 4:1–2).

These are the people I want to be like when I grow up. I want Moses’ power. David’s passion for the Lord. Esther’s courage. Daniel’s boldness. The church in Antioch’s gospel focus. Above all things, I want to be like Jesus. If Jesus fasted, I want to follow His example.

If we are looking to the Bible for good reasons to fast, there are plenty of them. But the Bible also offers a few bad reasons to fast.

3 Bad Reasons to Fast

Not all fasts are God-honoring. Here are three bad reasons to fast.

1. To twist God’s arm.

The people described in Isaiah 58 were regular fasters, but they got miffed when God didn’t seem to notice (v. 3). God took the opportunity to teach His people about true and false fasting. What’s the bottom line? Fasting is about positioning our own hearts, not twisting the arm of God. It is not a transaction where we fast and God gives us what we want. (That would make Him a pretty small God, no?) It is a gift He gives to us, not a gift we give to Him.

2. To gloss over our sin. 

The Pharisees were regular fasters too, but they were also very good at missing the point. In Luke 18:9–14, Jesus blasts a Pharisee who publicly declared that he fasts twice a week while simultaneously glossing over his own sin. Fasting is not a substitute for repentance.

3. To show off.

Jesus said we should pray in secret. It’s not because fasting is shameful or something to be covered up, but because it is private—it’s between you and God. If your motivation for fasting is to impress others, to make them see you as super-spiritual or extra holy, go ahead and have the cheeseburger, sista, 'cause that is not what fasting is really about.

Is God Calling You to Fast?

I told you God’s Word has a lot to say on the subject of fasting! And I’m just getting warmed up. There’s still so much to discuss. Be sure to hop back on the blog tomorrow for a follow-up post, “A Modern Woman’s Guide to Fasting,” for some practical helps for how to fast.

In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you. Have you ever fasted? Do you fast regularly? Why do you fast? Leave a comment with your thoughts below.

Are we hearing the Spirit of God?

Rev Looi Kok Kim

(Chairman of Prayer Commission, NECF)

In times of crises, what good can we see for a nation? The Covid19 pandemic outbreak has taken thousands of lives. The locust plagues in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somali have destroyed hundreds of farmlands and crops, resulting in food shortages.

These have caused great fear and uncertainties globally. The fear of the unknown can trigger out-of-control situations. It can ripple out into socio-economic slumps and political uncertainties. A suffering nation may hope for recovery but may not see any good coming out of the situation.

On the other hand, in any arising crisis, there is always an awakening or warning call! It is a call from God to His children to wake up and return to Him. In our case, we may need a literal change of our daily routines and lifestyles, but it will be a change from comfort to intentionally make time for the LORD. it is to set apart a time to read God’s word - perhaps in big portions daily (follow our daily schedule if you can), then reflect on it and pray. Deuteronomy 17:18-20 sets for us the rules of life. Although the passage was intended for the kings, it is also applicable for every believer in Christ to do likewise. It is a non-negotiable discipline to read the Bible daily for the rest of our lives. The main objective is to know “Who God is!” (Daniel 11:32).

Global or national crises are markers in a time-line to prepare God’s people to move forward. During critical moments of any situation, do not lose heart, panic, or speak negatively. In Matthew 24:6-8, Jesus had already forewarned us. It is also a good reminder to realign our relationship with God and to know God’s destiny for our lives and for Malaysia. The waves of a spiritual boost come with awakening, revival, and transformation. But the most important focus is all about God’s destiny for Malaysia.

Therefore, what good can we foresee for Malaysia? God has a destiny for Malaysia. What is needed is to saturate our lives in the Word of God and to let the Holy Spirit reveal Himself at times like this.

Hearing the Spirit of God cannot be separated from saturating in the Word of God. The effort of disciplining ourselves to know God and following Him will enable us to grow deep in Him.

The crucial work of the Kingdom of God must be carried out in fervent prayers and in doing His will. It is a higher level of spiritual nurturing. God’s people who love Malaysia must rise above itemized prayers. More fears will crouch in but for those who know God, they shall abide in Him and stand firm to fulfill His destiny.

In this 40 days booklet “Hearing the Holy Spirit for the Times We Live In.'' The focus will be on the Bible reading, followed by reflections on the Word of God, and allowing the Spirit of God to lead you to pray based on the general guides and beyond. Remember, our focus is to know God.

Before you start to fast, seek the Lord in selecting any one of these - particle fast (skip one or two meals), Daniel’s fast (abstain from meat) or full fast (drink only water or juices). You will truly experience the joy within, the refreshing relationship, and the abundant strength that comes from Him, Be blessed in your journey as you pursue God.

Download The 40-Days Fast & Prayer 2020 booklet

Anointed Lying Tongues In Church Pulpits

 

While treating the topic, “revoking and releasing yourself from the spells of mass destruction”, we saw that many sorcerers have camouflaged themselves and taken the titles of bishops, prophets or pastors.

Such men and women have equally floated churches in various cities and villages where they bewitched people who come in contact with them.

Such men/women, they have sweet tongues and use the spirit of divination to prophesy accurate prophecies and perform magic that many spiritually uninformed call miracles.

It is highly unfortunate that even some genuine Christians are captured by their bewitchment and most of the people captured are those jumping from place to place seeking after miracles and personal prophecies.

Such sorcerers that call themselves pastors, use the spirit of divination to tell you some deep secrets of your life that are true just like what was reported in Acts 16:16-18.

Reading Acts16:16-18 which says, “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the Most High God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days.

But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

I wish to ask, what that damsel was saying about Paul and his colleague, wasn’t that the gospel truth? I am asking because of those who argue that they give accurate prophecies.

Jesus warned us in Mathew 7:15 which says “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves”.

Also, Apostle Paul repeated the warning in Acts 20:29 which says, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

As such sorcerers were rampant today so was it in the time of Prophet Jeremiah. See Jeremiah 14:14 “And the LORD said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in my name.

I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart.

Prophet Jeremiah further said in Jeremiah 23:28-32 “The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?” says the LORD.

“Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets,” says the LORD, “who steal My words every one from his neighbor.

“Behold, I am against the prophets,” says the LORD, “who use their tongues and say, ‘He says.’ “Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” says the LORD,

“and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit these people at all,” says the LORD.

See also Jeremiah 27:15 For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.

Prophet Jeremiah summarized his words about these false prophets in Jeremiah 29:8-9 “For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:

Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.

For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the LORD. Prophet Ezekiel equally said this about these false prophets in Ezekiel 13:6

“They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others hope that they would confirm the word”.

One thing that is so noticeable about these sorcerers turned pastors is that the used the power of sorcery to bewitch and control their victims or members.

Having bewitched their victims, whatever they say to their victims, they don’t question it, and they boldly tell lie in the name of the Lord. In other words, they tell their victims that God said, while they don’t know God in the first place.

Most of what they declare that God said is outside the Bible and equally contradicts the Bible. Mostly, they are  $ex – addicts and perverts that prey on women.

In Africa, one such sorcerer turned pastor impregnated over 20 women (including some married women and their daughters). The dailymail.co.uk/news captured it this way:

A Nigerian pastor arrested for impregnating 20 women in his church claims God commanded him to have sex with them – and their daughters. 

You can read that also in vanguardngr.com, captioned, “S-A-C-R-I-L-E-G-E: Police arrest Pastor that impregnates married women and young girls ‘in the name of God’.

Another $ex perverts that call himself a pastor was equally arrested for Forcing Church Members To Suck His Manhood, Says It Has Holy Milk Which Will Heal Them.

It was captured this way, “Pastor Forces Church Members To Suck His Manhood, Says It Has Holy Milk Which Will Heal Them” 

Shocker! Pastor makes congregation suck his penis in Church, says his semen is holy milk

Perhaps one of the information that shocked me was watching and reading information about one Bishop from Ghana who I earlier thought was a genuine man of God.

In a YouTube video, that Bishop was seen flogging teenagers for engaging in Premarital Sex while as himself was accused earlier of sleeping with one of his pastor’s wife to the extent of impregnating her.

The said Bishop was said to have confessed to have been cheating on wife Florence with many women in a leaked phone call (Audio)

These Sorcerers that turned pastors using the name of God to lie and commit atrocities, it is said in 1Peter 4:17

For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

You sorcerers, that turned pastors, be sure that your sins will find you out and there will be no escape. Yourself, in particular, you should, therefore, beware so that you don’t fall victim. Shalom!