The Power of Prayer and Fasting, Part 1
Today and next week, I want to talk to you about a principle to release God’s power in our lives: fasting.
Before I begin teaching on fasting, let’s take a moment to reflect on where humanity stands as we start 2025. To claim that we are in an unprecedented period in human history is an understatement!
First, we are in the age of grace because of what Jesus has done. God’s grace is enough to run the race! His grace does more than forgive us of our sins; it empowers us to accomplish great things in His name.
He wants to do “exceedingly above all that we can ask for or think.” His plans for our lives and what He desires to accomplish through us are much larger than most of us have fully embraced. God wants to bless our ideas, creativity, and dreams.
In fact, He encourages us to dream big with Him so that He may be glorified through ordinary people doing extraordinary things by His power.
The Lord recently said to me, “There is a fresh grace to draw near to Me and receive what you need.” Remember, nothing is impossible with God! What are you believing God for in this season?
“If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23 NKJV
Jesus spoke these words to a father who was watching his son suffer. If we have the faith, courage, and persistence to pursue God’s promises, we can realize them.
Secondly, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment in technology. With the internet’s explosive growth over the last 30 years and the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and applications, we are witnessing exponential technological progress. We stand at a historical juncture akin to when humanity discovered electricity. Changes are happening swiftly!
While this concerns many, remember that these tools and technologies can also advance God’s kingdom. Therefore, we should not fear the negative uses of technology, but instead seek opportunities to utilize it for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ worldwide. Pray for the wise use of AI and other technologies during this critical time in history!
Thirdly, the world’s population has doubled in the last fifty years! It reached 4 billion in 1974 and was estimated to be 8.2 billion by 2024. The United Nations forecasts that it will continue to grow for the next 50 to 60 years, peaking at 10.3 billion in the mid-2080s. This global population growth presents opportunities for harvest.
The last 70 to 80 years have marked a period of significant global harvests. For example, in Africa, millions have gathered for outdoor gospel events, with as many as a million people coming to Christ during individual meetings! I’ve personally ministered at gospel meetings in India with over 100,000 attendees, with thousands accepting Christ in these meetings. Brazil has experienced revival for over 30 years. I’ve been in churches there where they hold 5 to 6 services every Sunday, with thousands in attendance, and people had to enter through one door for the meeting and exit through another set of doors before the next service started, as so many waited to come in!
While Christianity in North America and Europe has declined, there is a significant influx of new believers in the Global South (South America, Africa, and Asia) as Christianity spreads. However, God is not finished with North America or Europe if the Church will once again draw near to the Lord and believe in societal change.
I believe that if the church in North America and Europe returns to spiritual disciplines like prayer and fasting, revival and awakening could once again be realized in these regions.
Let’s start our discussion on prayer and fasting, a principle that can unleash God’s power in our lives.
Fasting has been practiced by many throughout the centuries.
Fasting is a practice as old as humanity itself. More than two thousand years ago, it was a custom promoted by the natural philosopher Asclepiades for healing purposes. The Roman historian Plutarch remarked, “Instead of using medicine, fast for a day.” Evidence of ancient fasting can be found in both Chinese and Hindu writings. Native Americans also engaged in fasting. This practice was employed for religious reasons, as well as a means of restoring health.
Fasting combined with prayer is a crucial key to unlocking God’s power in our lives!
In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” The disciples gave various answers, but Peter declared Jesus to be the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of the Living God (Matt. 16:13-19).
Jesus praised Peter for his understanding of this revelation and said that upon this truth, His Church would be built, and the very gates of Hell would not prevail against it (vs.17-18). Then, Jesus makes this statement:
“And I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matt. 16:19 NKJV
Jesus boldly proclaims that He will give us keys, truths, and principles that unlock the secrets of the kingdom of heaven and empower us to overcome the very gates of Hell.
Prayer and fasting are among the keys God has provided to access the resources of heaven as we strive to establish His kingdom here on earth.
Christ’s Teaching Concerning Fasting
In Matthew 6:1-18, Jesus relates giving, prayer, and fasting as understood practices for His disciples. He tells them not to do these practices to be seen by others, but in quiet with God.
With each of these spiritual disciplines, He tells us, “But when you give… but when you pray… but when you fast…” When you give, pray, and fast, do not do so to be seen.
In Matt. 6:17, “But when you fast …” Jesus intended His disciples to fast.
It was understood that the disciples would fast, not if, but when! It would be a normal part of their spiritual walk with Christ. In Matthew 6, giving to the poor, prayer, and fasting—all use “when.” Never left the option to do these!
The Pharisees questioned Jesus about why John’s disciples fasted while His disciples did not. Jesus responds,
“But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.” Luke 5:35 NKJV
Once more, Jesus indicates that fasting was part of being His disciple.
In Matthew’s gospel, some of the disciples tried to heal a boy possessed by a demon. They were unable to do so and asked Jesus why they couldn’t cast out the demon. (Matt. 17:19-21).
Jesus responds, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Matt. 17:21 NKJV
Some ancient manuscripts of both Mark and Matthew’s gospels include “and fasting.” There is evidence suggesting that this addition stems from an early Christian perspective, rooted in Jewish piety, emphasizing that prayer is inseparable from self-denial through fasting (see also Luke 2:37; Acts 13:2-3).
David echoes this view in Psalm 35:13, “I humbled myself with fasting.”
A lifestyle of prayer and fasting keeps our hearts humble and yielded to God. This practice keeps us close to God’s heart, and we are more sensitive when in prayer.
Further, Jesus was stern with the disciples because He had already given them authority in Matthew 10:8: “Heal the sick … cast out demons…”
They had experienced success in ministry but faced a challenging situation: an evil spirit refused to submit to their authority and level of anointing. They simply weren’t exercising the authority and power of God’s kingdom that Jesus intended.
Franklin Hall, a mid-twentieth-century minister whose book, “Atomic Power with God through Fasting and Prayer,” helped ignite the healing revival of 1947, noted how even Jesus fasted to strengthen faith:
“Jesus fasted in order to secure His perfect faith from His humanity side, and He urged fasting upon His disciples to remedy their weak faith.”1
Jesus’ response to the disciples in Matthew 17 indicates that certain challenges and demons cannot be effectively addressed without fasting and prayer.
In my experience, when I have devoted time to prayer and fasting prior to ministry trips, I have found that I possess greater authority and power in prayer when praying for the sick and the demonized.
Prayer and Fasting was the New Testament pattern for the release of apostolic power.
Beginning with Jesus’ ministry, we find in Luke 4 that He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for 40 days and nights of prayer and fasting before starting His earthly ministry. After resisting the devil’s temptations, He departs from the desert in the power of the Spirit. (I’ll discuss this further next week)
Paul and Barnabas were released by the Holy Spirit and, empowered by the Spirit, engaged in a season of fasting and ministering to the Lord before beginning their apostolic ministry.
2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 13:2-3 NKJV
Paul’s apostolic ministry was now birthed, and from this time forward, we see Paul and Barnabas moving in the power of the Spirit.
Like Jesus, as they waited upon the Holy Spirit during a season of fasting and prayer, they were commissioned to go forth in the power of the Spirit to affect the world in which they lived.
What is fasting?
Fasting, by Biblical examples, is abstaining from food or drink for a time for the purpose of seeking God in earnest prayer.
Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, explained fasting as:
When we fast, we turn from the “things” that daily grab our attention and focus deeply on Him. During that time, we come to realize how much food and the things of this world are occupying our thoughts, time, activities, and finances. As we fast, God will show us the areas in our lives that we keep off limits to Him and the ways we seek to control our lives rather than let Him lead us. Any coldness in our hearts melts during a fast, and we become transformed and empowered to walk in His ways.2
Final Thoughts
In the book of Jeremiah, the Lord promises: 13 And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the LORD. (Jer. 29:13-14 NKJV)
Fasting is a means by which we draw near to God, to seek and search for Him with all our hearts.
I’ll continue this important teaching next week!
FootNotes
1 Hall, Franklin. Atomic Power With God Through Fasting And Prayer (Voices from the Healing Revival Book 86). Revival Library. Kindle Edition.
2 Bill Bright, The Transforming Power of Fasting and Prayer (Orlando: New Life Publications, 1997), 27.
