Dr. Johnson. Org
Prayer and Fasting
Putting this
last among the weapons list, does not make it the least; in fact this should be
top priority for every believer to live a fruitful and blessed life. Most
victories against the enemy are won on one's knees. Not all may have gifts
described in this book, but one doesn't need a gift to involve oneself in
prayer.
You may still not have entered the phase of speaking in tongres. God willing
you will. But don't waste time, grumbling about it. Pray with the intelligence
that God has granted you. If you can't get victory with prayer alone, fast and
pray.
If prayers can be compared to arrows used to fight the enemy, praying and
fasting are arrows with poison at their tips that demolish the enemy. When
viewed in the spiritual realm, the importance of fasting gained great
significance in our lives. Because she can see the enemy, Jesus initially told
us that we may encounter more attacks than other believers because the enemy
wants to remain hidden and doesn't like its presence to be noticed or known.
Usually without fasting, the enemy may gain access now & then & we
rebuke and the angels cast them away. A question many arise how the enemy gains
access with the blood net, the wall of fire and so on.
We once enquired of this from Jesus and the Holy spirit said, "They
(spirits) are there everywhere. The harm that they can cause is limited because
of divine protection.
As I said they make their appearance now and then at random but fasting is a
weapon that can and will ever limit their coming near us. This I observed once
in a 7 day fast ( having 1 meal/ day). The enemy did not approach us for a full
2 weeks. Fasting has to be regular for every believer. According to the grace
that he/she has received and his/her bodily status, fasting once or twice a
week missing one; two or all meals are all pleasing to Jesus. Taking longer
fasts 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days or more require the consent of the Holy
spirit for provision of protection from the enemy against attacks to the body.
Recently Jesus impressed upon us the greater effectiveness of a fast when ever
liquids are forsaken. The prayers prayed then ( when the body is afflicted
greatly) swiftly finds favour with God. Remember Esther, Mordecai and the Jews
fasting for 3 days without food and water and the great deliverance that they
got.
A vegetarian fast for non vegetarians also has importance in the sight of God
as once told by the Holy Spirit to us. Not eating meat, fish, eggs ,avoiding
aerated drinks,milk and milk products for a week or more also is a type of
fast.
However long/short a fast be it has to be according to the guidelinesprescribed
in Isaiah 58 for that is a fast truly pleasing to God. Points to note from
there are:
1.On day of fasting, do what pleases God.
2.Do not exploit your workers
3.Let there be no quarreling and strife; no fights
4.Loose chairs of injustice
5.Untie cords of yoke
6.Set the oppressed free
7.Share food with the hungry
8.Provide the wanderer shelter
9.Clothe the naked
10.Not to turn away from your own flesh & blood.
Then, the Bible says, in Isaiah 58:8,9
"Your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly
appear, then your righteousness will go before you and the glory of the Lord
will be your rear guard,. Then you will call and the Lord will answer; you will
cry for help and He will say. Here am I."
We cannot but end this section without a word regarding the Anointing.
Ethan the Ezrahite speaks in Psalm 89 about the anointing that God gave David
and its effects upon his life " I have found David my servant, with my
sacred oil I have anointed him. My hand will sustain him, surely my arm will
strengthen him. No enemy will subject him to tribute, no wicked man will
oppress him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down his
adversaries".
Beause of the great anointing of Holy spirit upon David's life none of his foes
could stand against him. Goliath, Saul, Absalom, the Philistines all were
defeated one by one.
The Psalmist writes in Psalm 92:10,
"You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been
poured upon me" .
Nothing or no one I guess can stop a wild ox pounding through the jungle. It
just crushes everything in its path.
In John 3:34, we read that Jesus had the Holy Spirit in Him without measure.
Thus the forces of darkness could never stand against Him with any sort of
arguments.
Our authority over the enemy grows as the anointing increases, because the
effectivity of the weapons depend on the measure of anointing a person has.
Long back, while I was in Medical college, I visited the Bandipur tiger
sanctuary. We were in the forest early one morning. The sun was begining to
shine through the trees. The birds were chattering away. All of a sudden a
magnificient sight enraptured us. A wild ox galloping through the forest; its
horns and hooves destroying everything in its path; it's hide shimmering in the
early sunlight. What a sight it was. Imagine yourself as a wild ox charging
through in the enemy ranks destroying all in the path.
" I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to
overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you " ( Luke
So wake up Solider of christ and fight. Put on the armour; pick up the weapons
and get going.
"The battle is the Lord's and the victory is ours; Hosanna, Hosanna".