Prayer And Fasting

"Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." -Matthew 17:21

There are certain evil propensities, in some persons, which pampering the flesh tends to nourish and strengthen; and that self-denial and fasting, accompanied by prayer to God, are the most likely means, not only to mortify such propensities, but also to destroy them.

A story tells of a man whom brings his son to Jesus' disciples for them to cast a demon out of him, but they could not do the job. They were not up to the task. Were they not equipped? Had they not done their homework? Were they even called to do such things?

Jesus identifies their unbelief and shares that hard truth with them. In fact, He calls them a faithless and perverse generation, commands the boy be brought to Him, and He delivers the boy from the demon.

Jesus goes on to instruct His disciples on the value of a small amount of faith. Faith the size of a grain of mustard seed and its unlimited potential. Howbeit, Jesus adds something to this formula of faith. He proceeds to tell them that with this type of spirit it requires prayer and fasting.

It seems today's spiritual approach to every thing is praise and feasting, but Jesus incorporated some industrial strength, blue collar principles to the formula. You and I face many opposing forces today. Some are identifiable, but most often they are not. You just know you are fighting against something. It is that spiritual warfare Paul talks about in Ephesians, Chapter 6. Prayer and fasting are words that cause our flesh to cringe, panic, plea in agony for any other option, and does its best to find the alternative to the hard work that is required for victory.

Your belief system is often tested, but further, your spiritual condition is tested even more by opposing forces that you cannot see or touch. Some situations are caused by spiritual assault. The dark shadow of demonic forces hover over and cause damage.

Intellectualism, philosophy, nor theology will deliver. It will take the blue-collar approach of Prayer and Fasting to get this job done.

Let us believe together, Pray together, and Fast together to see victories won in the coming days.

I invite you to pick a day, or days, a meal, or even dainties that you enjoy and let us crucify the flesh during the week of November 8-13, and see God move in a special way.

Pastor James

Hancock Church of God