When you pray your spirit connects with God. When you fast God favors you.

Fasting: A neglected discipline

More then 2000 years ago, Jesus came to the help of suffering humanity, working miracles by healing the sick, casting out demons and teaching us the Kingdom of God on earth. Throughout his three and half years of His earthly ministry, this never changed. But the Church, our ‘teachers’ and followers of Jesus have.

The time has come, I believe, to clear away the hurdle of religious traditions, religious politics and self-centered Christian leaders that have obscured the clear revelation of the New Testament.

Note that there are 7 things Jesus did:

1. Made disciples
2. Preached the word of God
3. Prayed
4. Fast
5. Forgave
6. Cast demons
7. Heal the sick

So why Christians do not talk about fasting?

So why doesn’t the Church promote fasting?

Have you ever heard a sermon on fasting mention it from the pulpit?

In all my Sunday Church services the answers lies in my own experience as a Christian since I was a child till now. I have not known any Bishop, Elder, Minister, Associate Pastor, Deacon or Chaplain. Have you read any articles on it? Or discussion among your circle? Probably the answer to all these questions is, “No.” Fasting has become a neglected spiritual discipline in the contemporary lifestyle.

There are various reasons for that, but I will get to this later. Let me first of all, tell you how I have come to write about this particular matter.

As I studied Jesus’ words and listened to some excellent preachers on the subject of fasting and prayer, how it has changed their lives personally in every direction. I came to the conclusion that fasting is a valid spiritual exercise for today. I decided that I, too, should practice a fast to experience God in the spirit world to offer my bodily needs as a sacrifice as Jesus and all the prophets like Abraham, Ann, Isaiah and Daniel did. There seems to be a biblical power in it.

I did not want to urge others to do what I was not doing myself. That may seem a weak reason to fast — but one has to start somewhere — and that is where I started! On my second, 22 days water fast. God has set my spirit in motion to serve God in providing biblical fasting retreat for his Kingdom in England.

Why is it Neglected today?

Can you see this missing link between Fasting and the casting out demons? Personally, I see this as evidence of Satan’s forces working intensely in opposition to the ministry of deliverance. If possible, he seeks to exclude fasting altogether from the Church’s program. Failing that, his aim is to discredit it. Can you begin to understand how Satan works over generations to create the illusion of NORM?

The Church.

⁴² Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:42-43

One reason fasting has fallen into disuse is our church tradition. Many of you may not fast because it has not been part of your Christian teachings for over 100 years in England. Ministers do not preach about it; no one ever talks about it; few people you know do it. So it has become a lost powerful tool in praying to God.

I should point out that this neglect is widespread in Christian traditions. All of them are familiar with fasting and its benefits. Countries like India, Asia, Singapore; more christians fast then the counter parts in the Western world. It is routinely prac­tised by individuals and churches. Unfortunately here in Britian they say “It’s not necessary as salvation comes through Jesus Christ” Is salvation then given to you? If so, what have you given back to Jesus?

Fear

Afraid of the unknown (to see is to believe).

Afraid of feeling hunger overcoming your body.

Afraid of starting and not finishing.

Afraid of your ego. Why do you fear others’’ disapproval so much? We all experience this fear, and most of us do not want to admit how serious its tyranny can be.

Afraid of fasting alone.

Satan. The enemy gets us all bound up in fearful thoughts, and you will convince yourselves I could never do it. Instead of looking to the Lord for strength and help, you become consumed with your weaknesses and paralyzed by fear. God did not put fear in man, but the first sin did!

Sacrifice.

Another reason for this neglect is that we live in self-indulgent and undisciplined times. People in the Western world are not used to doing without, or waiting for anything. We expect to have our desires immediately satisfied, our pains taken away, our illnesses cured, our injuries healed, and our hunger satisfied — all this as soon as possible! In this climate, it is hardly surprising that fasting has gone out of fashion by the teachers and followers — we are not used to self-control and discipline. Today, Christians are not willing to sacrifice, for they are weak in their spirit. They are slaves to the belly. It’s ironic non christians are catching on the real health benfits of fasting but Christians lack this fundamental knowledge written about 1200 and 165 BC.

In our fasting course you will learn all about Biblical fasting. What you should do and not to do in small groups or individual.