Friday April 21st, 2023
Meditate on: 2 Corinthians 11:27 NIV
« I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. »
Read: Mark 9: 14 – 29 NKJV
14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them.
15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him.
16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”
17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.
18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”
19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”
20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood.
22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!”
26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.”
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
Message:
Fasting is highly underrated in this generation, whereas we need it now more than ever.
If you used to fast once a month before, it’s time to increase it because we are in perilous times and it will take great strength to remain standing . Proverbs 24:10
When Jesus had to cast out a particular demon that the disciples had not been able to, He explained to them in Matthew 17:21 NKJV that:
« This kind of demons can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting. »
Those who fast a lot see their decrees come to pass speedily.
Elisha – a biblical personality with tremendous anointing was almost always on the mountain.
In 2 Kings 4:25, the Shunammite woman found him on Mount Carmel.
In 2 King 6:15-17, when the king sent an army to arrest him, he was on a mountain.
When fifty soldiers with their captain went to arrest him in 2 Kings 1:9-10, they found him on the mountain, yet could not go up; they had to ask him to come down.
The word “mountain” in this context refers to fasting.
There is a level of fasting you get to where the enemies cannot reach you; that is the point I want you to get to this season.
Jesus, during His earthly ministry, fasted forty days and forty nights.
If indeed you want to do greater works than Jesus did, you must be ready to fast more than He.
When Jesus was on earth, He said His disciples did not need to fast, but that after He left, then they would (Mark 2:19-20). Now He has gone, so we must fast.
If you have not been fasting before, start; take it one day at a time and if you feel hungry before the time before the time to break, go and pray. As you pray, the hunger pangs will cease.
Also, when fasting, avoid talking so much as it weakens the body more quickly.
Fasting will kill your flesh and awaken your spirit. It will bring you closer to God.
Also ensure you break your fast with healthy meals and eat in moderation.
You will discover that your thinking will be sharpened as your body will become healthier and your brain will even become more efficient.
Application: Increase your fasting to reach greater spiritual heights.
Author: Bishop Enoch. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
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