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Acts 13:1-4
Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
This fasting prayer in Antioch changed the course of church's history. It was a historical moment in Antioch when the church fast and prayed. The Holy Spirit gave the believers the fast. At the time, there were no organized mission of the church beyond the eastern seacoast of the Mediterranean. Prior to this time, the Apostle Paul had made no missionary journeys westward to Asian Minor, Greece or Rome or Spain. This was before Paul the Apostle had not written any of his letters to the church and the missionary zeal of the church had gone beyond the borders of Israel.
Antioch was the center through which prayer and fasting create a mission movement that would make Christianity the dominant religion of the Roman empire within two and a half centuries and would yield 1.3 billion followers of the Christian faith today with a witness of the faith in almost every country of the world.
Fasting and Prayer change the world!
A three (3) days fast, 7 days, 10 days, 21 days, 40 days fast
This is a fast we called as a 'total fast' or a 'protracted fast.' It described in the book of Esther 4:16: "...Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day..." One form of a total fast is abstaining from both food and water for a short period (no more than 3 to 4 days); or abstaining from food 'not water for a longer period of time (This fast can be considered up to 21 or even 40 days). Remember, a total fast without water should never be more than 3 to 4 days. The Prophetess Esther proclaimed a total fast for three days and nights. Again, such a fast without should never be done for more than three days or four days. Three days or four days is the limit without water on such a fast, because it is safe to go without water for more than four or five days. However, you can go many days without food. A seven days fast without food is a total fast; ten (10) days without food is a total fast; 21 days fast without food (only water). Water does not break a fast, water is not food...for more information on this study, please refer to my book "Restored Faith" or "Bible Doctrines, New Testament Church" chapter on the doctrine of fasting and prayer. Jesus went forty days and nights without food; so did Moses, and several other prophets. They went with water only. Then there were cases of a supernatural fast (in the case of Moses on Mt. Sinai without food and water- a supernatural fast * refer below.
Fire 
Power
Fasting
Gives Prayer Power
In a total fasting-prayer we shall experienced in the 21-days fasting, the Spirit of God is given the opportunity to become dominate in our lives and to comes in a direct opposition against the the power of the carnal and the flesh. In a total fast, we give the Holy Spirit to dominate and gain power over flesh. This fasting at least after (4) days usually the hunger appetite is overcome through fasting, a self denial is so complete, that there is a new awareness God's Spirit over the individual to overcome the flesh and the power of the Word takes control. The body now comes under the rule of the Kingdom of God. This open the new venture of faith believing to work through us and the church. This is what Jesus meant when He said "this kind only comes out through fasting and prayer. Prayers are answered more reverently and such a fast open the door to a new awareness and sense of power in the Lord.
Christ in us becomes clearly the "hope of glory." There is longing within for the Word of God, prayer, holiness, Christian worship and praises. The more we give ourselves over to the spirit of fasting and the things of the spirit, the more powerful and profound the things of the spirit becomes. The flesh is subdued. When we consider the main desires of the flesh are food, water, sleep, sex, pleasure, satisfaction in the outer things of the world (five senses), to not satisfy these cravings and longing, the body (flesh) will through a total fast cry out for more of the spiritual and the things of God. Remember, the flesh gains strength when it gets what it desires. Sometimes, this can be express in what we call "habits" of body. A habit is formed by repeating a behavior pattern and desire of the flesh.
When the flesh develops a habit of getting what it wants, when it wants it, the flesh gains power over our will through practicing a habit; whether the habit is helpful to us or damaging. We can develop habits such as eating too much of certain foods at a definite hour each day, doing a specific thing the flesh likes and it give a certain gratification to us when it is done, such smoking or drinking liquor at a designated period, etc.
When we fast and pray in a total fast, the flesh loses power over us to do what it desires and the flesh ability to do what it desires is broken over our lives as God cast out the power of the flesh's spirit to rule and control us. This is where total fasting-prayer becomes the greater power and defeats the power of the flesh and the devil. Fasting deprives the flesh of its desires, overcomes it and destroy the will of it to dominated us. Fasting causes the flesh to lose it hold over us and to become defeated. Prayer with fasting, gives us a higher platform of spiritual power and position. Remember Christ words again, "some of these things can only come about through fasting and prayer." Fasting propels our pray life and energy to a different and higher level of exercise and living and we see instant result: The power of the Holy Spirit rules and dominate the flesh.
Praying, reading the Word, attending church, staying into spiritual things continually a total fast is the key in most people's lives success in a total fast. This path develops a level of spiritual progress, increasing in faith, love, spiritual power of knowledge, wisdom and grace beyond anything we can imagine. Nothing turns the flesh in reverse and propels a believer into a forward move like fasting and prayer. Fasting will place the your flesh in reverse and give the spirit of God within a new surge of power.
"If my People called by my name will humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven forgive their sins and heal their land."
II Chronicles 17:14
In this passage of scripture, the book of II Chronicles, chapter 20 the Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites came against Jehoshaphat the king of Judah. When the people saw this taking place their fear began to mount up. It was a terrifying experience for all these nations were very violent people. What was the people to do? Which way were they to turn? What kind of outcome were the people of God to expect? Who were they to turn to from direction?
"Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord; and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah (II Chronicles 20th Verse 3." Verse 4 declares, "So Judah gathered together to seek help from the Lord; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord." There was national fast fast to seek the Lord for divine directions, guidance, deliverance and victory over their enemy. Notices verses 14 to15; The Bible teaches,
"The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel . . . and he said, "Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's."
When the children of Israel went out the next day, they found that the people of Moab and Ammon had destroyed one another, and it took the children of Israel three days to gather the spoil of their enemy. God had given them such an increased from their enemy. What had appeared as a defeat and calamity before them was overnight turned into a great victory. God change the matter around because His people went into fasting prayer before Him. What would happen today if this nation America would proclaim a national day or days of fasting - prayer for our deliverance and victory over our enemies? What would happen if the general churches of our land would declare a time of fasting - prayer for a moving of God's Spirit in the land? Would not God turn things around?
At the turn of this past 20th century, such men as Apostle W. J. Seymour, Bishop Charles Harrison Mason, others of the great Pentecostal outpouring experience saw answers to a time of fasting and prayer. Bishop Mason reports how God led him in weeks of fasting and prayer for a revelation of His move among men and women's in that day. Apostle Seymour experienced a worldwide outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Azusa Street in Los Angeles as he called a similar a day of fasting prayer as the earlier church held; a solemn assembly, a time of prayer and fasting where an assembly met many days and months in prayer with fasting in the Azusa Street Mission.
There was a Restoration and Return to the Apostle's doctrines and ministry. Thousands came from all over the word to experience the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Those who came discovered new levels of the Christian faith as the spirit of Lord Jesus Christ sat upon them. Whole church ministries were revolutionize throughout the world as they returned to their various areas; into the cities, towns, country side and places; they were filled with the fullness and power of God. They had experienced this in the solemn assembly on Azusa Street. There was a new profound seriousness in prayer as thousands worldwide sought the Lord in fasting and prayer. Many testified of an humbling of themselves. "Repentance, Humility, Conviction and total Surrender was on the lips of almost everyone." They turned the heaviness and sorry into heavenly rejoicing with victories. "Now we can see the message of fasting prayer clear, it has changed the course of history." Throughout the bible and world history, we have seen fasting with prayer changing history and the persons involved lives changed in the times of great fasting - prayer revival.
A Partial Fast
This type of fast is called a "partial fast" because it includes no choice foods (especially meats, choice breads, drinks, etc. Daniel, the Prophets speaks of this fast in Daniel 10:2-3: "At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over." Daniel speaks of eating no pleasant bread or meats; that is, he ate no choice food. This means he ate, but no tasty foods like hot dogs, hamburgers, enchiladas, tacos, ice cream, sweets, etc. Daniel abstained from these pleasant foods. Daniel often fast for three weeks and perhaps a longer time without such foods in his diet as he fasted before the Lord.
A limit Fast
"A 'limit fast' is a fast where you abstain from food only and not from drinks such as fruit juice." This is a fast when you abstain from food solids and you may drink as often as you like. It is suggested that you drink fruit juices (such as apples juices, etc. This is also helpful and healthy to drink fruit juices. a fast of this nature can easily be sustain for forty days and nights. I have experience this fast several times for forty days and nights.
* Supernatural Fast
A supernatural fast is a long fast (protracted fast- forty days or longer) without food or water. Moses on Mount Sinai, Jesus in the desert were supernatural fasts. A supernatural fast is sustained by the Almighty and should only be not tried or attempt on ones own without miracle and divine guidance, prompting and guarantees .
The key to answered prayer is having power working within your spirit!
We live from the inside out! The true power of a person is from within. Fasting places emphasis upon our inner self- spirit and ability. In fasting we must always keep the inner in focus to overcome the outer. We may often create a very demanding hungry desire until the hungry appetite is broken about the fourth day during a total fast. In a total or protracted fast, hungry will return at the conclusion of the fast. Sometimes, there is a shock to some when hungry returns. However, I have learned that to break a fast properly is very important. We must not began eating normally but there must be soft foods...this is discussed at length in our chapters on fasting in several books we have previously mentioned. Hungry was expressed in Jesus Christ when He completed his forty days fast; "afterwards, He was hungry."
Notice, Satan tempted Him to complete the fast improperly and too quickly. Christ rebuked the Satan. He urged Christ to satisfy His hungry appetite! He pushes the thought to Christ, that food is all Christ desires and perhaps has His mind upon. When we have gone the length of a total fast and consider the leading of the Lord and know we have the desire results, our minds may be upon food, but the supreme rule of our spirit is the things of God. "The devil is a liar!" We will not give our body to a "Rib-eye steak" or an instant "big mac" and throw the rule of the spirit away from us. The devil lost with Christ, so he will also lose with us. The strong appetite is a clear fact of the flesh and how Satan uses our flesh to fight us at the close of our fast as he does during the fast. Remember, the greater the spiritual battle, the greater the spiritual victory. a fast-prayer unbroken whether three days or three weeks gives the body a liberated position . There is victory in the spirit. There is freedom in praises and worship. The flesh has been conquer for the fast given during the duration designate by you and God. FASTING "conquers" "terminate" and many times destroys permanently the works of Satan and give us a position with Christ that all of hell can't break loose. When the fasting prayer goes up the blessing comes down! Isaiah 58 says, "then shall out life spring forth speedily and the glory of God is our reward; we shall call to our God and He shall say, here I am."
WHY FASTING WORKS?
Why does fasting work? The answer is in the fact God ordered fasting and prayer for sincere believers who desire all of Him and His goodness in them! He gave it as a means to amplify our prayers. Fasting propel the prayer power and speeds the answered prayer. Our prayers are often to our faith in the word of prayer. Fasting enhances the power of our faith. God's power is at work on our behalf and often within us. But when added with fasting-prayer, God will answer our prayers according to the increased amount of power that is flowing through our prayers because of the fasting. Fasting increases consecration and concentration in prayer. There comes together a mighty working of the spirit and power within us on His behalf. God honors this; but not only so, God uses the power working within us to answer prayer in a powerful ways beyond what we could even imagine and think! Ephesians 3:20 declares, "Now to God who is able to do far above all we ask or think (imagine), according to His power that is working within us."
God is working His will in us in an un-determine manner (beyond our measure) more than what we ask or imagine. Remember, that God is ABLE to do more than what we ask or imagine. Again, all of this is "according to" the working of His power in us! We become the key in fasting and prayer to results of God in us.
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