BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

When that pipeline is open and the power is owing, you can speak with new tongues, lay hands on the sick and see them recover, preach the gospel to every creature with conviction and power, cast out devils (Mark 16:15-18), and walk in the spirit (Galatians 5:16). But there are times for all of us when the day-to-day business of life and the constant demands of our esh seem to get in the way. Somehow our pipeline gets clogged with carnal things, and the rushing stream of God's power is reduced to a trickle in our lives. It's a common problem. Even Jesus' rst disciples ran into it. Jesus had given them power to cast out devils (Luke 10:19), and they had even experienced some of this power (verse 17). But in Mark 9:28-29, we nd them stumped by a particularly tough situation. They had been presented with a boy beset by a demon. And, for some reason, they found themselves unable to drive that demon out. Later, the disciples asked Jesus why they had failed. "And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting." Now fasting, in this instance, would not have changed God or His will concerning the boy. But it would have changed the disciples. Jesus had already directed the disciples to cast the demon out. That demon was undoubtedly stubborn, and when he resisted, the disciples slipped into unbelief. Had they been fasting and praying, they would have been strong in the spirit, and they would have been able to do what Jesus did—cast the demon out! (See John 14:12.) Obviously, fasting is a valuable spiritual tool. So let's look into it a little more closely. There are basically two categories of fasting. The rst category is a proclaimed fast (Joel 1:14). A proclaimed fast brings you to a place where you can hear from God. The ideal time to go on a proclaimed fast is when you need divine direction. In 2 Chronicles 20:1-15, the Bible tells what happened to God's people when they fasted and prayed to seek His direction. There we see the Israelites hemmed in by their enemies and badly in need of divine guidance. Their king, Jehoshaphat, proclaimed a fast that was directed toward seeking The LORD. He wanted to draw people's attention toward God. Why? Because God reveals Himself to people who are seeking Him, whether individually or corporately. When the congregation was in one accord, the Spirit of The LORD came upon Jahaziel. "And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's" (verse 15). Imagine how good that sounded to their ears! The Holy Spirit spoke and that was the reward they were seeking! The second type of fasting is a personal fast (Matthew 6). It also yields very gratifying rewards. In verses 16-18 Jesus said, "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they dis gure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." You can either receive your reward from the admiration of men or you can receive your reward from God. The key is fasting in secret so that God can reward you openly. Being proud of the fact that you're fasting will destroy everything you are trying to accomplish. In Isaiah 58, God explains the kind of fast to which He is calling the Body of Christ. That passage will give you a good idea of the kinds of rewards to believe God for when you fast. There The LORD says, "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?" (verse 6). According to that scripture, you can fast for the deliverance of a friend or loved one—to set them free from oppression of the devil. You can fast for other believers who are under heavy burdens. And you can fast to break the yoke of bondage within your own life. No matter what you are seeking from The LORD, however, decide before you begin what you wish to obtain through your effort. Find God's promises that cover your situation and believe you receive before the fast begins. Faith brings the results you desire, and faith is born out of The WORD, not out of fasting. It is important for you to understand that it's not the fasting itself that brings the deliverance. Jesus has already obtained deliverance through the complete work of Redemption. And the Holy Spirit, who lives inside you, knows how to pray in order to bring the deliverance Jesus has already provided. Fasting simply brings the spirit man, which is in union with the Holy Spirit, into ascendance over the esh. It also limits the in uence of the physical appetites so that you can more effectively hear from and respond to the Spirit. This enhances intercession; and effective, Holy Spirit- led intercession sets the captive free! There are many rewards for fasting. You can fast for personal rewards—to tap into a greater anointing in your life and ministry. You can also fast to receive divine direction. But nothing can bring you closer to God's will than living a life of prayer and fasting. Just remember, fasting is not a method of twisting God's arm to get Him to respond when you pray. Fasting does not change God, it changes you! The Fast: RELEASING A FLOOD OF POWER A pipeline of God's Love and power. As a born- again, Spirit- fi lled believer, that's what you're meant to be. by Kenneth Copeland B V O V : 1 7

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