Unlocking God’s Blessings
Part 1
1 Samuel 7:3-6
And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. [4] Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only. [5] And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord. [6] And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
Five conditions of deliverance:
1. Return to God with all the heart
2. Put away all strange gods
3. Put away Ashtaroth
4. Prepare hearts for God
5. Serve Him only
Israel was obedient to the lord, They got rid of all there mess, And were ready to serve the LORD only.
Sometimes, you have to go through something to really want to serve GOD in Spirit and in TRUTH.
Mizpeh: Means, “Watch”
“drew water, and poured it out before the Lord”
a symbol, In other words they poured there hearts out to GOD.
why fast
There are five primary reasons why people fasted in the Bible, each of which represents a different life-context and situation for the child of God:
1. To seek God intensely when there is a great or urgent need. An example of this can be found in Ezra 8:22-23.
2. To develop a deeper intimacy with God. Examples of this are found in Isaiah 58:1-12 and Zechariah 8:18-23. The goal of this purpose of fasting is the development of a Deeper Life of knowing and following the Lord Jesus. This category includes fasting as an act of repentance for sin.
3. To seek God for revival and the special anointing of the Holy Spirit. A wonderful Biblical example can be found in the passages of Joel 1:13-14; 2:12-15, and 2:28-32.
4. To bring deliverance to those in bondage, whether spiritual, emotional, sexual, chemical, or any other kind of bondage or spiritual oppression. A biblical example of this is found in Mark 9:14-29. That God responds to fasting to bring deliverance to those in bondage is vividly seen in Isaiah 58:6.
5. To seek God’s wisdom and guidance. This is illustrated by the Church in Antioch as they were deliberating whom to send on the first missionary journey. As Acts 13:1-3 records, out of such prayer and fasting they selected Paul and Barnabas.
Types of Fasts
The Normal Fast
Definition: The "Normal Fast" refers to abstaining from all forms of food, but not from water. It means to not eat, but does not mean to not drink. The normal fast does not involve or require a specific length, although there appears to be common agreement in the rabbinical and early church literature that "normal" fasting meant to not eat from sunrise to sunset. This also suggests that "normal" fasting meant to fast for one day, from sunrise to sunset. A normal fast could mean fasting for one day or for several days. No specific length is required. Examples: The normal or regular fast can be seen practiced in several scriptural examples. In Genesis 24:32-33 Abraham’s servant refuses a meal (he fasts for a meal) until he has revealed his business to Abraham’s relatives in order to confirm what appears to be God’s will concerning a wife for Isaac. In 1 Samuel 20:34 Jonathan fasted for a day on behalf of David and his honor. Fasting Definition: "Normal" fasting means to not eat.
The Absolute Fast
Definition: The "Absolute Fast" refers to abstaining from both food and water. This is the fast reserved for "spiritual emergencies." It pushes the length of human endurance. The human body can go a long time without food. Fasts of up to 49 days without food or bodily harm have been recorded. But the body begins to suffer the eventually fatal effects of dehydration after three days without water. The absolute fast can last for a maximum of three days, but this is not required. An absolute fast for a day (such as from morning until evening) or two days can be greatly used of God.
Examples: The best known "absolute" fast is found in Esther 4:16. The survival of the Jewish remnant in Persia is at stake, and Esther must take the risk of appearing before the King uninvited. The result could be her own death, and the destruction of her people. So she instructs Mordecai, "Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. "Desperate times and spiritual emergencies call for desperate measures before the Throne of Grace. The absolute fast is a desperate call by the people of God to which God always responds.
It was an absolute fast that Saul of Tarsus engaged in while waiting in Damascus after encountering the risen Christ (Acts 9:8-9). Desperate to know the will of God, Saul did what desperate saints have always done; he fasted absolutely for three days and nights, going without food or water. Fasting Definition: An "Absolute" fast means to neither eat nor drink.
The Partial Fast
Definition: The "Partial Fast" refers to an intentionally restricted diet rather than total abstention. This is sometimes referred to as the "Pleasant Foods Fast." The "Partial Fast" is one of the most flexible in all of Scripture. It means that an individual commits himself or herself to a restricted diet or a restricted eating schedule for the purpose of seeking God through fasting. It is the purpose of partial fasting to seek God and His will that distinguishes a "partial fast" from a vegetarian diet or some other restricted diet undertaken for other purposes ranging from low-cholesterol to weight control. Dieting is not the same thing as fasting,
Examples: The most famous example of partial fasting occurs in the book and life of Daniel. In Daniel 10:2-3 we find the prophet Daniel fasting for three weeks. This was a partial fast. Daniel tells us, "/ did not eat any ’tasty’ food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth." The phrase "tasty food" can be translated "desirable bread" or "pleasant food." We do not know why Daniel didn’t engage in a "normal" fast. Perhaps his duties as a state official precluded this. But God makes provision for our needs and circumstances as we seek Him. Daniel restricted his diet and "fasted." God honored this three weeks of fasting by releasing to Daniel one of the greatest spiritual revelations of the Old Testament. Partial fasting should not be ignored or looked down on as "less spiritual" than a "normal" fast.
The Length and Timing of Fasts
There is a basic "fasting principle" which says, "The longer the fast, the stronger the fast." Fasting often means walking with God "from strength to strength" as time progresses. This is in no way absolute, and God honors all fasting undertaken at His direction in an attitude of seeking Him.
1. Short (one or two meal) fasts- Genesis 24:32-33; 2 Samuel 1:11-12
2. One day fasts - Judges 20:26; 1 Samuel 7:5-6; 20:34; Ezra 9:5
3. Three day fasts - Esther 4:15-16; Acts 9:8-9
4. Seven day fasts-1 Samuel 31:11-13; 2 Samuel 12:16 & 18
5. Twenty-one day fasts - Daniel 10:2-3
6. Forty day fasts - Exodus 34:28; 1 Kings 19:8; Luke 4:1-2
7. Fasts of unspecified length -1 Samuel 1:7; 1 Kings 13:8-9; 21:27 Conclusion: There is no required length of time for any particular type of fasting
when we fast, it is so the body decreases in strength, and the soul increases in power by drawing closer to GOD. And the way to draw closer to GOD is by PRAYER.
When We fast we are not to be like the Pharisees, we are to fast in secret, then the father who sees in secret, will reward us openly. Everything we do as children of GOD, Has to have a purpose, with out a purpose, we end up like the Pharisees, doing it out of habit, not out of circumstance. What means so much to you, that you would give up your favorite things? your health? your kids, your marriage? what is it that you want GOD to move on so bad, that you are willing to Fast until your breakthru comes? well Brothers and sisters, I’m here to let you know tonight, that GOD is moved by HIS children, by the steps they are willing to go through to get to HIM. Fasting is one of the three ways to get GOD to move on your situation. By denying Your flesh, and filling your spirit with GOD’s WORD, you will draw closer to HIM than you ever thought possible!!!
ACTS 13:2,3
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
