Have you been dealing with the same spiritual strongholds for years?

Do you need more faith to get the victory?

If you have been asking God again and again for more faith, with little or no results, it’s a good time to figure out where faith comes from. We can go to a familiar scripture to find the answer.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

Is this all there is to acquiring faith, and more of it? If so, it seems simple enough. Go to church. Listen to the preaching. Apply it to our lives. Enter, FAITH…

Yet, there are people who sit in church services three times a week plus prayer meetings, read the Bible daily, and pray faithfully, who, apparently, do not have the faith to get victory over the situations in their lives. Maybe you are one of them.

There must be more. What are we missing?

In Matthew 17, a man brings his devil-possessed son to Jesus, only after he had taken him to the disciples, and they could not cure him. Jesus responded with frustration at what He called a “FAITHLESS and perverse generation.” He then rebuked the devil, which immediately left the young man. What did Jesus know that the disciples did not? What had He been doing that they had not?

Afterward in private, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why could not we cast him out?”

“And Jesus said unto them, BECAUSE OF YOUR UNBELIEF: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE to you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out BUT BY PRAYER AND FASTING.” (Matthew 17:20-21)

From Jesus’ words, we understand that there are deeply entrenched spirits that cannot be overcome without prayer and fasting.

We have thrown a lot of PRAYER at our situations, which is needful, but FASTING is the missing element. Click To Tweet

Our Oneness, Apostolic, Pentecostal, Holiness Churches are filled with faithful saints, loving pastors, great orators, anointed teachers, generous givers, and even powerful prayer warriors. Those same churches, however, have very few people who FAST with any degree of depth or consistency.

It is understandable, then, that our church families continue to be weighed down and oppressed by deeply entrenched generational spirits such as:

-Depression
-Anxiety
-Confusion
-Bitterness
-Rage
-Unforgiveness
-Abuse
-Addictions

-Poverty
-Disease
-Promiscuity
-Pornography
-Occult
-Suicide

On and on the list could go. What spirits continue to oppress your family even after years of consistent Word and prayer?

If we want New Testament RESULTS, we must practice Early Church DISCIPLINES. Click To Tweet

A discipline must be practiced consistently to be effective.

Of all the spiritual disciplines, fasting is by far the most challenging. Yet, as we have already learned, it must be implemented if we are to be overcomers, as God’s Word assures us that we can be.

Flesh must be crucified. It’s the only way.

How much longer will we allow the same strongholds to keep us oppressed that oppressed our parents’ and grandparents’ generations?

MAKE A FASTING PLAN.

If you have never fasted, start small. One meal this week is a start. Two meals next week is progress. Three meals the next week is one whole day.

Here is a simple, long-term fasting goal to work toward:
1 day a week
3 days a quarter
7 days bi-yearly
21 days a year

Let’s move some mountains!

FASTING IS THE ANSWER.

*Please consult with your doctor before you begin any fasting regimen.
*Let him/her know of your plans to fast.
*Do not stop taking prescription medications without counseling with your doctor.
*Remember to drink plenty of water while fasting.

 

INVITATION TO LEAVE FEEDBACK
Do you have a testimony from a fasting experience?

I’d love for you to share it in the comments.
Do you have questions on fasting?

Leave them in the comments, and we’ll discuss them.