Chapter 15-Is Your Blade Sharp Enough?

After this chapter, we only have two more and we've done the whole book! I hope this has been helpful to you and more importantly, with the Scriptures provided, I hope it has answered questions that you may have had regarding "Fasting."

Heb. 4:12

Dan. 1:9, 17 NASU

"In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth" (Dan. 10:2-3). The Hebrew word used here for "pleasant food" is lechem, or breads. So for 21-days, Daniel fasted all sweets, breads and meats, and drank only water.

It was soon after that fast when Daniel's encounter with teh angel of God took place along the Tigris River. Notice something very encouraging in what the angel told Daniel: his prayers had been heard in heaven from the very first day he started the fast (Dan. 10:12)!

The Daniel fast is probably one of the more common--and with good reason. It is one of the personal fasts recorded in the Bible that brought with it great favor from the Lord. For 21-days, you eat only vegetables and fruits and drink only water. No colas, burgers, Twinkies, meats, sweets, or bread. Like Daniel, it is time we set ourselves apart to seek the Lord and find understanding.

Eph. 6:10-17, NIV

Have you ever seen a military man try to fit into his uniform thirty years later? Usually, it won't even come close to buttoning down the front. When you're a soldier, you stay fit; you stay healthy, alert, and ready. Paul said we should live that way because the days are evil.

Moses fasted. Elijah fasted forty days. Paul fasted fourteen days. Jesus fasted forty days. If the children of God do not fast, how will we ever fit into the armor of God? How will we effectively wield the sword of the Spirit?

I want you to understand something: fasting and prayer sharpen the blade, which is the Word of God. When you fast, mealtimes often become study times. You become more keyed in to God's Word, and God begins to show you deeper truths. Daniel began to understand God's truths after fasting and getting alone with Him. Understanding comes from the study of God's Word!

When you fast and pray, you effectively sharpent the Word in your mouth. Instead of flippantly quoting Scripture, you now wield a powerful weapon with a powerful weapon with a razor-sharp edge that slashes the enemy when you speak.

Simply by missing some meals and setting your heart on understanding by studying God's Word, you please God, you release beauty for ashes and joy for mourning, and the garment of praise defeats the spirit of heaviness. Your praise goes forth and scatteres the enemy, you develop patience, you come in line with God's priorities, you loose angelic messengers, and you find God's right way for you and protection for your little ones. When are we going to take dominion back from King Stomach and seek diligently after teh kingdom of God in this way?

America has greatlysinned against God through abortion, homosexuality, adultery, rampant pornography, and fornication. We have no fear of God, and America is rapidlly becoming a pagan nation. Our only hope is to humble ourselves in fasting and prayer.

Daniel's fast and visitation from the angel is recorded in Daniel 10. Throughout chapter 9, Daniel cries out to the Lord on behalf of all Israel, saying over and over, "We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and rebelled...we have sinned against you" (vv. 5, 11). Daniel identified with the sin of his nation, though we see no sin that Daniel himself had committed.

We are living in importantly days and in important times. This book contains multiple testimonies of people who have received tremendous personal reward and blessing over just a few years because they teamed up with one church, one ministry here in America that corporately fasts and prays. Thankfully, churches across this country are coming to understand the importance of fasting and humbling ourselves before God.

We can humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and expect Him to hear from heaven and heal our land (2 Chron. 7:14). He heard Daniel on the very first day!

The enemy thinks you are weaker when you fast. He will try to convince you that you are dying without food--but you are not. God is preparing to breathe life into your situation to open a door to His promises.

Continual Prayer

Fasting is not a means to promote yourself. The greatest thing fasting will do for you will be to break down all of the stuff that accumulates from this world that blocks you from clear communion with the Father.

...when you are on a prolonged fast, you are praying continually. You have to make time to get away and pray, whether you feel like it or not. Fasting in and of itself is a continual prayer to God. You are praying 24-hours a day when you are fasting. If you have been fasting all day, you've been fasting all day.

Jesus said, "When you pray...when you fast...when you give..." (Matt. 6). He expects those who follow Him to do these things whether feeling a special leading or not. These things should be part of every believer's life.

When I (Jentezen) first started, I didn't start with 21-days. I just did three days, and then I built up to seven days, and then to 21-days. What I have done recently is a total fast for seven days in January and then a total fast for three days each month from February to December. That is a total of forty days over the course of a year.

As you fast, target your unsaved loved ones in prayer. Create a "hit list" of people you want to see saved. It is good to be very specific in your prayers during a fast. What is the one most critical thing you want God to do in your life? God told Habakkuk to "write the vision and make it plain" (Hab. 2:2). I dare you to write down the names of those you want to see saved, and when you fast and pray, call those names out to God. As we have seen evidenced here at Free Chapel, I believe you too will see breakthroughs like you never dreamed!

If you let it, your flesh will take over and rule your life. That is why times of fasting are so crucial to your walk with God. Fasting helps you establish dominion and authority over your flesh. "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a mand sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" (Gal. 6:7-9). Keep your armor fit and your bldde sharp!