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16BODYOFCHRISTNEWSSEPTEMBER2013FastingisameansofdiligentlyseekingGodandprevailingwithHim.ItshouldbeaccompaniedbyprayerandrepentanceasonehumbleshimselfbeforeGodbydeny-ingthefleshofitslustsandpleasures.FastingisntahungerstriketoforceGodshandandgetourownway.Ratheritsaweaponinspiritualwarfareagainsttheprincipalitiesandpowersofdarkness.ThesubjectoffastingiswelldescribedinIsaiah58.ItiscalledafflictingonessoulandIsaiah583WeretoldthebenefitsofGodschosenfastaswellasgivenawarningagainstfastingforthewrongreasonorwiththewrongattitudes.Nomanknowshowfastingworksbutwedoknowthatitsnecessaryforbothourownbenefitaswellasforvictoryincertainareas.Somehowheavenisreadytobenditsearandtolistenwhenprayerisaccompaniedwithfasting.Perhapsitdemonstratesourwholeheartedness.WhenwerewillingtodenyourfleshandconcentrateonprayingwedemonstrateourearnestdesiretoseekGodandnottoletgountilHeanswers.Thiscanbetrueforindividualsorforgroups.GodwantsustoreturntoHimwithallourheartandwithfastingJoel212Fastingisakeyingredientinthepre-scriptionalongwithWaitingonGodTrustinginGodPrayingtoGodandObeyingGod.LatelyourscheduleshavebeensofullthatonlyanactofGodseemsabletoforceanadjustment.ZechariahdiscussedfastingforpeoplewhowereprosperingmateriallyZech.75largelybecausetheircommunitywasinthemiddleofabuildingboomtheyweremovinguptheladdereconomi-cally.Intodaystermstheymightbecalledupwardlymobile.ItisinterestingthatZechariahchallengedthesepeoplewithfastinginthecontextofcommu-nitydevelopmentandsocialjusticeZech76-10Thisleadstoatleastthreereasonswhyfastingcanbeavaluablepracticeforpeoplewhoarerecoveringeconomicallyandmov-ingupintheworld.1Fastingcanhelpusrememberwhatitwasliketobehungryandtodowithout.2FastingcanhelpusrememberthespiritualresourcesofGodthatsustaineduswhenwedidnthavemuchanditcanalsoenableustofocusontheLord.3Fastingcanhelpusrememberandidentifywiththosearounduswhoarepoorandhungry.WeneedtorememberrightnowineachofourlivesnomatterwhatisgoingonorwhatwearewaitingonGodforthereisalwayssomeonemuchworstoffthanyou.Fastingisameanstowardspiritualfocusbycon-centratingonGodratherthanonfoodandotherper-sonalneeds.HerearesomeexamplesoffastingfromtheBiblethatmightencourageyouinthisdisciplineDavidfastedtoshowhisrepentanceafterlearn-ingthathewouldlosethechildconceivedbyadulterywithBathsheba2Sam.1215-16.AhabfastedtoshowhisrepentanceafterElijahwarnedhimofjudgmentbecauseofthemurderofNaboth1Kin.2127theLorddecidedtodelaypun-ishmentuntilhissonassumedthethrone1King2129EzrafastedbeforejourneyingfromBabylontoJerusaleminordertoaskGodsblessingguidanceandsafetyEzra821-23thetripwaswithoutinci-dent.DanielfastedandrepentedonbehalfoftheJewsinordertoentreatGodtorestorethemfromexileinBabylonDan.93-4GodallowedHispeopletoreturntotheirland.JesusfastedforfortydaysinthewildernessafterbeingbaptizedbyJohnatthestartofHisministryMatt42SatancametotemptHimintosinbutHewithstoodthetest.PaulBarnabaswerefastingandprayingwhenGodcalledthemforajourneytotakethegospeltoAsiaMinorActs131-5severalnewchurcheswereplantedasmanypeoplecametofaith.HowoftendoyouFastafterrepentanceofasinOrhowoftendoyouFastbeforetakingactiononamajordecisionAreyouwaitingonGodforanansweraboutsomethingFastingoftenpracticedtodemonstratethesincerityofourprayers.Christiansshouldfastwhenfacinganationalcrisis2Chr203Ezra821Esth.416forindividualneedsMatt.1721duringperiodsofdistress2Sam335Ps3513whenfacingspiritualdecisionsMatt42Acts132andinanticipationofChristsreturnLuke535Manypeoplehavefoundthatheavyburdensarerelievedthroughfastingchapter58.WisdomisobtainedthroughfastingDan.10revivalcomesfromfasting.Godsprotectionfromdangerissecuredbyfasting1King2127-29recoveryofasicklovedonemaycomeafterfastingPs.3513andtheinaugura-tionofagreatministrymayfollowfastingMatt.42.Howmanymoredoorswillcloseonyou..beforeyoufocusandtakethemainprescriptionofFastingWhenwasthelasttimeyouFastedwhileWaitingTrustingPrayingandObeyingGodWhen..coulditbetheanswertoyourbreakthroughPleasenoteWhenaChristianfastshesheshouldbeginwithashortfast-onedayfromsundowntosundown-andattempttospendtimealonewithGodduringthefast.WatchGodmoveandseethebreakthroughinyourlifeorwhateveryourFastingfor.HappyBirthdaywithlove...MyfriendhusbandPastorLeeGroveJr.FastingThePrescriptionforClosedDoorsByEvang.Dr.P.M.WynnGroveWynnGroveEvang.Dr.P.M.WynnGrovePastorLeeGroveJr.areAssociatePastorsatthePotterHouseofDenverandthefoundersofHeavenlySentMinistries.SCRIPTURE