Fasting Prayer

1. The Effect of Fasting Prayer.

Case 1 : King Xerxes honored Haman, elevating him with a seat of honor higher than all the other nobles. All the royal officials at the king's gate except Mordecai, knelt down and paid honor to Haman. Mordecai's bold behavior enraged Haman, who then threatened to wipe out Mordecai's people, the Jews. This was when Queen Esther sent a message to Mordecai "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me..."

This fasting took effect as fate took a sharp U-turn: Haman was killed, the Jews were esteemed and for a sweeter ending to the story, Mordecai was made second in rank to King Xerxes. (Book of Esther Chp3-10)

Case 2 : BC 458, during the 7th year of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra was permitted by the King. to leave Babylon(1st day of 1st month) for Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month. (Ezra 7:1,6-10) As his team set feet on Ahava Canal, Ezra proclaimed a fast; on the 12th day of the first month, they set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. (Ezra 8:21,31)

Why the fast? Before Ezra was a staggering number of 1,500 men(Ezra 8:1-14). Women and kids would sum up to 5,000 people. Their journey from Babylon to Jerusalem is 1000km which spent a duration of 4 months. (Ezra 7:8-9) Things could go terribly wrong with so immense a congregation and so long a journey.

Besides, in their possession was a large amount of silver and gold and the articles...etc. (Ezra 8:24-30) Ezra didn't trouble the king by requesting soldiers for protection instead he told the king that God would grant them peace throughout the journey.(Ezra 8:21-22)

Safe and sound was the journey, there we have the quiet efficacy of fasting(Ezra 8:23,31-32)

Case 3 - After the baptism of Jesus, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. (Lk 4:1-2; Mt 4:1-2) Despite the gripping hunger, Jesus triumphed thrice against the devil. Jesus was well-versed enough with the scriptures to understand what it takes to win(Lk 4:4,8,12 ; Deut 8:3, 6:13,16)

(Lk 4:14) 40 days and nights' fasting hadn't come to waste.

You may think Jesus is a God who doesn't need food for 40days. But hey, as the Word became flesh(Jn 1:14,1), or "He appeared in a body"(1Tim 3:16)with a divine nature(Ro 9:5); He had became a man, bound with "Human Weakness"(Heb 4:15, 5:7-8) Fasting and prayer didn't come easy, but the reward was great spiritual strength.

According to the book "I see God with my naked eyes"(3rd collection of SoonDao) pages 20-50, the writer witnessed God's wonders n miracles. Until now there are 14 great wonders n miracles 6 of them were a result of fasting. I saw God through these testimonies and believe in the power of fasting.

2.When do we need Fasting and Prayer?

As above-mentioned, fasting came to counter a great trouble by pleading God for a quick solution; or that there was a responsibility just as the following:

1. If Queen Esther attempted what she did, there was a huge risk where the king might be provoked. She needed assurance, and it was through fasting. All the Jews were gathered to fast and pray, and they were saved.

2. With thousands of followers in his leadership, Ezra couldn't go on without a fast. He had a heavy responsibility to bear, and he knew what is the best guarantee.

3. Jesus had descended to fulfill the law by completing the salvation plan. And He had to first face the devil head-on! To overcome the 3 temptations, He fasted.

4. I fast when I have problems to which I have no solutions. I have faith that God would shower me mercy and guidance.

More biblical evidences about Fasting:

1. (Mt 17:14-21) A boy was possessed with a horrifying demon which drove him into the fire or into the water. There was no way the disciples could heal him. With a sharp rebuke, seemingly easy, Jesus drove the demon out. “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” Jesus replied, “this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

2. “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.” proclaimed Prophet Jonah, on behalf of an enraged God over the overwhelming wickedness of the city. Fortunately, the Ninevites repentantly declared a fast, prayed and covered themselves with sackcloth in sorrow for sin. God never shuns away the repentant, and spared the catastrophe. (Jonah 1:1-2, 3:4-10)

3. Prophets and teachers in Antioch church were worshiping the Lord and fasting. When they reached communion with God, they could even hear the voice of the Holy Spirit saying, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." (Acts 13:1-2)

This teaches us to have deeper ties with God by zealously serving God and fasting.

"The word which I have called them" in verse 2 refers to evangelizing to Gentiles. Faced with such pressure of a heavy task, they fasted before being sent off.

This record of the apostolic church explains how we should first fast and ask God open the door of gospel (Col 4:3), before "laying hands on them" and "sending them off".

3. The Correct Way of Fasting

(i) DO NOT EAT OR DRINK

(Est 4:16, Jonah 3:7) Moses trudged up Mount Sinai without food and drink for 40 days and nights. (Deut 9:9) despite the tedious climb, he was powerful enough to lift 2 stone tablets, emerging with a radiant face before the Israelites upon his return. (Exo 34:1,28-30)

Testimony: An old Dns. Anna in Taipei Church just couldn't manage her temper well. It was like a genetic disorder where her temper was bad since young. Determined to reverse her "natural behaviour" she fasted every morning. And this led to a blessed fruition.

From what i know, she would never eat before 12pm everyday, not even 1 minute earlier. She continued this practice for years,with just 2 meals everyday she still enjoyed long life, passing away at the age of 106 without sickness!

Coincidentally with the Scriptures, before the glorious birth of baby Jesus, there was a female prophet named Anna who lived with her husband seven years after her marriage and was made a widow until she was 84. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. (Lk 2:36-38) footnote states, "widow for 84 years" which adds up to a total of more than 100 years old.

Fasting even gave them long life. "man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."(Mt 4:4)

(ii) Be Consistent

despite work or studies. Do not change our routine of prayer. and fasting easily. Prayer and fasting must come in full, never lose the balance. Remember that the busiest of times, the most crucial are our prayers.

(iii) Humility in prayer and fasting.

At Ahava Canal, Ezra proclaimed fasting and he taught the right attitude "...humble ourselves before our God". Don't force God to answer our prayers. This is never a trade or exchange.

(iv) Shhh! Stay hidden

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting... they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting,.... your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."(Mt 6:16-18)

A hypocritical self-promotion is vanity and these hypocrites "have received their reward in full". Reward they wanted was only praises.