Chapter 8- Rewarded Openly from "Fasting" by J. Franklin

Gen. 15:1

In the life of a believer, there should always be more private than public ministry to God. When you read about Jesus, you do not see Him praying in public nearly as much as you see Him praying in private....Out of these times in private devotion, public demonstrations of God's power would be poured forth in healings, raising the dead, abundance, and more. Victories are not won in public but in private. That is why fasting, whether corporately or individually, is a private discipline. Where there is little private discipline, there is little public reward.

Matt. 6:1, 2-4

Fasting is a sacrifice born out of expectancy. That is not to imply that fasting is a manipulative tool to get something from God, but a "reasonable service" (Rom. 12:1) that God rewards openly. Job went through a devastating trial and lost everything. Yet he prayed, he fasted, and he remained faithful to private devotion. Job said, "I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12, KJV). And God "restored Job's losses" and gave him "twice as much as he had before" (Job 42:10). The Bible also says that He "blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning" (v 42) and even gave him more sons and daughters.

Gen. 41:39-45
1 Kings 3:10-13
Dan. 6:1-4
Isa. 58:8

Fasting humbles you and brings clarity, even allowing you to get unforgiveness and bitterness out of your heart. Some people have tried and tried to truly forgive someone but have never been able to let the matter go. Begin a fast, and trust God to work that in your heart. Fasting helps you "spring clean" in a spiritual sense because it makes you sensitive to teh desires of the Lord. Unforgiveness, bitterness, and the like can all be linked to illnesses, fatigue, stress, and more.

When you fast and pray you should expect miracles to follow.

Fasting will also overcome sexual addictions and demonic powers. It will break great sin off people. In Matt. 17:21, Jesus said of that stubborn demon that "this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting," There's a phenominal story in the book of Judges, chapters 19-20, where fasting made the difference in a major battle against a people overcome with sexual perversion.

God will also target your children who are beng led off and destroyed by the enemy's devices.

Joel 2:28

Many times the rewards of fasting come after teh fast, though from time to time answers can come during the fast. Look at teh story of Hezekiah's son, Manasseh, who became king of Judah (2 Chron. 33:1-13).

Maybe you have rebellious children or sons and daughters whoa re committing fornication, but I'm telling you, fasting and praying will absolutely break those spirits off their lives.

Jentezen shared a story of one of his church members who had been praying for her son for 15 years. After his dad had killed himself he turned his back on God. 15 years later, he and his new wife who was a Budhists came to church right when her fast had ended and Jentezen had extended an altar call at which time, the two of them gave their hearts to Christ.

"Your Father...will Himself reward you openly" (Matt. 6:4). God does not lie. God is no respecter of persons. What He ahs done in our church, in the lives of our members, He will do for you when you set your heart to see Him through fasting.

Have a great weekend everyone!!!