Fasting From Negligence!

Crossroads Community Church starts a 21-day fast today. Their goal is for God to position 21 souls in their sphere of influence. In an earlier post, I promised to help them in their efforts to be able to hear God. As a deliverance minister, I would not advise anyone to fast from healthy foods. We have an enemy that would love to gain access when we are weak.

Fasting does not force God or make anyone a better Christian. So I often roll my eyes when I see that a church is doing a corporate fast. But that’s where they are so let’s see if I can save them some trouble by prompting them in a few areas:

There is no Biblical command to fast from food. In the temptation of Jesus in the desert (Matthew 4:1) we can see that the Spirit was ready to be tempted by the devil when the body had fasted for 40 days. Note: Jesus is the Holy Spirit who was in a human-born, flesh-and-blood frame. We are flesh and spirit. When our flesh is weak, we had better hope to have a strong spirit being protected and led by the Spirit of God.

In deliverance ministry, I often see Christians aimlessly doing spiritual battle because they don’t understand the covenant relationship with God. If we are in unbroken covenant relationship with God, (meaning that we have kept our oath of allegiance to God or had a sincere forgiveness conversation with Him if we have sinned against God’s heart), then God will guard our minds from enemy influence. In other words, if we are right with God, the enemy cannot speak to us because God is present. If we are loyal to God, He is loyal to protect us. If we are not in unbroken covenant with God, then God is not obligated to be our protector.

So for those choosing to fast for 21 days, please be sure that you are in right relationship with God, for every day. Here are two questions that you can ask of God, every morning to be sure that you are in covenant with Him. (1) “Lord, will you please bind the enemy in every way around me?” Listen for His answer. If He answers something like this “I am with you. I will not leave you.” then He is telling you that He is guarding you from enemy access. If you don’t knowingly hear an answer then repeat this question after resolving the next one. (2) “God, is there anything that I need to ask forgiveness for?” Listen for His answer. Lean in to discern exactly what He is saying. If you think that His answer might be your own thoughts then you need to listen carefully to the words being used.* (Example below.) Once you have discerned areas that need discussion with God, apologize and be sure to let Him reveal to you how you could have done things differently; and how you will do them better next time. If you don’t bother to learn from your mistakes, you will likely repeat them. Take the time with God to resolve this so that moving forward you understand the error. If you have had a successful forgiveness conversation with God, then you are in a restored covenant relationship. You will know it because you will feel the burden lifted and you should continue to hear God’s voice in prayer. Remember seek God, not advise God.

*Example of God speaking to you versus your own thoughts. Many years ago when I was first learning to discern God’s voice, I was sitting at my computer playing Solitaire. My mind was focused on winning, of course. But, I heard a silent voice speak to me that was not my own spirit voice or thoughts. The question He asked me was “Who are you competing against?” Suddenly, I was having a conversation and not with myself because my internal conversation would have been subtly different. I might have asked myself “Who am I competing against?” Do you see that the direction of the first question was not coming from within, but outside of myself? (Please if you want to lock me up for explaining spiritual matters, it wouldn’t be the first time. I’m trying to help you, so don’t mock me.) God, will address you with words like “child”, “beloved”, or call you by your name. Listen carefully to the words that He uses in prayer. I encourage you to have a journal to write everything down at least until you recognize God’s voice from a stranger’s voice.

Ok, so I hope that helped. I’m always willing to respond to sincere questions about deliverance. I don’t want to see the enemy having his way with you. I’d rather see you walking obediently with God.

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